The staff of The Somerville Times would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year. May the year to come bring one and all good health and prosperity and continue through to the following years to come.

(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)

Last month, our group delivered a letter signed by nearly 250 Somerville community members, to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey demanding they call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, rush in humanitarian aid, end of unconditional military funding to Israel, and to hold Israel accountable to international law. The list of signatories was interfaith, interracial, and intergenerational; included several city counselors (Willie Burnley Jr., Naima Sait, JT Scott, Jake Wilson, Charlotte Kelly, Ben Ewen-Campen, and Beatriz Gomez-Mouakad); and contained two state legislators (Sen. Pat Jehlen and Rep. Uyterhoeven). On Wednesday, January 3, our group will redeliver the Somerville letter now with close to 450 signatures and be joined by neighbors from Arlington letter echoing the demands. Following the delivery of the letters, we will hold a stand-out in Union Sq. at 5 pm to further raise awareness of the atrocities the Israeli military is committing against Palestinian civilians trapped in Gaza. 

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This is a perfect dinner for a meatless Monday or any other day. This hearty and filling dish is so satisfying that you’ll find yourself wanting to add it to your meal rotation. I make it every other week. It hits all the taste buds. It’s sweet, it’s savory, it’s smoky, and has a hint of heat. It also has great texture from the vegetables and beans along with the creamy sauce.

Looking back on the year just passed is an interesting thing to do. Sometimes sobering, at other times amusing, yet always somewhat inspiring if one considers what has been accomplished and what else is left to be done.

The advance of progress and renewal marches on as we in turn continue the pursuit of our individual hope and dreams.

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By J. L. Bell: Correspondent for Off the Shelf

The raising of the “Grand Union Flag” on Prospect Hill in January 1776 is a proud historic moment for Somerville. But a lot of mysteries still surround that event.

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Most recently, Sandra Kolankiewicz’s poems have appeared in New World Writing, Prole Literary Review, Southword Editions, and New Welsh Review.  Her most recent chapbook, Even the Cracks, is available from Finishing Line Press.

— Photo courtesy of dabel@bu.edu

The Somerville Theatre will be screening the award-winning new film, IN THE WHALE. This cinematic masterpiece, directed and shot by Pulitzer prize-winning Boston Globe reporter David Abel, tells the story of the last-remaining commercial lobster diver on Cape Cod, who two years ago was swallowed by a humpback whale and lived to tell the tale.