Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

In 1969 I was 16 years old. I landed a job as a stock boy at Woolworths five and ten cent store in Davis Square. We called it Woolies. Woolworths was where Starbucks is now. I started out doing the stock room duties and got promoted all the way up to luncheonette worker where my favorites were grilled cheese sandwiches and hotdogs.

Somerville Public Schools Enrollment Portal opens from January 4 through February 24, 2023. Families who enroll by February 24 deadline will be eligible for first round of school assignments. 

The Somerville Public Schools’ (SPS) annual school enrollment period for prekindergarten and kindergarten students will open on January 4, 2023, and SPS staff are gearing up to make sure Somerville families are ready and able to enroll students. All students who will be 4 years old by August 31, 2023 are eligible for the district’s PreK program. All students who will be 5 years old by August 31, 2023 are eligible for Kindergarten.

This Thursday, December 1, from approximately 9:00 a.m. to noon, the block of Somerville Avenue from Dane to School Street will be closed to accommodate security measures for the British Royal visit to Greentown Labs. Both directions of travel, the sidewalks, and parking will be closed to the public during this time.

The Director of the Office of Housing Stability, Ellen Shachter, delivered a thorough explanation of the benefits and potential workings of the city’s municipal voucher program.

By Jim Clark

Director of the Office of Housing Stability (OHS) Ellen Shachter presented an update on the new municipal voucher program and other tools to promote affordable housing at the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council.

The short film “We Are Here Too,” which explores the experiences of four women during the Covid pandemic, was recently screened at the Somerville Museum.

By Emilia Wisniewski

The Somerville Museum hosted an online showing of the city-based short film We Are Here Too on November 22, capturing the stories of four creative and talented women and their experiences through the global pandemic.

Vernon Street Studios Fall/Winter Open Studios takes place this weekend.

On December 3 and 4, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m., after a long four-year hiatus, Vernon Street Studios will open their doors to host their Fall/Winter open studios. While art creation can be a solo practice, art is best appreciated when celebrated with others and the artists of 6 and 20 Vernon Street are thrilled to welcome the public into their work spaces once again.

This Thursday, Prince William and Kate will be visiting Somerville during their trip to Boston for the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony. They will be here to visit and learn about climate innovations being utilized at Greentown Labs, 444 Somerville Ave.

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With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to share this recipe that is a staple in our home on Christmas Eve. Auntie Dot’s baked stuffed shrimp. We serve multiple courses including an antipasto platter along with a baked Brie en croute with cranberries, cheese and crackers, and pâté just before the baked stuffed shrimp are served. The main courses consisting of shrimp, broccoli and pasta soup, cioppino, ham, tzimmes, roasted potatoes and green bean Almondine are served a short time later. To top it all off, an assortment of fruits and desserts including tiramisu, Italian cookies and brownies.

Here comes the holiday shopping season once again, and we are ready to embrace the opportunity to celebrate the only way we know how: with enthusiasm and optimistic attitudes.

Let the political and social pundits doom and gloom themselves into their usual perpetual state of the doldrums. We know how to lift ourselves, to rise to the occasion and make the most of what we have, in spite of whatever challenges may confront us.

Somerville, Everett, Arlington, and Lexington (S.E.A.L.) Massachusetts Collaborative for Action, Leadership, and Learning (MassCALL3) cluster will host a Youth Substance Misuse Prevention Data Share and Discussion event on Thursday, December 1, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. To register, please go to bit.ly/masscall3.