'Muslim Journeys' Discussion Series Begins May 30

The series will kick off with a discussion of the book, "House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance."

The Somerville Public Library is launching a new book discussion series called "Muslim Journeys," according to an announcement from the city of Somerville. The discussion series is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association and "aims to familiarize the American public with Islam and the cultural heritage of Islamic civilizations around the world," the announcement says. The first event in the series, which takes place May 30, will be a discussion of Jim al-Khalili’s book, House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance. The book brings readers into the world of the "Arab Enlightenment," a period of Islamic history known for tolerance and intellectual and …

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New Homes For Sale in Somerville This Week

Find homes for sale in Somerville on this page every week, from our partners at Zillow.

State House News Service Weekly Roundup: Three's Company

Recap and analysis of the week in state government.

Like pieces of a puzzle that don't quite fit together yet, the Big Three may have been separated at birth, but with each incremental step their destinies seem to grow more intertwined. No, we're not talking about those Big Three - Gov. Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and Speaker Robert DeLeo - though they play major character roles in this thickening plot.  Instead, three bills have come to define the early months of the 2013 legislative agenda and resolutions on tax hikes, local road funding and the annual state budget continue to be elusive and dependent on one another. Patrick spent the early part of his week welcoming British Prime Minister David Cameron to Boston for a few quick meetings and a visit to the Copley …

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Powerball Jackpot Soars to $550M for Saturday Drawing

If you draw the Powerball winning numbers in Saturday’s lottery, you could score $550 million, or a $350 million one-time payout.

  Powerball results were watched closely Wednesday when the jackpot was $363 million. After no one picked all six winning numbers, the new Powerball prize for the Saturday, May 19 drawing is now $550 million. Return here Saturday night to see the winning numbers The one-time cash payout is estimated at $350.1 million. Tickets are $2 and the game is played in Wisconsin and 42 other states, including Florida, Texas, California and New York.  For a full list of lottery agents, click on this link and you can search by community.  The largest Powerball Jackpot cash payout to date was $384 million and was won on Nov. 28, 2012, in Arizona and Missouri. Wonder what happens to the folks who hit it big? Browse the Huffington Post’s collection of …

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Festival Aims to Expose Different Side of Tibet

Contemporary Tibetan art, music and more is the focus of Friday night's festival.

The Tibet Arts and Culture Festival takes place in Somerville Friday night, and Exa Méndez, one of the festival's organizers, hopes it will expose a different side of that country. "Every time we hear about the Tibet issue it's about politics or human rights abuses … very dense subjects," she said. "The idea [for the festival] is for people to see different parts of Tibetan culture," she said. The festival, which takes place at The Center for Arts at the Armory, will feature contemporary music, painting, photography, food, poetry and more: parts of Tibetan culture "people don't get to see," Méndez said. The musicians and singers are graduates of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in India. The institute was set up to keep Tibetan …

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At 71, Veteran Boston Newscaster Will Graduate from College

Jim Boyd, broadcast into Boston's homes for 36 years, is set receive his college diploma from Tufts this weekend.

Jim Boyd, a veteran Boston anchorman and member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame, graduated from high school in 1958. On May 19, he'll graduate from college, with a bachelor's degree in sociology from Tufts University. "It only took 55 years to get here," Boyd said. A familiar face to most Bostonians, Boyd, 71, spent 36 years as a reporter and anchor for WCVB, where he spent years delivering the morning news to viewers. He got into television news after dropping out of Long Island University at the age of 19 and landing a job in the mailroom of National Education Television, a precursor to PBS. In fact, Boyd had been put on academic probation. The Harlem native had graduated from high school at the age of 16, and he spent …

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This Weekend in Somerville: PorchFest, Doggie Spring Fling, ASSEMBLED and More

There's a ton happening in Somerville this weekend. Don't miss out.

PorchFest The third annual PorchFest takes place Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Over 100 bands will be playing on porches throughout the city. Check out this map to plan your PorchFest itinerary.  Somerville Dog Spring Fling Som|dog, Somerville's dog group, is hosting the first ever Spring Fling on Sunday. The party will include dog-related activities, vendors, a dog treat bake-off contest, a doggie fashion show, live music, a "kiddie corner" with crafts and face painting, and consultations with local trainers and behaviorists. Also, there will be a beer garden with craft beer. It's in Union Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ASSEMBLED: The Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row This new market of handmade arts kicks off on Satuday in Assembly …

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House Hunt: Open House Sampler

Home of the Week: Condo Near Davis Square Has Two Porches, Roof Rights

This top-floor condo was renovated in 2006.

A look at this week's home of the week. Realtors, this is your space. Upload photos of the houses you're showing this weekend and enter the property's details in the caption. Selling your Somerville place without a Realtor? Consider yourself invited to add your photos and details into the mix. Please upload one photo per open house listing and include the following information in the captions of all photos: Click on the big green "Upload Photos & Videos" button to get started. If you have any trouble getting the message out, send an email to somerville@patch.com.

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