The City of Somerville Water Department is conducting a Flushing Program throughout the water distribution system. The city will be flushing hydrants and operating gate valves to maintain the distribution system. This work will take place between the hours of 11 p.m. on Monday, July 11 through 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 12.

The Boston Comics Roundtable is a group comic creators, scholars, and educators dedicated to furthering and promoting the medium of comics. This summer, the BCR is offering a variety of classes and workshops for beginners, experienced comics makers, and anyone curious about this versatile art form.  Participants can learn the basic skills needed to make their own comics, hone and practice existing skills, or explore the role comics play in modern culture. Classes are held at The Boston Comics Workspace in the Taza Chocolate building in Somerville and start this week.

As temperatures continue to climb and more people opt for alternate modes of transportation, Chief David Fallon and the Somerville Police Department remind drivers to share the road with motorcyclists.

Saying Good-Bye to Plastic Shopping Bags

By Laura Onyeneho

In November 2015, the Somerville Board of Alderman approved a ban on plastic shopping bags to encourage solid waste reduction, protect marine environment, and waterways. Once the ban begins, retail establishments will have to find alternatives to plastic shopping bags at checkout points.

On Thursday, June 23 2016, at 7:20 a.m., Officer Bork, who was just completing her last half shift in Car 4, stopped at Starbucks at Assembly Row. Today, June 29, 2016, the department received a commendation request via email from, Blair Connelly, a resident of Melrose. Ms. Connelly was so impressed by the actions of Officer Bork that she wrote the following and sent it to us:

By Amy Swain

It’s one of Union Square’s newer additions, but it feels like it’s been there forever. Walking into Gracies’ small, white interior, it feels clean and neat, but lived in. Unique and clearly hand picked art hangs scattered on the wall. Several mason jars of toppings sit on shelves behind the register. Flavors are written on the wall in dry-erase marker. And the staff is just the right amount of friendly.

Enjoy free breakfast and lunch prepared by Somerville’s award-winning Food and Nutrition Services Department, available all summer for youth under the age of 19. Look for the Food and Nutrition truck to get your free meal!

Here’s a list of locations and times where you can enjoy a nutritious meal this summer:

By Jim Clark

While conducting personal business at the Starbucks on Elm St. last Sunday, two uniformed Somerville police officers took notice as a man wearing what appeared to be hospital scrubs approached the counter and placed an order.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

Somerville and Cambridge share many things, including how we get across our common border. We share fourth place on the League of American Bicyclists’ list of American cities with the highest share of bicycle commuters (7.4% each), and we’re the only two Northeastern cities on that list. We’re proud of that achievement.