Somerville residents have a few more free opportunities to learn gardening basics. After a successful pilot earlier this summer, the City’s Health and Human Services Department will host additional Growing Gardeners workshops for residents who are brand new to gardening in July and October.

The deadline to register to vote or update your party affiliation or address for the September 14 preliminary election is Wednesday, August 25, at 8 p.m. Massachusetts voters have the option to register online or via a paper form. To register by mail you can call (617) 625-6600 ext. 4200 and request a form be mailed to you, or you can download one from the Elections website.

On Sunday, August 1, three mobile clinics will be set up around the city to provide Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 12 or older. Clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following three locations:

• Holy Bible Baptist Church, 64 College Ave.
• St. Anthony’s Parish, 12 Properzi Way
• Brazilian Presbyterian Church, 212 School St. 

Free food and a gift will be offered to anyone who gets a first or second dose at the clinics.  

Given the increasing case numbers of COVID-19, both locally and nationally, due to the emergence of the Delta variant, and in light of the CDC’s updated guidance on masking, the City of Somerville is strongly recommending all people wear face coverings in indoor public settings regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against the virus.

Improvements to Powder House Circle will be officially underway in mid-August as the City of Somerville makes a series of safety upgrades to benefit all road users. Powder House Circle is a high-crash intersection with an antiquated design. The City will convert the high-speed, chaotic rotary into a modern roundabout intersection using low-cost “quick-build” materials including pavement markings, signage, and flex posts.

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! 

Although both the federal and Somerville eviction moratoriums have been extended, Somerville is urging low- and moderate-income tenants and homeowners struggling to pay their housing costs to seek supports now to avoid later threats to their housing security.

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 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.

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