The City of Somerville is partnering with community groups again this year to raise awareness about black swallow-wort (BSW), a very aggressive and invasive, non-native weed that can be found throughout Somerville. BSW displaces native plants and habitats, threatens butterflies and songbirds, and is toxic to deer and livestock. It is especially harmful to the monarch butterfly population because it resembles milkweed, where monarchs lay their eggs, and once the monarch larvae hatch, they die from eating the toxic BSW leaves.

The Cambridge and Somerville Chambers of Commerce today announced that each community’s respective annual “Taste of” events will be reimagined this summer as a summertime “Dining Passport” program. The initiative, which takes place between July 1 and August 15, will direct 100 percent of passport proceeds to local restaurant workers and non-profit organizations.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Attendees of last weekend’s Carnaval at SomerStreets 2021 event stopped by the East Branch Library to take part in some Samba and Salsa dance instructions.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Medford St. residence last week on reports of a breaking and entering in progress. Responding officers were told that an intruder was “kicking” a door.

Upon arrival, officers witnessed two men, one later identified as Kevin McKenzie, on the front steps of the Medford St. house.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

1972 was a good year for Somerville.

The city celebrated its Centennial and they also won the All America City award. There was a lot to be happy about.

In 1972, Nixon was re-elected for a second term beating the hippie’s candidate George McGovern. (I was a full-fledged hippie back then, not happy about Nixon.)

Ashley Forward. — Photo courtesy of the Forward family

Update: 35-year-old William Leger, of Somerville, was arraigned virtually from his hospital bed on Thursday on charges filed by the Essex District Attorney’s Office related to the death Ashley Forward, of Lynn. The charges include: motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, receiving a stolen vehicle, unarmed robbery, driving the wrong way on a state highway, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, speeding, and marked lanes violation. Leger has been ordered held without bail at this time.

The City of Somerville FY22 Budget was formally presented to the City Council by Mayor Curtatone at a special meeting on June 3, setting the stage for the usual discussions, debates, and compromises to come.

By Joe Creason

On June 3, the City Council held a special meeting to discuss the 2022 fiscal year budget. Mayor Joseph Curtatone began the meeting with his budget presentation requesting the appropriation of $270,088,117 to the FY22 General Fund.

“It’s been a challenging year, we lost 86 souls, lives were turned upside down, businesses were disrupted, and the emotional distress of isolation took its toll,” Curtatone said.

(click to enlarge)

By Bella Levavi

On Wednesday, June 2, City Councilors hosted their second community meeting to discuss the redevelopment of Gilman Square. At the meeting, they presented three three-dimensional massing options, each one representing plans for a civic space on the square and three to four large buildings.