— Photos by Bobbie Toner

The Somerville Arts Council’s Illuminations is back until January 2, 2023. Take a self-guided tour and enjoy the brightest holiday displays around Somerville. To access the map visit somervilleartscouncil.org. 

 More Than 3,000 Stickers Placed on Liquor Store Bags Reminding Adults Not to Purchase Alcohol for People Under 21

Unlawful purchases of alcohol by adults for youth are a significant contributor to underage drinking, and Somerville youth working with a City of Somerville prevention program have been out in force to help stem the problem this holiday season. Using a tactic known as a “Sticker Shock” campaign, youth leaders gathered more than 3,000 bags from liquor stores and placed stickers on them reminding adults not to provide alcohol to people who are underage.      

By Jim Clark

Last week, Somerville Police dispatch received a call that a car was stopped in the middle of the street near the intersection of Temple and Ten Hills Road and had been idling for a few minutes. Police officers were subsequently dispatched to the area to investigate the matter.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Massachusetts State Police assigned to USPIS and Melrose Police have confirmed that two juveniles have been arrested and charged with armed masked robbery in connection with allegedly using an apparent firearm and a knife to rob a United States Postal Service letter carrier in Melrose.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

At this time of year, there are many versions of the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. I hope you enjoy this one. It’s dedicated to all my loved ones no longer with us…

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council are inviting residents to participate in the city’s cultural capacity planning process. The cultural planning process aims to explore ways to strengthen and improve access to Somerville’s cultural assets. Community members can participate in a variety of ways, including joining a community conversation, self-nominating to serve as an ambassador to the city and representing your artistic or cultural community on the Advisory Committee, or attending a town hall and sharing feedback on draft recommendations.

Local authorities are actively investigating the recent bomb threats targeting Tufts University.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

A busy finals season for students at Tufts was dramatically interrupted by a number of bomb threats in the last week sending students into panic and flipping finals on its head. Multiple bomb threats have been called in and emailed to the University over the previous seven days.

(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 Jonathan Monderer

We live in a world where food is accessible as ever, where we can get fruits and vegetables and other groceries from all over the world. Not until volunteering at a farm a couple of years ago did I truly realize the disconnect we have from the food we eat and the amount of energy and resources it takes to grow something.

Fluff Freaks entertain at holidayNOVA. — Photos courtesy of Somernova

Hundreds gathered on Wednesday, December 7 at Somernova, Somerville’s Innovation Hub, for a Somerville good time and to celebrate the season.

The publishers, staff and everyone associated with The Somerville Times wish one and all a very Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, as well as a prosperous and healthy New Year in 2023.