Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced the swearing in of the 2023 new class of Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) formed by sixteen recently graduated lawyers. The class was sworn in on November 21, 2023. Amelia Ayer, Medfield MA; Christine Batista, Boston MA; Sarah Bramley-Garoutte, Quincy MA; Patrick Cespedes, Somerville MA; Andrew Dubsky, Brighton MA; Deyanira Gonzalez, Malden MA; Felicia Gordon, Medford MA; Cooper Hearn, Boston MA; Shana Kalatardi, Boston MA; Ian Kavanaugh, Boston MA; Tong Liu, Acton MA; Andrea Marcano, Boston MA; Sheehan McCarthy, Charlestown MA; Alyssa Mongroo, Cambridge MA; Meghan Pepin, Cambridge MA; and Kavya Verma, Northborough MA, were sworn in by District Attorney Ryan in Woburn.

Raynel Shepard is a renaissance woman: jazz vocalist, visual artist, educator and home chef. She was born in Chicago and grew up in Berkeley, California. She moved to the East Coast after two years of service in the Peace Corps in the Congo. She holds a doctorate from Harvard. Raynel comes from a family with deep roots in the Black Creole community of New Orleans. She performs Jazz and the American Songbook, as “Lady Ray”, with her trio of musicians at ROOTED Armory Café, other venues, and in New Orleans, where she winters.

The Confirmation of Appointments & Personnel Matters Committee meets for the Somerville Police Staffing Study Report presentation on Nov. 30, 2023.

 Strolling carolers, Incredible Inflatable Festivus Village, Elfie Selfies and more.  

Union Square Main Streets (USMS) and 30+ local businesses crank up the jolly for the 9th Annual Holiday Stroll featuring rad retail, unique eats, an incredible inflatable Festivus Village, the Stroll the Square Challenge, and much more. This free and family-friendly celebration makes spirits bright on Saturday, December 2 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. (rain date 12/3) throughout Union Square in Somerville.

On Wednesday, November 29, Pearl Street Park, an 86 unit building for Elders and Persons with Disabilities, suffered a fire in a second-floor unit. The Somerville Fire, Police and Inspectional Service Department responded within minutes, accounting for all occupants and bringing them down from their apartments. They were kind, patient and understanding with everyone during this very stressful time while we waited to see if the building would be cleared for tenants to return to their apartments. Thankfully, tenants were able to return within a few hours.

More than 100 participants volunteered to contribute to the creation of the new murals installed at the Charles River Greenway.

The New England Mosaic Society (NEMS) collaborated with the staff of the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation to design and create three large panels (42” x 68”) installed adjacent to the museum entrance on the Greenway.

Big Sister Kristen Erekson with her “Little,” Wild.

Somerville resident Kristen Erekson was matched with her first mentee or “Little,” Wild, in 2007. Then 23-years-old and seven-years-old respectively, the mentoring duo grew up together in many ways as they navigated the successes and challenges of family, school, friendships, and career together.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Around September of 2020 I got a phone call from my son. He told me an elderly man had passed away in a nursing home and there was no one to take his senior cat. The 18-year-old tabby was suddenly homeless.