Somerville families invited to start planning their summer fun at 2024 Summer Camp and Activities Fair

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is announcing that the City’s Summer Camp and Activities Fair is returning for 2024, providing families with the opportunity to learn about summer activity options available to their children and to get detailed information from program representatives about summer camps, recreational activities, and learning opportunities for children of all ages. The Fair will be held on Thursday, March 7, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School gym (50 Cross St).

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Last week I did a story about the Friendly’s restaurant that used to be at the corner of Cedar St. and Highland Ave. Right down the road near the corners of Cedar St. and Morrison Ave. there was a Dairy Queen. Here are folds memories of that happy place:

“Broken,” a film by Brooke Lewitas and Bill Lichtenstein, takes a hard look at the state’s handling of at-risk children. — Photos courtesy of LCMedia Productions .

By Joei Chan

Nearly 50 years ago in Somerville, the Jennifer Gallison case made headlines. A woman and her husband were convicted of manslaughter of their baby daughter, Jennifer Gallison, who was only two years old at the time. Eventually, their daughter passed away due to the parents’ failure to provide for her, and they disposed of the daughter’s body.

(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 Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven

Earlier this month, Newton educators went on strike for 11 days in order to negotiate for a fair contract. This historic strike and the growing number of strikes led by educators across the state highlights why we need to protect this right for all workers. That’s why I filed H.1845 with Rep. Connolly, and Sen. Rausch, which would restore the right to strike for public sector workers, not including public safety.

The Presidential Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 5. Take steps to make sure you are prepared: Submit your “Vote by Mail” application by February 27 at 5:00 p.m., Vote early at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) through March 1. Learn more at somervillema.gov/elections .

(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 Jenny Bonham-Carter

How often do we hear this startling statistic on the news? There are 140 million poor and low-income people living in the U.S. today. This includes more than half of our children, 74 million women, 38 million Hispanic people, 23 million black people, 8 million Asian people, 2 million Native people and 66 million white people, with a disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.

Don’t miss this year’s Maple Boil Down, coming up this Saturday.

By Joei Chan

Join The Growing Center at 22 Vinal Avenue in Somerville for their 25th annual Maple Boil Down. Fans of maple syrup will not want to miss this event on Saturday, March 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (rain date March 9)

The Presidential Primary is just around the corner, on Tuesday March 5, and the national election is coming up a few months later. The balance of power in the country as a whole will be in play, and more than ever it seems as though so much will be at stake in that particular election cycle, no matter which side we align with.

Dunfermline. — Photos by Denise Provost

Enjoy the scenes of Scotland Denise captured from her recent trip

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Review By Off the Shelf Correspondent Andy Hoffman

Setting a show in a school brings up so many production problems. How do you maintain the illusion of the adults playing kids and that the teacher/student power dynamic has actual consequences? The Huntington Theatre shows how with John Proctor is the Villain, tightly written by Kimberly Belflower and expertly directed by Margot Bordelon.