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After retiring from Brandeis faculty, Karen Klein returned to studying modern dance and began writing contemporary lyric poetry. She performed for eight seasons with Across the Ages Dance and 15 seasons with Prometheus Dance Elders Ensemble. Her poems have been published online and in print, read on radio and television, and choreographed for dancers. The first use of her poems as structure for dance performance appeared in Prometheus Dance Company’s full-length, evening production Desiderare in 2011 and 2012. In 2016 she founded teXtmoVes, a collaborative of poets, dancers, and musicians; teXtmoVes has performed steadily since then, most recently at Starlight Square, Cambridge. Klein continues to study dance, to perform, and to write poems. She is a member of Steeple Street Poets and the Bards.

Hello residents of Somerville and Happy New Year. I am speaking to you, as I have for the past two years, from a remote location due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  While we continue to combat this crisis, there are many things to be grateful for in the new year.

The City of Somerville’s 2022 Virtual Inauguration includes the swearing-in of Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and remarks from City Council President Matt McLaughlin, School Committee Chair Andre Green and U.S. Senator Ed Markey. Community activist and Padres Latinas co-leader Paula Magnelli introduces Mayor Ballantyne.

Mayor Ballantyne was sworn in this morning at 9:00 a.m. in City Hall.

Don’t miss her virtual Inauguration Ceremony tonight at 6:00 p.m. The organizational meeting before the Inaugural to swear in City Councilors and School Committee members will also be held remotely at 5:00 p.m. Visit somervillema.gov to tune in to both events live.

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— Photos by Bobbie Toner
Saturday, January 1, 2022 Somerville residents met at Prospect Hill Tower to learn about the important role our community played in the American Revolution.

Watch Somerville’s virtual Inaugural Ceremony on Monday, January 3, at 6:00 p.m. Join in remotely to see Mayor-elect Katjana Ballantyne be sworn in as mayor. Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley will open with welcoming remarks and Mayor Ballantyne will deliver an address to the community. Remarks from City Council President Matt McLaughlin and School Committee Chairperson Andre Green will follow, and performances by several Somerville youth will be featured. Tune in on City YouTube, CityTV, or Facebook, or watch on demand after the event. Visit somervillema.gov before the ceremony for all streaming links. 

— Photo © Jacoblund / iStockPhoto.com

It’s no secret that many people wait for a new year to commit to implementing better habits. They’ll start eating more vegetables next week, they’ll cut out wine with dinner next month, and they’ll use their gym membership next year. These are things you’ve heard before, and likely even things you’ve said yourself. So how do you make resolutions you’ll stick to?

Somerville has been recognized as a global leader in climate action by environmental-impact nonprofit CDP. Somerville is one of 95 cities to make the 2021 CDP Cities A List, scoring top marks for its ambitious, transparent work to address climate change.