The Somerville Homeless Coalition held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 24 to celebrate the opening of their new Engagement Center and Offices at 362 Summer St. The new shelter is expanding its adult shelter from 16 to 26 beds to better serve the community. Presenting at the ribbon-cutting were Executive Director Michael Libby, President of the Board Sébastien Cimon Gagnon, and Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson. Former Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, First Church Somerville, SHC  Board of Directors, local officials, community members, and local business supporters gathered to mark this significant milestone.

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Here’s a great recipe for Meatless Monday. Packed with sweet and savory flavors that go well with spaghetti squash or pasta. The different textures will leave you truly satisfied with this vegetarian knockoff of a meat-filled ragu.

Those in public service to our state must be ready, willing, and able to rise to the occasion when called upon to do so. Each one of us, whoever we may be supporting in this year’s statewide election, is searching our hearts to determine whom we feel will best fill those roles.

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I recently caught up with Somerville professor and poet Beth Rosenberg. Along with her mentor, Chuck Levenstein, they have written a book of poems about the workers in the nuclear industry.

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Poet Doug Holder writes: “You know, I have taught Ray Bradbury’s short story There will come soft rains for years now at Endicott College. The story is about the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust. The date for the piece is set on Aug. 4, 2026. And now with wars around the world … I wrote this small poem that was inspired by Bradbury.”

As of today, the City of Somerville Election Department has begun mailing Vote-by-Mail ballots to voters for the September 1 State Primary Election.

Ballots will continue to be mailed regularly as applications are received and processed. Voters are encouraged to return their completed ballots as soon as possible. Returning your ballot early allows the Election Department time to review the ballot envelope for completeness and contact you, if necessary, should any issue arise that could affect whether your ballot is eligible to be counted.

State Senate candidate Erika Uyterhoeven speaks at July 7 Mystic Valley Voters Forum

The second Mystic Valley Voters Forum (MVVF) will be hosted on Wednesday, August 19 at Bonsignore Hall in Medford Public Library from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Greensleeves and String

Local non-profit animal rescue organization Kitty Connection is urgently seeking a foster home or adoption for two older cats, whose owners learned after buying a new home that the condominium association doesn’t  allow cats. If adopters or foster homes aren’t found by the end of August, the 13-year-old siblings – Greensleeves and String – will be euthanized.

On Tuesday, August 11th at 11 a.m. , New England Donor Services (NEDS) will host an event at Somerville City Hall to raise awareness for the importance of organ and tissue donation. Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson will join NEDS staff, local heart transplant recipient Joe Kowalski, and donor wife Kathy O’Brien, to highlight the life-saving impact of organ and tissue donation and encourage community members to register as donors.