Eleanor T. “Ellie” Blute
September 9, 1933 – June 16, 2026

Eleanor T. “Ellie” Blute – Affectionately known as Ellie, and a lifelong resident of Somerville, passed away peacefully at her family home on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. She was 92 years old.

Community members invited to help guide planning process for the future of Davis Square. Deadline to apply July 12.

The City of Somerville is inviting community members to help shape the future of Davis Square by applying to join the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for the Davis Square Neighborhood Plan.

The week-long Good Food for All campaign takes place from June 20 to 27.

For the 9th year, Union Square Main Streets (USMS) and local businesses proudly present Good Food for All (unionsquaremain.org/good-food-for-all), a week-long community campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Union Square Farmers Market (USFM)’s local SNAP match, June 20 – 27.

City buildings will be closed Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day.

No street sweeping on Friday.

Senator Pat Jehlen, with advocates from the Arc of Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill that removes outdated and offensive language in the General Laws to describe persons with disabilities last week.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

My dad has been gone since 1994. I was 41 when he died. So I had 41 years to get to know Fred Del Ponte. To say he was quite a character is an understatement.

SomerStreets: Carnaval took place on Sunday, June 14, from 2–6 p.m. and transformed Broadway into a vibrant, walkable celebration of community and culture. The festival stretched along Broadway, from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue, creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. Somerville’s Mayor Wilson was the first mayor to participate in the Dunk Tank at Carnaval. He went in expecting to stay dry — but things definitely didn’t turn out that way. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

Increases in water and sewer rates were recently approved by the City Council.

By The Times Staff

The Somerville City Council approved a 15 percent rate increase for water and sewer for FY 2027 during the June 11 meeting.

The increase in water and sewer volumetric usage charges is determined on actual consumption. The base charges are calculated by the meter size and will remain the same.

(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)

By State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven

It has been the honor of my life to serve three terms as your State Representative here in Somerville. I am now running to be your next State Senator because I believe the fights I have led on transparency, accountability, and immigrant rights need to be front and center in Beacon Hill. Some constituents have asked me: how did you come to run for State Representative in the first place? It’s true that I was formerly an antitrust economist, not a career politician. The answer begins with a failure: During Donald Trump’s first term in office, the Massachusetts legislature passed zero bills to protect immigrants.

Somerville resident and Palestinian leader of S4P speaks to the importance of this moment for Palestinians. — Photo courtesy of City of Somerville Public Recording

(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)

By Somerville for Palestine

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, members of Somerville City Council introduced an ordinance to boycott and divest from companies complicit in Israel’s genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation of Palestine. The proposed ordinance follows years of campaigning by Palestinian community leaders and local organizers to stop the flow of municipal tax dollars to companies that provide material support to Israel and enable Israel’s long history of crimes against Palestinians.