🌱 Patch AM: Why a 26‑story Davis Square tower just collapsed in City Hall

Good morning Somerville! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Somerville PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

• FIXER — (781) 218-9426
• American Elm Landscape — (781) 859-5304
• VNA Senior Living — (617) 776-9800
• Champion Soccer School
• Insurcomm Restoration — (866) 708-5357
• Buyers Brokers Only — (978) 835-5906
• The Brow Lab Somerville — (617) 764-2736
• School of Fashion Design — (617) 536-9343

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In today's newsletter:

• Why a 26‑story Davis Square tower just collapsed in City Hall
• How new Tufts-based training is sharpening Somerville's active-shooter response.

Also on today's calendar: Opening Reception for WEB: Works by Rachel Rizzo and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Cooler with rain, with a high of 69 and low of 60 degrees.
• Wednesday: Cloudy, temps: high: 71, low: 63.
• Thursday: An afternoon t-storm or two, with a high of 77 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• A plan for high-rise housing in Davis Square is dead. The Burren's owner isn't surprised (wbur.org) — A controversial 26‑story housing proposal that would have demolished the Burren in Davis Square has been scrapped, leaving the beloved Somerville pub safe for now. The developer blames City Hall for obstructing the project, while Mayor Jake Wilson calls that claim "laughable" and points to other large housing efforts moving ahead across Somerville.
   

• Healey-Driscoll administration expands joint active shooter response training statewide (thesomervilletimes.com) — Somerville firefighters and police joined more than 1,000 first responders statewide in intensive active shooter response training hosted at Tufts University, aimed at improving coordination in real crises. Local Fire Chief Charles Breen says the AAIR course strengthens medical and tactical skills Somerville crews already use and could save lives if a major incident ever hits the community.
   

📸 Around Somerville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Somerville

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 5
• Opening Reception for WEB: Works by Rachel Rizzo →
  Washington Street Art Center, 321 Washington St, Somerville
  6:00 pm
Saturday September 12
• Riverfest 2026 →
  Assembly Row, 355 Artisan Way, Somerville
  11:00 am
Wednesday September 16
• Webinar: AI SEO: Get Your Brand Seen and Chosen Online →
  Online Webinar,
  3:00 pm
Sunday September 20
• Sudbury PMC Kids Ride (all riders welcome!) →
  Ephraim Curtis Middle School, 22 Pratts Mill Rd, Sudbury
  10:00 am
Sunday September 27
• The Children's Room 30th Anniversary Community Walk →
  Robbins Memorial Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday September 2
• All She Wrote Books Presents: Authors Stefanie O'Connell & Amanda Holden →
  All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St, Somerville
  7:30 pm
• Peter Liu Headlines the Comedy Studio →
  The Comedy Studio, 5 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge
  7:30 pm
Friday September 4
• All She Wrote Books Presents: Author K.S. Shay →
  All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St, Somerville
  7:00 pm
Saturday September 5
• Shepherd's Kitchen Food Pantry →
  130 Highland Ave, Somerville
  9:15 am
• Somerville Nepali Street Food Festival →
  Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave, Somerville
  2:00 pm
Saturday September 12
• SomerStreets: Gilman Square Arts and Music Festival →
  104 Walnut St, Somerville
  12:00 pm
Sunday September 13
• All She Wrote Books Presents: September Queer Romance Book Club →
  All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St, Somerville
  11:30 am
Tuesday September 15
• Foodie Crawl 2026 →
  , Somerville
  6:00 pm

📣 Somerville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Whole Foods Market, Inc. posted a job opening for Customer Service & E-Commerce Supervisor - Full Time in Somerville. Apply here.
• ABM Industries posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner in Somerville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Somerville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Cambridge

• Bruce Springsteen 1974-05-09 Harvard Square Theatre Cambridge, MA(JEMS) (blogspot.com)
• Peter R. Griffiths (1942–2026): A Life Devoted to Infrared and Vibrational Spectroscopy (spectroscopyonline.com)

Medford

• DS Show Review: Ben Nichols and Friends bring 'In The Heart Of The Mountain' to Medford, MA (dyingscene.com)

Ok Somerville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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