The Pickle, Every Saturday at 9 pm. Someone in the audience will go home with a free jar of pickles at the end of the night!

By Jeffrey Shwom

This is the second of three articles in a series titled “Laughing around town: Somerville’s comedy scene”

A gray, partly cloudy afternoon meet-up with Union Comedy co-founders Ben Scurria and Pat Kearnan turned out just the way we wanted … a meet-up at Forge Baking Co first (such tempting pastries) with an informal invitation to Union Comedy’s current space across the street at 593 Somerville Ave. Ben and Pat were excited to show and share their post-pandemic success story in building a strong enough community to move onward and upward within Somerville.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

The 45th Anniversary of the Bill Rodgers Somerville Jingle Bell Run & Walk took place this past Sunday. The 5k run/walk started in Davis Square, made its way through the Teele and Ball square areas ending back in Davis Square. Runners were encouraged to wear their best costumes.

Reports from the Public Safety for All Task Force, Civilian Oversight Task Force, and the Anti-Violence Working Group will be Posted Online Starting Tuesday, January 28 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) are inviting all to join a community event presenting the completed reports from the Public Safety for All Task Force, Civilian Oversight Task Force, and Anti-Violence Working Group on Tuesday, February 4, 2025  (rain date Thursday, February 6) at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave).  

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

This is my annual look back at those Christmas toys we got in the 60’s 70s and 80’s.

The best toy I ever got for Christmas was the year I got an Aurora race car set. Me and my brother had it all set up before anyone else woke up. I asked our friends to share their memories of their favorite Christmas toy.

A retirement party was held for Janice Pousland (second from the right) last Thursday.. ~ Photos by Claudia Ferro

A retirement party for Janice Pousland, who worked for the Somerville Public Schools after school program for 30 years, took place on Thursday, December 12, at the TAB building, 167 Holland St. Many who worked the After-School Program over the years were also invited.

Last week, the Somerville Kiwanis Club joined forces with the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club to benefit the USMC Toys For Tots program.

On Thursday, December 12, Somerville Kiwanis Club members were joined by our good friends from the Somerville Rotary Club and Somerville Lions Club for our annual Toys For Tots luncheon meeting. Three members of the Marine Corps joined us for this special tri-club meeting.

Members of the community expressed their views on the city’s proposed Arts at the Armory Master Plan at a meeting on December 10.

By Lexi O’Neil

Somerville residents have been waiting anxiously for the city council’s proposal on how best to serve their community’s voices when it comes to Arts at the Armory.

On December 10, residents and community members gathered to speak on behalf of the Master Plan that Somerville’s council has worked on for the last three years. However, residents and creative arts members of the Armory were in opposition of the plan, stating “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

By Jeffrey Shwom

The city is now stating that the Anti-Displacement Task Force report is now set to be released in January, along with 5 other reports. The Times had reached out to the city as a follow up from our October 2024 article, Public Information not finalized for city’s Anti-Displacement Small Business Committee, in which the city had “indicated that a public release of all of the Task Force’s recommendations (was) waiting to be approved by the mayor, with hopes for a large November 2024 public meeting” with visuals and meet and greet.

The publishers, staff and everyone associated with The Somerville Times wish one and all a very Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, as well as a prosperous and healthy New Year in 2025.