The Burren pub has been offering the best in food, drink, and entertainment since 1996. — Photos by Sydney Johnson

By Sydney Johnson

On Elm Street in Somerville, Massachusetts, the pull of a lively crowd and the bright scrape of a fiddle tuning up drift onto the sidewalk, beckoning people inside. Just beyond the door, The Burren hums with animated conversations and music. It’s warm, low-lit rooms, echoing with a variety of genres, including Jazz, Blues, and Traditional Irish music. The pub, founded by Irish musicians Tommy McCarthy and Louise Costello, has welcomed patrons for three decades, building a community around shared tables and shared tunes.

(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 David Dahlbacka

An important part of public participation in policy-making is giving oral testimony at public hearings. For your testimony to be effective, your audience must remember what you say, and what they remember is determined in large part by how you structure your testimony.

New board brings expertise in arts, events, and creative economy

The City of Somerville is announcing the appointed members of the Somerville Armory Advisory Board, a new body charged with helping shape the future of the Armory as a vibrant, community arts and cultural space.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

If you grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s in West Somerville and delivered newspapers, you probably worked for Mr. Abe Learner. Abe was the boss. “Better get going” was one of Abe’s favorite sayings as he tried to get us out to start delivering our papers.

Jane Sherrill, 20 Vernon Street #80
janesherrill.com. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

The 27th Annual Somerville Open Studios took place this past. More than 430 visual artists opened their doors and exhibited their work at more than 120 studio buildings and homes all over Somerville.

(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)

To the Editor:

Kudos to Somerville representative and House Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Christine P. Barber for advancing legislation (H.900) that would establish long-overdue testing and standards for private well water in Massachusetts (H.900).

— Photo by Lita Vongsavanh

The Cities of Cambridge and Somerville, together with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), have submitted a joint Draft Updated Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to protect local waterways from pollution, the first in the nation to go beyond EPA guidance and prepare for climate change.

This year’s PorchFest takes place on Saturday, May 9, throughout the city.

Hear great tunes right in your neighborhood. Community members are invited to Somerville’s PorchFest on Saturday, May 9, an annual event that transforms porches and stoops across the city into mini-stages for a day of free, live musical performances. Hundreds of bands at more than 500 locations will be performing music ranging from indie, punk, and hip hop to Latin, jazz, country, and world music. Travel across the city or stay in your area to connect with neighbors (it is the Year of the Neighbor in Somerville after all).

Broadway Magoun Open House. The City of Somerville is planning to reconstruct sidewalks, repave, and redesign the segment of Broadway that passes through Magoun Square (Winchester Street to Central Street) to improve safety, accessibility, comfort, and sustainability. The Mobility Division is hosting an open house to share preliminary design concepts that seek to address these concerns and provide a safer, more comfortable experience for everyone using the street. Wednesday, May 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Arthur D. Healey School Cafeteria, 5 Meacham Street.

The city’s Legislative Matters Committee recently reviewed the annual report on surveillance technology.

By Regina Arana

The Somerville City Council’s Legislative Matters Committee met on Tuesday, April 28, to go over the city’s annual report on surveillance technology. The meeting touched on transparency efforts but also raised some real questions about oversight and costs.