Musicians performed outside of Town Hall during the 2024 Arlington porchfest.  / Molly Weinrib photos As higher temperatures begin to warm Arlington and its surrounding municipalities residents are counting down the days until summer Kicking off the season this year is the much-anticipated annual Porchfest live music will resound throughout the town when musicians take the stage on local business doorsteps or neighborhood porches as the town begins to consider crowd control due to the festival’s growing popularity will the summer bash need to be reined in this year Each year, more and more music lovers flock to greater Boston communities for their respective porchfests – in 2024, Arlington hit a record-breaking level with more than 8,000 people in attendance large crowds gather and migrate from one performance to the next whose members attended Tufts University and lived in Somerville when they were starting out.) The city announced in March that new regulations will be applied to this year’s festival which includes banning performances across several streets the Somerville Arts Council adjusted its application process; applicants are not guaranteed participation and late applications were not accepted once the portal closed April 10 What does this mean for Arlington’s porchfest Executive Director of the Arlington Center for the Arts assures residents that the town’s festival committee is moving forward with enthusiasm and thoughtful planning to keep everyone safe and happy – no such restrictions applied to Somerville will impact Arlington “The scale of the event in Arlington is significantly smaller than in Somerville Most of our porches are located in the neighborhoods as opposed to the town’s main thoroughfares,” Formicola said the performances in Arlington attract modest audiences our neighborhoods are less densely populated than in Somerville All of those factors relieve a lot of the potential for crunch.” The Globe reported that Somerville’s latest porchfest hosted 413 bands, whereas, according to the ACA, Arlington hosted 233 in 2024. (Bands played multiple performances in Arlington). Registration for those either looking to perform or host a performance is still open through Thursday, May 15.  Formicola said there is no limit as to how many participants can sign up.  Just about all genres of music are played during the festival – last year's performance featured country children's music and even original works. For those debating whether or not their participation may crowd this year’s festival the ACA is not seeing a need to worry just yet we are not anticipating a lot of new growth this year.” Formicola said that the ACA’s record shows the town’s attendance rate has ranged from 6,000 to 8,000 people since 2016.  If residents are still wary of potentially dangerous crowding despite current registration rates ACA’s has its own “porchfest posse,” a group of volunteers that facilitate the festival and ensure things are running smoothly and safely – and that residents are having a good time this is a family-friendly event aimed to build community.  Arlington’s porchfest has specific “good-neighbor” policies specialized for hosts Hosts are asked to inform their neighbors if they plan to have music on their property and the festival even has lawn signs hosts can post on their yards starting in June as a visual “heads up.” Bands are warned about their volume levels and instructed to play quieter should a neighbor request it Attendees are only allowed to keep drinks on private property and can not bring them on the public streets the ACA will start trouble-shooting potential challenges and communicating with registered participants to ensure a successful festival.  we have not received complaints about crowds or unruly behavior We intend to keep things that way,” Formicola assured.   Read more details about this year’s festival here >> based on information from The Boston Globe the Arlington Center for the Arts and YourArlington's files and will be updated YourArlington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.Your contributions are tax-deductible  yourArlington.com • Massachusetts residents report about their town Liebling: "Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one." | Copyright © 2006-2025 site design: msgdesign.org Join in for a beginner friendly workshop and bike ride through Somerville MassBike Coalition will be leading a workshop on riding a bike in Somerville The workshop will be followed by a short bike ride interpretation will be provided to all who want it (4AD)The Irish artist’s folk-inflected sound is both unnerving and alluring on her luxuriant second album TikTok has turned the genre into a lifestyle for alt teens while the internet radio station NTS has made itself synonymous with hazy But the Irish musician’s sound feels distinctive: both slightly alienating – cool to the touch unnervingly atmospheric – and slightly sexy songs like Mayfly and Violet moving with an alluring looseness that often eludes experimental indie music of this stripe Maria Somerville: LusterSimple but evocative lyrics suggest an endearing curiosity about the world: “Sometimes the sky / Invites me to truly be / Myself more than it could actually be,” she sings on Trip a curiously circular phrase that feels tentative and certain at the same time Somerville sings in hushed tones surrounded by chilly production these songs reveal themselves to be unusually swollen with texture and detail: harps twinkle like broken glass and baggy breakbeats reverberate widely She has an expansive purview: part of the thrill of Luster is listening closely enough to pick up on the traces of pop trip-hop and experimental electronic music that lies beneath It’s this approach that makes Luster so vividly alive: this is no dusty genre exercise It was inspired by Somerville’s home of Connemara and she occasionally luxuriates in nuanced when she samples the sound of waves at low tide it feels like a representation of the expansive beauty of solitude and the beautiful chaos that can be found in quiet moments: a symphony of small ideas rendered in the colours of a sunset (All releases featured here are independently selected by our editors When you buy something through our affiliate links “Death sucks but we gotta learn to celebrate it and send our loved ones off properly with love,” he said in press materials still tryna have fun and carry my Ole boy's name and legacy on to the furthest extent despite the ‘reality’ of the situation.” Mavi Somerville returned to her native Connemara to montage together a series of demoes with collaborators including co-producer Suzanne Kraft and but later tracks like the acoustic “Anima Hotel” ground Tyler back in his roots Recorded with Waxahatchee and Bon Iver collaborator Brad Cook collects a scrapbook of wistful tales of romantic resilience including her latest viral single Fly Anakin’s solo follow-up to 2022 debut Frank is billed as a creative rebirth for the maverick Virginia rapper executive-produced by Quelle Chris with contributions from Pink Siifu Lead single “My N*gga” showcased the tripped-out jazz and soul grooves that coexist with a dizzying assortment of lush psychedelic textures across the LP Samia opens Bloodless—the follow-up to her 2023 breakout album, Honey—with “Bovine Excision,” an anthem about the socially ordained trappings of femininity incisive lyrics to folk-flecked indie-pop is typical of an album held taut between the introspective and the spectacular a record of self-discovery that takes audible pleasure in discovering new frontiers for her sound Christian Lee Hutson and Raffaela contribute songwriting to the LP which is co-produced by Caleb Wright and Jake Luppen “I wanted to make it almost metaphysical like creating sci-fi with classic cyberpunk anime Ghost in the Shell being a core inspiration,” he said in press materials Nearly a decade since their first collaborative LP, Automaginary, the astral jazz space force of Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas have reconvened for Totality As captured in lead single and album closer “Clock No Clock,” their new collaborative work is continuous and hypnotic pushing their improvisational instincts until fluttering synth and cymbal crashes are as expected as the song’s steady Totality is a guided meditation with no words The album weaves short stories of social minutiae into compositions mixing psychedelic folk and spectral bedroom pop “the awareness that we are just one element in the collective (taba) and yet each individual’s invisible experiences and memories remain somewhere Long established as a key engine of south London’s ascendant jazz scene, Emma-Jean Thackray continues to trespass genre borders on her expansive second album The Yorkshire-born composer and multi-instrumentalist splashes funk and streaks of anarchic grunge into the record balancing “confessional poetry” with “lush jazz harmony and a pop punk silliness,” as she put it in press materials “When you centre in on the silliness it’s easier to speak on your pain New York–based singer and pianist Eliana Glass inhabits a netherworld between smoky basement jazz clubs and the melting vistas of surrealist art on her debut album steeped in what she calls the “condensation of everyday life,” are covers of Carla Bley and Annette Peacock as well as a tribute to Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and her 2006 Éthiopiques entry A Boston-area cafe recently received top honors for being the best brunch spot in Massachusetts located a short distance from Davis Square and Magoun Square It also serves breakfast sandwiches and other brunch specialty items “My favorite coffee shop in the neighborhood!” said Yelp reviewer Gina P They have a completely separate door for picking up online orders so you don't have to wait in line (and there's usually a line out the door).” According to the cafe's website owner Katie Rooney launched 3 Little Figs in October 2011 after she was laid off from a career in broadcast production “After a couple years testing recipes and baking for dozens of farmers markets and supplying local cafes with her baked goods Katie was ready for a cafe of her own,” a statement on the website notes.  