Mrs. Joan M. Merritt, 84, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Beverly Hospital. Born in Wellesley, she was the daughter of the late Willard H. and Sadie (Doyle) Bennett. She was the beloved wife of Travis M. Merritt, with whom she celebrated 64 years of marriage.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I love all kinds of trees. We have a couple of blooming trees in our front yard did get more beautiful every year. But the city is having a problem with trees destroying sidewalks and it’s the thought that the trees can’t be altered or augmented in anyway. They are protected under some strange rules that forbids messing around with their roots, etc.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville will host a Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Trum Field on Thursday, June 29 (rain date: Friday, June 30).

“Procession (The People Make the Party)” by Lauren O’Neal. — Photos by Maile Blume

By Maile Blume

For over 35 years, Brickbottom Artists Association (BAA) has created a space for artists to live and work together in a tight-knit community. Chris Mesarch, one of the founding members of the association, said on the importance of art-making for the community, “It’s really a way of life…that’s the glue that holds us together.”

Not everyone’s budget wishes were fulfilled for FY 2024, as last-minute revisions and allocations were made for the final vote.

By Beatriz Leite

In the FY2024 budget final vote on Thursday, June 22, the City Council decided not to approve Councilor At-Large Willie Burnley Jr.’s order that asked the Council to send back the FY2024 budget until it incorporates the demands of residents, including funding for a new Winter Hill School, housing security, and unarmed alternative emergency response outside of the Police Department. The order was placed on file, however, and some smaller resolutions that attack those problems were approved.

Urban Planners from Tufts University recently discussed the pros and cons of pedestrianization of Davis Square with the public.

By Beatriz Leite

This past Wednesday, June 21, five aspiring Urban Planners from Tufts University presented a plan, based on their study, to pedestrianize Davis Square on the weekends. Local residents and business owners gathered at Aeronaut Brewing Company to listen to the presenters and share their concerns and questions about this new proposal.

(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 Will Mbah
Candidate for Somerville City Councilor at Large
willmbah.com

As I was listening in on the City Council budget review meetings during June, I paid close attention to the two new procedures, which were added this year and tried to understand how they influenced the final outcome.

Get ready for summer fun at the city and Somerville Arts Council’s Fourth of July celebration. Enjoy live music, food, and of course, a big, bold fireworks display. Head to Trum Field on Thursday, June 29, at 6:00 p.m. (rain date June 30). Learn more at https://somervilleartscouncil.org/fireworks. Due to large crowds and noise associated with the fireworks, the city recommends that attendees leave pets at home and avoid bringing unnecessary bags or backpacks, all of which are subject to inspection. For more information, call 311 (617-666-3311).

*

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

The Somerville Redevelopment Authority met on the evening of Wednesday, June 21, to provide some brief updates regarding two ongoing projects. Phil Ercolini, Ben Demers, Christine Stone, Iwona Bonney, Catherine Lester Salchert, William Gage, Rachel Nadkarni, and Patrick McCormick attended the meeting.