By Dennis Fischman

Do you enjoy one-off novels more than series, or vice versa? Each has its charms. When I read a book that’s self-contained, I enter its world completely, and I know I won’t be subjected to cliffhangers or to plot twists that are there simply to set up the next book. When I read a series, however, I can count on some people and events being familiar, so I can pick up where I left off.

Community invited to honor lives lost to anti-trans violence, reflect, and stand in solidarity

Community members are invited to attend Somerville’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience on Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Tufts Administration Building, second floor Council on Aging community room (167 Holland St).

Former Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone and City Councilor Will Mbah joined forces on Saturday to lend a helping hand, delivering turkeys to the Missionary Church of the Haitian Community Food Pantry, located at 100 Temple Street. Their visit helped support local families in need ahead of the holiday season.

The holiday spirit is in full bloom at Somerville’s Next Wave Middle School and Full Circle High School (NWFC) as students keep a beloved tradition alive with their annual wreath sale. The longtime seasonal fundraiser brings students together with the community to not only spread seasonal cheer, but also help fund enriching experiences and memorable opportunities for students.

By The Times Staff

At the School Committee meeting on November 2, Paulina Mitropoulos, director of the multilingual education department, presented the department’s focus for the year with an overview of data pertaining to both enrollment and academics.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

As I was writing the story of the old television shows a few weeks back, I started thinking about the commercials we grew up watching. I enjoy some TV commercials like the GEICO ads. They are clever and amusing. But I wonder if people will remember them and even be able to recite some of them word for word in 20, 30, and even 40 years? I doubt it. Who could ever forget the old ad against littering that shows the Native American with the tear in his eye?

— Photos by Ewan Henrie

On Saturday, November 7, Somerville community members were invited to spend a couple of hours outside, meet people nearby, and leave their street a little better than they found it. This was the second citywide cleanup as part of Somerville’s Year of the Neighbor initiative, a yearlong push to strengthen connections, build community, and tap into everyone’s ability to have a positive impact across Somerville. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/neighbor

Kaliopy Kaliontzis

Kaliopy Kaliontzis, 94, of Somerville, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2026. She was the beloved daughter of the late Alexander and Anastasia Kaliontzis and sister of the late George Kaliontzis and his late wife Ernestine. She leaves behind her loving nieces Joanne Kaliontzis of Boston and Maria Tinglof and her late husband Michael of Matlacha, FL as well as two great-nephews, Seth and George.

The Somerville City Council is fashioning an ordinance aimed at regulating parts of AI usage by the city.

By Harry Kane

Somerville may soon be adopting an artificial intelligence ordinance to provide acceptable-use policies that govern AI technology and its physical infrastructure.

The Magoun Broadway Reconstruction Project open house provided the latest info for the public’s perusal.

By Keith Foster

The City of Somerville provided an updated design open house for the Magoun Square Reconstruction Project for residents on November 4 at the Arthur D. Healey School.