Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) today invite the Somerville community to attend the City’s Juneteenth flag-raising event from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Somerville City Hall concourse on Monday, June 12, 2023.

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By State Representative Christine Barber

We are facing many challenges in Massachusetts. I continually hear from families and individuals around Somerville and Medford who are having trouble affording basic needs, worry about health care, and fear their rights for themselves or their children.  

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

On the evening of Friday, May 31, the Confirmation of Appointments and Personal Matters Committee met to discuss a number of candidates for city appointments.

Arrests:

Ontaniel Saintilus, of Medford, May 29, 10:06 p.m., arrested at Porter St. on charges of operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Jibril Noor, of Cambridge, June 1, 11:17 a.m., arrested at Davis Sq. on charges of attempt to commit a crime and resisting arrest.

The Above and Beyond exhibit at the Somerville Museum, will showcase the life of Phil Reavis, a Somerville native, Olympic athlete, long-time educator, and one of the first people of color in Somerville with a public space named in his honor.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

We often take a trip down memory lane in this column, but this time it’s the real Memory Lane. We are taking a look back at the restaurant/bar/meeting spot that used to be where the 99 was on Middlesex Avenue in Somerville.

Somerville High class day is full of traditions. All seniors are recognized for what they are most proud of and their plans for next year. The class from 50 years prior, class of 1973 this year, is invited and acknowledged. Music, the passing of colors and even a more than 100-year-old spade play a part. This year there seems to be more variety in plans including at least ten students who said they are taking a gap year to work and travel before starting further schooling. Cheers to the SHS class of 2023!

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

The Housing and Community Development committee met on Tuesday, May 30, to listen to Susan Yerkes, the Director of Parks and Recreation for Somerville, discuss the waitlist process for programs currently being offered and the future of more community programs.

By Denise Provost

On Monday, June 5, under cloudy skies, Somerville city officials cut a ribbon to open ESCA Park. ESCA stands for East Somerville Citizens for Action, a grassroots organization that led the fight against construction of elevated I-93. That State Highway Department project involved the taking and demolition of many East Somerville homes and today exposes the neighborhood to toxic near-highway air pollution and noise.

A piece of fallen concrete found on a stairwell at Winter Hill Community School last week prompted an immediate shutdown of the building to students and staff. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

Somerville Schools officials and city administrators have been hard at work over the past week, looking for ways to safely and efficiently reassign students at Winter Hill Community School to alternative classrooms to finish out the school year after a piece of concrete fell onto a stairwell inside of the school last week.