Home

Reminder: Vote by Mail Applications Due September 8 for Preliminary Election

Thursday, September 2, 2021
 If you would like to vote by mail in the September 14 preliminary election, your completed ballot application must be received (not postmarked) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8. Voters can download an application at somervillema.gov/VoteByMail or pick one up at the Elections Department in City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. You can fill out and submit your application on the spot. Please remember that face coverings are required in all indoor public spaces in Somerville.

Somerville to Hold Annual 9/11 Procession and Memorial Ceremony

Tuesday, August 31, 2021
 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City of Somerville’s Department of Veterans’ Services invite residents to join the annual procession and memorial ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Anyone interested in joining the procession should meet at the Cedar Street end of the Community Path at 9:30 a.m. At approximately 10 a.m. there will be a speaking program and the presentation and retiring of the colors by the Somerville Police and Somerville Fire Honor Guards at the 9/11 memorial in Davis Square.

PorchFest Registration Now Open

Monday, August 30, 2021
 Registration is open for musicians who want to participate in this year’s PorchFest on Saturday, October 2. Performers will be given a time to play based on where they are located: west of Willow Avenue performs from noon to 2 p.m., between Willow Avenue and Central Street performs from 2 to 4 p.m., and east of Central Street performs from 4 to 6 p.m.

Somerville Announces Vaccination Requirement for All City Staff

Sunday, August 29, 2021
 All City staff must be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021 Certain exemptions and accommodations will be allowed Somerville School Committee to review vaccination requirements for the Somerville Public Schools at Monday, August 30, meeting 

Early Voting Schedule Announced

Friday, August 27, 2021
 Somerville voters will have the option to vote early in the September preliminary election. This preliminary election will narrow the field for Mayor, Ward 5 City Councilor, and Ward 7 City Councilor. Four days of in-person early voting will be held prior to election day on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 All early voting will take place in the City Council chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. Please remember that face coverings are required in all City buildings. The schedule for early voting is as follows:

Somerville Seeks New Members for Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee

Wednesday, August 25, 2021
 The City of Somerville is seeking resident volunteers to join the Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC). Founded two years ago, PTAC provides input on policies, plans, and projects that impact public transit riders and pedestrians. The committee consists of transit and pedestrian commuters; persons with disabilities; seniors, youth, and students; business and institutional representatives; lower-income residents; and transit or pedestrian advocates. 

City of Somerville to Mark International Overdose Awareness Day, Recovery Month

Tuesday, August 24, 2021
 In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, and Recovery Month in September, the City of Somerville will plant 14 purple flags on the lawn of City Hall in memory of the 14 Somerville residents who died of an opioid-related overdose in 2020. A larger flag will also be on display in recognition of all Somerville residents who have died of an overdose. City Hall will be lit with purple lights through September to bring awareness to Recovery Month.

Public Indoor Face Covering Mandate in Place in Somerville

Friday, August 20, 2021
 The Somerville Board of Health (BOH) approved a face-covering mandate for all indoor public spaces at its August 19 meeting that is in effect as of Friday, August 20. The mandate applies to anyone two or older, and face coverings can be removed when people are actively eating or drinking. Masks should have a snug fit and cover the nose and mouth.

Somerville Officials Issue Statement on Haiti Earthquake

Wednesday, August 18, 2021
 The depths of the suffering borne by the people of Haiti in recent decades -- whether hunger, disease, natural disaster, or economic crisis – seems fathomless. But the gauntlet of hardship faced by this island nation has not extinguished the spirit of its people. Even after Saturday’s earthquake, Monday’s tropical storm, the ravages of COVID-19, and the recent assassination of President Moïse, Haitians continue to strive to help one another. They are determined, as we should be too. 

Six Somerville Organizations Awarded Grants to Improve Community Heat Resilience

Thursday, August 12, 2021
 Six Somerville organizations received “Keep Cool Somerville” grants to pilot projects improving resilience to extreme heat this summer. Keep Cool Somerville, a partnership between the City of Somerville and Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), invited groups to propose small-scale projects to address the health impacts of climate-driven heat. The 2021 Keep Cool Somerville grantees are:

Absentee Ballots Available for September 14 Preliminary Election

Thursday, August 12, 2021
 Absentee ballots are now available for voters who qualify to vote absentee. In order to be eligible to vote by absentee ballot in Massachusetts, a voter must be prevented from voting at the polling place on election day due to absence from the city on election day, physical disability, or religious belief.

Somerville Moves to Establish Public Indoor Mask Mandate

Wednesday, August 11, 2021
 With the fast-spreading Delta variant driving an increase in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, the City of Somerville is moving to require all people wear face coverings in indoor public settings regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against the virus. At their upcoming meeting on August 19, the Board of Health will consider a mandate with a potential immediate start date of Friday, August 20, 2021. As with previous masking orders, children under the age of two would be exempt.

Annual Inspection and Testing of Fire Hydrants Begins August 23

Wednesday, August 11, 2021
 The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 23, and conclude on or around Saturday, September 4. This procedure requires the flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of the hydrant.

Several Days of Dangerous Heat and Humidity Expected; Here’s How to Stay Safe in Somerville

Wednesday, August 11, 2021
 Several days of oppressive heat and humidity are forecasted for the Boston area through at least Friday, August 13, and residents are urged to take precautions to stay safe. The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously hot conditions that could feel like 109 degrees outdoors. Review the following heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in Somerville. Most importantly, do not leave children or pets in a vehicle even if the windows are open, drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun, and limit your outdoor activity. Cooling Center Opened

Somerville Voters Can Vote by Mail for Preliminary and General City Elections

Tuesday, August 10, 2021
 Somerville voters will have the option to vote by mail in the upcoming City preliminary election on Tuesday, September 14, and general election on Tuesday, November 2. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has approved voting by mail for all municipal elections in the state in 2021, and local voters should be receiving vote-by-mail notices from the Secretary of State’s office in the coming days.

Deadline to Apply Extended: City of Somerville Seeks Four Community Members for the Police Chief Selection Committee

Thursday, August 5, 2021
 The City of Somerville is seeking four community members to serve on a selection committee for the next Chief of Police of the Somerville Police Department (SPD). The next Chief will lead the department through an important moment in policing in Somerville, as the work of the reimagining policing process – led by the Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) Office under the leadership of RSJ Director Denise Molina Capers – will be in full swing.  The Police Chief Selection Committee (PCSC) will be responsible for: 

Somerville Seeks Polling Place Workers for 2021 Municipal Elections

Thursday, August 5, 2021
 The City of Somerville Elections Department is hiring polling place workers for the municipal elections on September 14 and November 2, 2021.   Polling place workers will be paid $200 per day and work from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m., with a two-hour break. You must be a registered Massachusetts voter to work at a polling place. No prior experience is necessary.   Email personnel@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600 ext. 3300 to learn more today! 

Pages