— Hilary Scott photos by Bobbie Toner

This past weekend, artists opened their doors for the annual Somerville Open Studios. This year’s event featured nearly 400 artists displaying their work at over 100 sites across the city of Somerville. If you missed the event or just want to follow up with an artist, visit their artist directory at https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/. It will remain online throughout the year. The SOS artist directory is the best place for finding information about visual artists working and living in Somerville. The following are photos taken at the studios of Hilary Scott, Martha Friend, and Mudflat.

Update:The Western Pearl Street Open House has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at Ed Leathers Park (98 Walnut Street). Join us to discuss the proposed concept design options for Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street.

The western segment of Pearl Street (between McGrath Highway and Medford Street) sits in the center of the Gilman Square Neighborhood, not far from Somerville High School, the MBTA Green Line Station, Community Path, and Ed Leathers Park. It is home to many residents, a variety of local businesses, and serves many different purposes.  

Currently, some of the sidewalks are in poor condition with cracked concrete panels, and the roadway needs to be repaved. Fortunately, this part of Pearl Street is prioritized for reconstruction through Somerville’s Pavement and Sidewalk Management Program (somervillema.gov/paving). However, instead of just rebuilding the street as is, the city is looking to reimagine it – prioritizing safety and accessibility. 

An update to the Somerville city charter has finally been agreed upon and awaits approval at the state level. — Photo courtesy of City of Somerville

City charters serve as a city’s local constitution, and after an intensive community process and collaborative work by the Ballantyne administration and the City Council, Somerville’s charter is getting a significant update. The new charter now includes greater transparency, more opportunity for public engagement, important resources for the City Council, and a pathway to ranked choice voting, as well as other modernizations, like officially recognizing women as voters. 

Somerville residents participated in a “walk audit” of Union Square recently with the aim of improving pedestrian safety. — Photos courtesy of PTAC

By Holly Simione

The Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC), in collaboration with the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), the Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets (SASS), and Groundwork Somerville, invited residents to participate in a community “walk audit” of Union Square. PTAC is a mayor-appointed body of volunteer community members who advise and collaborate with city staff to make walking and public transportation in Somerville safer, sustainable, equitable, and accessible.

Healing Together: Supporting Mental Health at Home, Wednesday, May 7. Join the Somerville Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Department of Racial and Social Justice for a workshop to learn about mental health language. Featuring guest speaker Christopher Willard, Harvard Medical School faculty, author, and psychologist. This virtual event will be held on Wednesday, May 7, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. online via Zoom. Learn more and register. RSVP: bit.ly/HT_25.

— Photos by Denise Provost

By Suraya Whynott

The annual Somerville Artwear: SOS 2025 Fashion Show this past Saturday was a great success. Pieces by many outstanding artists and designers were showcased: Levon Delmonico, S.D. Amour, Grace Madonna, Mia Brillantes, Blue Flame Leather, Consuelo Perez, Jessamy Shay, Emma Fritshel, Martha Friend, Scope Apparel, Lexie Butterfly, and Eleanor Ramsay all presented their work in this year’s show.

Commissioner Amy Kershaw

The City of Somerville and Somerville Public Schools welcome Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) Commissioner Amy Kershaw to Somerville on May 13 to celebrate the work of the Somerville Partnership for Young Children (SPYC).

SPYC leads a network of licensed early education and care providers to expand access to early childhood education programs for Somerville families and improve the quality of Somerville’s local early childhood education system. The resources and financial support from the EEC, through the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) grant program, made the work of the SPYC possible.

Eagle Feathers #328 – A Sporting Chance

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Somerville has always had a deep-seated history in sports, far deeper than most.  Settled before Boston as part of Charlestown in 1628, the colony was subject to Puritan rule.  By 1659, strict rules had outlawed card playing and dice. This was for fear of betting.  Football, oddly enough, was allowed, unless played on forbidden streets or lanes.  

Even in troubled times, even the worst of times, there is one particular beacon of goodness and light that pierces through the gloom to warm our hearts and lift our spirits – Mother’s Day.

While life as we know it has been far from normal in recent years, mainly due to political divisions and the like, this is one occasion that can restore a bit of normalcy and order for us as we pause to honor the beloved matriarchs of our families.