City buildings will be closed on Thursday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday. There will be no street sweeping on Christmas and meters and parking permits will not be enforced. Trash and recycling collection will be on a one-day delay all week.

L to R: Big Sister Kristen Erekson with Little Sister Joi’elle at a recent Celtics game.
— Photo courtesy of Kristen Erekson

Annual matching gift campaign through December 31 supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Somerville resident and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) volunteer mentor Kristen Erekson is marking 20 years of combined mentorship to her two Little Sisters. For the fifth consecutive year, Erekson, a longtime Big Sister and BBBSEM Board of Advisors member, will match every donation made from now through December 31 to support BBBSEM’s year-round one-to-one youth mentoring programs.

David Johnston busking in Harvard Square. Photo: Nate Dow

By William C. Shelton

In the late 1980s Union Square after dark was a ghost town. Other than Midnite Convenience, about the only thing open was the Irish Eyes bar. But you would need to practice the buddy system there, because if you fell down, you might get stuck to the floor.

Expanded network to add 12 new charging ports at key locations citywide

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) are announcing a major expansion of the city’s public electric vehicle (EV) charging network with the installation of six new stations that will add 12 publicly accessible charging ports.

Program Chairman James Lynch, Marine Corps members Sergeant Ulises Tapia and Gunnery Sergeant Miguel Guzman, and Kiwanis member Adam Portney. — Photos courtesy of Somerville Kiwanis Club

On Thursday, December 11, Somerville Kiwanis Club members were joined by our good friends from the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club for our annual Toys For Tots luncheon meeting at the Burren Restaurant in Davis Square. Two members of the Marine Corps joined us for this special tri-club meeting.

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne spoke of the many accomplishments that her administration achieved in an address to the City Council last Thursday.

By Harry Kane

In one of the most challenging periods of our nation’s history, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s administration was a beacon of hope that guided the community to heal after the pandemic. The team will pass the torch on to the Wilson administration in the new year.

What’s one of the best parts about the holiday season? The movies and the nostalgia they give us. Celebrate December-time at Arts at the Armory’s historic venue this year with a special holiday movie double feature: Home Alone and Die Hard.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville’s Council on Aging held its Holiday Luncheon on Thursday, December 11, at the Dilboy Post, 351 Summer Street. Along with Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and other city officials, the Somerville Police Department also helped seniors celebrate the holidays while giving them helpful tips to stay safe against scammers who are targeting our community.