COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics will be held January 19, and 26 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave. The Moderna booster will be offered. Registration is required. Please register at tinyurl.com/SomervilleVax or call 311. The clinic is free, and open to all people 18 years or older, regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Identification is not required. Please bring your vaccine card with you to your appointment, and arrive at the time of your appointment to avoid overcrowding in the building.
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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Ward 1 Councilor Matthew McLaughlin invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss roadway upgrades and traffic safety improvements on the eastern portion of Pearl Street, from McGrath Highway to Mount Vernon Street. As part of the Pearl Street Reconstruction and Traffic Safety Improvements project, sidewalks will be rebuilt, the road will be repaved, and traffic safety upgrades will be installed. Construction is expected to begin this spring. At this meeting, city staff will present a proposed design for Pearl Street and gather input from attendees. After the meeting, the proposed design will be posted to the project website along with a survey for additional feedback. The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, January 19, at 6:00 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be provided. Learn more and register to attend at somervillema.gov/pearlstreet.
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Happy birthday this week to the following: A big happy birthday to our own Dorothy DiMarzo, who gives us all those delicious recipes every other week in our paper. Dorothy is great! We wish her the very best of birthdays this week. Check out her recipes in our print edition and online. Happy birthday to Katie Lathasha Harris, who is also celebrating this week. We wish her the very best of birthdays as well. To Nancy Huber Coutoumas, who is celebrating this week as well, we wish her the very best. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such Rachel Tonello, Rosemary Ardagna, Joseph William Schenkenfelder, Bob Crowley LeBlanc, Roy Moulton, Linda LoPresti Rosemary Ardagna, Eddie Hardy and James Casazza a very happy birthday. We hope everyone has a great day. To all the others we may have missed, we sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.
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For families with children who have sensory needs or accommodation needs, there is a vaccine clinic specifically for you. Please visit the VaxAbilities website to sign up for the next local clinic of this type on Friday, January 21, at the Museum of Science. or other local vaccination events. https://vaxabilities.com.
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The Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment analyzes the impact of development pressure on arts organizations across the city and makes recommendations for how to protect art spaces and support the creative economy. Join them on January 19 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about our Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment work. Hear about policy recommendations to support Somerville arts spaces. Please spread the word and invite colleagues and fellow artists. Register now for this online meeting: https://bit.ly/somerville-art-space RSVP to their Facebook event page for updates and reminders. In this public meeting we will learn more about the Somerville Arts Council work this year concerning arts spaces, zoning and planning. As a community let’s get ready for the New Year to roll out these policies and initiatives. There will be a Q and A and break out rooms to discuss topics and ask questions.
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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Housing Division are pleased to announce an income-restricted resale homeownership opportunity in Assembly Row. Unit 602 at 375 Canal Street is a one-bedroom condo available to households with a yearly gross income at or below 80% of Area Median Income ($70,750 for a one-person household, or $80,850 for a two-person household). To schedule a showing, contact Ben Wyner at 617-625-6600 ext. 2578 or bwyner@somervillema.gov. How to Apply: Multilingual applications and full eligibility requirements are now available at somervillema.gov/inclusionaryhousing. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 1, at 2:00 p.m. Completed applications can be emailed to inclusionary@somervillema.gov, mailed or hand-delivered to the Inclusionary Housing Program (Housing Division) at 50 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville, MA 02145 (must be received by this date, not postmarked), or faxed to the Inclusionary Housing Program at 617-591-3235. The lottery will take place virtually on Thursday, February 10, at 3 p.m. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/inclusionaryhousing, email inclusionary@somervillema.gov, or call 617-625-6600 ext. 2566.
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Rent a space at the Arts at the Armory’s unique spaces. Are you looking for a unique and memorable venue for an event? Their historic and spacious Performance Hall, intimate and charming Café, and comfortable and functional B5 meeting/classroom/rehearsal space are all available to rent. Learn more about our spaces here. For more information, please contact events@artsatthearmory.org.
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On January 26, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., join Mystic River Watershed Association for a virtual public meeting to discuss a Mystic River Path connection to the Minuteman Bikeway. This first meeting will share existing conditions and solicit feedback that will inform initial design concepts. More info and meeting details visit their Facebook page or website https://mysticriver.org/
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The Greater Boston League has temporarily halted all athletic events for the remainder of the week, due to COVID-19 concerns. Somerville High School plays in the Greater Boston League.
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Prepare for the 2021/2022 snow season by reviewing parking rules and signing up for alerts. Because this winter begins in an odd-numbered year, snow emergency parking will be on the odd side of the street all winter, unless posted signage says differently. Check streets signs in your neighborhood so you know where you can park ahead of winter weather. You can also learn more about the city’s snow policies at somervillema.gov/snow.
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Somerville’s Winter Farmers Market takes place Saturdays, 9:30 – 1:30 p.m., through April 16, at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Offering the best locally grown and produced agricultural items and more. 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. Check out the schedule and map at www.somwintermarket.org. They accept SNAP/EBT & HIP, CREDIT and DEBIT cards. $15 SNAP match for EBT customers.
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Somerville’s requirement to wear a face covering in public indoor spaces remains in effect. Make sure your mask covers your nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces and that it fits snugly around the sides of your face. The CDC has recommendations on how to improve your mask effectiveness. In general, masks with more layers offer better protection and masks with nose wires help achieve a secure fit around your nose. We’ll say it again though, be sure your mask covers your nose too and not just your mouth for effective protection.
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If you are unable to access a COVID-19 vaccine due to transportation challenges, but otherwise are able to leave your home, please call 3-1-1 to get connected to transportation assistance.
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Individuals who are homebound are encouraged to schedule an in-home COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the state’s COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program. The program is open to all individuals who are homebound, including 5- to 11-year-olds, and individuals seeking both initial or booster doses. To schedule an appointment, call the In-Home Vaccination Central In-take Line at (833) 983-0485. The Intake Line is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Representatives are available in both English and Spanish, and also have access to translators for over 100 languages. Due to high demand, the current estimated wait time for an in-home vaccination appointment is 4-6 weeks.
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Internship Opportunity for Somerville Youth 14 Years+: The Somerville Economic Development Department in partnership with the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program is hiring production team interns. Somerville youth ages 14 years and up are encouraged to apply. 10 hours/week @ $15.46/hour. Responsibilities will include curating informational videos for small businesses, script development + script translation, video production and editing. Fluency in Haitian Creole, Nepali, Portuguese, or Spanish preferred. Deadline to apply is February 4. Questions? Contact Jennifer Mancia at jmancia@somervillema.gov.
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The next monthly meeting of the SAAAFN (Somerville Asian and Asian American Family Network) is Wednesday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The group mission is to support and connect with families who are raising children of Asian descent in Somerville. Meeting info: https://bit.ly/3tN5q4Q
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Need a COVID-19 booster? There are still lots of available appointments at the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on Friday, January 28, at the Healey School. Students and adults are welcome to sign up to get a booster or your first or second dose of vaccine. Anyone 5 years or older can attend (with a parent/guardian). Please find more information and the link to register here: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/vaccineclinic
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Movie Matinee, Going in Style, Wednesday, January 26, starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street (behind the Holiday Inn). Join COA for a showing of Going in Style starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin. Three lifelong friends hatch a plot to rob a bank after they are cheated out of their pensions. But they have to stay one step ahead of the FBI. Please RSVP to Debby at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or DHiggins@Somervillema.gov
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Brown Bag Supplemental Food Program pick up is Thursday, January 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street (behind the Holiday Inn). For an application contact Natasha at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.
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