Somerville Media Center offers a set of free Digital Literacy Workshops for anyone wanting to improve their ability to navigate and participate in the digital media sphere. These sessions aim to expand digital inclusion with expert guidance on savvy smartphone use, better internet research, media production skills, graphic design, building a user friendly website, becoming a community journalist, deepening media literacy and critical consumption. These workshops will run from January – June and you can view the full list of workshops online here.

City calls on community to help shape aggressive plan to strive for Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries in Somerville

 Today, Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced the release of an ambitious 5-year draft plan to work toward the city’s Vision Zero goal, which aims to eliminate traffic crashes in Somerville that result in severe injuries and fatalities. Curtatone is calling on the community to review the draft plan, which was prepared by a community task force working with city staff and regional advocacy organizations. The plan is posted online for comment and will be discussed at upcoming public meetings (see below).

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

An Open Letter to Mayor Curtatone:

An economically diverse community stimulates creativity, vitality and is essential to the functioning of the community. Clearly, economic diversity is one of the most important reasons that Somerville is such a desirable place to live.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Joseph A. Curtatone

Mayor Curtatone was sworn in for his ninth term on Monday, January 6. Below are excerpts from his inaugural address. You can find the full speech at www.somervillema.gov.

It is just as much of an honor to serve you now as it was back in 2004 when I was first sworn in.

The importance of the daily work we do to provide core services has not changed. Things like offering flu shots, picking up the garbage, stretching every dollar in the City budget, and educating our children. People are just as concerned about those things today as they were during my first campaign for Mayor.

By Jim Clark

On Friday, December 20, Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Mobil gas station at 360 Medford St. on reports of a drug related offense.

Officers located the suspect, later identified as John Aceto, and held inside the gas station as they investigated the situation.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

We’re all a little bummed out that the Pats’ season ended on a low note. But when I was a kid we had nothing like all the excitement the Patriots have given us over the past 20 years.

The following is Ward 1 Councilor Matthew McLaughlin’s  inauguration speech:

Thank the board for honoring me. I look forward to serving with all of you.

Most of all I’d like to thank my family, who always supported me. I thank my brothers Danny, Mark and Stephen for always validating my beliefs. Thanks to my sister Stacy for beating up the big kids for us.  And I’d like to thank the three most important women in my life: My mother Charlene for keeping me alive, my grandmother Barbara for keeping me sheltered, and my loving wife Maura for keeping me in check.

Mayor Curtatone offered his views on the state of the city and how public policy should be shaped in the year to come at Monday night’s inaugural ceremonies.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville’s governmental body emerged from its deep winter holiday break this week to forge ahead with the business of the city and its people.

Public officials gathered for an “organizational meeting” on Monday night in the city’s Council Chambers to elect officers, adopt rules, and deliver addresses, all in the spirit of beginning the year anew, followed by the formal inaugural event held at the Somerville High School auditorium.

The City of Somerville celebrated the 244th anniversary of the raising of the Grand Union Flag on January 1. — Photos by Shira Laucharoen

By Shira Laucharoen

Ringing in the New Year with aplomb, the City of Somerville held its annual tradition of raising the Grand Union flag at Prospect Hill Tower, on January 1. The reenactment ceremony, which has been held since the year 2000, honored the 244th anniversary of the hoisting of the flag, which was said to have been the nation’s first official one.

All Mod Cons brings its tribute to the music of The Jam to ONCE Ballroom this coming Friday, January 10 at 8:00 p.m. — Photo by Ivano Bonfanti

By Blake Maddux

Musician Glenn Matto, who has lived in Somerville for 20 years, remembers first hearing The Jam at the home of his friend and fellow Framingham High School classmate Barry Pugatch, whose parents and grandparents were Somerville natives. They were listening to the band’s 1980 release, Sound Affects.