Undersecretary Edward A. Palleschi of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) recently visited Razors Barbershop & Shave Co. at their original location in Somerville, MA to present owners Anthony and Joe Berriola with OCABR’s Licensee Recognition Certificate of Excellence. Undersecretary Palleschi enjoyed touring the recently renovated shop meeting the talented staff of barbers. Other special guests at the presentation were Somerville city councilors Beatriz Gómez-Mouakad and Kristen Strezo, as well as Somerville Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Mackey.

On Saturday, December 11, The City of Somerville will host a ceremony to remember those that have been lost to COVID-19 and to recognize the many other losses our community has faced throughout the pandemic.

The public is invited to gather for a simple ceremony, a participatory remembrance project, with musical accompaniment. The event will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., at Symphony Park, 46 Pearl Street.

We are gathering expressions of thanks, gratitude and well wishes for outgoing Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, who is winding down his 18-year run as mayor of Somerville at the end of the year.

Send your well wishes via email at: news@thesomervilletimes.com. Selected contributions will be published in The Somerville Times, both in print and online.

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Chestnut season is finally upon us. The large baskets containing these gluten free nuts are low in fat, rich in vitamins and minerals, and a rich source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids. See more nutritional values and health benefits information here: https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/chestnuts.html.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and special guests hosted two of Somerville’s annual holiday celebrations. The festivities began with the annual Christmas tree lighting on Thursday, December 2, on the City Hall concourse. After the tree lighting, Santa Claus joined in for a meet and greet next door at Somerville High School. Santa was escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police departments, with a gift and cookies for each child in tow. Live entertainment featured the Somerville High School Chorus, Somerville High School Orchestra, El Sistema Somerville, and the Somerville High School Jazz Band. Later in the week, the ceremonial menorah lighting took place on Sunday, December 5, on the City Hall concourse with Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz from Temple B’nai Brith.

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“As a visual artist and a dancer, I find many connections between abstract painting and improvisational dance. Just as I let the music move me from within, I allow my artistic intuition to bring my brush to life.

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Carolynn Kingyens is the author of two poetry collections, Before the Big Bang Makes a Sound and the newly released Coupling (November 2021), both by Kelsay Books. In addition to poetry, Kingyens writes published essays, book and film reviews, micro fiction and short stories. She lives in New York and Canada with her husband and their two beautiful, kind, and very creative daughters. Here’s a link to Coupling on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coupling-Carolynn-Kingyens/dp/1639800549/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=coupling&qid=1637736908&s=books&sr=1-6

The City of Somerville celebrates Hanukkah by lighting the last candle on its menorah at City Hall.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and The Educational Justice Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have announced a new partnership to expand education around racial equity issues in the criminal system. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office will facilitate two clinics to educate students about prosecutorial work and the daily functions of the court system with the goal of tasking the participants to develop innovative solutions to improve data management, increase transparency and view outcomes through a racial equity lens.