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A perfect recipe for brunch. I use a rice maker to cook, then keep the oats warm until I’m ready to serve. That means I can prepare other dishes without having to constantly stir the pot. Well, at least not this pot anyway.

Enough is enough already. Let’s hope we have seen the end of it for now. Only time will tell, but when it comes to putting up with the tiresome digging out and warming back up, we surely wish for the best.

As if clearing our sidewalks and driveways isn’t hard enough, we have had to contend with ridiculously cold, record-breaking low temperatures.

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Interview by Off the Shelf Correspondent John Wisniewski

John Wisniewski, a prolific interviewer of my acquaintance, asked if he could interview poet, publisher, activist Mark Pawlak. Mark is a highly regarded poet, publisher, and a mainstay of the poetry scene in the Boston/Cambridge and greater New England area.

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Peter F. Crowley is a prolific writer from the Boston area whose work spans short fiction, op-eds, poetry, and academic essays. His writing has appeared in publications such as Pif Magazine, New Verse News, Counterpunch, Common Dreams, The Galway Review, Digging Through the Fat, and The Opiate. He was a finalist in both the short story and poetry categories of Adelaide’s Award Anthologies. He is the author of two poetry collections, Those Who Hold Up the Earth and Empire’s End, as well as a short fiction collection, That Night and Other Stories.

CHA is recognized as a leader for excellence in nursing in psychiatric/behavioral health care

Don’t miss the 2026 Somerville High School theatre production: Between the Lines! January 29, 30, 31.

Between the Lines is an empowering and enchanting story for anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world. An outsider in a new town and a new school who seeks comfort in the pages of her favorite book. As the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur in extraordinary ways, the protagonist realizes her dreams in the real world are worth fighting for.

Applications for three income-restricted rental units in Somerville are now open. Maloney Properties in partnership with the City of Somerville has three studio income-restricted apartments available across two properties: The Guild (154 Broadway) in East Somerville and Prospect Union Square (50 Prospect Street). Apply now through Friday, February 6.