Newstalk – February 17

On February 17, 2021, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

On Monday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m., you can tune in to watch Mayor Joe Curtatone’s midterm address. In Somerville, mayors give a midterm address every other year to update residents on work done over the past year and outline goals and priorities for the coming year. Here’s how you can watch the speech live: Tune in to Somerville GovTV (RCN channel 13 or 613, Comcast channel 22). The midterm will be worked into regular GovTV programming after it is first aired. Visit Somerville CityTV’s website, www.somervillema.gov/citycable, and click on the “Watch Live Stream” to see the speech whenever it is aired on GovTV. The video will also be shared on CityTV’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV, where it can be watched any time.

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The state has announced that those accompanying someone 75 or older to their COVID-19 vaccine appointment at state sites are also eligible to get vaccinated. Anyone accompanying a senior to their vaccine appointment must have an appointment scheduled at the same site, on the same day, as the senior they are accompanying. To make an appointment at a state site, visit mass.gov/vaccine or call 211. Keep in mind that phone wait times may be long, so please be patient. The City of Somerville is also available to help those who face barriers to accessing vaccines including needing transportation or language assistance. If you are currently eligible to receive a vaccine – including those in Phase 1 or who are 75 or older – and need help accessing local vaccine resources, please call 311. 311 can also connect seniors to the Council on Aging for support in signing up for State vaccine clinics.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy birthday to Donna Alibrandi, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a great day. Also celebrating this week is Denise Racicot-Kallis. We wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday another popular lady, Celia Taylor, we hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to local realtor Sammy Alves, who is celebrating this week. We hope she enjoys her day. A big happy birthday to a real good guy, Elio LoRusso, who is celebrating this week as well. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Dave Ortega, Jeannie Malone DeMase, Joelle Hochman, Dee Manuel-raposo, Barbara L Amaral, AnneMarie Gates, Sheila Borges-Foley, Jason Rabin and David Tiger Williams, a very happy birthday.

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On Sunday, February 28, 4:00 -5:00 p.m., the Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets (SASS) will hold a virtual public summit focused on the safety issues faced by Somerville’s street users. In just the past two years, four pedestrians were killed by drivers and at least 160 pedestrians and cyclists were injured in crashes with motorists. SASS has created a Declaration and Call to Action, available for review at https://tinyurl.com/SASSdeclaration The Declaration was submitted to the City Council with over 200 signatures. Consider signing on to the Call to Action when you register by going to https://tinyurl.com/SASSsignon. For more information, please contact SASS at somervillesafestreets@gmail.com.

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You can sign up to receive occasional phone calls updating you on the latest COVID-19 vaccine information, including where and how to get a vaccine. To subscribe, please visit somervillema.gov/covidvaccine or call 311. If you are already signed up to receive email and text notifications through the city’s alert system you will also get this information. Again, this for people who would prefer to get vaccine updates via phone call. COVID vaccine information is also posted on the city website at somervillema.gov/CovidVaccine. You can also visit the state’s vaccine website, mass.gov/vaccine, for additional information.

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Registration is now open for Somerville 3000, a free online February vacation program for Somerville youth. Blast off for a futuristic week of engaging activities to explore what life might look like in the next millennium. Activities will be offered Tuesday, February 16, through Friday, February 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Animate aliens, write out-of-this-world songs, and more with the Somerville Media Center, Farrington Nature Linc, Parts and Crafts, Somerville Arts for Youth, the Beautiful Stuff Project, and Parkour Generations Boston. Come to one class or all of them, and bring your friends along to join the fun. Brought to you by SomerSocial, SomerPromise, the City of Somerville, Somerville Public Schools, and the Somerville Education Foundation. Sign up now at somersocial.com.

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CHA Somerville Hospital offers free COVID-19 testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The mobile COVID-19 testing unit also offers testing in our neighborhoods. Mobile testing schedules and more information on both can be found under the “Symptoms, Testing, & Medical Info” tab on somervillema.gov/covid19. The state also operates several Stop the Spread testing sites, including in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Everett. For more information, visit the state’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread.

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Make sure you’re wearing the right face covering. The CDC has guidance on choosing a face covering that best protects those around you. Three things to keep in mind: Your face covering should be made of at least two layers of washable, breathable fabric. It should completely cover your nose and mouth. It should fit snugly against the side of your face. That means if you’re getting a face covering for a child, you should look for one designed for smaller faces.

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The Union Square Video Projection Series, curated by Andrew Ringler, features local artists whose works represent: storytelling, abstraction and dance from thirteen individual artists and artist collaboratives. Since November 2020, SAC have shown works from each group looping during the evenings, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. The projection art is shown on a building façade in Union Square. Through February and March, they will be featuring dance-themed videos by artists: Stephanie Sherman, Michal Hall, Melissa Castro, Mike Brun, Margaret Wiss, and Carven Boursiquot. On March 3 at 6:00 p.m., join Facebook Live for a panel discussion highlighting some of the participating artists and the project curator. More details will be added to the website soon: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/projectionseries.

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With support from Somerville Health Foundation, Mystic Learning Center, Somerville Education Fund and Somerville Media Center, YouthStream will host a youth-led, peer-organized Among Us Tournament from February 16 to 19. This tournament is free to enter for young people ages 13-19 in the Greater Somerville area, and will offer cash prizes in several categories, including several that do not require skill or prior game experience in order to win. Participant Registration Form – Among Us Tournament Winter 2021: https://forms.gle/YNavmTFpCLwKm9sZ7. YouthStream is also recruiting youth moderators who want to earn paid stipends for completing projects such as organizing virtual events and producing live streams. YouthStream Moderator Application Form – Peer Leader Program 2021: https://forms.gle/BcXjuE9QEjj2aTve8. Finally, if you have not already joined YouthStream’s Discord Server, click this link to check out what’s going on at the Villeside Digital Cultural Center and get connected for all future events: https://discord.gg/AxUnJdU3Nt.

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Somerville’s Winter Farmer’s Market takes place Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., through April 10, at 191 Highland Ave. Offering the best locally grown and produced agricultural items and more. Online pre-order market with a small outdoor “live” shopping market. They offer a diverse range of local and New England produce, as well as cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, chocolate, and wine. They feature rotating guest vendors each week, as well as live entertainment and activities. They accept SNAP/EBT, CREDIT and DEBIT cards. $10 SNAP match for EBT customers. For market information visit: http://www.somwintermarket.org.

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Apply for small business relief funds. The City of Somerville has made $5 million available to small businesses in its third round of the Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund. Eligible businesses can apply for grants of up to $25,000. Applications are now available and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more about the funding, including eligibility requirements, or apply for funds online.

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The Pandemic – Electronic Transfer (P-EBT) Program was created spring 2020 to provide eligible families funds to purchase food while schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended through the end of the 2020-21 school year. Visit https://www.map-ebt.org/home/#ihdtab for additional information.

 

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