Interested in learning more about upcoming bridge repairs and safety improvements on Maffa Way and Mystic Avenue? MassDOT is hosting a public information meeting to review the planned improvements and provide a look ahead to upcoming construction. February 26, 6 p.m. Somerville Central Library, 79 Highland Ave.

Portico Brewing has earned silver designation as a Bicycle Friendly Business from the League of American Bicyclists, taking its place alongside more than 1,100 businesses across the country contributing to the movement to build a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

Service changes are taking place to support critical signal upgrade work on the Orange and Red lines, MassDOT’s Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements project, Maintenance of Way work at Bowdoin, and signal upgrade work at North Station.

The MBTA  announced service changes in March on the Orange, Red, Blue, Newburyport/Rockport, Haverhill, and Lowell lines.

Riders can find more information on service changes through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/alerts. Transit Ambassadors and MBTA staff will be available on-site to offer information and assistance during these service changes. Riders are encouraged to subscribe to T-Alerts or to follow the MBTA on X @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for up-to-date service information.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne celebrated the power of organ donation and the life-saving impact it has on families across our community. Somerville with New England Donor Services (NEDS), the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), and donor families and recipients to mark National Donor Day and raise awareness of the “Have a Heart and Get a Heart” campaign on February 14.

By Dennis Fischman

There’s a name we in the Somerville Public Library’s mystery book group have given to a certain type of mystery novel. We call it “a murder cabin.”

The murder cabin is a descendant of a type of classic mystery from the Golden Age of Mystery, a hundred years ago. In those celebrated novels, a group of people have been collected in an isolated place: on an island, as in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, or in a country house (like Peter Wimsey’s family home, Riddlesdale Lodge, in Clouds of Witness). Somebody gets killed – perhaps, more than one – and only the people in that place can be the suspects.

Lumentation offers quality photo developing and printing services via an online marketplace. ~Photos by Jeffrey Shwom.

By Jeffrey Shwom

At the corner of Lowell Street and Highland Avenue, Lumentation is one of those walk-by-and-look-twice businesses. A few folks still think it is Somerville Quick Stop that closed a few years back. “People ask do you sell chips, cigarettes, earbuds? Convenience store stuff,” remarked manager Imaya Jeffries. When you walk inside, however, the first thing you’ll notice is that the fridges are filled with much different items … film.

Entrepreneur and Community Advocate Calls for Bold, Action-Oriented Leadership

Jason Mackey has officially launched his campaign for Mayor of Somerville, pledging to bring decisive leadership, innovative solutions, and a results-driven approach to city government.

“Somerville deserves leadership that delivers — not just talks,” said Mackey. “For too long, critical issues like housing affordability, transportation, and public safety have been met with half measures and delays. I’m running to change that. This city needs a mayor who will tackle problems head-on and get things done.”

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The City of Somerville is looking for community members to help test an innovative, non-toxic approach to reducing the local rat population.

In partnership with the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Inspectional Services, Somerville is participating in a Rodent Fertility Control Study using Evolve, a hormonal fertility control product designed to humanely curb rat reproduction. This study aims to determine whether Evolve is an effective long-term solution in dense urban areas like Somerville while reducing reliance on traditional rat poisons, which can harm other wildlife such as birds, cats, and foxes.