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City Announces $500,000 in Emergency Housing Funds for Covid-19 Rental/Mortgage Assistance

Monday, November 23, 2020
 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that $500,000 in federal Covid-19 Cares Act Relief funds is being dedicated to the Flex-CV Fund to support residents behind in housing payments due to impacts of the pandemic. The FLEX-CV program is an emergency temporary rental and mortgage assistance program for Somerville residents who have had an income loss, or an increase in expenses, caused by or exacerbated by Covid-19.

City Honors Lives Lost to COVID-19 with Photo Memorial

Thursday, November 19, 2020
 With the United States crossing 250,000 lives lost to COVID-19, the Somerville Arts Council has put together www.somervilleremembers.org, a website that features pictures from local photographers that mark the passing of Somerville residents due to this pandemic. The photos use empty chairs displayed in Somerville locations, each to represent a person who has succumbed to this virus. The project was undertaken when the city’s confirmed fatalities stood at 42 people. Sadly, the number continues to rise and now stands at 47.

Somerville’s School Opening Advisory Group Seeks Community Member

Thursday, November 19, 2020
 The City of Somerville is currently seeking applicants for a community member position on the School Opening Advisory Group. The Advisory Group will make COVID-19 data-based recommendations to the Mayor and Superintendent on school closures and reopenings. The Advisory Group, which is a formal extension and expansion of ongoing efforts, will be composed of one community member and representatives from the Somerville Public Schools (SPS), Somerville School Committee, and the City’s COVID-19 response team. The group plans to meet weekly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SomerSocial Offering Fun, Free Online After-School Programming for Somerville Youth

Wednesday, November 18, 2020
 Calling all young ’Villens: Winter may, in fact, be coming, and daylight hours are dwindling, but don’t forget -- SomerSocial is here to brighten your weekday afternoons with fun, free, virtual after-school programming! Perfect your podcast pitch, join a crew for Among Us, or get crafty with local creatives. Sign up for parkour lessons, nature club, animation workshops, theater classes, and more.

Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan Update Public Design Charrette, 11/30-12/4

Tuesday, November 17, 2020
 Help plan for the future of the Assembly Square neighborhood by participating in one or more virtual sessions of the City’s Assembly Square Neighborhood Plan Update Public Design Charrette. Sessions are planned for Monday, November 30, through Friday, December 4, and will allow residents to share their ideas, talk with their neighbors, and learn more about Assembly Square planning. The charrette schedule is as follows: Kick-Off and Hands-On Design Session Monday, November 30 | 6:30 p.m.

Somerville Commission for Women Seeking Members

Friday, November 13, 2020
 Open Positions: 10 positions available Term: 3 years Availability: Immediate The City of Somerville is currently seeking applicants for 10 open positions on the Somerville Commission for Women. The Commission works to ensure the equal status of women in educational, economic, political, health, legal, and social spheres and provides information, referrals, and guidance. The Commission meets monthly, typically on the third Tuesday for an hour and a half. Its volunteer members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.

Virtual Community Meeting to Discuss Conway Field Designs, November 17

Thursday, November 12, 2020
 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and City staff invite you to a virtual public meeting to discuss the design of the Conway Field playground and renovation. City staff and consultants will discuss designs for the reconstructed multi-use sports field, new splash pad, and refurbished playground. Following the presentation, staff will answer questions and get feedback from community members. Please note that this meeting will not discuss the soil remediation at the site. A later meeting with the EPA and DEP will be scheduled to discuss remediation.

Watch the City of Somerville’s Virtual Veterans’ Day Ceremony

Wednesday, November 11, 2020
 Because of COVID-19, the City of Somerville had to forgo its usual in-person Veterans’ Day ceremony this year. To mark the day and honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, the City’s Veterans’ Services Office pre-recorded a ceremony with messages from Mayor Joe Curtatone, City Council President Matt McLaughlin, and Director of Veterans’ Services Ted Louis-Jacques.

Meeting on Redesign of Powder House Blvd at Alewife Brook Pkwy, 11/17

Monday, November 9, 2020
 Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, and City staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss plans to redesign the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Alewife Brook Parkway. Following a presentation by City staff on the project background and current design concepts, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share priorities for this project.

Washington Street Mobility Improvements Planned for Mid-November

Monday, November 9, 2020
 As part of the mobility safety upgrades announced in September, a series of roadway improvements on western Washington Street will be installed starting in mid-November. The project is supported in part by the MBTA’s COVID-19 safety initiative for bus riders and will be installed by the City.   

New State Covid Restrictions Start Friday, November 6

Friday, November 6, 2020
 It’s been a tough year, and needing new COVID-19 rules may not be how we all hoped to spend fall. But winter is coming, the virus spreads better indoors, and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise across the Commonwealth. We feel fortunate to be in a community where the vast majority have done all they can to help slow the spread. This week the Governor announced new measures to help flatten the curve of the new COVID-19 surge. We did this once, Somerville, and we ask everyone to help do this again. 

Morning Peak-Hour Bus Lane Planned for Mystic Avenue This Fall

Monday, November 2, 2020
 A new quick-build bus priority lane is scheduled to be added in late November to the eastbound section of Mystic Avenue (Route 38) between Main Street in Medford and Wheatland Street in Somerville. The project is a joint effort between the cities of Somerville and Medford and MassDOT,  designed to create shorter bus rides, better reliability, and more social distancing along the MBTA 95 bus route.

Somerville Launches New Round of Small Business Relief

Friday, October 30, 2020
 The City is making a new, $750,000 round of relief available to Somerville’s small businesses as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the local character of the city’s commercial establishments during the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and City Councilors also united to request that the City Licensing Commission and City Council waive more than $550,000 in annual licensing fees.

Somerville Residential Parking Enforcement to Resume December 1

Thursday, October 29, 2020
 Following months of suspended enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Somerville will resume residential parking enforcement December 1, 2020. City data indicates most residents have already renewed their expired permits in 2020 (thank you!). Those who still need to renew an expired permit or obtain a new permit are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Tufts University, Medford and Somerville Launch Innovative COVID-19 Testing Program for PK-12 Schools

Thursday, October 29, 2020
 Tufts University and the Cities of Medford and Somerville today announced they have entered into a novel partnership that will bring COVID-19 surveillance testing to the cities’ public school systems, using a new, more efficient pooled testing method developed by Tufts in collaboration with Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. The new method could improve and expedite communities’ ability to return to and maintain in-person education.

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