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.

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Remember the days when your mother would use a pressure cooker on the stovetop and you were told to stay away from it? It made that crazy hissing sound and the pressure valve would move in all different directions occasionally spitting steam out. But before you knew it, in about 45 minutes or less, a full dinner was cooked to perfection. What an amazing tool!

The 7th Annual Corn Toss Tournament, hosted by the Ryan Harrington Foundation, takes place on Saturday, September 15, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Trum Field.

Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. Games will start at 11:30 a.m. Registration fee is $50 per team. Two players per team. There is a men and a women’s division. Cash prize goes to the winners of each division.

Pruchansky

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There is a certain vibe in the Bloc 11 Cafe in Union Square, Somerville. You can expect the excited screams of kids with their beleaguered parents in quick pursuit, as the tykes explore the inviting jail cell in the back of the cafe. There are the catcalls from the baristas to the patrons to pick up their fare. There is the smoky and scratched voice of Louis Armstrong singing Baby It’s Cold Outside on a warm morning in May. And on this morning Alison Pruchansky joined me at my table with the remnants of my morning repast: smoked mackerel, a plain, pedestrian bagel, with artisanal tomatoes brushed off to the side.

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Michael Todd Steffen is Director of the Hastings Reading Series at First Church Congregationalist near Harvard Square. His first book, Partner, Orchard, Day Moon, was published by Cervena Barva Press in 2014. His poems and articles have appeared in Ibbetson Street, Taos Journal, The Boston Globe, Connecticut Review, Poem (Huntsville Literary Association), and in the window of Grolier Poetry Bookshop. He teaches and works for progressive and nonprofit organizations in the Boston-Cambridge area.

The Somerville Police Department is investigating the removal and defilement of American Flags planted in the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, and the desecration of the Veteran’s Monument to those who gave their lives in World War 2 in defense of their country.

The SPD has identified the male party contained in the photo seen here as a person of interest. Anyone knowing the identity of the individual is asked to contact the Somerville Police Department at 617-625-1600 x7238.

Openings available on eight essential Boards and Commissions

The City of Somerville is seeking to fill vacancies on eight essential boards and commissions appointed by the Mayor and coordinated by the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. Boards and commissions offer an opportunity for community members with a range of experience, skills, expertise, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community. The Mayor’s office will be accepting applications for the open positions through Monday, October 15, 2018. All are also invited to a Volunteer Boards and Commissions Fair on Thursday, September 27, at the Central Library, 6-8 p.m., to learn about the duties of these and other City commissions and how to get involved.