City Council and School Committee meet with Mayor Jake Wilson to elect a new City Council president and new School Committee chairperson.

Mayor-elect Jake Wilson is sworn-in as mayor of the city of Somerville on January 2, 2026

Popular pet store Big Fish Little Fish is closing its door for good after decades of serving the community.

By Harry Kane

The fish tanks have been drained and the pet store everybody liked is closing down. Whether you are a big fish or little fish in Somerville, it’s sad to see the popular pet store in Porter Square come to an end.

 Inauguration Ceremony and Public Reception on Saturday, January 3

As Somerville embarks on the next legislative term, Mayor-Elect Jake Wilson, the Somerville City Council, and the Somerville School Committee invite the community to attend the 2026 Inaugural events.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Did you wake up with a splitting headache on January 1? I didn’t, but that’s not the way it used to be.

How has the whole New Year’s Eve celebration thing changed? Well, I can only speak for myself and some of my Somerville friends. I can remember playing in the band at the Dilboy Post in Davis Square and going home with a ton of leftover Chinese food, including gallon jugs full of duck sauce. I recall a certain New Year’s Eve at The Embassy Lounge on Somerville Ave. that ended with the Police Department’s van escorting some patrons to jail. But that was the old days when we were younger.

Procession from City Hall steps off at 11:30 a.m.; Ceremony at Prospect Hill Noon-1 p.m.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Museum will kick off the New Year on Thursday, January 1, 2026, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first-flag “Grand Union” flag-raising. A procession led by “George Washington” will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. and head to Prospect Hill, and all are invited to join in. The annual ceremony at Prospect Hill Park features a history-filled speaking program from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

(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 Mayor Katjana Ballantyne

When I took office in 2022, Somerville was still emerging from the worst of the pandemic while navigating the host of pressures facing most cities across the nation: housing instability, growing need for services, aging infrastructure, and the urgency of climate change. But as I rallied my administration to meet these needs, I also saw the opportunity to build a more inclusive, equitable city where everyone can thrive – at its core, we were seeking progress for all.