The MBTA  has announced service changes in February on the Orange, Needham, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Lowell, and Newburyport/Rockport lines.

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/PlannedWork. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.

Somerville’s 2025 celebration, — Photo courtesy of Kevin Ko

Welcome the Year of the Horse at Somerville’s third annual Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, February 14, at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave.) from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The festival will highlight our Chinese, Vietnamese, East Asian, and Southeast Asian communities and offer family-friendly storytelling, cultural performances, food, facepainting, and more.

Attend a virtual info session on 2/12; Application assistance available in-person and online

To ease the housing search for renters, the City is re-opening their Consolidated Rental Waitlist. Beginning Monday, February 2, through March 2, individuals and families can apply for multiple upcoming affordable rental opportunities through the City’s Inclusionary Housing Program with a single application.  

At this time, the National Weather Service has issued a Cold Advisory beginning Thursday evening, January 29, overnight into Friday morning, January 30. Very cold wind chills as low as -15 are possible. The expected wind chills can cause cold-related illness such as frostbite and hypothermia if precautions are not taken. While the Cold Advisory is not currently in place past Friday morning, it will remain bitterly cold over the coming days, especially during the nighttime and early morning hours.

Apply by February 18
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The City of Somerville is seeking two new members to join the Somerville Condominium Review Board (CRB). Vacancies consist of one full member and one alternate member.

What is the Condominium Review Board?

The CRB is responsible for administering the City’s Condominium Conversion Ordinance. The ordinance governs the process for property owners who intend to convert existing rental units into condominiums for sale, or who wish to make substantial updates to existing rental units. The CRB consists of five full members and one alternate member, who serves as needed.

East Somerville Main Streets Community Bites program is coming back on Monday, February 2. They continue to support food security in their neighborhood while also supporting immigrant-owned restaurants by offering $15 meal vouchers that can be redeemed at participating local restaurants: Ola Cafe, Lotus Xpress, Rei Da Picanha, Los Paisanos, and Sister’s Caribbean.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

At the first mumblings of snow, we kids went into “snow day mode.” We watched Don Kent on Channel 4 and waited to see “Somerville” flash across the screen during the no-school warnings. If Sudbury flashed, no dice! But eventually, when we saw Somerville scroll across, we became jubilant! No school!

A portrait of a woman with her facial features missing on display under a CVS Beauty sign. The mural is by Ariel Freiberg, made for the Inside-Out Gallery. — Photos by Heather Balchunas

By Matthias Gat

The Inside-Out Gallery provides a unique opportunity for artists to exhibit their work and for residents to freely engage with the art world.

In 2009, the Somerville Arts Council took advantage of an empty CVS window in Davis Square. They turned it into a free gallery for residents and commuters to view. The Arts Council asked the community to name the gallery. When two separate respondents wrote in with the same answer, the title was decided: The Inside-Out Gallery. The name is a play on words – the works are on the inside of the window, but out on display for everyone to see.