In first eight weeks, kiosks dispensed 940 free health and safety items—nearly 40% after hours

Free condoms at 2 a.m.? Narcan on a Sunday? Winter gloves when the temperature drops and everything’s closed? In Somerville, there’s now a vending machine for that—and in the first eight weeks, residents obtained nearly 1,000 items from two 24/7 public health kiosks, with many items dispensed after regular business hours when most resources are locked up for the night.

The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Bart Reidy to its Board of Directors. Bart Reidy is a nonprofit strategist and senior advancement executive with more than 25 years of experience guiding major arts organizations through periods of growth, transition, and strategic planning. He spent 16 years at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, holding several senior roles including Chief Strategy Officer. He led the BSO’s Beyond Measure and Tanglewood Forever campaigns. Previously, he served in key leadership positions at the Tony Award–winning Williamstown Theatre Festival. Since 2017, Bart has advised performing arts organizations nationwide and recently served as founding principal of Arrow Street Arts in Harvard Square.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I attended Somerville High School from 1969 to 1971 (Yes, I graduated!). One of my fondest and funniest memories was the bus ride home at the end of the school day. We used to walk down School Street and get the Clarendon Hill via Broadway bus.

Somerville’s Pedestrian & Transit Advisory Committee recently weighed in with its suggestions on the McGrath Boulevard project. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Harry Kane

Enthusiasm is building among motorists who look forward to MassDOT’s McGrath Boulevard project, which aims to transform Route 28 from an elevated highway to a ground-level boulevard, but feedback from Somerville’s Pedestrian & Transit Advisory Committee surrounding specific details in the design of the project has City Councilors expressing a desire to create a consensus among stakeholders to reduce confusion when communicating with state officials at the transportation department.

Concern over safety issues at the Kensington Connector has been a topic of discussion for many years. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By The Times Staff

For years, Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin has been advocating for improvements at the Kensington Connector in East Somerville that he calls “dangerous and disgusting.”

Community members are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the city’s annual celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, January 17, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave). The celebration will include light food and refreshments, arts and crafts for all ages, youth performances including speeches, poetry, and music, and a keynote address delivered by Dr. James “Jimmy” McCarty, focused on the life and legacy of Dr. King. Light food and refreshments will also be served. RSVP to attend at bit.ly/MLK_2026.

City Councilor At Large Ben Wheeler is advocating for more community meetings in the future.

 By The Times Staff

City Councilor Ben Wheeler said he wants to explore the idea of more community meetings that will help unite the community.

A resolution was approved at the City Council meeting on January 8 that asks the Wilson administration to consider convening issues-specific community meetings for residents to share their perspectives and experiences on long-term issues such as mobility and transportation, school integration, inclusion, choice, and specialization.