Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

It was operational for many decades. You could hear the pigs squealing as the trains were bringing them to slaughter. Some said you could smell the plant from Bradlees which, was close by. As the reporter in this story, I am passing on comments of those who have memories of the Squire Slaughtering and Curing establishment.

Sarah Borges will be at The Burren on Saturday, April 2, presenting her “Borges Together Alone Release Show.”

By Blake Maddux

“Been a while now since I’ve seen my friends. Don’t know when I’m gonna see them again,” sings Sarah Borges on the opening track of her new album, Together Alone.

This is, of course, not the first time that a singer has used a song to express a combination of longing and uncertainty.

A report by the city’s Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee shed light on police policies regarding the handling of undocumented immigrants.

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, March 24, members of the Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations Committee reported on the results of their previous meeting on Tuesday, March 15.

— Photos courtesy of Kevin Foster

On Monday morning, March 21, more than 70 residents, organizers and activists, and elected officials joined the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) at the entrance of the re-opened MBTA Lechmere Station for a bilingual Somerville community press conference called, “Don’t Let the Green Line Become the Gentrification Line!” The event preceded the MassDOT grand opening ceremony for the MBTA Green Line Extension (GLX).

Local makers and educators Kelly Taylor and Dina Gjertsen of Parts and Crafts, a family makerspace on Somerville Avenue, display an assortment of handmade gadgets and toys.

At Union Square networking event, creatives convene with developers and city officials
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By Molly Rains

Entrepreneurs, artists, and other “makers” from across Somerville gathered together for a Maker Movement Huddle on Thursday, March 24. The event was hosted by the Boynton Yards development team and the City of Somerville’s Economic Development Division, with Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and representatives from the Somerville Arts Council also in attendance.

By Kyle Dante

In light of financial matters, the police force remains a sensitive subject. Concerning movements such as Black Lives Matter, it is a discussion of uncertainty.

In 2001, Somerville’s Sam Alterman led an investigation. The investigation is about the budgetary decisions made by the Somerville City Council. Alterman called for a deemphasis on the police, citing public health and safety as primary reasons. Reevaluated in 2004 by then-Mayor Joe Curtatone, it formed the Police Advisory Group in 2005. Following that, more police officers have joined the ranks.

Ibbetson Street literary magazine, founded in Somerville in 1998 by Doug Holder, Richard Wilhelm, and Dianne Robitaille, will celebrate the release of the 50th issue at the Central Branch of the Somerville Library, 79 Highland Ave. on March 30, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Open to the public.

Eagle Feathers #250 – The mayor of Union Square  

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Robert Aldersey Vinal was the oldest of eleven children. Born in Boston, he was three years old when his parents moved to Somerville/Charlestown in 1824. It was here that his father, a grain dealer, and his mother, Lydia Stone, resided until his father’s death in 1867. This place would become known as Union Square.  

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes the inevitable regular street sweeping activities throughout the city.

As inconvenient and annoying it may be to comply with schedule, it is an inescapable fact of life for us all and we must make the adjustment accordingly.

After a three year absence, the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s Spring Into Action Event took place at the Somerville Theatre’s newly refurbished Crystal Ballroom on Thursday, March 24. Food was provided by Dave’s Fresh Pasta and Red Bones and The Chicken Slacks brought the music. All proceeds from this event will benefit Somerville Homeless Coalition clients facing homelessness, eviction and food insecurity. If you missed the event but would like to learn more about supporting the SHC, go to https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org.