Mayor Ballantyne was sworn in this morning at 9:00 a.m. in City Hall.

Don’t miss her virtual Inauguration Ceremony tonight at 6:00 p.m. The organizational meeting before the Inaugural to swear in City Councilors and School Committee members will also be held remotely at 5:00 p.m. Visit somervillema.gov to tune in to both events live.

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— Photos by Bobbie Toner
Saturday, January 1, 2022 Somerville residents met at Prospect Hill Tower to learn about the important role our community played in the American Revolution.

Watch Somerville’s virtual Inaugural Ceremony on Monday, January 3, at 6:00 p.m. Join in remotely to see Mayor-elect Katjana Ballantyne be sworn in as mayor. Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley will open with welcoming remarks and Mayor Ballantyne will deliver an address to the community. Remarks from City Council President Matt McLaughlin and School Committee Chairperson Andre Green will follow, and performances by several Somerville youth will be featured. Tune in on City YouTube, CityTV, or Facebook, or watch on demand after the event. Visit somervillema.gov before the ceremony for all streaming links. 

— Photo © Jacoblund / iStockPhoto.com

It’s no secret that many people wait for a new year to commit to implementing better habits. They’ll start eating more vegetables next week, they’ll cut out wine with dinner next month, and they’ll use their gym membership next year. These are things you’ve heard before, and likely even things you’ve said yourself. So how do you make resolutions you’ll stick to?

Somerville has been recognized as a global leader in climate action by environmental-impact nonprofit CDP. Somerville is one of 95 cities to make the 2021 CDP Cities A List, scoring top marks for its ambitious, transparent work to address climate change.  

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Acting Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow are requesting assistance from the public as the anniversary of the January 2, 2019 murder of Paul Wilson approaches.

Mayor Curtatone, Mayor-elect Katjana Ballantyne, and members of the Covid-19 Response Team speak about the order requiring covid-19 vaccination for indoor entertainment, recreation, dining, and fitness settings in the city of Somerville and Somerville COVID-19 Business Emergency Relief Fund.

SomervilleMA.gov/COVID

(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)

To the Editor:

Every day, incarcerated people and their loved ones shoulder exorbitant costs to call each other because for-profit companies charge about four times the actual cost of phone service. As a result, one in three families with a loved one in prison will go into debt to maintain regular contact with incarcerated relatives. The financial burden of these calls is particularly onerous for low-income people.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced additional state sponsored COVID-19 vaccine and booster locations in Boston, Roxbury, Lynn, and Taunton. Beginning in early January, eligible residents aged 5 and older will be able to receive their primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations and residents age 16 and older will be able to receive their booster shots at these locations. These sites add to the nearly 1,000 locations statewide where residents can receive their COVID-19 vaccine and booster.