The Somerville Auxiliary Fire Department was recently recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency as a CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team). A CERT is trained in emergency responses for disasters in our community. Each member is trained in CPR/first aid and is trained in emergency response situations. Our team is located at 259 Somerville Ave (public safety building). If you would like to become part of your community CERT, please call 617-623-1700 ×8410 or message us on facebook somerville Auxiliary Fire/Cert team. Be a part of your community, join today

As stated below, going forward, the City of Somerville will officially observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The official proclamation was officially entered into the public record at 3 p.m. Thursday. A statement from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is below.

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR JOSEPH A. CURTATONE

This year on Monday, October 8, the City of Somerville will observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will join – among many others – Alaska, Vermont, Durango, Colo., and Traverse City, Mich., in doing the right thing. It’s been an issue we’ve given careful consideration, and many inside and outside our city have made compelling arguments for this change.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

On this past Election Day, I remembered what my dad always said. “Vote for the Italians first!” Ah, the wisdom of our fathers.

When my dad got mad he turned into a very religious person. “Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” Jesus sometimes was referred to using the middle initial of “H.” In my eight years of parochial incarceration at St. Clements school they never mentioned a middle initial. Dad also made many references to Hell and who should go and how they should get there.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Saturday, September 8, was a day full of live local music, dozens of local artists, free children’s activities, and of course the annual fireworks show over the Mystic River at sundown at Assembly Row.

Along with the dwindling number of trees on public lands, city officials have growing concerns about how many trees are being cut down on private property.

By Jim Clark

An order was put forward and approved at the latest regular meeting of the City of Somerville Board of Aldermen by Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang concerning the preservation of trees on private property within the city.

The order asks specifically that, In the interest of tree preservation in the City of Somerville, that the City Solicitor draft a revision of the City’s tree ordinance to include restrictions and regulations on cutting trees on private property of six inches in diameter or larger, and provide an explanation of how the proposed revised ordinance differs from the ones that Cambridge, Lexington and Newton have already passed to protect trees on private property.

The Somerville Toy Camera Festival presented works such as Mary Kocol’s “English Roses” at the Brickbottom Gallery’s opening on September 8. — Photo by Mary Kocol

By Shira Laucharoen

Light leaks, blurs, and double exposures might not seem like desired effects to the untrained eye, but when seen through the lens of the toy camera, they create the image.

The Somerville Toy Camera Festival, now in its sixth year, asked artists to embrace the imperfections and assume a point of view, opening with three exhibitions where their photographs were put on display. With receptions at the Brickbottom Gallery, the Washington Street Art Center, and the Nave Gallery, on September 8 and 9, the Festival allowed for an element of play.

By the time you’re reading this, The Somerville Chamber of Commerce will have had a meeting to discuss the closing of the Ball Square/Broadway Bridge in early 2019. Thanks to the Winter Hill Bank for sponsoring it.

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On Saturday, September 15, it’s the 7th Annual Ryan Harrington Corn Toss at Trum Field. Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. Games will start at 11:30 a.m. Registration fee is $50 per team. 2 players per team. There is a men’s and a women’s division. A cash prize goes to the winners of each division. They will be selling T-shirts, hoodies, food and drinks at the field as well as having raffle items and a 50/50. There will also be kids’ activities. All monies raised will go to youth organizations in the city. It will be a great day for the whole family, as it is a great event every year to benefit the Ryan Harrington Foundation. For information on the foundation and what it does, go to their website: www.ryanharringtonfoundation.org.

Ophira Eisenberg will be featured at the The Boston Comedy Festival’s Closing Gala on September 15 at the Somerville Theatre.

Somerville will be the funniest place on earth this September 11- 15 as the Boston Comedy Festival Comedy Contest launches its world famous comedy competition at the Somerville Theatre.

Combining iconic comedians with icons-in-the-making, the 19th Annual Boston Comedy Festival Gala will showcase some of the best-established and new comedic talents. Forty-eight, bright-eyed comics from all over the country compete for $10,000 dollars in prize money.