As part of Mayor Katjana Ballanytne’s First 100 Day Agenda and the city’s ongoing work to ensure an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Ballantyne will be hosting small-group listening sessions with Somerville residents and workers disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to listen to community experiences and gather ideas and input on how the city can support the recovery. Listening sessions will be jointly facilitated by the mayor and interested members of the community. City staff will also help document the conversations so that ideas and comments can be considered as the city develops its recovery plan. 

By Doug Holder

Funny, a new hotel on Somerville Ave. (on the outskirts of Union Square) – the ‘Cambria” – is opening up April 1. A funny name for something smack dab in the middle of Somerville. Guess we can’t get out from the shadow of the “Republic of Cambridge.” The site manager told me that this is the name of the luxury hotel brand that is behind the project. I asked his opinion of the name. “No comment,” he replied.

By Kyle Dante

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted several aspects of daily life. Workplaces are either understaffed or out of business. The workforce, as well as education, is hurting from the effects of the pandemic. For many, healthcare is difficult to access. Generally speaking, it is a transition for not only Somerville but the world itself.

The Somerville Arts Council (SAC) is looking for local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to help program and organize a temporary space.

They  want this to be an accessible opportunity; therefore this space will feature new curators and concepts on a rotational basis. They invite you to think about how you would want to occupy this space. Some examples (use is not limited to the following): Exhibitions or a crafts market space, small lectures, workshops, meetings and etc. Due to neighbors and other competing uses of the building, this space is NOT available for performance, dance, music, or a rehearsal room.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Somerville Ave. location last week on reports of an alarm. Somerville Police control received a call from the location’s alarm company as a confirmed breaking and entering, and the reporting party was on scene.

Upon arrival, the officers spotted a man, later identified as James Hargrove, standing in front of the business, in the company of a dog and having a phone conversation via earphones.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Before all the new “designer” bars there were many local Barron’s around the city.

My dad frequented Pat Connolly’s and The Coronet, which became Redbones in Davis Square. The bar counter had pickled eggs, Slim Jim’s and BEER NUTS. Dad called them “gin mills” and he referred to beer as “a cold one.” I remember seeing Ballentine Ale and Schlitz in our refrigerator.

On my reboot of Greater Somerville, the General Manager of the MBTA Green Line Extension for the Commonwealth, John Dalton. The opening of the first two of seven rapid transit Green Line stops in Cambridge, Somerville and Medford took place on March 21, 2022. It was my pleasure to spend time with John and chat about the historic opening and what he experienced and what will come in the next few months. Watch it here or on the Somerville Media Center, Channel 3 in Somerville.