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I have had a number of friends who lost loved ones over the past few months. When I first lost Dianne– my wife – she spoke to me – through subtle ways–through birds (we agreed on those as messengers), my dreams, my cat Klezmer, and even her voice – when I was in the limbo between sleep and wakefulness As the years went by – I felt less connected. The other day, while in bed,” I asked the universe, god, or a benevolent spirit, “Is Dianne still here?” It was of course a rhetorical question, during my 3AM night of my soul. Just after I asked the question, the cat jumped on my bed and started sniffing furiously, and my Alexa turned on and started to say something – I couldn’t hear it – but I was surprised because I didn’t prompt it, and it was in the next room. Now of course, this can be explained logically. But I chose to believe it was Dianne – she is still around – her spirit hovers over my bed, my bald, and freckled head. So, for those of you who have lost a loved one – he, she or they – they are there, accept that ethereal stroke of your hair… “Ah! Sweet mystery of life…”

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Our poet Michael Coles writes: “This poem was written in response to Marge Piercy’s Barbie Doll, a beautifully written piece of feminist literature from 1971. Piercy’s poetry inspires many women and still upholds modern feminist ideals. Barbie Doll details experiences such as bullying and body dysmorphia, both of which I have struggled with, and which most if not all women have struggled with as well. The assignment that prompted me to write this poem was to write a poem as if attending the funeral of the narrator from the Barbie Doll poem. It is crucial that all women across the world are reminded how truly unique and beautiful they are, and that beauty standards are nothing, but a social construct made to empower men and weaken women. You are gorgeous and perfect exactly as you are, no matter your size or shape, no matter the color of your skin, no matter what.”

Pressley, Markey, McGovern join ranking member Thompson, Rep. Carter to conduct oversight, demand accountability

Today, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited the ICE detention facilities in Basile and Jena with her colleagues, where Rümeysa Öztürk and Mahmoud Khalil are being unlawfully detained, respectively. Joined by House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02), the Congresswoman’s visit included direct meetings with Ms. Öztürk and Mr. Khalil, two students who have been unlawfully detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana from their homes in retaliation for their protected speech. They also met with Wendy Brito, an asylum-seeker from El Salvador and New Orleans-area resident who never returned from a regular check-in last month with ICE.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) will host a town hall in Somerville. Congresswoman Pressley will take questions from constituents and discuss her fight against the cruel attacks from the Trump administration. The Congresswoman will discuss her support for federal workers and our immigrant neighbors, and essential programs like Medicaid and Social Security, and what we can do together to protect our community.

— Photo by Terence Clarey

By  Terence Clarey

On a sidewalk, near the curb between a bicycle shop and a three-story apartment building, on Elm Street, Somerville, just east of its intersection with Beech and Willow Streets, stands a small granite marker, usually obscured by parked cars, with these words chiseled on its face:

Monday, April 21, is Patriots’ Day. City buildings will be closed. Trash, recycling and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day. No street sweeping on Monday.

Free, family-friendly events May 3 – 9 highlight local sustainability efforts

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne invites residents to celebrate SustainaVille Week 2025, a weeklong series of free events from May 3 – 9 showcasing Somerville’s climate progress and engaging the community in the next steps toward a carbon net-negative future.