Katie's husband Andy joined her in the business trading “late nights touring in the music industry for early mornings behind the espresso machine.” Download the app to LISTEN LIVE wherever you are and connect with us like never before The views expressed here are the author's own is an extended standup show that pulls its perspective on modern dating from research and occasionally emotional show will appeal to fans of The New York Times’ Modern Love column Blythe Roberson’s How to Date Men When You Hate Men and Lane Moore’s You Will Find Your People Amma decided to take to the stage – on the nudge of a dare set for her by her podcast co-hosts she’s developed an “anxious Black nerd” persona that creates a unique take on current events Her strong writing and attentive timing have allowed her to work with comics like Eric Andre (Adult Swim Tuesday, 7:00 pmMedford, MA Wednesday, 7:00 pmCambridge, MA Thursday, 7:30 pmArlington, MA and get ready to laugh and cheer as this repurposed circus turns trash into treasure Originally produced in 2016 and following the overwhelming success of its 2022 revival “One Man’s Trash” is back again in 2025 for its fifth national tour With the limitless spirit and can-do attitude of the circus this cast reclaims and reanimates all that’s left in trash cans and littered in the garage to create a junkyard adventure like none other Featuring a variety of unique and daring circus acts the show is a testament to the power of community and teamwork Be it the pass of a juggling club or the leap of an acrobat “One Man’s Trash” is ready to prove what we’re capable of–what we’re all capable of–together and quirky clowns are just bursting to welcome you into their world May 8th - 7:00pm - Doors 6:30pm JOKE SHOW Thursday May 8th will be our final public show of the season We will be adding some extra bits and gags to the show Show Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dapUcg99uBE please arrive early to choose your favorite seats The show will have preshow performances by local students Cirque Us is thrilled to offer dozens of workshops each time we tour. To see our full list of workshops visit: https://thecirqueus.com/education/ Don't see what you are looking for Email info@thecirqueus.com to set up a private lesson or workshop We can't wait to welcome you into our Junkyard a middle grade coming-of-age story that celebrates identity "Inclusivity" isn't just a buzzword to us. We make every effort to ensure our space and events are accessible to and for everyone. If you or someone in your party needs accommodations, please email us at info@allshewrotebooks.com Four best friends spend Family Week together at an annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in Provincetown MA—the largest of its kind across the world Milo and Avery have celebrated Family Week together in "the smallest their big rented beach house feels different and her life feels like it’s falling apart which means everyone is moving on to bigger and better things except for him Mac’s on his way to a progressive boarding school that lets transgender kids like him play soccer and his moms—and the safety of home—behind it feels like it's happening with or without her and Mac know this is going to be their last summer together But Lina can't accept that—and if she can make this the best summer ever maybe she'll convince them that there will be a Family Week next year Good things might not last in the real world Sarah Moon (she/her) is the author of SPARROW and MIDDLETOWN she lives and works in Brooklyn with her wife and their daughter Sneh Arts and Marvan Entertainment are proud to present: Interested in adding an event to the INDIA New England calendar? Submit your event here! All submitted events are subject to editorial approval before they appear on the calendar. If you have any questions regarding the calendar, please email editorial@mishragroup.com. forced into an unmarked car by men and women dressed in black and driven off remembering a terrible story I'd been told as a child my mother’s brother — Henri Roger Ejbuszyk then 17 — was arrested on a Paris street It could have been German Nazis in full regalia or soldiers of the collaborationist French military It might have been a civilian who hated Jews and seek to supervise the workings of universities to insure they comply with the anti-DEI samizdat To be clear, antisemitism is a problem. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) found a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents across the U.S. in the last five years. And some — though by no means all — campus protests against the war in Gaza have included antisemitic slurs and that has put Jewish communities on campus and nation-wide on high alert President Trump is using this increase in hateful speech and action as justification for an assault on free speech and academic independence Many Americans may not realize that the administration’s actions are following a playbook created by The Heritage Foundation in a nasty little (33 page) codicil to Project 2025 named “Project Esther: A National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.” Dated October 7 2024 — exactly one year after the Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians — it describes a shadowy international conspiracy the Heritage Foundation has named The Hamas Support Network (HSN) It also blames the Jewish community and elected Jewish officials and representatives for stupidly failing to acknowledge and even enabling the threat it poses to the very soul of America the HSN receives the indispensable support of a vast network of activists and funders with a much more ambitious insidious goal—the destruction of capitalism and democracy the HSN and its nihilist supporters indoctrinate the gullible into supporting Hamas and hating Israel to create the street mayhem that serves their ends Hamas is an Islamist militant group that has been designated a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States. And while Hamas does receive support from entities in Iran, Turkey, Qatar and many other places around the world — the HSN is not a real thing Project Esther is a playbook — an exercise in cynicism by an administration eager to prey on people’s worst fears — named for a biblical heroine who is credited with saving her people from annihilation Esther does this by exposing a murderous plot against her people a plot devised by an antisemitic advisor who sells the idea to a lecherous The Heritage Foundation’s white paper kicks off with an almost comically goyish mistake a tip-off that no Jews were involved in its creation: “In the Torah You don’t have to be a rabbi to know that The Book of Esther is not part of the Torah which is comprised of the books of Genesis The Book of Esther shows up toward the end of the Hebrew bible in a section called “Writings,” which also includes Proverbs Psalms and the beautiful erotic poetry of Song of Songs Project Esther dismisses right-wing antisemitism in a few short paragraphs pronouncing the Klan and the American Nazi party relics of the past the Ku Klux Klan initially focused on anti-black the Klan once again refocused on its anti-black it was never a major target of concerted action by the federal government the Klan petered out mostly due to the Great Depression and its followers’ inability to pay for membership Fun fact: a proposed Antisemitism Awareness Act has been held up in Congress because, in part, some members want to make sure they will still be allowed say that the Jews killed Jesus Meanwhile, Jewish leaders all over the country have been protesting the blatant weaponization of antisemitism. Last month, the Minnesota Rabbinical Association released a letter about constitutional rights and Jewish safety History has taught us that whenever a government restricts the rights of a given group We have learned that our safety and freedom as Jews is irrevocably bound up with the safety and freedom of all people but you can’t make antisemitism go away by censoring antisemites responsible for Germany’s defeat in WWI as well as the economic depression of the 1920s Nazis thought that Germany could only fulfill its manifest destiny by killing all the Jews and other “undesirables” including physically and mentally disabled people Both my parents lost family members during the Holocaust My uncle survived in Auschwitz for two years we’re seeing the demonization of immigrants trans youth and anyone who holds up the Constitution as a bulwark against authoritarianism And Rümeysa Öztürk is still in custody in a Louisiana detention facility — one of several international students who were arrested for their involvement in protesting Israel’s war in Gaza was co-signing an op-ed in the Tufts Daily critical of the university’s response to the war that you should always keep a packed suitcase by the door ready in case you have to flee for your life I used to shrug it off as a holdover from centuries when we depended upon the unpredictable goodwill of non-Jewish authorities America is not Nazi Germany or Spain during the inquisition, but I’m not scoffing anymore. If Trump gets the gigantic $100 million-plus military parade he wants in honor of his next birthday (which conveniently coincides with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S Army) I might consider getting some new luggage Follow Cog on Facebook and Instagram. And sign up for our newsletter, sent on Sundays. We share stories that remind you we're all part of something bigger. Anita Diamant Cognoscenti contributorAnita Diamant is the author of 14 books A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice.” The Lincoln County News Serving Maine and Lincoln County for over 140 years Security camera footage shows an altercation between select board member Don Chase (second from right) and budget committee member Michael Cox (right) during the budget committee’s March 25 meeting in the Somerville town office Cox resigned from the select board following the event Cox remains a member of the budget committee An altercation at the Somerville town office led to violence during a March 25 budget committee meeting The incident was preceded by a discussion about broadband internet funding and followed by verbal threats according to security footage reviewed by The Lincoln County News “I’m going to beat you to a (expletive) bloody pulp,” budget committee member Michael Cox repeated twice to Somerville Select Board member Don Chase as he was