The 78th Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Powderhouse Awards event took place on Thursday, December 5.

By Harry Kane

Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne delivered an impactful speech about fostering stronger connections with youth during the 78th Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner and Powderhouse Awards event on December 5.

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Leftovers, it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But in this case, breakfast! When I went to fetch the eggs and milk for the French toast, I stumbled upon the eggnog and decided to use it instead. Let’s just say the final result did not disappoint. The combination with the sliced almonds and syrup are a match made in heaven. Give it a try.

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Clarity Tattoo Removal, a new tenant in 259 Elm St., lower level held their official Grand Opening event on December 12. They are excited to bring the newest laser technology for tattoo removal to Davis Square and the rest of Somerville. Check them out online to learn more about what they do and the technology they utilize: http://www.claritytattooremoval.com.

The shopping is done, the presents are (hopefully) wrapped, and the plans for the big day have been made. Now is the time to slow down, relax and enjoy the holiday and all the finer things that come with it.

Being with family, friends and loved ones and sharing warmth of the occasion is unquestionably at or near the top of the list of things we like most at this time of year.

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Recently I caught up with Michael Silverman, one of the many artists in our creative burg. He writes, “My wife and I are both artists in Somerville in that we try to draw something every day at a coffee place. Over the last 6 years or so we have a stockpile of thousands of drawings. The whole thesis we have is to have fun with it.”

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Meg Smith is a writer, journalist, dancer and events producer living in Lowell, Mass., and who spent part of her childhood in Somerville. In addition to The Somerville Times’ Lyrical Somerville, her poetry has appeared recently in The Cafe Review, The Lowell Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Poetry Bay, Acropolis Review, and many more. She is creator of Poe in Lowell, honoring Edgar Allan Poe’s three visits to Lowell, and a board member of Lowell Celebrates Kerouac. She is author of six poetry books and a short fiction collection, The Plague Confessor. She welcomes visits to megsmithwriter.com.

Somerville High School proudly presents the 2024 Music & Art Winter Showcase on Thursday, December 19, at SHS’s Centennial Auditorium. Check out the art exhibit at 5:00 p.m., then watch the concert at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy music performed by the Somerville High School Chorus, Orchestra, Band, World Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Guitar Class. Artwork from current high school art students will be on display and select ceramics pieces will also be available for purchase. All staff, family, and friends of the Somerville Public Schools community are invited to enjoy an evening celebrating the arts!

General Manager Eng congratulates team on a successful rollout along with other supporters by riding the upgraded Route 104 bus.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) hosted a Route 104 ride along Monday to celebrate the launch of the Bus Network Redesign (BNR) Phase One, which officially went into effect December 15. The MBTA’s Bus Network Redesign is a major initiative of the Better Bus Project aimed at improving bus service reliability, frequency, and connectivity throughout the region. 

Big Sister Kristen with Little Wild — Photo courtesy of Kristen Erekson

This winter, Somerville resident and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) volunteer mentor, Kristen Erekson, is celebrating her 19 years of cumulative mentorship in a BIG way. Erekson, a long time Big Sister and BBBSEM Board of Advisor member, is holding a 19-day donation challenge from December 13 through December 31 in which she will match up to $19,000 in financial contributions to support BBBSEM’s year-round one-to-one youth mentoring programs.