Messages Now Delivered Via Phone, E-mail and Text Message; New Online Management Tool Allows Residents to Update Information Immediately; "Connect-CTY" to be Renamed "Blackboard Connect" Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced an expansion of the City's Connect-CTY alert system. Effective immediately, Somerville residents and business owners may sign up to receive Connect-CTY alerts via text message, in addition to the traditional phone and e-mail deliveries. The City's Connect-CTY mass notification system, which broadcasts alerts to households and businesses throughout the city, was introduced in 2006, and currently serves more than 30,000 residents and businesses.

Mayor Curtatone also announced that the Connect-CTY service has officially changed its company name to "Blackboard Connect," which the City of Somerville will be introducing to residents and businesses through upcoming notifications.

"We are continuing to upgrade and improve our existing technologies, and expanding the Connect-CTY system to include text message will allow us to reach more people with urgent information in a timely manner," said Mayor Curtatone. "Additionally, we've added a CTY management tool to our website, which will allow residents to sign up for or be removed from the alerts system immediately. If you haven't already taken advantage of our alerts system, I would encourage you to do so to stay informed of important issues such as public safety issues, road closures, parking restrictions, power outages and snow emergencies."

To sign up for Connect-CTY or to add text messaging to your alerts notifications, please visit the City's website, www.somervillema.gov, or call 311. Residents and business owners may add up to three phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, and one SMS number for each address.

Data entered into the Connect-CTY system is used for municipal notifications only, and is not shared or used for any other purpose.