escorted out of the town office by select board Chair Willard Pierpont immediately after the altercation The footage was captured on an ADT security camera installed at the office the week before the incident The camera records video and audio in roughly 30-second intervals each of which is followed by a gap of at least 30 seconds during which no recording is made The portion of the evening’s footage reviewed by The Lincoln County News begins at approximately 5:30 p.m. when Somerville Select Board members Willard Pierpont and Kathryn Jennings were seated in the town office discussing budget procedure with Treasurer Sandra Devaney and Town Clerk Russell Gates The joint Somerville Select Board and Somerville Budget Committee meeting planned for 6 p.m that evening was intended as a session to familiarize both groups with the budgeting process followed by budget committee members Cathy Ladd and Bobbi Creamer; Chase; and residents Joseph LaMacchia and Chris Johnson the group can be heard discussing the budget before turning to the town-owned broadband network and its finances and Jennings seemed to be engaged in a separate inaudible conversation on one side of the table can be heard discussing broadband finances on the other The conversation centered on broadband operating costs that Pierpont said had not been budgeted for “We’re 25,000 in the hole,” Pierpont said in the last recorded clip preceding the video of the altercation itself The next clip begins more than one minute later who were directly across from one another at the square table are walking around the table toward one another who was also standing and is now between the two She stumbles before catching herself on a chair they raise their hands and appear to brace against one another before Chase leans forward and falls to the ground The fall causes the pair to be partially obscured by a wall Chase lands on the ground and cannot be seen Cox appears to strike at Chase several times with a closed fist Pierpont reaches the two and attempts to move Cox toward the door As Cox is guided toward the door by Pierpont saying he will beat him before telling Chase to “bring it … outside.” “I’m going to get you on an assault charge,” Chase responded The next recording shows budget committee members sweeping up debris from the floor in the area of the altercation while Chase places a call take seats around the table while Chase waits to one side The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene Both Cox and Chase were charged with disorderly conduct Chase resigned from the Somerville Select Board the following morning Pierpont said he discussed Cox’s seat on the budget committee with the other members the evening of the altercation and the members present – the entire committee except Creamer — had concluded that Cox should remain a member of the committee it’s a witch hunt,” Chase said when reached by phone on March 27 He said he believed the ongoing discussion about broadband funding was not based on real concerns and was a symptom of ongoing communication problems He recounted the events leading to the altercation saying Cox had insulted him personally and he had responded “I shouldn’t have come out with hard words but I told him to go ‘ef’ himself,” Chase said Chase held the seat of second select board member from 2012 until his resignation in March Cox declined to comment when reached by phone The next meeting of the Somerville Select Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, at the town office. For more information, go to somervillemaine.org or call 549-3828 To stay informed on local happenings, sign up for our newsletter! and goings-on in Lincoln County with our twice-weekly email newsletter SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — 3 Little Figs in Somerville was recently named the best brunch spot in Massachusetts in a new list by the Yelp Elite Squad The Yelp Elite Squad is a subset of Yelp reviewers to whom the site has given "elite" status for writing high-quality reviews taking exemplary photos and "playing well with others" on the platform Yelp Elites recently compiled a list of the top brunch spots in each state and they named 3 Little Figs the best in Massachusetts Owner Katie Rooney called the recognition "a great honor." "I do think that we offer a real sense of family vibes and community," Rooney said 3 Little Figs serves a wide array of sandwiches The cafe has been at its location on Highland Ave but Rooney said the line still stretches out the door on a regular basis WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports Show Search Search Query Submit Search Advertisement Filters Close filters Neighborhood All Hyde Park Inglewood Jefferson Park Leimert Park View Park-Windsor Hills West Adams Filter all Breakfast/Brunch Soul Food Somali cuisine Jamaican Southern American Creole Cajun Belizean New American West African Wine Bars More Less Price Lamar’s “Not Like Us” single has become a West Coast anthem since it was released last spring, and L.A.’s Black cowboy culture is on full display in preparation for Beyoncé’s performance of her Grammy-winning country album. If you’re looking to curate the perfect concert experience, consider pregaming at one of L.A.’s Black-owned restaurants, many of which are conveniently located near the Inglewood arena. Toast with Black-owned prosecco at a neighborhood wine bar, pick up flaky Jamaican patties before walking to the venue or “Laissez les bon temps rouler” at a New Orleans-inflected favorite in Jefferson Park. Food Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map SaveSave this storySaveAlong the wild western coast of Ireland’s County Galway lies Connemara Oscar Wilde once praised the region’s “savage beauty,” a phrase you will encounter at least a dozen times reading about its rugged expanses of mountain to all of which its 30,000 or so residents appear proudly subordinate Hovering the place on Google Maps takes you over craggy ranges and flowering heath ruins of castles and nunneries straight out of Gothic romance novels Here the modern world bears a striking resemblance to the ancient world of myth overlaid with field recordings of the rush of wind and sea settling comfortably alongside the masterpieces of the canon The word “time” appears more frequently than I can count: On “Spring,” it comes in waves that ebb perpetually away and on the breathtaking “Garden,” she swims through time itself past dark caves and out toward warmer waters there is a holisticism to the hero’s journey on which Somerville embarks—a feeling that you’re not alone All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. the Ward 4 and 5 Slice of the City events have been postponed The Somerville Office of Emergency Management and the Somerville LEPC work collaboratively with all town public safety agencies to maintain the required levels of preparedness and response to potential hazardous material incidents and also investigate and recover from any hazardous material releases that may occur within the city The next meeting of the Somerville LEPC will take place in November An LEPC is composed of members which represent a cross-section of the community as well as representatives from facilities subject to EPCRA planning requirements.  Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA) which requires that each state to appoint a State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) to provide oversight and regulation of hazardous materials EPCRA mandates participation and direction of a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to work in a collaborative fashion with manufacturers and consumers of hazardous materials to prevent and plan for potential chemical and hazardous material related emergencies Public Law 99-499 Title III, of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), Section 324(a) states that certain information developed under EPCRA as well as the reports submitted by facilities under EPCRA The following Somerville Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) documents are on file and available for public viewing:  or to request an appointment to view any documents please make an appointment request through the Somerville LEPC contact: Lauren Mahoney Read the LEPC Bylaws  Public Meeting Agendas will be posted 48 hours prior to meeting time  Meeting minutes may be requested at any time and will be posted after approval Please submit website feedback using this form Anyone who has read a murder mystery has heard of Agatha Christie. Along with Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey, and some less-remembered authors like Gladys Mitchell she is one of the British women who made up the Golden Age of Mystery in the early 20th century And anyone who has heard of Agatha Christie most likely has heard of Miss Jane Marple she studies human nature with a keen and jaundiced eye Not for her the sleuthing of a Sherlock Holmes nor the “little grey cells” of Christie’s other famous detective it’s noticing how people act and react that reminds her of other people she has known “The Moving Finger (Miss Marple #3)”by Agatha Christie we meet most of the characters before Miss Marple does They appear at first to be types: the injured war hero the unworldly vicar and his practical wife the types come to life with idiosyncratic traits and hidden depths “If I misjudged this person the first time or two I met them Perhaps they are really the murderer?” The quiet little village of Lymstock seems the perfect place for Jerry Burton to recuperate from his flying accident under the care of his sister who would probably be more at home in London They settle in for a round of daily walks and conversations with everyone else in the village who are curious about the newcomers – they don’t see many But soon a series of vicious poison-pen letters destroys the village’s quiet charm eventually causing one recipient to commit suicide Do they happen because of the accusations (false or true) made in the letters Which of these seemingly quirky people in this apparently bucolic town wants to kill other people’s reputations … or simply kill them One of the townspeople knows our Miss Marple and invites her to stay but not until three-quarters of the book is done we really have come to know and care about the villagers and their visitors and the portrait of their lives is the best part of the book The solution – with the characteristic Agatha Christie twist but it’s also in some ways beside the point read this book if you enjoy British mysteries but be prepared for it not to follow the usual pattern of detective novels The Somerville Office of Emergency Management coordinates all aspects of emergency management Our mission is to reduce the impacts of disasters together through a whole-community approach to ensure everyone has access to the resources and support they need to recover and thrive.  