(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 Rep. Christine Barber

Decisions about abortion care belong to a patient and their doctor. No one else. That conviction is why I filed H.5595, An Act Prioritizing Patient Access to Care.

Join #ARTSTAYSHERE for a special screening of the documentary short A MATTER OF LIGHT on the founding of Vernon Street Studios, the largest artist workspace community in Somerville, on July 29, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Rd., followed by a discussion with Anne Continelli, the filmmaker, and the founders. This special event is part of #ARTSTAYSHERE’s community curator exhibition FACES, PLACES & SPACES, on view through August 23. Go here to reserve your ticket for the film event: https://AMatterofLight.eventbrite.com. Go here to read the ArtScope feature on the exhibition: https://bit.ly/artscopejulaug26.

*
Imagine, you just walked around for a couple of hours in 90 degree heat ducking in and out of the Monastery and multiple buildings on the premises on the mountainside of Montserrat just outside of Barcelona, Spain. You have taken in the breathtaking views and are certainly ready for some rest and relaxation.

Who can honestly say that they don’t have a special place in their heart for warm summer days where lingering in the sun, soaking it in, makes up for all the icy months we suffer through off-season?

Still, there are times when the heat gets a little too intense for our liking and for our health and wellbeing, as we’ve experienced this past week or so.

(L to R): Lou Sirignano, Will Mbah, Tom White, and Tom Gorman.

Somerville’s Veterans Breakfast for Purple Heart Recipients took place on Thursday, July 23, at the Highlander Cafe at Somerville High School. The city’s Veterans Services Division, along with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Veterans Affairs, honored USMC Lou Sirignano, a Vietnam veteran, as a Purple Heart recipient. The event was attended by numerous veterans, community leaders, family and friends.

*

While I was having my usual bagel at the Bagel Bin on Shirley Ave., City Councilman Ira Novosesky told me about an event that was presented by the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center. The program was a presentation regarding Jewish life and history in the city of Revere.

*
Rachel Kushner writes poems, children’s books, and research papers. The research papers and briefs focus on Boston’s public pre-K programming. The poems and children’s books are sick of hiding. She works for the Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood as a data analyst and research coordinator. Rachel lives in Union Square with her six housemates in an unofficial co-op. She really likes jumping on her mini trampoline.

DC Activist Street Band, followed by the 700-foot-long “We the People” preamble banner, during the We The People 250 March, held in DC on July 4, 2026
~Photo courtesy of DC Activist Street Band

Heads up! The 21st annual HONK! Festival is already in its fine-tuning stage, preparing to raise a merry impossible-to-ignore ruckus during this year’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend, with the Festival covering Friday thru Sunday, October 9-11. When the initial call went out in the Spring for activist street band participation, over 65 bands applied, hailing from all over the country. It will take a while to narrow down the participation to a manageable size. But suffice it to say that this year’s Festival will indeed be very robust. All prompted by the urgency to loudly convene and joyously perform. With a common goal, to gather in support of “No justice. No peace.”

Chicken Chuchitos by La Todosantera Guatemalan+Mayan Cuisine

Peruvian, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian menus highlight how Somerville’s Nibble Program helps immigrant and women entrepreneurs build food businesses

The City of Somerville’s Nibble Kitchen is serving up a rotating lineup of Peruvian, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian cuisine this summer at Bow Market in Union Square. The tiny space offers big rewards for diners – and chefs.