ONCE Ballroom, one of Somerville’s few independent venues for live music, is looking ahead to reopening in September after a brief hiatus for regrouping and remodeling.

By Blake Maddux

Being a naysayer can be fashionable when things seem to be on the cusp of going sour.

When Cambridge’s TT the Bear’s Place and Somerville’s Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant & Music Club both closed within a year of each other in 2015 and 2016, respectively, there were those who seemed sadistically eager to sound the death knell for the Boston’s independent venue scene.

Bob McWatters, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Somerville coordinator, is having a meet and greet at Sally O’Brien’s in Union Square tonight, Wednesday, August 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Elderly residents are free. Marian grew up here in Union Square, and her family is well known. This event is co-sponsored by former Mayor Eugene Brune, Jack Connolly, Dennis Sullivan and Bob McWatters.

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(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Lynne LeNoir 

I have always wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember. My grandmother always said that when I grew up I would be the best nurse ever. She even bought me my first regulation nursing cap at the old Park Snows in Davis square. I was five years old. She would proudly brag to her friends as I stood by, “this is my granddaughter, she is going to be the greatest nurse when she grows up.” Such hope and promise for the future. My grandmother saw in me a future advocate and protector, a healer; someone to comfort people in need.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Over the past eight months a group of residents and students from Somerville and Medford galvanized by Our Revolution, has been regularly meeting to discuss the next Tufts Partnership Agreement (or PILOT). Our goal and the City’s goal has been the same—to achieve a better partnership agreement with Tufts.

By Donald Norton

This past Monday night, the Burton Faulkner Towers residents were treated to a large Chinese Food meet and greet with candidate for re-election Bill Galvin for Secretary of State and Marian Ryan for Middlesex County District Attorney.

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Located at Assembly Row, this is the third location featuring barbecue by Chef Andy Husbands. If you’re looking for a place to go with a group of friends, I highly recommend it and they also accept reservations.

Join Somerville Media Center, East Somerville Main Streets and Arlington International Film Festival on Friday, August 31, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., for Movies in the Park. They are excited to be turning the Chuckie Harris park back into a movie theater where they will all be able to enjoy movie screenings for various countries.

Films start at dusk. Music and drinks start one hour before.

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My friend Sam Cornish, the first Boston Poet Laureate passed away last week. We had Sam at the Somerville News Writers Festival, and I was privileged to publish a collection of poetry of his, Dead Beats. Sam was truly a poet of the people.  In a short piece, the renowned poet Afaa Michael Weaver wrote that he and Sam used to visit his favorite meatloaf and mashed potatoes joint in Boston, and argue about the city of their roots, Baltimore. That was Sam – an unaffected man – who always kept it real. Here is an article I wrote a while back when I met him at his office in the Boston Public Library:

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Mary Kelley lives on Richdale Ave., Somerville. She studied with poet Katia Kapovich at the Cambridge Adult Center.

Former Somerville Mayor Gen Brune, former Ward 3 Alderman Bob Mcwatters, and former At-Large Alderman Jack Connolly are hosting a campaign rally on Wednesday, August 29, 5:30 p.m. at Sally O’Brien’s pub for current Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. All are welcome to attend.