By Courtney Young

Rainbow banners billowing in the wind, glittered pennants shimmering in the sun, cosmic-colored ice cream glistening in the hands of children, and the vibrant, eccentric stylings of LGBTQ+ identifiers and allies all gather in Union Square on Saturday night in Somerville for the 2nd Annual Big Gay Dance Party. While some attendees have come from other cities, the music draws hundreds of locals toward Union Square, making Saturday night a huge success for Somerville and the LGBTQ+ community.

Lyrics Champs presents A Super Hero Wrestling Fundraiser this Friday, June 8, at the Somerville High School Field House, 81 Highland Avenue. Tickets are available online at www.LyricsChamps.org. The cost is $15.

— Photo courtesy of City of Somerville

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville High School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) gathered together on Tuesday, June 5, at the the City Hall concourse to raise the Pride flag in honor of LGBTQ Pride Month and LGBTQ Youth Pride.

While not quite as popular among some city residents as others, the many 5K style foot races that take place throughout the years bear one remarkable similarities: they all contribute much needed funds to many worthwhile causes and charitable institutions in the area.

Last Sunday’s Just One Run Fundraiser in Memory of Anthony D. Giurleo ran in support of the fine work of the The Ryan Harrington Foundation, whose stated mission is strengthening community through financial support of youth organizations, charitable efforts to help those in need (such as food and clothing drives), and material support for young men and women struggling with substance abuse disorder.

Located in the heart of Union Square, Reliable Market has been offering Japanese and Korean groceries for over 30 years. Sushi grade fish, fresh vegetables, in house made kimchi, various prepared and frozen foods, and endless condiments to make any dish imaginable.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Dear Editor,

I work at 3L Place, a Teele Square based program for adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our Members have been learning about local government and the importance of civic engagement.

Arrests:
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Michele Alfieri, of 77 Fremont Ave., Everett, May 30, 11:20 a.m., arrested at Fellsway on charges of possession of a class B drug, miscellaneous statutory violation, and possession of a class A drug, and on warrant charges of possession of a class B drug, juror failure to attend, assault and battery on a family or household member, and possession of a class A drug.

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Somerville writer Ari Samuel Alkalay Appel contributes this review to Off the Shelf: 

Often, what we choose to tell children is a better representation of the state which we are in than what we we say to adults. Susan Wood and Sarah Green have given us a gem that shines brightly, a statement about a woman who defines what this planet is missing.

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Heather Nelson is a poet, teacher, mother and recovering attorney based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She studied writing under the poet C.D. Wright as an undergraduate at Brown University. Most recently she studied poetry with Tom Daley and Barbara Helfgott Hyett. Heather is also a member of Poemworks, the workshop for publishing poets. Her work has been published in Main Street Rag, The Somerville Times, Constellations, Ekphrastic and The Compassion Anthology.