Storytellers from throughout the region will face off with their best true stories at Massmouth’s championship finale, the Big Mouth Off, Thursday, May 9, at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

This year’s finalists, who have advanced through multiple rounds of competition, will tell true stories on diverse themes such as About Last Night and Going Solo, in their quest to be named Big Mouth Off champion.

On December 9, 2018 Worcester Fire Fighter Christopher Roy lost his life fighting a fire. He left behind a 9-year-old daughter, Ava Roy.

Kenny Manzi is doing a fund raiser to try and help with the future of this little girl. The Amazing Sensations have agreed to donate their time and perform at this fund raiser.

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I ran into Somerville-area poet Charles Coe at the Cambridge Public Library the other day. He is a man about my age, who was roaming the space with his signature causal gait, taking in the whole scene. I didn’t see him hooked to the usual digital hardware, no texting finger dances … he was there … in the moment. As fate would have it, he gave me his new collection of poetry Memento Mori. It starts out with a quote by Marcus Aurelius, “Use your numbered days to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.”

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Megan Normandin is a Literature and Creative Writing teacher at Fitchburg High School and an adjunct instructor at Fitchburg State University. She has been featured in the UMass literary magazine, Jabberwocky, and has performed her poetry at the Community Poetry Cafe in Fitchburg, Boston Poetry Slam in Cambridge, and Moonlighting: A Queer Open Mic in Jamaica Plain. Megan lives in Woburn with her partner, Erika, two kids and one dog.

By State Senator Patricia Jehlen

Many of the bills I file are based on local people’s experiences and local needs. In November, Peter DeMarco wrote a moving and disturbing Globe Magazine account, Losing Laura, of his wife’s death from an asthma attack while trying to get into the Somerville Hospital Emergency Department.

Arrests:
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Jeff Bosquet, of 387 Ferry St., Everett, April 29, 8:30 a.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on a charge of shoplifting by asportation.

Paul Phaneuf, of 59 Marlboro, Woburn, April 30, 12:57 a.m., arrested at Josephine Ave. on warrant charges of felony nighttime breaking and entering and larceny over $1200.

On Saturday, May 11, more than 300 youth and adults are expected at the 13th Annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference at the Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave., from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

An estimated $900,000 available for historic resources and open space/recreation land projects

Applications for this coming fiscal year’s Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds as well as the fiscal year 2020 Community Preservation Plan, which sets the funding allocations and priorities for the year, are now available.

Additional events planned for Ball Square and Winter Hill

Join the Somerville Arts Council and the Somerville Flea for a roaming series of three night markets that will take place throughout the city between May and July. The after-hours pop-up markets will feature live music as well as artisan and vintage vendors, and more, in Union Square, Ball Square, and Winter Hill.

VOX POP Opening Week has finally arrived and we are super excited to share many upcoming events and activities with you. VOX POP is a pop up community, media & arts space that is the result of a collaboration between Federal Investment Realty Trust (FRIT) the property developer and owner of Assembly Row and SMC the non-profit community media center based out of Union Square. We are very honored to have such overwhelming support for this first of its kind space and SMC is thrilled to curate the best experiences for our community. Some of these events are co-organized by our members and community partners!