Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Somerville City Councilor Running For State Senate: Report

You won't want to miss Cultural Survival Bazaar on the Somerville Patch calendar

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Friday December 12th Patch AM
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Hello again Somerville! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Somerville councilor and veteran launches 2026 bid for State Senate
  • Firefighter injured as Somerville crews battle truck fire at rectory
  • Want your teen paid to help Somerville neighbors this winter?

Also on today's calendar: Cultural Survival Bazaar and 12 more events.

Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Somervillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Breezy with plenty of sun, with a high of 35 and low of 24 degrees.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 36, low: 28.
  • Sunday: A.M. snow, 1-3"; cloudy, cold, with a high of 31 and low of 16 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Somerville City Councilor Running For State Senate: Report (patch.com) — Somerville residents are watching Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin launch a 2026 bid for State Senator in the Second Middlesex District, seeking to succeed fellow Somerville resident Pat Jehlen. A lifelong Somerville resident and Iraq War veteran, McLaughlin highlights the rising cost of living as a key issue he hopes to tackle for both the city and the wider region.
   

2. Truck Fire Extinguished In Somerville (patch.com) — A truck fire at St. Catherine’s Rectory on Summer Street in Somerville sent one firefighter to the hospital with a facial injury but caused no damage to the rectory itself. Fire crews quickly contained flames that had spread to a nearby tree and leaf piles, after neighbors reported hearing an explosion from the burning landscaping truck.
   

3. Somerville offering to pay teens to shovel out disabled residents (wcvb.com) — Somerville is paying local teens this winter to shovel snow for older residents and neighbors with disabilities through its Snow Shoveling Match Program. Youth ages 14–19 can earn up to $60 per session, must bring their own shovel, and attend a brief in-person info session with the city’s Youth Services Program Coordinator before being matched.
   

4. SPS Communications Department presents new media strategic plan (thesomervilletimes.com) — Somerville Public Schools is rolling out a major communications overhaul, including a new print newspaper, revamped website, and expanded social media strategy aimed at better reaching families. The plan also explores podcasts, SMS texting, and stronger storytelling about students and staff, with city and School Committee leaders signaling strong interest in these changes.
   

5. How 13 health plan leaders would redesign the payer-provider relationship - Becker's Payer Issues (beckerspayer.com) — One of the health plan leaders quoted in this national industry roundup is based at Mass General Brigham Health Plan in Somerville, highlighting how an integrated local health system is rethinking payer–provider collaboration. The broader piece gathers perspectives from executives nationwide on reducing friction, overhauling prior authorization, improving data sharing, and better aligning financial incentives to improve care quality and patient experience.
   

📸 Around Somerville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Somerville

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📣 Somerville Shout Outs!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Check out my new group: Tutoring Services
    Everyone who is interested is welcome to join. Here's the link: https://nextdoor.com/g/ojienl34o/ (Nextdoor North of Davis Square)
  • Hello everyone, I hope you’re doing well!
    We are reaching out to offer personalized tutoring in Math, Science, and Humanities for Elementary, Middle, and High School students who need that… (Nextdoor North of Davis Square)
  • Sweetgreen, Inc. posted a job opening for Assembly Row - Kitchen Lead in Somerville. Apply here.
  • Somerville Public Schools posted a job opening for 25-26 Intermittent Substitute Teachers, K-12 in Somerville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Somerville here.

Ok Somerville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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