Working closely with internal and external partners we: Somerville City Alerts share timely information about emergencies, construction and road closures in your area, and other important community news. You can choose to receive alerts either by email, phone, text, or all three in multiple languages here.  Severe weather can occur at any time in any part of the country Severe weather can include hazardous conditions produced by thunderstorms and winter storms associated with freezing rain Understand the type of hazardous weather that affects you and your family where you live: https://www.ready.gov/severe-weather  The City of Somerville organizes response and recovery activities into Community Lifelines which enable continuous operation of critical functions that are essential to human health and economic security Learn more about these Lifelines and the departments they are made up of below.  The Safety and Security Community Lifeline encompasses public safety and departmental operations that allow for incident stabilization and continuous delivery of government services This lifeline consists of five components:  and Shelter Community Lifeline encompasses infrastructure that allows for continuous food and housing services as well as the provision of emergency support in the event of a disruption to any of those services This lifeline is segmented into four components:  The Health and Medical Community Lifeline covers all aspect of medical services required during an emergency incident to include the medical chain This lifeline is segmented into five components.  The Energy Community Lifeline is focused on only electricity and fuel both of which are essential to a successful response operation The City of Somerville utilizes Eversource as its supplier of electricity and National Grid and Eversource as its suppliers of natural gas Although the City relies on private entities for the maintenance and management of these services departments in the City are responsible for coordinating on those efforts in support The lifeline consists of two components:  The Communications Community Lifeline encompasses the telecommunications infrastructure and operations that allow for residents and private organizations to communicate efficiently and effectively using 21st century technology and supported by a variety of public and private partners including the City of Somerville and various municipal partners and telecommunication providers This lifeline is segmented into five components:  The Transportation Community Lifeline covers all forms of transportation of people and resources to and from an incident This lifeline consists of four components:  The Hazardous Material Community Lifeline covers the management (including container and removal) of all hazardous materials This life consists of two components:  The Water Systems Community Lifeline encompasses water infrastructure and wastewater management Water supply and sewage-disposal services are provided by the Somerville Water and Sewer Department The City of Somerville's water supply comes from the Quabbin Reservoir This lifeline consists of two components:  Protesters are pictured outside Somerville City Hall on Thursday Somerville City Council voted to file a ballot initiative for Somerville’s divestment from companies in business with Israel on Thursday night requiring activists to collect about 5,500 voter signatures to secure the question a spot on the city’s November ballot The council’s 9–2 vote was preceded by a rally organized by Somerville for Palestine attended by hundreds of Somerville community members outside Somerville City Hall “We know that Somerville is a leader across the state and it would show that our Somerville values demand us to take action and then it would be up to the city to follow through on that Somerville was the first Massachusetts city to pass a ceasefire resolution in January 2024 Somerville for Palestine argues that the city’s million-dollar contracts with Hewlett-Packard and Caterpillar Inc “Somerville is invested in Israeli apartheid,” Skinner said “So that’s why what we’re doing tonight matters so much It’s because when we see footage of the West Bank of Israeli apartheid — we’re contributing to that just like our tax dollars are going to pay for the bombs that are falling in Gaza.” Local residents at the rally said the recent arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk on Tuesday strengthened their incentive to participate in the protest “It was definitely really startling to see the videos of Rümeysa being detained just right here on our streets and the genocide has been going on for so long,” Somerville resident Anna Doctor said said part of the reason she wanted to attend the rally was to advocate for the protection of freedom of speech in Somerville in addition to supporting the ballot question “I was horrified that someone was detained in our neighborhood for just writing an op-ed but I am staunchly against the occupation of Palestine because I think to be Jewish means to stand up for other ethnic and religious minorities,” Sass said Somerville police opened the door to more than 50 people who filled council chambers in favor of and opposed to the addition of the ballot question spoke in favor of putting the question on the November ballot “I can’t understand why our elected officials cannot bring themselves to condemn this anti-Arab stealing them away and throwing them into unlawful detention for speaking the truth about Palestine where an apartheid regime is currently conducting a genocide against Palestinian people.” Council President Pineda Neufeld sponsored Amanda Joseph New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League and Somerville resident Divestment and Sanctions movement of antisemitism and said there would be disruption to the community because of the ballot question “The city solicitor has already confirmed that what is on the ballot question — what it asks for — is illegal “This question is nothing more than a symbolic gesture driven by bias rather than what’s best for this community.” Councilor Jefferson Thomas Scott then sponsored Alan Jehlen to speak a member of the Jewish caucus of Somerville for Palestine said community members should all have the opportunity to vote on Somerville’s divestment from companies in business with Israel divestment and sanctions movement is a call to destroy Israel economically," speaker Daniel Engel urging the council to reject the ballot question. "Both of these strategies have the same effect here in Somerville Jews and Zionists feel that they are endangered and unwelcome in this city.”  council members voted on the ballot question petition at around 8:40 p.m Neufeld made a motion to file the petition “For a ballot initiative brought by residents and voters they will now have to gain the signatures of 10% of all voters in Somerville in order to get this on November’s ballot,” Burnley Jr expressed disappointment at yesterday’s vote yet also expressed optimism for the upcoming signature collection process “It takes real leaders to … take a stand and many of my colleagues did not take a stand today and I’m really disappointed in them for that,” he said “But I am excited because we are a leader-full community full of people who will do the work and take that moral stand about our municipal dollars.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Congresswoman Also Discussed her Fight to Protect Federal Workers Video (YouTube) SOMERVILLE – At a town hall yesterday at Somerville High School Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) discussed her meeting in Louisiana with Somerville resident Rümeysa Öztürk and outlined how she’s fighting back against Donald Trump’s cruel and callous agenda to divide communities and impose wholesale harm Having returned earlier in the day from Louisiana Congresswoman Pressley shone light on her experience meeting with Ms at the ICE facility where she is being unlawfully detained and fear that Rümeysa has endured – and how she remains kind-hearted and committed to centering the humanity and dignity of all people joined for the town hall by Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne also took questions and discussed her efforts to fight back against the Trump-Musk cuts to critical federal programs like Social Security and Medicaid her support for our federal workers and immigrant neighbors her defense of federal Department of Education funding A transcript with highlights from the Congresswoman’s opening remarks are available below (edited lightly for clarity), and video is available here Pressley Details Meeting with Detained Somerville Resident Rümeysa ÖztürkU.S I just landed at Logan this morning returning from my trip to rural Louisiana to meet with my constituent and your neighbor Rümeysa who has been unjustly detained as a political prisoner after being abducted from the streets of Somerville has been detained for over a month now by ICE Many of you have seen the video – the harrowing video And I wanted to thank the concerned community member and bystander Rümeysa was taken by plainclothes officers She shared with me that when they transitioned her from handcuffs to shackles she thought surely she was going to bee killed She was sent over a thousand miles away to a detention facility in Basile Let me begin by recognizing that she is detained in a for-profit facility owned and operated by a multi-billion dollar corporation I have fought long and hard against the use of private prisons and the exploitation of people in carceral settings And that also applies to the immigration system Which is why I believe if you care about mass deportations Rümeysa was transported from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to Georgia and then finally to rural Louisiana So I went to rural Louisiana to see about her Alongside me was Senator Markey and Congressman McGovern And I want to acknowledge the leadership of my brother colleague Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana and Ranking Member Bennie Thompson who leads the House Homeland Security Committee for organizing this CODEL The meeting with Rümeysa was a true testament to her character She was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and wearing the same hijab she was arrested in Yet she spent most of the meeting not talking about herself but advocating for the other women locked in the facility – she had with her copious handwritten notes putting her research skills as a PhD student to work.  