Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Acting Chief of Police Charles Femino have confirmed the identity of last night’s fatal stabbing victim as Jalel Brown-Cross, 33 of Boston.

On December 2, 2021, at approximately 10:38 p.m., Somerville Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a stabbing on Munroe Street. Upon arrival, officers located Jalel Brown-Cross suffering from multiple stab wounds. EMS personnel subsequently pronounced him dead at the scene. Preliminary investigation suggests that Shakeel Bodden, 28 of Somerville, allegedly attacked Mr. Brown-Cross with a knife inside the residence. Bodden was transported to an area hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the attack. Shakeel Bodden was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. The victim and the suspect were known to each other.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Acting Chief of Police Charles Femino have confirmed that Shakeel Bodden, 28 of Somerville, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred last night in Somerville.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City of Somerville Mobility Division invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss Somerville’s first citywide bicycle network plan. 

The city’s goal is to create a comprehensive network of streets where people of all abilities will feel comfortable and safe riding their bikes through Somerville. To achieve that vision, the city is collaborating with Street Plans, an urban planning, design, research-advocacy firm, to develop a citywide bicycle network plan. The plan will designate corridors for various bikeway facilities, connect gaps in the current network, and guide future improvements. It will also include actionable policy, project, and program recommendations to guide the implementation of an inclusive bicycle environment for all Somerville residents.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

A lot of us have items that were passed down from generation to generation. I still have my father’s desk that he did his high school homework on back in the 30s. I also have my mother’s jewelry box and a lot of my father’s Masonic items.

A Malden woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a drug and firearms conspiracy that included multiple shootings in Chelsea, Somerville and Cambridge.

The Gilman Square Street Design project team met last week to provide updates on various issues related to the project’s planning and progress. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Eileen Qiu

A virtual meeting took place on Monday, November 22, to discuss the Gilman Square Street Design.

City staff provided an update on present and future projects in Gilman Square, presented the feasibility study for an accessible path from Marshall St. to the Medford St. Bridge and Community Path, discussed options for protected bicycle lanes on Medford St. and Pearl St. from the School Street to the Skilton Ave. intersections, and gathered public feedback.

Among the many artisanal delights the city has to offer, Lunch City Studio combines a commitment to the environment with their dazzling array of print and other media offerings.

By Ryan DiLello

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed innumerable challenges to our community, especially to those in the small business world. Local artisans and merchants play a central role in keeping Somerville vibrant; we need their creativity and expressiveness now more than ever.

Join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and special guests for two of Somerville’s annual holiday celebrations. The festivities will begin with the annual Christmas tree lighting on Thursday, December 2, at 5:00 p.m. on the City Hall concourse. After the tree lighting, Santa Claus will join in for a meet and greet next door at Somerville High School (don’t forget your camera if you’d like a photo). Santa will be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments, with a gift and cookies for each child in tow. Live entertainment will feature the Somerville High School Chorus, Somerville High School Orchestra, El Sistema Somerville, and the Somerville High School Jazz Band. Later in the week, the ceremonial menorah lighting will take place on Sunday, December 5, at 5:00 p.m. on the City Hall concourse with Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz from Temple B’nai Brith. Light refreshments will be served. Both events are open to all members of the community. Social distancing will be enforced and masks will be required indoors.

The other housing crisis: Housing for people with disabilities
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By State Representative Christine P. Barber

The COVID-19 crisis is not only a significant health threat, it also exposes inequalities that continue to grow in our communities. As we respond to and recover from the pandemic, the connection between housing stability and public health has never been stronger. Safe housing is necessary for our public health. Families and individuals, particularly in Somerville and Medford, are facing evictions and increases in the cost of housing at record levels. But COVID-19 has also illuminated another housing crisis: the need for homes for people with disabilities.