So, it’s always one thing or another. As of late, we are taking note of the big kerfuffle developing over changes to MBTA bus routes and schedules.

It seems as though many in the Somerville-Medford region feel that there has not been enough transparency offered by the public transportation authority, and a good number of them are up in arms over several proposed changes the system’s operations.

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Article by Off the Shelf Correspondent Michael Todd Steffen

Just a “hey there” to moviegoers considering Elvis, Baz Luhrman’s biopic of iconic rock legend Elvis Presley. If you’re scrunching your nose and thinking naw, this is just about a flashy rhinestone Vegas entertainer – think again.

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Llyn Clague lives in Sleepy Hollow, NY. His poems have been published widely, including in Ibbetson Street, Atlanta Review, Wisconsin Review, California Quarterly, Main Street Rag, New York Quarterly, and other magazines. His eighth book, Up Close And Nuclear, was published by Main Street Rag. Visit www.llynclague.com.

Arrests:
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Jacqueline McAll, of Charlestown, July 25, 11:00 a.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on a warrant charge of receiving stolen property over $1200.

Daniel Vivas, July 28, 1:37 p.m., arrested at Florence St. on charges of drug violation near a school, possession of cocaine to distribute, and carrying a firearm without a license, and on warrant charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and armed carjacking.

On July 29, 2022, YouthBuild Just A Start’s construction students delivered and installed the first community refrigerator and pantry at St Clement Church in Medford, MA as a part of a collaborative partnership with Somerville Community Fridge, a volunteer-run mutual aid group that provides assistance building, maintaining, and stocking community refrigerators in the cities of Somerville and Medford and collaborates with other towns and cities in the Metro-North area.

Riders can enjoy complimentary passes as part of “Mindful Mondays” throughout National Wellness Month, courtesy of Blue Cross

In recognition of National Wellness Month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”) is sponsoring free Bluebikes Adventure Passes each Monday in August, beginning August 1, as part of its second annual “Mindful Mondays” initiative. The free passes will be available across the system’s 11 municipalities, including Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Newton, Revere, Salem, Somerville and Watertown. Blue Cross is the title sponsor of Bluebikes, which is owned by the municipalities and operated by Lyft.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville invite you to a design workshop for 90 Washington Street, a 4-acre site near the East Somerville Green Line station envisioned as the future home of a new Public Safety Building and a range of civic, commercial, and residential uses. This is the latest engagement event for the 90 Washington Street project, coming after a series of community meetings and listening sessions held earlier this year. At this workshop, participants can use LEGOs to design their ideal redevelopment of the site. Each model will be photographed and used with other feedback collected to inform a development concept for public review. 

(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 State Senator Pat Jehlen

On July 12, I wrote about the eight conference committees meeting to resolve differences on legislation between the House and Senate.  Since then, we have given final approval to four conference committee bills – and passed new bills that need resolution by conference committees. This week, I wrote about the bills we approved on Tuesday. Here is information about the bills we’ve approved on Climate and COVID Extensions.

You don’t have to be a sustainability expert to incorporate elements of eco-friendly living into your everyday routine. This summer, think about the small changes you can make that can add up to make a bigger difference.