An Exhibition of Work by Jennifer Erbe and Carolyn Muskat

Jennifer Erbe and Carolyn Muskat have been friends for over 40 years.  As artists, they have had thousands of conversations about their work and their ideas.  They have both focused on expressing the world around them in visual ways – each from their own unique perspective.  Their work sometimes overlaps and highlights parallel interests; sometimes it creates a discourse in opposition. This exhibition celebrates a selection of work that has been sparking recent conversations between them about content, media and the act of making images.

Change will precede construction of streetscape improvements including new sidewalks, cycle tracks in each direction, and new tree plantings. — Photo courtesy of City of Somerville

Beginning on Monday, June 17 or soon after, the segment of Central Street between Summer Street and Highland Avenue will become a permanently one-way northbound (travel from Summer St. north toward Highland Ave.) street for vehicle traffic.  

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Back in the 60’s and 70’s the Somerville YMCA offered a summer day camp program. I attended and it was a lot of fun. Mom would pack a nice lunch with bologna sandwiches, and I’d get dropped off at the YMCA for the day. I remember visiting Hood’s Cherry Hill farm with all the cows, etc. I asked our readers to share their memories of YMCA Day Camp with us.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville’s Memorial Day Parade took place on Sunday, May 26, starting from the Davis Square rotary, continuing up Holland Street and proceeding through Teele Square, ending on Broadway and North Street. The annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony took place at Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery on Monday, May 27.

Members of the Somerville Municipal Employees Association (SMEA) and sympathetic community members recently rallied for more support for city workers. Photos courtesy of SMEA.

A statement issued by union representatives reads as follows:

Somerville residents rallied with municipal employees last week for quality public services and good jobs.  Union members and supporters stood out in in Davis Sq. with protest signs calling on Mayor Ballantyne to give city employees raises and more consideration as valuable assets to the city.

(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)

To the Editors,

Without fanfare last week, a small but significant improvement was made to the East Somerville T-station. A new ramp was installed that allows Brickbottom residents and workers to enter and exit the station by a “back door” – eliminating a long walk to the Washington/Joy Street corner and double-back hike up the Community Path ramp.

Attend the FY25 Water and Sewer Rates Public Hearing. Attend in-person or virtually to hear proposed Fiscal Year 2025 water and sewer rates on Wednesday, May 29, at 6:00 p.m. in the Water and Sewer Department Conference Room (17 Franey Rd.). Learn more about proposed rates, participate remotely, and get dial-in information at https://www.somervillema.gov/.

The Union Square Farmers Market will be celebrating 20 seasons of operation with a big birthday bash blooms on Saturday, June 1.

Union Square Main Streets and the Union Square Farmers Market community proudly present a celebration of 20 seasons of community-centered, open-air access to fresh, nutritious food in the heart of Union Square.

Sen. Creem invited Dorothy Kelly Gay to sign the Senate Guest Book. — Photo by Sean Fitzgerald

Former Somerville Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay came to the State Senate last week and was honored by Senator Jehlen and Senator Creem.

At the meeting, Sen. Jehlen of Somerville said, “I am so happy to introduce Dorothy Kelly Gay. I served with Dorothy on the Somerville School Committee for six years before she moved on to serve with Leader Creem on the Governor’s Council, later ran for lieutenant governor, and was the first woman mayor, first immigrant mayor, of Somerville. And each time she served in extremely challenging times, maybe they’re always challenging. But as I remember it, in the School Committee from ’86 to ’92 we were facing many challenges and we were not the prosperous city we’ve become. I’ll let Leader Creem talk about their work on the Council and how they got Gov. Weld to change commutation criteria.”