— Photo courtesy of  Somerville Kiwanis

On Thursday, June 5, one of our most gratifying meetings of our year was held at the Burren Restaurant and Pub in Davis Square. Our annual scholarship awards meeting was held to celebrate and award twelve amazing Somerville High School graduates with a $1000 scholarship each. Eleven of the twelve graduates were able to join us for today’s meeting.

(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)

As of 9:18 a.m. June 9 2025, the USNC/Somernova CBA final vote count was verified. The USNC is thrilled that the CBA with Rafi Properties passed and that the community elected to support this CBA with over 71% of the votes. 

The biggest take-way for the USNC is that community-driven processes work, and that together we can bring about transformational change that works for Somerville. A coalition of neighbors, artists, volunteers, and abutters twice stopped the Somernova project. We further joined forces with local non-profits and labor unions, to fight for a development that better responds to the needs of residents, workers, creatives and Somerville youth, resulting in a CBA that contains provisions that offset the negative impacts large-scale development brings.  

The city’s Land-Use Committee postponed a vote on proposed changes at their latest meeting.

By Norah Doyle

On June 5, the Somerville Land-Use Committee met with the Planning Board virtually to discuss proposed changes to the city’s zoning ordinance, many of which would impact Somernova, Somerville’s innovation hub. After nearly four hours of discussion, the committee decided to table the vote and delay their decisions on the changes due to concerns about parking, traffic, and how the surrounding neighborhood would be impacted. The meeting included three different presentations.

The indie rock festival SOMEDAY FEST took place last Saturday at the Boston Figurative Art Center in Union Square. — Photos courtesy of Tyler Lehren

By The Times Staff

SOMEDAY FEST finally happened. After months of planning, the Somerville Organization for Multimedia Experiences (SOME) presented their first-ever indie rock festival, SOMEDAY FEST, at the Boston Figurative Art Center in Union Square on Saturday, June 7.

The Somerville Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the return of the Taste of Somerville Festival on Wednesday, June 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Boynton Yards to benefit your favorite nonprofit, the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Returning for its 27th year, Taste of Somerville is the premier all-you-can-eat culinary and creative arts festival of Somerville with over 50+ food and beverage vendors, local artisans, live entertainment, lawn games, and more – all in the heart of Union Square at Boynton Yards. For more information and tickets, visit https://tasteofsomerville.org/.

*

This quick and easy salad will make a great lunch or a side for a small gathering. The textures, color combination, and unique flavors will definitely leave you craving more.

— Photos courtesy of City of Somerville

17,000 sq ft array brings City closer to Climate Forward goals and long-term energy savings

This week, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Public Schools students and staff, and city staff celebrated another step in Somerville’s climate action efforts at a ceremonial ‘flip the switch’ event for a new solar panel array at Somerville High School.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to have had a strong, loving father figure in our lives, we have indeed been truly blessed.

They have served as our providers – along with mom, of course – our enablers, our staunch supporters, our coaches, our towers of strength.

*

I recently caught up with Laura Sanchez, who will be performing her flamenco piece “Welcome to Holland!?” It deals with motherhood, and caregiving through expressive dancing, poetry, and ample doses of humor.

Doug Holder: How has Somerville been for you as a creative?

Laura Sanchez: Somerville has become my home, not only where my son went to school, but also where I found my community and my artistic voice. For over ten years, I’ve been bringing flamenco to Somerville through various community events, and now, for the first time, I’ll be presenting my own full-length show here. I’ve been fortunate to receive support from the Somerville Arts Council to share Welcome to Holland!?, and I’m deeply grateful to present this work in the very community that has supported and inspired me.