Rümeysa is enduring indignities that no one should ever have to and the medical care is grossly insufficient and culturally incompetent Rümeysa shared that a nurse removed her hijab without consent They expressed fear of never seeing their loved ones again Fear of deportation from the only country they call home Fear of retaliation just for being honest about their confinement in spite of her fear – Rümeysa remains kind-hearted and courageous I asked her pointedly if she had a message for the people of Somerville and she told me to tell all of you: thank you for being her community On that frightful day when she was surrounded by ICE agents and unsure of what would happen to her But that neighbor was recording the arrest and when they made eye contact the neighbor raised their hand as if to say to Rümeysa: I am with you And she expressed just how much that meant to her That she didn’t know how much they had captured but it gave her some calm that someone had seen what had happened and maybe they will be able to help me The Massachusetts 7th is not simply a congressional district; it is a community we will resist – because the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance That is why I am demanding answers from Marco Rubio on why Rümeysa’s visa was revoked despite a State Department memo saying she did nothing wrong That is why I am demanding that ICE comply with the judge’s ruling that they bring her back to New England That is why I am leveraging my power on the Committee on Oversight to go into these detention facilities and ensure every person is treated with dignity and respect and have their constitutional right to due process It’s a policy of cruelty and a system of chaos For those who might be tempted to marginalize or to other who might be vulnerable regardless of your status – be it as a DACA recipient an asylum seeker – he seeks to do things that are harmful and unconstitutional and unlawful I’m sure you heard him on that hot mic moment in the Oval Office saying that he will eventually look to deport people with criminal records blatantly unconstitutional and incredible ironic given his own criminal record It could be you tomorrow for suffering a miscarriage It could be you tomorrow for reading a banned book It could be you tomorrow simply for being Black It could be you tomorrow for practicing Diversity It could be you tomorrow for co-authoring an op-ed Our freedoms and our destinies are truly tied In a letter James Baldwin wrote to Angela Y they will surely be coming for us that night.’ It is a true honor and privilege to be your Congresswoman – I don’t take it for granted You deserve someone who fights for you in Washington like you are family – because you are And with that let’s get into a dialogue and answer as many of your questions as we can in this time we have together today take TEA’s latest ratings with a grain of salt Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription © 2025 Burleson County Tribune Outdoor dual sharps disposal kiosk at Seven Hills Park The City of Somerville has installed the nation’s first outdoor dual sharps disposal kiosk at Seven Hills Park further advancing its harm reduction and public safety initiatives Located behind the Davis Square MBTA station with nearby access from Meacham Road.  This innovative installation is the first of its kind in both Massachusetts and the United States It is designed to make safe disposal of sharps more accessible while offering a discreet alternative to the indoor kiosk located at the Somerville Police Station.  “This is one small but important piece of a complex and critical public health response,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne we’re helping protect both individual and community wellbeing.”  this new dual kiosk can accommodate both containers and individual sharps single-use slot allows for the safe disposal of individual needles providing greater flexibility and convenience for community members.  More outdoor kiosks are planned across the city with upcoming installations slated for sites near the East and West Branch Libraries.  “As part of our ongoing commitment to public health and safety this kiosk provides a critical resource for safe sharps disposal in a high-traffic “We encourage community members to use this resource responsibly and help keep Somerville clean and safe.”  the City has contracted a professional vendor for regular disposal services and Somerville’s Community Health Workers will monitor the site to maintain accessibility and upkeep.  What to Do If You Find Improperly Discarded Sharps:  Do not touch or attempt to pick up the item.  the annual Race of Ireland road race will be held in and around the Davis Brief traffic delays are expected mid-morning to midday detours will be set up to accommodate the start and finish lines in Davis Square The start is at the intersection of Elm and Day Streets and the finish is at the Community Path by Grove Street after which point short traffic delays may occur on the following roadways as runners pass: The entire race is expected to be completed by approximately 1 p.m., and, again, any traffic delays are expected to be brief. For all event information, visit theraceofireland.com All adjacent sidewalks will remain open throughout. MBTA buses may be temporarily rerouted. Visit mbta.com/bus for more info SOMERVILLE – The Downtown Somerville Alliance (DSA) has received a $150,000 grant from Main Street New Jersey a program of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to launch a beautification project in the county seat's downtown which will begin in the summer and continue through May 2026 will focus on improvements to three of the most visible areas in the district: Division Street “This grant allows us to move forward with important placemaking work that will enhance our community’s shared spaces and elevate the experience for both residents and visitors,” said Olivia Manning “At a time when we are working through various transitions this funding allows us to continue making progress delivering real impact with strong long-term benefits.” More: Somerville greenlights final phase of transit village development The project is consistent with the DSA’s ongoing work with Main Street America advancing the district’s “Asset Activation” strategy By improving underused public spaces and strengthening the connection between storefronts and streetscape the initiative is intended to improve the visual appeal and economic health of the entire district and business owners will begin in the summer with work in phases over the following months The DSA will evaluate the project through participation rates The DSA is the nonprofit management organization for the Special Improvement District in Somerville with the mission is to foster an economically thriving downtown Somerville mayoral candidate Jason Mackey is pictured Somerville-based entrepreneur and community advocate Jason Mackey announced on Feb including the incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne; City Councilors at-Large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr.; and perennial candidate William Tauro frustrated by what he deems a lack of action on behalf of the Ballantyne administration Mackey is launching a campaign that promises to bring a “sense of urgency” to the city’s government “I’m running because I want to make decisions We have so many challenges facing Somerville and the Commonwealth more broadly We can’t afford to have leaders that do nothing or take half-measures,” Mackey said Mackey declined to identify what he deemed to be specific failures of the Ballantyne administration “I am working on an entire page of our website in which we’ll talk about and outline all of the specific issues which I believe are failings of our current administration … I’ll give some specifics which will shine a spotlight onto exactly why you have two city councilors as well as me running against our current mayor,” he said it’s the inability to make a decision which has stood out the most to me and that’s the reason that I believe I’ll be the best candidate.” Mackey is the only major candidate to join the race who has not previously held citywide office and he views his private sector experience as a unique asset for municipal governance and I don’t believe one needs that experience but what one does need to have is the practical pragmatic and rational approach to governing and the executive experience to make decisions,” he said While Mackey has yet to publish a full policy platform he identified eradicating homelessness and tackling the housing affordability crisis as central to his aims for a term as mayor “I believe in a housing-first policy for addressing homelessness … I want to be as aggressive as we can in ending homelessness in the city of Somerville as well as working with our neighbors to help them eliminate homelessness as well,” he said Mackey further emphasized the importance of collaboration and compromise in developing municipal policy “I would hope to compromise where we can to get stuff done,” he said and that includes working with our neighbors in Medford Boston and coming up with collaborative strategies to address the housing crisis and the homelessness crisis.” As a member of Somerville’s Ward Committee and Human Rights Commission Mackey says he has become familiar with the workings of municipal government he characterizes himself as a proud outsider to Somerville’s political scene and I think that candor is what really would make me an outsider I’m willing to speak truth to power and just be honest about all sorts of issues,” he said shares Mackey’s