The City of Somerville invited all community members to the City’s annual Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, June 16, on the City Hall Concourse. The following remarks were delivered by Councilor At-Large Will Mbah:

By Dennis Fischman

The time is 1942, in the midst of the Second World War. The place: the Big Apple. A former circus hand with knife-throwing skills saves the life of a private detective. The two promptly become a team. The detective is gradually weakening from MS and needs a scrappy helper to go out and spend time and shoe leather investigating scenes and interviewing people. The former circus hand needs a job.

Eleanor T. “Ellie” Blute
September 9, 1933 – June 16, 2026

Eleanor T. “Ellie” Blute – Affectionately known as Ellie, and a lifelong resident of Somerville, passed away peacefully at her family home on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She was 92 years old.

Community members invited to help guide planning process for the future of Davis Square. Deadline to apply July 12.

The City of Somerville is inviting community members to help shape the future of Davis Square by applying to join the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Davis Square Neighborhood Plan.

The week-long Good Food for All campaign takes place from June 20 to 27.

For the 9th year, Union Square Main Streets (USMS) and local businesses proudly present Good Food for All (unionsquaremain.org/good-food-for-all), a week-long community campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Union Square Farmers Market (USFM)’s local SNAP match, June 20 – 27.

City buildings will be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day.

No street sweeping on Friday.

Senator Pat Jehlen, with advocates from the Arc of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill that removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities last week.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

My dad has been gone since 1994. I was 41 when he died. So I had 41 years to get to know Fred Del Ponte. To say he was quite a character is an understatement.

SomerStreets: Carnaval took place on Sunday, June 14, from 2–6 p.m. and transformed Broadway into a vibrant, walkable celebration of community and culture. The festival stretched along Broadway, from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue, creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. Somerville’s Mayor Wilson was the first mayor to participate in the Dunk Tank at Carnaval. He went in expecting to stay dry — but things definitely didn’t turn out that way. — Photos by Bobbie Toner