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As you know, my usual home away from home is in the Bloc 11 Cafe in Union Square, Somerville. But on this day I was to meet with an old friend, Timothy Gager, at the Diesel Cafe in Davis Square.

The Diesel, although a sister store of the Bloc, has a decidedly different vibe. The space is larger and the crowd seems more eclectic. The baristas seem to dress more radically, and there is almost a friendly but militant sensibility to them, pardon the oxymoron.

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Once in a great while I publish a poem of my own in the column. I was inspired to write this poem after having my car inspected at Aris Auto in Somerville.

Arrests:
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Rodrigo Sette-De Aguiar, of 160 Broadway, August 6, 8:31 p.m., arrested at Bonair St. on charges of negligent attaching wrong motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, assault and battery on a police officer, license revoked as HTO, and resisting arrest.

Cody Domings, of 82 Gilman St., August 8, 8:16 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on charges of resisting arrest and possession of a class A drug, and on a warrant charge of possession of a class A drug.

Peace Corps volunteer Meg Bolger (right) holds a packet of letters from the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center. Bolger recently organized a letter swap with Cambridge Council on Aging Director Susan Pacheco (left), to help her students in Panama learn English.

By Nathan Lamb

Older adults at the Cambridge Senior Center recently helped Panamanian children practice their English, though a letter exchange organized by a Peace Corps volunteer with local ties.

The swap was conceived by Meg Bolger, a former case manager at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Bolger is now in her second year in Panama with the Peace Corps, and said the idea came up while teaching Panamanian children a second language.

“What a Circus” taken by Jean-Baptiste Morand from
Joliette, Quebec, Canada. 400 speed film in Diana F+ w/35mm back.]

Since 2013, the Somerville Toy Camera Festival (STCF) has celebrated the quirky and creative results that can happen when photographers are compelled to loosen their controls, submit to the light, and embrace the accidental. Each year since, the Festival jurors have selected work from a wide range of toy camera photographers, both US and international, who will exhibit their work in simultaneous gallery shows throughout Somerville. STCF also features related programming, including artist talks, panel discussions, workshops, social events and a darkroom day.

In July, 4 groups from Somerville community organizations including the Somerville YMCA, Mystic Learning Center, and The Welcome Project, climbed aboard the Bay State Cruise Company’s flagship Provincetown II to Georges Island, for one of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s free All Access Boston Harbor cruises.

These youths started the trips cruising the cool, clean waters of the Boston Harbor, learning sea chanteys and history about the Harbor cleanup. Once on Georges Island, these Somerville groups spent the day fishing, crabbing, and exploring Boston’s spectacular urban natural resources.

Pre-lottery applications available August 13, due August 20

An affordable re-sale homeownership opportunity is available for eligible households with income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income adjusted by household size and included in the table below. The two bedroom condo at 88 Wheatland St. #3 features a sale price for $138,301 and a monthly condo fee of $400.

Officials are once again looking into the impact of Airbnb rentals and how possible regulations should be implemented.

By Henry Lin-David

A bill to tax and regulate short-term rentals like Airbnb hit a roadblock on Wednesday of last week after Gov. Charlie Baker returned the bill to lawmakers along with a proposed amendment.

While the original bill would require hosts to join a public registry, the governor’s amendment would eliminate their “personally identifiable information,” and would also exempt homeowners who rented units out for less than 14 days a year from the registry and the tax.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

Seize the Summer, the August installment of the city’s SomerStreets festival, took place last Sunday between Davis Square and Teele Square on Holland Street.
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.