sentiment that the issue of homelessness needs to be addressed “There have been a lot of problems with things going on at the library She isn’t familiar with Mackey but is nonetheless happy to see competition in the upcoming race I think she talks a lot but doesn’t do a lot for Somerville,” she said “I definitely do appreciate that the Ballantyne administration has been really supportive of things to do with street safety and transit initiatives because I know there’s a lot of pushback against traffic calming measures bike lanes and things like that,” Yaro said Mackey feels optimistic about his campaign this time around I think we can continue down the same path we’ve been on SOMERVILLE – The final piece in the transit village development on the former municipal landfill by the train station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line cleared one more hurdle when the borough Planning Board gave preliminary site plan approval for a five-story building with 171 apartments The Board will vote on giving final site plan approval for Avalon's building in the Somerset Station community on April 23 "It's a beautiful building and we want to see it built," said Mayor Brian Gallagher who also sits on the Planning Board The preliminary approval came after Avalon answered concerns whether the 31 electric vehicle charging stations proposed in the garage under the building could pose a fire hazard in a memo submitted just days before the Planning Board meeting recommended that the Board reject the application More: Here's what's keeping Somerville property tax bills from becoming 'exorbitant' presented testimony to assuage the Board's concerns presented plans to upgrade the design and safety features "over and above the code" in state law Bruno also argued that state law requires the electric charging stations in new developments adding there was not a "feasible" location for the charging stations elsewhere on the site Bruno said the developer has offered $10,000 to fund training for the volunteer members of the Somerville Fire Department The developer has also offered to pay $150,000 to the borough for a centralized charging station location if the state changes its requirements within 120 days of the first certificate of occupancy being given to the new building Gallagher said the concept of a centralized charging station that can be used by all residents is "very appealing" and he has already identified a few possible locations told board members their "concerns were about electric vehicles He said the company has already spent more than $1 million on the project and would like to see the issue settled More: Family of former Somerville fire chief pleads for answers 10 years after hit-and-run death Ladell, while saying Somerville is a "developer-friendly town," said he wished the fire official were at the meeting for cross-examination. Bruno said, "the likelihood of a fire from an electric vehicle is very, very less multiples than a fire from a gas vehicle." "You're seven times more likely to drown in your bathtub than you are to die in an electric vehicle fire," he said, adding the board shouldn't "cling to baseless fears." "The data is perfectly clear," he said. "This is where the world is headed and it's not going backwards." The building, part of Phase 2 of the Somerville Station development, will be on 2.36 acres west of the building containing the Somerville Civic Center on the former parking lot for the train station. The plans call for the 243,365-square-foot building to have parking for 179 vehicles, including 31 spaces for electric vehicles. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. had as of Sept. 30 a direct or indirect ownership interest in 305 communities containing 92,908 apartments in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/news/2025/02/28/proposed-apartment-tower-puts-somervilles-burren-at-risk"></iframe> EmailThe Burren in Davis Square in Somerville (Jesse Costa/WBUR)On a sleepy Monday night in February the Burren in Somerville’s Davis Square was very much awake the pub was decked out in red twinkly lights for Valentine's Day a sprawling circle of musicians filled up a corner by the bar infusing the din with Irish jigs and reels These open jam sessions are a hallmark of the Burren a legendary Irish bar and music venue that was founded in 1996 college kids swarm the back room for late night cover bands The bar’s international reputation has made it a regular tour stop for the biggest names in Celtic music “ There's just such an incredible vibe here that I just haven't ever felt at another place,” said Summer McCall a Somerville-based musician and the director of the Boston Celtic Music Festival and you hear the tunes wafting through the window McCall and other musicians who frequent the Burren worry it’s at risk The bar sits on a block of Elm Street where a local developer wants to build a large apartment tower Musicians say tearing down the Burren would cost them an important source of income They say they want more housing – just not here The proposal has thrown into conflict residents’ desire to preserve cultural space with the need to build more housing and fix the region’s affordability crisis – even as some argue that a compromise is possible which owns the building that houses the Burren at 247 Elm Street has been trying to develop the property for some time A plan to build labs would have left the Burren intact but Boston’s lab market has dropped precipitously in the last year or so proposes an audacious 25-story tower with 500 rental apartments The developer has been holding public meetings about the project and has filed no official plans with the city The parcel is zoned to allow a maximum of four stories Myer Dana and Sons, which owns the building that houses the Burren at 247 Elm Street, has been trying to develop the property for some time. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)Awareness of the plan picked up in January, when anonymous flyers criticizing the project appeared in Davis Square a public meeting held by Copper Mill drew so many concerned residents that dozens were turned away at the door Many expressed skepticism at the developer’s plan “A lot of people don’t want to see the Burren go,” said Clare Fraser an Irish fiddler who heard about the meeting through other musicians “would really damage people's ability to actually make money and survive.” who said he frequents the Burren often for concerts and dancing “We've been under-building in this area for 40-plus years many friends who have moved out of the area because they can't afford the rent here anymore.” It’s hard to overstate how desperately Massachusetts needs more housing. Low supply and high demand are driving up housing costs, and evictions have increased. Somerville is part of a coalition of metro Boston cities and towns that has pledged to build 185,000 new housing units by the year 2030. The city aims to make 20% of its housing stock permanently affordable by 2040. So when the plan to build labs fizzled, the issue of housing came to the fore. Elaine Almquist, president of the newly-formed Davis Square Neighborhood Council, recalled the first public meetings held by Copper Mill in the fall. (The council has not yet been formally recognized by the city.) She said the developer asked residents what kind of development, if any, they would like to see in Davis Square. “ I think we looked around, the residents, and we were like, ‘There's a housing crisis,’” Almquist said. “‘This is a transit hub. We really need housing.’” City officials emphasized the importance of balancing the need for housing and commercial development with preserving the city’s character. “We have goals, we want to see growth,” said Tom Galligani, the  executive director of the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. “[But] we don’t want to lose our soul in the process.” At the same time, he admitted, “ If you don't have a consistent supply of housing that matches the demand, then that's going to raise prices … and people who can’t afford it will get displaced.” Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne said the city encourages developers to preserve businesses, either by helping them relocate or bringing them back. Small businesses like the Burren “represent our identity,” Ballantyne said. “They're part of the economy and certainly part of our cultural fabric. So, if there's a developer who decides to build, they're held to a really high standard.” According to Copper Mill CEO Andrew Flynn, returning the Burren to the proposed development is a possibility. “ We want nothing more than for the Burren to be there for the next 50 years,” Flynn said, adding that Copper Mill had offered to extend the Burren’s lease and return the bar to the new building at the same rent. They could even preserve its distinctive wooden interior. But whether such a deal will be reached is an open question. Burren owner Tommy McCarthy declined a request for comment. He and his wife Louise Costello also own the Bebop in Boston, and are opening up a new bar and music venue not far from the Burren in Cambridge’s Porter Square. Their lease for the Burren is up in August. Flynn estimated that, if the development goes forward, the Burren would have to close for 15 to 18 months – a scenario he hopes to convince people is a pretty good one. But without community support, Copper Mill will have difficulty building anything. “If one were to ask people that we have been engaged with, I think there's been a building of trust in both directions,” Flynn said. “For those who are … galvanized around the Burren, we welcome them to the table.” Amelia Mason Senior Arts & Culture ReporterAmelia Mason is an arts and culture reporter and critic for WBUR the city of Somerville has played host to its own version of PorchFest an afternoon of community featuring musical performances on the front porches of its residents brings several key changes: a new application process certain streets where bands will not be able to play and new volunteer and emergency management teams “We spent a lot of time this winter with a whole committee of fire musicians and business owners to talk about what can we do to implement more safety measures,” said Gregory Jenkins “We’re going to have lead ambassadors in each of the zones [with] walkie talkies