LeadingAge Senior VP of Research Robyn Stone (center) speaks during the keynote panel on health, equity, and independence at the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Future of Aging forum in October. Also on the panel were Caitlyn Coyle of UMass Boston and Manuel Lopes of Fenway Health.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services celebrated 50 years of services by convening a Future of Aging forum in October.

The forum brought together industry leaders from the medical, aging, advocacy, political, and community-based services fields to discuss emerging trends and best practices to help stakeholders build a better future of aging.

The City of Somerville is encouraging the community to get ready now for potential snow storms this winter season by signing up for City alerts and reviewing protocols for snow emergencies in advance. Preparing now will help keep the community safe, and reduce  ticketing or towing for snow emergency parking violations and ticketing for failure to follow sidewalk shoveling requirements.

On Sunday, November 26, prepare to embark on a nostalgic journey into the whimsical and subversive world of Pee-Wee Herman, as the Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom X Identical Cousins present a tribute event like no other. Celebrate the iconic character Pee-Wee Herman, portrayed by the legendary Paul Reubens (1952–2023).

On Monday, November 13, the Somerville High School Robotics Club hosted a Somerville Robotics League competition for local fifth and sixth graders at Somernova, the 7.4 acre campus for innovation and community.

The MBTA yesterday released its Capital Needs Assessment and Inventory (CNAI), an MBTA-led analysis conducted every 3-4 years to inventory the MBTA’s assets, understand the overall condition of the transit system, and identify assets that are not in a State of Good Repair in order to determine the level of investment needed to support the existing network.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Department of Health and Human Services are inviting the Somerville community to join a Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony on Monday, November 20, at 5 p.m. in honor of those members of the community who have lost their lives to violence.  

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

We would like to thank everyone who came out and supported the Tingle and Friends Comedy Benefit that took place on Sunday at the Dilboy VFW Post. Special thanks to Sal Mingace and Jimmy Tingle for putting the benefit together. A big thank you to all the comedians that participated in making the night a fun night of laughter. Thank you to Dilboy Post and the female members of the Auxiliary who handled the food, supplied by Leones, desserts, and raffles. Thank you to The Somerville Times for their support and Claudia Ferro for her photos of the event. The event was a great success and we wanted to thank everyone who made that happen. All proceeds went to benefit the George Dilboy VFW Post 529. Thank you to all the Veterans, we salute you!
— The Mingace Family

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The backroom lounge area of the Rosebud Diner in Davis Square was once called The Surrey Room. One of its nicknames was The Sorry Room. When I asked people to share their Surrey Room memories a lot of them said, “Sorry, can’t talk about it.” There seems to be a code of silence that some past patrons still abide by today. Here’s what I know from my own experience and from talking to some friends.

Diane Cohen.

The Somerville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners recently appointed Diane Cohen as Executive Director. Cohen will replace outgoing director Joe Macaluso who held the position since 1996.

Diane Cohen’s career spans more than 30 years of progressive leadership in administrative roles for housing agencies. She has been at the SHA for the past year but previously served for 22 years as Deputy Director for the Chelsea Housing Authority.