(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville!

Brown Schoolyard Design Community Meeting, November 18

Join us for a meeting on Monday, November 18, to talk about ideas for the new layout of the Brown Schoolyard. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in kindergarten classroom B-08 in the lower level of the Brown School, 201 Willow Ave. If you have any questions, please contact Arn Franzen at afranzen@somervillema.gov.

Join the Urban Forestry Committee, November 24 Application Deadline

The City’s Urban Forestry Committee is accepting applications through Sunday, November 24, to fill two vacant seats, one of which is for a youth member. The committee advises the city on issues like managing and maintaining the City’s trees and supports public outreach and education on urban forestry. The committee typically meets on the third Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. For the youth position, applicants must be Somerville residents between the ages of 14 and 17. For the other open position, experience in urban forestry is required. In addition, experience in any of the following areas is highly desired: forestry, arboriculture, landscape maintenance, landscape architecture, horticulture, soil biology, ecology, urban design, streetscapes, civil engineering, public relations, and community outreach. Applicants with other relevant or transferable experience are also encouraged to apply. If you are interested in applying, send a letter of interest and your resume to Urban Forestry and Landscape Planner Dr. Vanessa Boukili at vboukili@somervillema.gov or 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143.

Help Keep Our Waterways Clean and Prevent Flooding

You can help protect our waterways and prevent flooding in your neighborhood this fall by not raking leaves into the street. Leaves can clog up storm drains, which contributes to flooding when it rains. They also make their way into local waterways where they decompose and throw off the ecosystem. Decaying leaves release phosphorus and nitrogen which can cause blooms of toxic blue-green algae, a decrease in oxygen levels which can kill fish, and an increase in algae and invasive plants. Instead of raking leaves into the street you can:

• Put them out for yard waste collection in either a paper bag or a barrel with a “yard waste only” sticker on it (you can get free stickers at DPW and City Hall or call 311 and ask for one to be mailed to you). Yard waste collection goes through the first week of December and you can find the yard waste collection schedule at somervillema.gov/wizard.
• Yard waste can be dropped off year-round at the DPW, 1 Franey Rd., between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Leaves can go into compost or you can use a mulching mower to turn them in to mulch.

Get Ready for Snow Season

Before the first flake falls, make sure you’re ready for snow season. You can find all of our winter and snow emergency information on www.somervillema.gov/snow, but here are a few key things to take care of now:

• Sign up for City alerts at somervillema.gov/alerts. City alerts are one of the ways we get the word out about snow emergencies. Other places you can check include the City’s website and social media accounts, City Cable, local media outlets, and blinking blue lights at intersections around Somerville.
• Make a parking plan. Because winter starts in an odd year this year, when a snow emergency is in effect parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street unless posted signage says otherwise and in municipal lots. Take a look at signs in your neighborhood and check out the off-street parking map on our snow page so you know where you can park during a snow emergency. If you’ll be out of town this winter, make a plan for off-street parking or leave a car key with someone who can move it in case of a snow emergency.
• If you’re a property owner, you have six daylight hours after snowfall ends to shovel your sidewalk so if you’ll be out of town this winter make sure you have plans in place in case it snows. The City also runs a Teen Snow Shoveling Program where seniors can hire local teens to shovel after it snows. Because there is an application process, which includes a CORI check for anyone over 18, now is the time to sign up. More information is available on our snow website. Teens looking for more information can contact Christopher Hosman at 617-625-6600 ext. 2406 or chosman@somervillema.gov. Seniors who want more information can contact the Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 ext. 2300.

City Alerts

Get important City notifications for snow emergencies, construction, detours, and other public safety matters delivered to your phone (voice and text) and/or your email. Sign up for alerts at www.somervillema.gov/alerts.

City Newsletter 

For weekly updates on city cultural and civic events, City services, job openings, and more, sign up for the City e-newsletter at www.somervillema.gov/newsletter.

City Calendar

Look up city events and meetings (as well as agendas and minutes) 24/7 on the City calendar at www.somervillema.gov.