LEGO® Discovery Center Boston had its grand opening ribbon cutting today with an imagination and colorfulness matching the new next-gen attraction. Governor Healey, along with other local business and government leaders, were present to open and experience Northeast’s first LEGO Discovery Center and participated in a kid-led ceremonial ribbon cutting. With a giant LEGO® key, the doors were opened as guests blasted off into adventure with the new experiences Spaceship Build & Scan, DUPLO® Park, and more. LEGO Discovery Center Boston be opened to the public on May 25.

Wednesday, May 31 from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Food For Free will open its doors to the nonprofit’s Packing & Distribution Center, located at 59 Inner Belt Road in Somerville. Area residents are invited to hear more about how the nonprofit is working to provide 6.25 million meals to food-insecure individuals across 27 communities in Eastern Massachusetts and the ways in which they can get involved through the organization’s numerous summer volunteer opportunities.

Sessions will be held throughout June to give community members the opportunity to share their experiences with accessibility in Somerville and help create priorities for the City’s ADA Transition Plan.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Department of Racial and Social Justice invite Somerville community members to join an upcoming ADA Community Survey Focus Group session to make their voices heard as the City updates its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. 

— Photos by Beatriz Leite

By Beatriz Leite

For the second consecutive year, Somerville’s Asian community gathered  Friday, May 17, at the Aeronaut Brewing Company, for the Asian Festival to celebrate Asian arts and culture. The Asian & Asian American Family network of Somerville organized the event.

Greentown Labs, located in Somerville, recently announced that it will be partnering with Aramco Americas, a subsidiary of big oil company Aramco.

By Molly Rains

Greentown Labs, a climate-minded startup incubator based here in Somerville, last month revealed the identity of its newest partner: Aramco Americas, a subsidiary of the global oil giant Aramco.

Pictured (left to right): Wayne Procope (Food For Free), Juan Camilo Saavedra (La Colaborativa), Marena Burnett, Mark O’Neal, Adrienne Dunlap (Food For Free).
~Photo courtesy of Food For Free.

Cambridge/Somerville nonprofit receives 3 years of funding from Cummings Foundation

Food For Free is one of 150 local nonprofits selected to receive funding from the Cummings Foundation $30 Million Grants Program. The Cambridge & Somerville-based organization was selected from a total of 630 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $180,000 over three years.

Proposed budget delivers major investments in youth, affordability, and infrastructure, with equity and sustainability at the core

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne today submitted Somerville’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal, directing $337.4 million toward key investments in the provision of city services and programs and the advancement of community priorities. Expanding on last year’s focus on building a foundation for progress, this budget prioritizes investments in the resources needed to serve all residents and meet the community’s ambitious goals, from supporting youth, seniors, and vulnerable residents to advancing affordability, taking on infrastructure challenges, developing equity across all functions, and pursuing sustainability goals.

James J. Campano– Of Somerville, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2023. He was 82.

Born in Boston and raised in Boston’s West End. He was the son of the late Frank and Mary (Mikonis)Campano. James’s career was full of life. He was the founder and writer for the West Ender Newsletter, which he founded in 1985.  He was not only a successful writer, but he also had a few TV shows on the Somerville Access Television Channel, worked for the democratic party for 12 years and was also the cofounder of the West End Museum.  Jim was also published on the Front page of the Wall Street Journal in the year 2000 for keeping the West End history alive. He was also the president of the Old West End Housing Corp. Jim was a family man and loved his family.

— Photos by Devon Moos

The Curl Bar located on 76 Cross Street celebrated their two year anniversary by hosting a wonderful block party on Flint Street on Sunday, May 21. Toriah Mimms, owner of the Curl Bar, used the block party to highlight other small, minority-owned businesses during the event. The Curl Bar celebrates curly hair and all hair textures are welcomed and celebrated in a safe and judgement free curly space.

Monday, May 29, Memorial Day, is a holiday. City buildings will be closed.

Trash, recycling and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day.

No street sweeping on Monday.