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© 2025 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
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Newstalk – April 23
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The Somerville Arts Council and the Program on Georgian Studies at the Davis Center at Harvard are thrilled to continue their successful Exchanging Notes initiative, which began in the spring of 2023. This project aims to bring together artists and performers from Georgia and Somerville, Massachusetts. The 2025 Artist in Residence at the Davis Center is Mishiko Sulakauri, an artist from the capital city of Tbilisi with a background in street art.While in the area, they have invited Mishiko to Somerville where he will paint a mural at Warehouse XI, 14 Homer Sq., Somerville in Union Square. See the freshly painted mural on April 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and also enjoy a night of Georgian cuisine and multicultural mingling.Space is limited. Please RSVP for this event via this link: https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/about/people/mishiko-sulakauri.
April 23
Our View of the Times – April 23
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On each Patriots’ Day, we look for ways to remember with reverence the exploits of the brave men and women who made the American Revolution the success it eventually became.
Locally, we especially honor those who fought the battles of Lexington and Concord, and of Menotomy. And, of course, the lauded “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” is a fundamental part of the American saga.
The Buggy
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
The songs Happy Together, Something Stupid, and Groovin’ were playing on our transistor radios as we listened to WRKO AM.
It was the summer of 1967 and four Somerville kids ages 11-14 were excited to have been on furlough from the local adolescent detention center. Actually, we were on summer vacation from St. Clements Parochial School.
Somerville High School students report a lack of climate change-related education – and a desire for more
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By Liam Beretsky-Jewell
Note: This is the first in a series of articles exploring climate change education in Somerville Public Schools
In recent years, several states have adopted standards requiring climate change education to be included in the curricula of K-12 public schools, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. However, Massachusetts has yet to adopt such standards, and the implementation of climate change-related education remains in the hands of local school districts, through the curricula they choose to purchase or design, and the classes they offer or require.
Newstalk – April 16
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Patriots’ Day is Monday, April 21. All city offices are closed. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day. Join the Somerville Museum and the City of Somerville for the annual Patriots’ Day celebration at Foss Park. Play colonial games and activities, enjoy refreshments, and greet Paul Revere. Admission is free. 11:30 am at Foss Park.
April 16
Our View of the Times – April 16
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If there’s one universal certainty among most – if not all – people, we surely enjoy the transition from the cold, gloomy atmosphere of winter to the explosion of life and natural beauty as the months of spring unfold.
Hallmarks of this special time include the religious holidays that many of us celebrate, such as Easter, for those of the Christian faith, and the rites of Passover practiced by those of the Jewish faith. Likewise, the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr begins later this month.
Do you remember gimp?
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
When the idea hit me, I started by looking up gimp. But I didn’t even know how to spell it. Then gimp came up as an app to enhance the use of Photoshop on computers. I finally found the description of the summer activity that was enjoyed when we were kids at our neighborhood playground. Here is the definition found on the internet.
Letter to the Editor – April 16
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Dear Editor,
This week, I wrote to Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) asking that she respond to two questions I posed about whether she supports impeaching Donald J. Trump and removing him from office. Neither Rep. Pressley nor any member of her staff responded at all. This is upsetting and I am unhappy seeing this lack of foresight and leadership from my district’s representative.
Newstalk – April 9
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On April 10 at 7:30 p.m., Somerville’s Fair Housing Commission, Department of Racial and Social Justice, and Somerville Public Library invite you to a film screening of Segregated by Design followed by a panel discussion of fair housing and discrimination with local experts. Food and drinks will be provided. Registration is required: www.tinyurl.com/ykjnt9f9.
April 9
Our View of the Times – April 9
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It began after a bad oil spill that took place in 1969 off the coast of California. A year later, the first annual Earth Day was celebrated to demonstrate universal support for environmental protection and responsible stewardship of the planet and its inhabitants.
Since then, public and official awareness of the negative impacts of human activity – such as air and water pollution – have been raised to a level where concrete action is being demanded to mitigate those effects and heal the ills that have been inflicted on our world.
Milkshakes and mercurochrome
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Remember when your medicine cabinet contained bottles of paregoric and Mercurochrome? On those old fashioned looking small bottles, you could barely make out the words Surabian, Grover, or Sordillo Drugs. There were many, many drug stores in Somerville at one time. Now, not.
JUST SAY NO!
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By Mayor Emeritus
Eugene C. Brune
The questions I and many Somerville people are asking is what is the mayor or the Ward 6 Councilor is saying?
What do the City Council members think about a proposal to build a twenty-five-story, five-hundred-unit building in Davis Square? Currently, they are waiting as there is no application before any board. If Copper Mill submits one, you will then hear the concerns, as well as the final vote. I am hoping that common sense will prevail.
Letter to the Editor: Senate Democrats Must Begin Denying Unanimous Consent
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To the Editors,
Unanimous consent speeds up the Senate by avoiding time-consuming votes on routine business. Under the Trump administration, there is no routine business. Denying unanimous consent can’t stop Senate Republicans from doing anything, but, by requiring quorum calls and roll call votes, it can slow them down.
To the Editors,
Unanimous consent speeds up the Senate by avoiding time-consuming votes on routine business. Under the Trump administration, there is no routine business. Denying unanimous consent can’t stop Senate Republicans from doing anything, but, by requiring quorum calls and roll call votes, it can slow them down.
Newstalk – March 26
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Community members are invited to attend Somerville’s fourth annual Women’s History Month celebration to honor the many contributions of women throughout our history. This year’s speakers include Mayor Ballantyne, Mass State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, City Council President Judy Pineda-Neufeld, School Committee Chair Ilana Krepchin, and Amanda Nagim-Williams, Director of Somerville’s Racial and Social Justice Department. Plus, enjoy light re-freshments and music from DJ L’Duke.The event will take place on Wednesday, March 26, at Somernova (29 Properzi Way) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Learn more https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-womens-history-month-at-somernova-tickets-1259609348469?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawJJ1ZVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZjMwNUItHsvI9uJ592ZIGl7YHaaHmWB8wORiT7tms8Ou8rmr-8I-mXHHw_aem_YWWUJofK-gFerxntpEqmSA.
March 26
Our View of the Times – March 26
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Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes the inevitable regular street-sweeping activities throughout the city.
As inconvenient and annoying it may be to comply with the schedule, it is an inescapable fact of life for us all and we must make the adjustment accordingly.
Hangin’ up the park
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Powder House Park has a history that dates back to the Revolutionary War in the 1700’s. It also has another history that dates back to the 1970’s when it was the cool place to hang around.
When Archie rode a flaming skateboard from “up top” all the way “down bottom” to College Ave., that was historic. You can see more history if you look at a tree down bottom that has the initials “JF” and someone else’s initials that are now unreadable. “JF” was a kid who dated my sister. He was quite the Romeo.
Marking Transgender Day of Visibility: Somerville’s Commitment to Safety and Dignity
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By Mayor Katjana Ballantyne
As we approach this year’s Transgender Day of Visibility, we must reckon with the fact that our transgender and nonbinary community members have never been more visible – but instead of being supported and celebrated in their identities, our trans friends, family, and neighbors have had a target painted on their backs.
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