Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2026 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
Eligible households in East Somerville pilot area can turn food scraps into compost and help city plan for citywide food waste collection
As part of efforts to support both neighborhood life quality and climate goals, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announces Somerville’s new pilot program for curbside food waste collection. In partnership with Garbage to Garden, the City of Somerville will provide weekly curbside food waste collection to up to 1,200 eligible East Somerville households through mid-2027. The pilot program will help the city better understand how municipal composting could be expanded citywide in the future and how it could support the city’s carbon net-negative Climate Forward goals.
Continue reading »
The Rock + Roll Yard Sale returns to Union Square Plaza this coming Sunday.
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather forecasted for Sunday, September 7, the Rock + Roll Yard Sale will now take place on its scheduled rain date of Sunday, September 14.
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and The Somerville Arts Council are pleased to announce the return of the Rock + Roll Yard Sale to Union Square Plaza on Sunday, September 14, from 12 to 5 p.m. . Now in its 18th year in Somerville, this long-running event celebrates creativity, community, and the city’s do-it-yourself spirit.
Continue reading »
Q: What do elderly people often say they wish they’d focused more on in life?
A: Surprisingly, the answers are incredibly consistent—and they aren’t about money in the bank or job titles!
In a joint effort, the Somerville Police Department, Somerville Fire Department and Massachusetts State Fire Marshall announce an arrest has been made in the relation to a fire that destroyed a home under construction at 75 Thurston St. on August 20, 2025. Police arrested John Grasso, 35, who is currently unhoused for wanton destruction of property and breaking and entering a building in the nighttime. The incident remains under investigation.
Continue reading »
(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)
How farmers markets provide an inclusive environment through increased language access and culturally responsive practices.
For many people, good food is their love language. For me, and many others who identify as a cultural or ethnic minority, food is a critical part of our identities.
Continue reading »
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Arts Council, and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council invite community members to SomerStreets: G’25 Gilman Square Arts & Music Festival on Saturday, September 13, from 12 to 5 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, September 14), with activities on Pearl Street from Marshall to James Street.
Continue reading »
Patricia (Carlow) LaFauci, 83 years old and a lifetime resident of Somerville, died May 4, 2025. A private service is planned for family.
— Photo courtesy of City of Somerville
First new station in a half-century is 100% electric and designed with firefighter safety top of mind
Moving season is in full swing in Somerville, not only for residents, but for the Somerville Fire Department, too. You won’t catch the usual move-in sights like futons, bean bag chairs, and crates, but instead a new fire crew, new equipment, and a full fire engine are moving into Somerville’s first new fire station in a half-century.
Continue reading »
As the risk of disease rises, continue to protect yourself from mosquito bites this season
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the first positive human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) confirmed in the state this year in a woman in her 70s who was exposed in Middlesex County. Today, Somerville had their risk level elevated to high risk for West Nile Virus. Residents should continue to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases, including WNV and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Continue reading »
Reader Comments