There are plenty of romantic activities to take part in throughout the city this coming Valentine’s Day.

By Joei Chan

Trying to figure out what to do this Valentine’s Day with your significant other, friends, or even yourself? Here are a few things to keep on your radar when thinking of ideas for next week:

Small Mart Valentine’s Market at Crystal Ballroom

What better year to find your inner dragon power than 2024, the year of the dragon? Kicking off this Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 a.m., LEGO Discovery Center Boston will preview its NINJAGO: Dragon’s Rising Event.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(Originally published on October 11, 2014)

Lots of songs remind us of growing up in Somerville. My dad graduated from Somerville High in 1938, and my mom in 1944. Somerville’s swinging teens back in ‘38 were boppin’ to songs like Jeepers Creepers (where’d you get those peepers). The top song in 1944 was Bing Crosby’s Would You Like To Swing on a Star? (carry moon beams home in a jar). It’s cool to imagine my young mom and dad strolling through Davis Square singing those two songs as they “saw the movie for a nickel and had a coke for 2 cents!” (after walking uphill, barefoot, in a snowstorm to school!!)

A Massachusetts man was sentenced today to two years in prison for engaging in a scheme to bribe the chief of police of Medford, Massachusetts, to obtain approval for a client to sell recreational marijuana.

The popular series Songwriters in the Round series was awarded a 2024 Local Cultural Council grant from the Somerville Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. David Thorne Scott, founder of the series, expressed his gratitude.

Mayor Ballantyne offered her views on The Affordable Homes Act during a public hearing of the state’s Joint Committee on Housing.

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne weighed in on Thursday, January 18, as the Joint Committee on Housing took testimony on H.4138, The Affordable Homes Act in the State House’s Gardner Auditorium.

(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 Chris Dwan

The zoning proposal currently on the table from Rafi Properties is a non-starter. They should withdraw it and propose incremental adjustments to the current zoning instead. If they choose not to withdraw, the City Council should swiftly and unanimously vote it down – after the legally required public hearing, of course.

(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 Justin Klekota

On March 5, Massachusetts Democrats will have the opportunity to renominate President Joe Biden and elect local Democratic State, Ward, and Town Committee members.  I’m Justin Klekota, your Democratic State Committeeman, and it’s been an honor representing the Second Middlesex District including Somerville, Medford, Cambridge & Winchester. I am the first member of the LGBTQIA+ community to win this seat. Together, we organized dozens of phonebanks drawing hundreds of volunteers for Biden/Harris and Senate Democrats, knocked thousands of doors, and advocated successfully for climate and mail-in voting legislation that is now law.

Red Line service will be suspended between Alewife and Harvard stations all day from start to end of service for 10 days from February 5-14. Beginning at approximately 8:45 p.m. through the end of service every day during the same period from February 5-14, this Red Line service suspension will be extended to Park Street (meaning evening service will be suspended between Alewife and Park Street). For more information, please visit mbta.com.

(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 Rand Wilson

The Democratic Party needs new, progressive, and energetic leadership. Elected Democrats are now in control of all branches of our state government. Despite this, we can’t pass some form of rent control or build enough affordable housing. Our minimum wage is well below a living wage. Our public transportation is neither affordable nor well-functioning. Year after year the Democratic-controlled legislative leadership won’t even allow a state single-payer insurance plan to come to a floor vote.