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Review By Off the Shelf Correspondent  Charles Felster

Timothy Gager has long been a fixture in Boston’s literary underground – a prolific writer, spoken-word regular, and a familiar face to anyone who’s spent time at the intersection of art and recovery in New England. With Shadows of the Seen, his latest and most ambitious novel to date, Gager steps fully into the national conversation with a work that confronts the psychic aftershocks of gun violence, addiction, and political hypocrisy in modern-day America.

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Sandra Kolankiewicz’s poems and stories have appeared widely over the years.  Her most recent chapbook is Even the Cracks from Finishing Line Press. More of her work can be found at sandrajkolankiewicz.blogspot.com.

Lawrence Joseph “Larry” Balboni Jr.

Lawrence Joseph “Larry” Balboni Jr., died Monday, May 5, 2025, at his home in Naples, ME after living an amazing 100 years!

Larry was born in Cambridge, MA November 2, 1924, predeceased by his parents Lawrence J. & Rose (Porte) Balboni and siblings Ruth C. Balboni, Eleanor R. (Balboni) Ularich, and Robert A. Balboni.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Health and Human Services are inviting all community members to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month at the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.).

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Host, Sarah Fishman speaks with Ward 7 School Committee member, Leiran Biton.

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Host, Sarah Fishman speaks with Councilor At Large, Willie Burnley, Jr.

Somerville’s Pollinator Action Plan is your guide to planting smarter and supporting nature.

With spring in full swing, the City of Somerville is reminding residents that the season of growth is also the season of pollinators.  As you shop for plants to fill garden pots or garden beds, you can play a role in feeding and sheltering the insects that keep our global ecosystem functioning.

By Allison Epstein
Food For Free

When families visit Food For Free’s monthly School Markets at West Somerville Neighborhood School and East Somerville Community School, they gain access to much more than just the usual pantry staples – they’re welcomed with a vibrant selection of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables. Delivered by the Somerville and Cambridge-based food rescue and distribution nonprofit, the mix of donated and purchased produce fills the tables, offering families nourishing options.