Like a central emergency management plan in case there is a problem.” the festival has seen its number of acts swell from 50 to more than 400 last year new safety regulations mean the following streets will not be eligible to feature porch musicians this year: The PorchFest crowds have been particularly intense when bands of national import “Once the street in front of Guster filled up it started spilling into a major street,” recalled Somerville resident Andrew Alperin [the closures] leave large pockets of space where people can congregate and get around I don’t think that that’s necessarily the worst thing in the world.” He noted that the crowds have been known to leave litter in their wake “I did see a lot of people like leaving their beer cans where they were or their trash where it is And you know who’s cleaning that up exactly Jenkins said Guster’s performance did “tip it over,” but added that growing crowd size was notable before the band participated last year some of the major streets were packed,” said Jenkins Reddit and Facebook posts dedicated to discussion of Somerville issues — PorchFest included — reveal several commenters writing that this year’s PorchFest might be a better experience for residents and visitors to the city Another recurring concern: the availability of portable toilets “We’re going to increase the port-a-johns,” said Jenkins “We’re placing extra portable trash cans all throughout the major squares and major corridors.” Your essential daily newsletter delivering trusted news and can't miss programs from Boston and beyond  Property owners must shovel sidewalks by 4:30 p.m. The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end on Sunday (noon) and normal parking rules will resume at that time The information below offers tips to avoid ticketing and towing as well as strategies for being a good neighbor and staying safe CARS IN LOTS: Residents parked in municipal lots during the snow emergency have a two-hour window to move their vehicles after the end of a snow emergency Cars still parked in municipal lots after 2 p.m February 9 will be subject to ticketing and towing to ensure crews are able to safely plow lots PERMIT VISIBILITY: Please note that by 12 p.m February 10 (24 hours after the end of the snow emergency) residential or visitor parking permits must be cleared of snow and visible or the vehicle may be ticketed.  SNOW REMOVAL FROM VEHICLES: Please note that by 12 p.m February 11 (48 hours after the end of the emergency) your vehicle must be fully cleared of snow to avoid ticketing SHOVELING ASSISTANCE: If you are a senior or are otherwise physically unable to shovel please call the Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 x2300 during normal business hours to sign up in advance for assistance during the NEXT storm.  BIKE TRAVEL: Crews are working to remove snow from bike lanes do not shovel snow into the road or bike lanes and consider using other modes of transportation if you must travel until the pavement is fully clear of snow and ice.  Park Considerately   Please consider assisting neighbors who may need help with shoveling and consider checking in on elderly neighbors or others who may need additional assistance Our crews are also working to shovel out fire hydrants and catch basins we greatly appreciate any assistance in shoveling hydrants and catch basins in your area HOW TO RETRIEVE YOUR CAR IF TOWED: Call the tow company at 781-395-0808 if your car was towed Cars are towed to the Dilboy Stadium parking lot in Somerville on Route 16 (110 Alewife Brook Parkway) Somerville city leaders are taking steps to both inform and protect vulnerable resident populations and let them know that they stand with them Many residents in Somerville expressed concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s order to target undocumented immigrants and while federal authorities are cracking down on high-risk individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety in sanctuary cities the new policy raises the specter of persistent raids by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who have been tasked with implementing the presidential mass deportation directive amid a slew of executive orders In response to these enhanced targeting operations Somerville City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin placed an order during the January 23 city council meeting for the immigrant affairs director at SomerViva to update the public health and public safety committee to address immigrant rights and coordinate programming that can assist residents “While we are deeply concerned about potential federal overreach and its impact on families and our economy we remain steadfast in our commitment to protect the lawful and constitutional rights of all who call our city home,” said Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne in a written statement The Trump administration’s mass deportation policy targets immigrants nationwide who cannot prove they have been in the country continuously for two years or more according to a press release on the American Civil Liberties Union website on January 22 Somerville has been a sanctuary city since 1987 and their resolution protects foreign-born residents which accounts for over 20 percent of the city’s population the City Council approved a resolution reconfirming the sanctuary city status The city is taking proactive steps to assist residents in anticipation of increased immigration enforcement by the federal government by hosting “Know Your Rights” sessions for community members and businesses to learn their legal protections The Trump administration has deputized agents from other parts of the U.S Department of Justice to “to help identify and apprehend” illegal aliens for mass deportations according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security “We are also doing the grim work of helping families create contingency plans for guardianship so that they can work to safeguard their children and assets in the event a parent or guardian is deported,” said a spokesperson for the City of Somerville Officials say strengthening economic and social support systems to mitigate the potential impact of increased immigration enforcement may address potential economic downturns caused by large-scale deportations “The city opposes mass deportations due to the expected national economic and social harms,” said Mayor Ballantyne “We are deeply concerned that mass deportation will drive up food and other costs and endanger people who fled violence and crises at home.” Immigration law enforcement is not a local police function in Somerville and while SPD will cooperate with federal agencies on criminal cases immigration-related enforcement is excluded from local policing duties “This separation allows our officers to focus on protecting public safety without undermining trust within our immigrant communities,” said a spokesperson for the City of Somerville “I don’t think people anticipated the speed and ferocity of how this was going to happen.” Councilor McLaughin described the sudden onset of ICE agents who have been spotted in places like supermarkets and the “threats” of ICE agents entering churches and schools to search for undocumented individuals “There’s real fear out there in the community,” Councilor McLaughlin said “It’s intentionally making people afraid to go about their day-to-day lives.” Councilor McLaughlin explained that immigrants have rights and are protected under the U.S President Trump’s executive orders to end birthright citizenship allow ICE to enter schools and churches and punish cities that do not assist in his agenda is concerning “Now the rules have completely changed; we don’t know what is true and what’s not anymore and if the president can just do whatever he wants,” Councilor McLaughlin said SomerViva has provided a packet of “Know Your Rights” resources and a “Know Your Rights” webinar presentation session that helps Somerville residents understand immigration rights Having your rights card in your wallet if stopped by police or immigration and choosing to “remain silent” is alright director of training at the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition The sessions help inform people of their rights information on how to access legal services such as establishing legal guardianship should a parent be deported These sessions are being held at multiple places and in multiple languages in coordination with area partners “If you have submitted an asylum application you cannot be deported until after an immigration judge has reviewed your application you have the right to file a timely appeal and you cannot be deported while that initial appeal is pending,” Kiko said in the webinar session The ACLU has sued the Trump administration over their “fast-track deportations” policy without fair legal process according to a press release from January 22 “People living in communities all across the United States are at risk of being separated from their families and expelled from the country with no legal recourse and fundamental American values,” said Anand Balakrishnan senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project City Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld relayed a story of how students were afraid to leave the high school after seeing an unmarked van “This is happening today in our communities Our youth are afraid,” said Councilor Neufeld at the city council meeting Public schools in Somerville do not ask for families’ immigration status do not allow ICE agents access into facilities without a criminal judicial warrant signed by a judge and do not share student records with ICE without a parent/guardian consent or court order issued by a judge “It’s really important for folks to know their rights,” said Councilor Neufeld we are deeply committed to supporting all of our immigrant students and families,” said Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools Rubén D Carmona in a January 23 email to SPS families City Councilor Jesse Clingan said that some residents he heard from are “panicked.” “I think it’s really important now more than ever that we band together and let our immigrant brothers and sisters know that we stand with them.” A physical altercation during the first annual meeting of the Somerville Budget Committee