The Buzzin’ Bean café on Holland St. has just been opened on May 17. ~Photos by Jeffrey Shwom.

By Jeffrey Shwom

Serving up eclectic vegetarian food and with a plan to empower folks with autism, Jayashree Venkataraman opened a new vegetarian cafe The Buzzin’ Bean on May 17. Per her website, she is “passionate about creating flavorful and diverse dishes,” with a menu of salads, sandwiches, bowls, handcrafted pastries, and coffee and tea “influenced by global cuisines.”

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The second annual New England Hong Kong Festival took place on Sunday, June 1, at Seven Hills Park in Somerville to celebrate the vibrant culture, food, and creativity of Hongkongers across the region. The event was free and open to all.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

If you Google “Faces” a site for a club in San Diego by that name pops up. If you drive down Route 2 east toward Boston, you will see a ramshackle, beat down, decaying building with a tall sign that says “Faces” on it. Alas, it wasn’t always a deserted eyesore, oh no.

(click to enlarge)

The MBTA is reminding riders that Green Line service will be suspended between North Station and Babcock Street on the B Branch, Kenmore on the C and D Branches, and Heath Street on the E Branch beginning at approximately 8 pm on Wednesday, June 4, and continuing all day, every day, for four days, June 5 – 8.   

Slide from the presentation to the City Council explaining the combined sewer system.

By Jeffrey Shwom

A multi-generational approach to separate unsanitary water from stormwater is taking time and could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The problem is “more than just combined sewer overflows (CSO) … the flooding is caused by runoff and hydraulic capacity of the brook,” Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management Rich Raiche discussed with the Somerville City Council on Thursday, May 22.

Cycling students are all smiles, standing alongside Bicycle Riding School instructor Susan McLucas — Photos courtesy of Susan McLucas

By Harry Kane

They say that once you learn how to ride a bicycle, you never forget, but sometimes it’s good to get a refresher.

The Bicycle Riding School has offered lessons for kids and adults in Somerville for 40 years. Susan McLucas is the owner of the school who, along with seven other instructors, has been teaching people of all ages how to ride at local schoolyards.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Health and Human Services are inviting all community members to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month at the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Thursday, June 5, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.). The event will feature remarks from Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, city LGBTQ+ Services Coordinator Izzy Starr, and youth representatives from Somerville’s LGBTQ+ community. Live ASL interpretation will be available. For more information about LGBTQ+ programming, events, and information, please visit somervillema.gov/lgbtq-services.