Artists have been hard at work in the studios to bring you in-progress showings, performances, and experiences from May into the summer.

Join Caitlin Canty, Catherine Siller, and Jessica Roseman Monday, May 31 at 7pm at the Armory for explorations in challenging heteronormativity and affirm queerness and transness as natural through the observations of animals’ social interactions; hot flashes and mangoes, and the illusion of loneliness which mine a private human emotional experience.

(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 Mary Cassesso

Imagine preparing for prom or graduation if our kids had to add dentures to their wardrobe. Growing up in Somerville, my family, like most of our neighbors, were low income and no one had dental insurance. A dentist would periodically visit us at school and sadly some kids would have teeth extracted instead of restored- it was cheaper.  We all know that oral health has implications and impact on your overall health and nutrition. You need your teeth to eat healthy – for example vegetables and fruit. It’s funny how there are certain things that you never forget; I remember a teenage girl whose dentist extracted all of her teeth. Like many, we were too poor to visit a dentist twice a year and there were no fluoride treatments, so decay and cavities were much more prevalent.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Broadway location last week in response to a 9-1-1 report of an assault.

The victim told the 9-1-1 operator that a man had pulled a knife on him and that the man had left the area and went towards Stop & Shop on McGrath Hwy.

Ensemble Chaconne played at their first Somerville Salon Series event at the Somerville Library East Branch on Thursday, May 19.

By Mina Rose Morales

Ensemble Chaconne performed in Somerville at the public library on Thursday, May 19, for the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The group arrived an hour and 15 minutes before their event started at 7:00 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library East Branch. Branch manager Marita Coombs cleared the room and began setting up for the event while the instrumentalists rehearsed for the event.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

There’s a new Lechmere station for the Green Line, but a lot of us remember standing in that cave of a station waiting for a bus or a train. Maybe we were going to Lechmere Sales to buy a Walkman or cassette tape. Maybe you worked at Lechmere, as many of my Somerville friends have. I asked our readers to share the memories of the old Lechmere station.

On Monday, May 23, Somerville Police responded to 101 Highland Avenue for a report of a fight. When police arrived they were informed that two juvenile males were on the sidewalk after dismissal of nearby Somerville High School when they were approached by a group of other juveniles.

The owner of Sound Bites Café is currently under investigation by the city’s Wage Theft Advisory Committee for allegations of wage theft and employee intimidation. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

Sound Bites Cafe, located in Ball Square, has been open for more than two decades. Two weeks ago, the Department of Labor sued Yasser Mirza, Sound Bites’ owner, over alleged stolen wages and death threats.

The scheduling of special events by groups such as Groundwork Somerville was one issue addressed by the Somerville Redevelopment Authority at its recent meeting.

By Maeve Lawler

On Wednesday evening, the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) held a public meeting via remote participation to discuss upcoming events hosted by Groundwork Somerville, as well as development updates for Washington Street, Union Square, Boynton Yards, Assembly Square, and Winter Hill.

(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 State Senator Pat Jehlen

Many advocates and legislators have tried for almost 20 years to allow people without legal status to receive drivers’ licenses. This would allow an estimated 200,000 people in Massachusetts to drive to work, and drive their children – many of them US citizens – to their school or doctor without fearing detention or deportation.

Somerville’s Community Design Team recently gathered input from the public concerning future plans for Union Square. — Photo by Luda Tang

By Luda Tang

On Saturday, May 21, the Community Design Team held an event from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in Union Square Plaza to gather feedback from residents on how to redesign the square’s public spaces.