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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.

Howie Newman (left) and Joe Kessler, a.k.a Knock on Wood, will perform a concert of funny original songs and well-known covers at the Somerville Public Library on Sunday, May 18.

Howie Newman and Joe Kessler, also known as Knock on Wood, are anything but a typical folk combo, performing funny original songs (suitable for all ages) as well as well-known rock covers. Their varied repertoire includes everything from Tom Petty to Buffalo Springfield to the Stray Cats.

 Massachusetts is urging property owners to switch from gas to electric to help meet the state’s climate goals. But according to a new report from the City of Somerville’s Office of Sustainability and Environment, there’s a critical missing piece that few are aware of: few existing programs to help cover the high cost of transformers not considered to be benefiting the grid by the utilities. Owners of multi-family buildings are often shocked to find the electric grid can’t handle their upgrades unless they themselves pay to install costly transformers. The result? Otherwise motivated owners often just stick with gas. 

Teacher, former union organizer, and former nonprofit executive director Emily Hardt has announced her candidacy for Somerville City Council to represent Ward 7. An over 20 years Somerville resident, Emily is a long-time local climate justice advocate and parent leader in the Somerville Public Schools.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

No, this isn’t a story about pizza. It’s a story about those precious photographs that are part of all of our lives. They are in albums, shoeboxes, envelopes and drawers. They are a look back into our pasts, the way we used to be. Frozen in time, captured for eternity.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne has announced the winning projects from Somerville’s second Participatory Budgeting cycle. More than 4,000 residents voted to determine how to invest $1 million in community-generated ideas.

“Participatory Budgeting puts the power of public funds directly in our community’s hands,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I’m so proud of the creativity, collaboration, and care that our residents continue to bring to this process. These winning projects reflect what matters most to our community, and we can’t wait to bring them to life.”

Somerville residents have once again readied their porches for a citywide day of homemade concerts for the city’s annual PorchFest. Hosted by the Somerville Arts Council, PorchFest 2025 took place last Saturday, transforming porches and stoops across Somerville into mini music venues that showcase the city’s incredible talent and creative spirit.