Cash prizes up to $500, incredible inflatable Festivus Village, Elfie Selfies supporting local food programs & more.  

Union Square Main Streets (USMS) and 30+ local businesses crank up the jolly for the 8th Annual Holiday Stroll featuring rad retail, unique eats, an incredible inflatable Festivus Village, the Keep Small Strong Challenge, and much more. This free and family-friendly celebration makes spirits bright on Saturday, December 10 from 12-6pm throughout Union Square.

Ahead of the Green Line Extension opening next week, the School Street bridge in Somerville’s Gilman Square is expected to reopen to all users this Saturday, December 10. The bridge has been closed since April 2020 to support GLX construction.

In 2022, Lyndell’s Bakery located at 720 Broadway Somerville, MA celebrates its 135th Anniversary opening for business in December of 1887. Lyndells, which is the oldest scratch bakery in New England, has been selling fresh bakery goods to the public ever since and will continue the great tradition for years to come.

Online survey offered in four languages; survey, public listening sessions will help Screening Committee narrow down applicant pool.

A new, online community survey as part of the Somerville Public Schools’ Superintendent Search process is now live on the district’s website. The survey is available in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. A survey in Haitian Creole will also be available soon. To access the surveys, residents can visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us/superintendent-search.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is announcing the city’s annual support of local holiday gift and toy donation drives. In the giving spirit of the season, Somerville is placing toy and gift donation boxes at city buildings through Sunday, December 18, to support two community toy drives for families in need of gifts for children and teens this holiday season. 

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Over the past couple of months, I’ve done stories on businesses leaving Somerville and buildings being demolished. I didn’t think I’d be writing another one so soon but when I heard this news, I was flabbergasted. Supposedly, they’re taking four houses on Highland Street and making an 86-unit building.

(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 Howard E. Horton, Esq.
December 7, 2022

The recently convened Charter Review Committee conducted a thoughtful process but, which, regrettably, resulted in recommendations which will only set the City further adrift from its core values and which would hamstring the workings of municipal government.  I make this assessment, in part, from the perspective of having chaired the immediate past Somerville Charter Review Committee which undertook, and completed, its review work in 2008.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

Rats are becoming a bigger problem in urban centers in Massachusetts and around the country, with residents reporting more and more rats everywhere.

Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton paid a visit to Greentown Labs in Somerville last week to learn more about the organization’s efforts to help solve the climate crisis. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Ana Celerier Salcedo

A sea of umbrellas was the scene at Boston’s City Hall on Wednesday evening last week. Crowds of Bostonians eagerly awaited the UK royals as a downpour of rain fell. They were welcomed to the city by Governor-elect Maura Healy and Mayor Michele Wu.

The City Charter is somewhat like a local Constitution, it governs the structure and functions of our local government. The City Council Special Committee on Charter Review is examining the Charter and will recommend changes to the mayor and council. The intent is to update the Charter where needed to meet the community’s evolving needs. Learn more about the Charter Review process at somervillema.gov/charterreview.