Many have been scratching their heads and wondering out loud what the heck is going on with trees in the city? One week we hear about large swaths of greenery being taken down on public lands, the next week city officials are wringing their hands and pointing fingers in all directions looking to place blame.

There has even been talk of regulating what, when and where foliage – including trees – can and should be trimmed or removed from private property.

Arrests:
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Sophie Douglas, September 29, 9:42 p.m., arrested at Highland Ave. on charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery on a police officer.

Jennifer Rivera, of 133 Perkins St., September 30, 3:54 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on a charge of larceny over $1200.

Neighbors take a photo with the Tufts mascot, Jumbo the Elephant. — Photo by Anna Miller, Tufts University

This year’s Tufts University Community Day was a huge success, bringing some 3,000 neighbors to the Medford/Somerville campus on Sunday, Sept. 30, for music, festivities, and a BBQ lunch.

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Somerville writer Ari Appel reviews Somerville Bagel Bard’s latest book of poetry War Zones:

 With its tragic accounts of war and its human toll, War Zones by Zvi A. Sesling is an outstanding addition to any bookshelf, especially that of someone interested in war. It is consistent in portraying the uselessness and waste of war, each poem building off of the effect of the last as reading the book leaves one with a progressively darker and darker image of what war means.

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Allie Hastings is currently a freshman at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, working towards her bachelor’s in English/Creative Writing. On campus she is involved in Pep Band and two writing clubs: Her Campus, which is an online magazine targeted towards the female college student demographic, and the Endicott Review, which publishes a collection of student’s writing and artwork every spring.

The next phase of the Somerville Ave. Utilities & Streetscape Improvements project is set to begin in early November. To accommodate construction, a major work zone will be set up in the middle of Union Square for about six months. Through traffic will be detoured off of Somerville Ave. around the work zone. Some stops on MBTA bus routes 85 and 87 between Dane Street and Union Square will also be temporarily closed and relocated during this time.

February 13, 1923 – October 03, 2018

Pumpkin artisans and all others are welcome to take part in the 2018 edition of “Monster Mashed Up at SomerStreets” this coming Sunday.

Free Open Streets event to feature live music, family-friendly activities, and more!

Join us at the last SomerStreets festival of the year, the spooky and fun “Monster Mashed-up” on Sunday, October 14, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Somerville Ave. between Union Square and Park St. SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles, and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.

Did you know that failure to return your completed Census form could impact how long you stand in line on Election Day? If you did not vote in the September 4 Primary Election and haven’t returned this year’s census form you could now be an inactive voter. To keep your voting status active – and to help avoid those longer lines on November 6 – return your census form to the City by emailing census@somervillema.gov, faxing it to 617-625-5643, or dropping it off at the Elections Desk in the basement of City Hall no later than Wednesday, October 17. Blank forms can be found at www.somervillema.gov/vote by clicking on the ‘Census’ tab.