By Parker Garlough

In a meeting on Monday June 10, the Pollinator Action Plan Advisory Committee presented a draft of their plan to support pollinators native to Somerville. The plan includes proposals for residential landowners, landscaping businesses, municipal entities, and schools. The meeting primarily focused on recommendations for homeowners.

City buildings will be closed Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day beginning Wednesday. No street sweeping on Wednesday.

(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)

By Jenny Bonham-Carter

Did you know that there are about 140 million poor and low-income people in the US – white, black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American – making up 40 percent of the national population and that poverty is the 4th leading cause of death in America?

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council are inviting the community to NibbleFest, a celebration of Nibble Kitchen’s five-year anniversary at Bow Market, on Sunday, June 30, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bow Market (entrance by 345 Somerville Ave).

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No matter the season, I make a point to stop off at Truro Vineyards when I have the chance. It’s beautiful year-round, but especially so during the spring and summer months. Check out the website for special events like, paint and sip, wine and dine, live music, and a schedule of food trucks.

It’s been getting pretty darn hot lately. And it’s looking like we’ll be facing a good little stretch of even more hot weather in the days and – yes, even maybe – the weeks to come.

There’s little to be done about it other than exercising a little common sense to minimize dangers of heat stroke. Watch your activity levels, get plenty of water, etc. Just be careful and do the right things. You’ll make it.

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Recently I had a chance to talk with Karen Moss at her space in the Miller Street Studios in Somerville, Mass. I was introduced to her work at “Open Studios” – an event that the Somerville Arts Council puts on yearly. She told me that her work is always “about something” often touching on the social and the political issues of our time.

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Gloria Mindock is editor of Červená Barva Press, author of six poetry collections and three chapbooks. Her poems have been published and translated into eleven languages. Her recent book, Grief Touched the Sky at Night (Glass Lyre Press, 2023), won the International Impact Award, the Speak-up Talk Radio International Firebird Award, the Book Fest Award, the Independent Press Award and numerous awards from the Outstanding Creator Awards. Publications include: Ibbetson, Gargoyle, The James Dickey Review, Growth: Journal of Literature, Culture, & Art (Macedonia), Constellations, Lily Poetry Review, and KGB Lit. Gloria was the Poet Laureate in Somerville, MA in 2017 and 2018.

Update: 911 has been restored

Massachusetts 9-1-1 services are currently down statewide, including in Somerville. If you or others are having an emergency, call 617-625-1212 to reach the Police Department, and 617-623-1500 to reach the Fire Department or for Emergency Medical Services.

Fire boxes are working and can be pulled for any fire, medical, or police emergency. The fire boxes are red boxes on a pedestal and are located on street corners throughout the City.