Obituary

Marie E Howe – Of Malden formerly of Somerville December 2, 2024.  

As Massachusetts completes the celebration of Irish American Heritage Month and Women’s History Month in March, here’s a special shout-out to former Massachusetts State Representative Marie E. Howe, a notable Irish-American woman. 

Click on link below to read December 3rd 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online (1)
Continue reading December 3rd 2024 The Somerville Medford News Weekly Print Edition Online →

George E. Thomas Jr., of Boxborough, formerly of Cambridge, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the age of 72.
Devoted husband of Candace Maddalo-Thomas.
Loving father of Cori Azevedo, Rebecca Maddalo and Heather Thomas. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering George E. Thomas Jr →

By Bob Katzen

“Since launching our Office of Outdoor Recreation, we have made it our mission to ensure that the outdoors is accessible and inclusive to everyone. Our approach is fueling local economies and empowering communities and organizations. This report demonstrates that we can drive business growth and foster connections with our natural resources at the same time.”
—Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper on new figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis reporting the significant expansion of Massachusetts’ outdoor recreation economy which generated $13.2 billion in value added to the state’s economy in 2023 and created 103,600 jobs.

By Bob Katzen

The Governor’s Council certified the results of the election of Massachusetts’s eleven electors for the offices of U.S. president and vice-president. All 50 states have to certify their votes in the federal election and send them to Congress to be counted before the Electoral College gathers on December 17 to cast their state’s electoral votes to make President-elect Donald Trump’s victory official.

By Bob Katzen

Gov. Maura Healey announced that the state awarded $3.8 million in state and federal funds to support state, local and nonprofit agencies working to combat intimate partner violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking.

By Bob Katzen

State Auditor Diana DiZoglio released the results of an audit of the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), reviewing the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022.EEC, which licenses approximately 9,000 childcare-related programs that support an average of 55,000 children daily, has responsibilities including providing financial assistance for childcare services to families with low incomes, providing parenting support to families and providing professional development opportunities to employees in the field of early education and care.

The audit’s findings include charges that EEC did not conduct licensing visits to residential programs within the required timeframes. The report noted that EEC cannot ensure that its residential programs operate within safe and healthy environments if it does not complete licensing visits within the required period.

By Bob Katzen

Attorney General Andrea Campbell announced that her office has issued citations totaling more than $2 million against Northeast Foods LLC, a company which operates dozens of Burger King franchise locations across the Bay State, for violating various state employment laws, including child labor laws. The citations include restitution for unpaid wages and penalties.

By Bob Katzen

A trio of legislators announced they plan to co-sponsor legislation aimed at eventually ending the sale of all nicotine and tobacco products in the Bay State. Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester) and Reps. Tommy Vitolo (D-Brookline) and Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose) said they will file the bill for consideration in the 2025-2026 legislative session.

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 4-34, rejected an amendment that would require a unanimous vote for the Senate to continue any session beyond midnight. Current Senate rules require a two-thirds vote to go beyond midnight.

By Bob Katzen

The Senate 4-34, rejected an amendment that would require a two-thirds vote for the Senate to continue any session beyond 10 p.m. and continue the session until midnight. This would be in addition to a current Senate rule that requires a two-thirds vote to continue a session beyond 8 p.m. and a two-thirds vote to continue a session beyond midnight.

Community members invited to informational meetings in December and January to learn about Networked Geothermal Technology 

SOMERVILLE– Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) are inviting community members to help the City assess the feasibility of a networked geothermal loop in Somerville. 

City supporting two local holiday gift drives for children and teens 

SOMERVILLE—Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announces the City’s annual support of local holiday gift and toy donation drives. In the giving spirit of the season, the City is placing toy and gift donation collection boxes at City buildings, libraries, and firehouses from Tuesday, December 3, through Wednesday, December 18. Donated gifts will support two community gift drives for families in need of gifts for children and teens this holiday season.  

Julia A. Faherty, of Medford and formerly of Somerville, passed away on November 29, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Greeting post Gobble Day!  The hooplah is shortly gone and events begin.  Fun and spiritual.  I had the pleasure of having an overdue coffee with my friend and talented woman Elizabeth “Betsy” Pesce of Medford. She has a known image here for many who attended St.Joseph Church for years with her Chorale Directorship…and the Popular October Concert there. And always poised, groomed to go and friendly.  

By William Tauro 

I’ve been telling this story of political corruption since 2017 of what has been going on in the City of Somerville via my news articles as well as in my book “Stealing Somerville death of an urban city!” 

The Curtatone administration since 2017 has continuously painted me as a liar fabricating all the stories, but sure enough every one of my stories have been proven to be true and here we are now with evidence through testimony in Boston Federal Court that majority of police investigations through the former Somerville Police Captain Dan Cotter were mostly falsified and/or were incomplete.