— Photos by Jeanine Farley

As part of May Preservation Month, the Somerville Museum and the City of Somerville hosted a “Jane’s Walk” to honor urban activist and writer, Jane Jacobs on Saturday, May 4, 2024. A worldwide event, this year’s Somerville walk consisted of a leisurely stroll through the “Duck Village” neighborhood of Somerville. The walk organized by David Guss, Tufts Anthropology Professor Emeritus and a Somerville Museum Trustee, Paula Garbarino, a local artisan, and Brandon Wilson, drew over 50 participants and 8 speakers at 10 different sites in order to explore the Evolution of Duck Village.

— Photos by John Lee

SomerNightStudios presented by Somernova and Also Does Stuff took place on Saturday, May 4. The event celebrated 25 years of Somerville Open Studios with performances from Esh Circus Arts and several local performers, community-based art vendors, roller skating, black light art, and much more.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

A relative of mine was killed on a bicycle last week. With more and more bikes on the road, I asked my Somerville friends what could be done to make biking safer. Comments are in quotes.

Students at Somerville High School had the opportunity to recreate donated Bruins hockey sticks into an Adirondack chair, toolbox and table using donated power tools from Bosch. The projects feature autographs from key players like Hampus Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman. This activation continued Bosch’s effort to champion the future generation of skilled trades workers.

Crime reports, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), motor vehicle crash, and traffic violation data will be updated continuously and enhance policing transparency

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Police Department (SPD) are making it easier for residents to access police data in Somerville. In collaboration with the city’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) and the SomerStat Office of Innovation and Analytics, SPD is now publishing four updated or expanded police data sets to the City’s Open Data Portal. All data sets will now include new interactive data visualizations. These updates build on the administration’s goals to modernize policing in Somerville and expand transparency with the Somerville Police Department. 

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville Open Studios 2024, 25th Anniversary took place on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 – 5, each day at artists’ studios and homes throughout Somerville. Over 350 artists in 90 locations citywide opened their studios to the public. Photos taken at a few locations including the Arts at the Armory.

— Photos by Denise Provost

In past years, SOS has provided the public with a fashion show titled Beyond the Pattern to kick off open studios weekend. This show made it possible for textile artists to be included in open studios in a way that was more conducive to their art form than a studio opening or a gallery.  This year, the SOS fashion show was held at the Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square on Thursday, May 2.  The event was free for the public to view original textile art by Somerville artist such as Consuelo Perez, DX2, Eleanor Ramsay, Ella G., and Jennifer Koerber, Grace DuVal, Elsa Ramsay, Layla Gillick, Jessamy Shay, Jim Baab, Lexie Hofer Griffith, Martha Friend, Megan Kilcoyne, Stephanie Shields, Lenni Armstrong.

The Union Square Farmers Market launches its 20th season this Saturday at Union Square Plaza.

Union Square Main Streets celebrates the opening of the 20th season of the Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville this Saturday, May 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. The market will be open rain or shine Saturdays through October 26, except September 21.

By Mayor Emeritus
Eugene C. Brune

With summer coming, I feel like this is a suitable time to talk about one of my favorite programs and that is the Sunsetters. Our summer program was always one of the hits of the city, thanks to two exceptionally talented guys, Kenny Lonergan, and sad to say now deceased David Testa in running the program. Others. Included, from my office, was Grace Abruzzio to oversee all details with the assistance from Donna Wade, Maureen (Fennessey Bernis, Frank Dillworth, and Paul DiPasquale.

Somerville’s porches, yards, and stoops are once again set to host free mini-concerts across the city as part of the city’s annual Porchfest hosted by the Somerville Arts Council. This celebration of local, live, homegrown music offers something for everyone at drop-in home-based shows. Participants can simply stroll from house to house to enjoy the open-air entertainment. More than 300 bands are set to participate across wide-ranging musical genres from youth playing classical music to electronica groups, karaoke, and – a first this year – stand-up comedy. The 2024 Porchfest is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. it will take place in three 2-hour blocks (Rain date Sunday May 12). For map, times and resources visit somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest. Be considerate to porch hosts, neighbors, and residents.