Community Party Including Music, Food, and Fireworks Will Begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is inviting Somerville to kick off their Fourth of July festivities by joining Somerville’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field (541 Broadway) on Thursday, June 27 (rain date Friday, June 28). 

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The annual fireworks display will probably be the highlight of my July 4th weekend. I may pop up to Old Orchard Beach for a day trip. When the kids were younger, we would always spend July 4th weekend there. What are our Somerville neighbor’s plans? Each set of quotes is a new person’s remarks.

Somerville Police are investigating reports of shots fired on Summer St. early Wednesday morning. When the police arrived, they found dozens of shell casings along the street. 

No injuries have been reported but nearby homes were damaged by the stray bullets.

Somerville police have the incident under investigation, we will publish any further information as it becomes available.

Residential Breaking and Entering

24034985: On 6/13/24 at approximately 2:43 p.m., Somerville Police responded to an apartment complex on Innerbelt Rd. for a past breaking and entering. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the reporting party who stated someone gained access to the mechanical room and was living there. Nothing was reported missing.

Louise A. Re, 89, formerly of Somerville, passed away June 14, 2024. She is survived by her brother, Richard (Joanne) in Hampton, VA. Services will be private in Virginia. To read the entire obituary, please go to www.berceusefuneralhome.com.

— Photos courtesy of Somerville Police Department

On Saturday, June 22, the Somerville Police Department Community Affairs Unit participated in the Somerville Park and Recreation Department’s Family Fun Day. They had their Motorcycle and Side by Side for the kids to play on. Their new swag came in and they were able to give out some gear to their new friends. They also invite the community to join in on August 6 for the National Night Out.

Sophie Tuttle and her 190-foot mural at the Somernova innovation campus.

Rafi Properties, Owner and Operator of Somernova, the 7.4-acre innovation campus and community dedicated to helping people and companies iterate and grow faster, unveiled a 190-foot mural by local artist Sophy Tuttle at Somernova. Tuttle’s mural celebrates the work of Somernova’s leading tough tech and climate-tech innovators, including Form Energy, Greentown Labs, and Sublime Systems, who are dedicated to building a more resilient future and changing the world through climate action.

A flag-raising ceremony commemorating the Juneteenth holiday took place at the Somerville City Hall concourse on Tuesday, June 18. — Photos by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

The end of slavery is something that has been on the minds of many for a long time, and in Somerville, we raise a flag to remember those who’ve been enslaved, but also to prevent others from being enslaved knowingly or unknowingly in modern day America.

(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

On Thursday of last week, the Senate passed (38-2) an important comprehensive bill to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Hundreds of you, my constituents, have asked us to reduce the use of plastics.

Join the city’s Mobility Division for a pop-up event: try out BlueBikes (e-bikes too), learn about current mobility projects in the city, and register for annual and income-eligible BlueBikes memberships. This event will be held on Wednesday, June 26, on the Community Path at Lowell St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For any questions, email transportation@somervillema.gov.