Time to get fired up and out to Union Square this Saturday for the Ignite! Global Street Food and Fire Festival, hosted by Somerville Flea and the Somerville Arts Council.

It’s time to fire things up with the sixth annual Ignite festival, Saturday, August 11, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. in Union Square Plaza.

To celebrate Union Square’s sizzling food landscape, they are bringing an evening of international eats, fire throwers, roving entertainment, and a raucous celebration of global culture.

The Somerville Times is pleased and excited to announce the return of Jimmy Del Ponte as a regular contributor to the paper. After taking a much deserved break, Jimmy will be back with lots of stories and observations about life in Somerville. Look for him in the coming edition of The Somerville Times.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Dunkin’ Donuts on Somerville Ave. last Friday on reports that a customer was passing counterfeit money.

Upon arrival, the officers located the suspect, Jamal Haywood, and approached him for questioning.

When asked for identification, Haywood reportedly hesitated and told the officers that he was not carrying any.

For the month of August, Somerville Media Center brings you Cinema Somerville Outdoor Movies: CLASSICS.

Cinema Somerville is a pop up movie series, free to the public and family friendly. All these movies are held at The Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave.

(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 reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

 By Joseph A. Curtatone

Special Women’s Health Edition

In late 2017, along with the Cambridge Health Alliance, we released our joint Wellbeing of Somerville Report. The report provides an overview of the health of city residents across the life stages from the womb to old age. The data is not only fascinating—and in some cases eye opening—it provides an informed launching pad for our coming community-wide dialogue about resident health and the steps we want to take to improve it. Taking cues from our SomerVision process, we’re hoping to tap into the well of creative and compassionate thinking we know this community is capable of to chart a path forward that will benefit us all. In short, we’ll be asking you to help develop a comprehensive Community Health Improvement Plan. Women’s health will most certainly be a key area of discussion.

Somerville residents and neighboring commuters are gritting their teeth and girding themselves for the tough times ahead following the Broadway Bridge closure.

By Jim Clark

With the recent announcement of motor vehicle and pedestrian detours as a result of the year-long Broadway Bridge closure, many area residents and those who commute through the area on a daily basis are expressing fear and anger at what is being regarded as an imminent disaster in the making.

But according to Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, options are being considered that may alleviate some of the anticipated disarray, particularly in the Ball Square area.

The Welcome Project participated in the We Are One Somerville: Sanctuary City Rally in February 2017. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Shira Laucharoen

Since its launch in March 2018, the Somerville Response Network has remained an active resource for immigrant residents, having been developed by The Welcome Project as a system to be employed in the event of ICE raids in the city.  Creators have said it is their hope to never have to use the program, but to be ready and prepared in case it is needed.

Somerville Overcoming Addiction will be holding their 5th Annual Vigil at Trum Field on September 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend and participate.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy Birthday to local East Somerville guy, Bill MacLeod, a lifelong resident and nice guy. We wish him the best on this his birthday. Happy birthday to another local guy who is very well known since he and his lovely wife moved to Somerville, Zach Zasloff, who is Chairman of the local Condo Review Board. Again, a great guy. Happy birthday Zach! Happy birthday to Maria Mancini, formerly of Winter Hill. We hope she has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Tony Caliri. We hope he has a great birthday as well. Happy birthday to good friend of ours, Brendan Cunningham. We wish him a great day as well. Happy birthday to Stephen Shea. We hope he has a great birthday. To Kaitlin Norton, a happy birthday to her as well as her brother, Corey Norton. Wishing them both a happy birthday this week. And finally, Alicia Lafuente – we know, we mentioned her last week but her actual birthday is this week. Again, to a very nice lady and professional businesswomen. We wish her the very best. To all the others here in the city who are celebrating their birthdays this week and we missed you here, we wish a happy birthday to you.

By Stephanie Hirsch
Alderman At-Large

(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 reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

After reading Alderman Connolly’s column last week, I wanted to share my view of Somerville after seven months of service as an elected official.

First, here’s what I think Alderman Connolly gets right – I believe there are divisions in our community. And, too often, groups divide along lines of background, class, and generation.