Kick off the start of summer with your friends and neighbors at the Growing Center! This spring marks the 30th Anniversary of the beginning of programming, and they want to celebrate! Join them  for Forge ice cream samples drizzled with their own maple syrup; Birthday Card making; pollinator rafts; button making; archival activities; an interview station; and a pay-what-you-want bake sale. This event is FREE and OPEN TO ALL.

A public event will take place June 30, 2024, with live music by Parama Chattopadhyay on violin and vocals, Steven P Asaro on drums, and Dan Belhumeur as DJ!

James Neville, Boston area artist and brain damage survivor, will stage how he has restored his functionality through painting and psychedelics in an exuberant day-long ceremony at Parma Chai’s Out of the Blue Gallery Too in Somerville’s Armory Building, June 30, 2024, 3-7 p.m., 191 Highland Ave.

Community encouraged to ask questions and share feedback on current version of the Neighborhood Plan

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the city’s Planning, Preservation, and Zoning Department invite Somerville community members to a public meeting to help inform the final draft of the Brickbottom Neighborhood Plan. City staff will present the most current version of the plan and will answer questions from the community. 

It’s officially summertime in the ‘Ville. As you plan your next barbecue, picnic, or pool day, let’s work together to keep our community rat-resistant and maintain a clean and safe environment for everyone:

Dave Ortega’s follow-up to “Días de Consuelo” is “River”.

By Mina Rose Morales

Dave Ortega’s sequel, River, continues the narrative from Días de Consuelo. Ortega narrates his family’s semi-autobiographical immigration story in River, which is set in the region where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico converge in the United States.

“Can you imagine Mijo? Three places meeting in one spot like that,” Consuelo comments.

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward One Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, and City of Somerville staff invite you to a community open house to learn about the updated design for transportation safety improvements on Tufts Street.  

Community Party Including Music, Food, and Fireworks Will Begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. — Photos by Bobbie Toner

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is inviting Somerville to kick off their Fourth of July festivities by joining Somerville’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field (541 Broadway) on Thursday, June 27 (rain date Friday, June 28). 

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The annual fireworks display will probably be the highlight of my July 4th weekend. I may pop up to Old Orchard Beach for a day trip. When the kids were younger, we would always spend July 4th weekend there. What are our Somerville neighbor’s plans? Each set of quotes is a new person’s remarks.

Somerville Police are investigating reports of shots fired on Summer St. early Wednesday morning. When the police arrived, they found dozens of shell casings along the street. 

No injuries have been reported but nearby homes were damaged by the stray bullets.

Somerville police have the incident under investigation, we will publish any further information as it becomes available.