Tuesday March 25 resulted in misdemeanor charges for two town officials Somerville Second Select Board member Don Chase and Somerville Budget Committee member Michael Cox “had some words and an altercation” during a meeting of the budget committee at the town office Brendan Kane of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Chase said the meeting was intended to be an introductory evening for this year’s budget committee the discussion turned to Somerville’s town-owned broadband network which is in the final stages of construction there was disagreement among budget committee and audience members over what costs the town had incurred for the project and whether those costs were wrongfully borne by taxpayers A committee member and an audience member chose to leave the meeting and tensions continued to escalate until a verbal confrontation between Chase and Cox became physical The altercation led to both subjects being charged with disorderly conduct Chase resigned from his position as Second Select Board member on Wednesday according to Somerville Town Clerk Russ Gates “This is not worth it to me to just take it and for them to keep pounding on me with misleading stuff,” Chase said “If it starts escalating to a point where it starts to become a violent situation Chase said he understood residents were concerned about high taxes in Somerville but was upset about the proliferation of “blame throwing and misinformation” in town including information regarding the town’s broadband network and its funding model Cox also declined to comment on whether he intended to continue serving on the budget committee a discussion with the town’s broadband liaison and acceptance of Chase’s resignation were both on the agenda for the next meeting of the Somerville Select Board Under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development’s Urban Agenda program The City of Somerville and Brazilian Heritage Community Foundation have joined forces to provide workshops and individualized one-on-one support for small businesses Workshop for Small Businesses Portuguese Workshops | Oficinas Portuguesas Como Definir um Preço para seus Serviços (seminário presencial) Sabado, dia 3 de Maio | 10h- 12hPresencialmente em 42 Cross Street, Somerville, MA 02145Registre-se aqui: https://tinyurl.com/4tzhfesc Any current or future business owner of a Somerville business can attend the workshops you may attend as many workshops as you’d like The workshops will be held either virtually or in person Details will be provided on outreach flyers and this webpage They will range in a variety of topics relevant to small business topics such as financial planning we may require pre-registration depending on capacity Registration will be shared as workshop details are finalized Individualized Consulting for Small Businesses  As any additional funding may become available in the future please check back on this page to see any updates to individualized consulting for small business offerings Any small business in Somerville with fewer than 20 full time employees.  Businesses will schedule sessions with consultants depending on personal availability Small businesses can get up to 5 hours of free consulting Please note that all sessions must be completed by June 30th Take this timing into consideration when applying The business must be able to provide an up-to-date W9 form. You can find the form here:  (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf ) A member of the Economic Development Staff will notify selected businesses and provide next steps We have consultants that can support English We may be able accommodate other languages Please indicate your preferred language while filling out the form Yes, businesses may be prioritized if there is more demand than spaces available. Please look at the Priority Points Document Request for Information - Technical Assistance The City of Somerville’s Economic Development Division is seeking information for technical assistance providers in:  or non-profit that may be able to support Somerville’s business community we encourage you to respond to our Request for Information (RFI) Please see the document below for more information Responses will be accepted on a rolling basis.  Request for Information (RFI) SOMERVILLE - The building boom by the train station is not over which has already built one apartment building with enclosed parking by the station on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line is scheduled to appear before the borough's Planning Board on Feb 26 with plans to build another five-story apartment building in the redevelopment area The 243,365-square-foot building is proposed to have 171 apartments and enclosed parking for 179 vehicles More: Somerville will hold two public forums on $44 million school referendum part of Phase 2 of the Somerville Station development will be on 2.36 acres west of the building containing the Somerville Civic Center on the former parking lot for the train station Second Space has opened in the same building as the Somerville Civic Center offering private remote work spaces to rent starting at $300 a month for periods from one month to 12 months Second Space offers private and secure offices 30 a direct or indirect ownership interest in 305 communities containing 92,908 apartments in 12 states and the District of Columbia The townhomes at Somerville Station were developed by Pulte Homes one of America’s largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 45 markets throughout the country The company is developing a senior citizen townhome development in Far Hills The Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements between the two developers and the borough resulted in $1.9 million in revenue for the borough approximately 6.3% of the total borough budget of approximately $30 million The Somerville City Council approved a resolution on Nov 26 reaffirming Somerville as a “Welcoming Community for justice equity, and inclusion.” The resolution reconfirmed Somerville’s status as a sanctuary city and communicated the city’s stance on immigration in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election The resolution was approved by the city council after it was sent to the Legislative Matters Committee for minor wording changes The finalized document vows to “protect the safety with a foreign-born population of over 20% The city has periodically revised and reaffirmed its original sanctuary resolution as necessary This initial resolution expressed the city’s desire to protect its immigrant population established that city employees are not required to disclose any residents immigration status and outlined the expectation that no city-level social services would be contingent upon immigration status hopes that it will help make residents feel safer We just really need to reaffirm some of this long standing commitment to be a sanctuary city and a welcoming community equity and inclusion for the immigrant population,” Mbah said director of Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs explained that the resolution was offered in part to alleviate residents’ fears following the election of Trump “[The election] has led to a considerable amount of fear particularly among families with younger children [and] children in schools of possibly being ripped away from their kids,” she said it was very important for our constituents to know where we stand as a city.” and inclusion” in the face of another Trump presidency This resolution was specifically meant to support the policies outlined in the 2019 Somerville Welcoming Community Ordinance according to City Councilor and resolution sponsor Judy Pineda Neufeld is one of the strongest policies of its kind in the state The ordinance outlines regulations for police engagements and interactions with federal immigration authorities. While the ordinance created specific guidelines “An ordinance is where specific actions that are required of the city are made and resolution is really more of a statement of values,” Neufeld explained Somerville resident Rebecca Rogers feels that the resolution is somewhat performative arguing that “the high housing cost is a bigger barrier [to immigration] than anything else.” Despite this Rogers still sees practical value in Somerville’s sanctuary city practices She noted the importance of letting people know that anybody can access city services and approved of the stated intent to not share immigration status “So that’s a good baseline that’s not performative Rogers also found that immigration is not a controversial topic among Somerville residents “People have really strong and really mixed feelings in terms of quality of life and how welcoming the city wants to be; … I don’t hear that on the immigration issue,” she said sanctuary cities have become a controversial topic in wake of the election of Trump After several high profile arrests of undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts there has been direct criticism of Massachusetts sanctuary cities with some arguing that they impede federal law enforcement’s ability to prosecute criminals Supporters of this resolution argue that this is a misunderstanding of what a sanctuary city is “There are some folks who believe that that means that ICE and the federal government cannot come into the city no legal recourse that exists to prevent the federal government from coming into any municipality.” argue that being a sanctuary city actually makes communities safer because it allows people to come forward with issues without fear of deportation “People will be able to feel comfortable to report crimes and not feel like ‘I'm gonna get myself in trouble,’” Mbah said Supporters of the resolution also contend that these policies will allow for and encourage civic participation from all residents the country you’re from … is not a barrier to you accessing city services to you being able to participate in civic engagement to you being able to be a leader in the community,” Nagel said With heightened tension after the election some see this move as a necessary step to protect the Somerville community and its residents “I think there’s been a lot of rhetoric of divisiveness,” Nagel said “Regardless of who someone voted for or who someone wished they had voted for and it’s important that we stand together.”