(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)

The events of the week of June 16 sadly demonstrated how Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s indecision and poor communication continues to harm and de-prioritize public employees, the staff critical to keeping our city and its services running.

Host, Sarah Fishman speaks with US Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley from the MA-7th District.

The Center for Arts at the Armory Commissions Six Lead Artists to Headline Second Annual Feet Keep the Beat Festival July 30 – August 4, 2024

Now in its second year, Arts at the Armory’s Feet Keep the Beat Festival announces that it has commissioned five local percussive dance artists and one Musical Director to create an evening length work to be premiered on August 2nd in the Armory Performance Hall.  The Feet Keep the Beat Artists will also lead free dance jams and community workshops throughout the festival week. Returning from last year’s festival are artists Ariaki Dandawate (Kathak), Yosi Karahashi (Flamenco) and Antonio Tran (Flamenco guitar), as well as Joh Camara (West African), Lekisha Limage (Step), and Ryan Casey (Tap), who are new to the festival this year.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) host the City’s annual Juneteenth flag-raising event at the Somerville City Hall Concourse on June 18, 2024

(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)

Disgusted with Somerville Administration doing nothing

The city left a dumpster of trash that was overflowing outside of the Edgerly building (which is being used for the Winter Hill School) since Thursday, June 13th.  Overflowing trash has sat on city property in a residential area for 3 days in the hot sun, residents have called all weekend requesting the dumpster to be emptied and have no action was taken.

The Healey-Driscoll administration recently  announced that it is awarding nearly $15 million in Skills Capital Grants to 65 high schools, colleges, and educational institutions. This funding, announced at Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School, will support schools and institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training programs across Massachusetts.

The Somerville Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will partner to host the Somerville gun buyback initiative Saturday, June 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. It will take place on Franey Rd. adjacent to the Somerville Department of Public Works yard, 1 Franey Rd. The regional initiative includes several communities in the Middlesex County over the past couple of years. The focus is on providing residents with a safe and secure way of removing unwanted firearms from their homes.

Join the Somerville Arts Council  for this special ArtsUnion event on Saturday, June 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Rain date:  June 23) at Union Square Plaza, Somerville.