Congratulations to all our local public servants who were sworn in for another term this week. Let’s wish them the best and hope that they serve all of our interests as fairly and effectively as possible.

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Also, congratulations the winners of our Best of Somerville 2019 survey, as voted for by you, our readers (find the list of winners on our website at http://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/62978). They do indeed represent the best that the city has to offer. Be sure to partake of their products or services, and let them know you heard about their being honored here in The Somerville Times.

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Please join the Somerville Public Space and Urban Forestry Division, and Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen on Wednesday evening, January 8, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a community meeting to discuss the final landscape plan for the Central Hill Campus (Phase I). The meeting will be held in the Somerville High School cafeteria, 81 Highland Ave. Phase I of the Central Hill Campus Master Plan includes the renovation of Central Hill Playground and the installation of Memorial Walk East, a celebratory walk for the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, and a new Service Memorial. For more information about the project, visit www.somervillema.gov/departments/central-hill-plan, or contact Cortney Kirk at ckirk@somervillema.gov.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a good guy, Matt Hoey. We wish him the very best on this his birthday week. Happy birthday to former East Somerville, now Magoun Sq., sign guy, Dominick Silvestri Jr. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to Theresa Rodriques, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Bonnie Raboin Carriger, who is also celebrating this week. We hope she enjoyed her day. Finally, to an all-around nice guy, Kevin O’Donovan. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to everyone here and from the city who is celebrating this week. We wish every one of them a very happy birthday.

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Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Mary-Louise A. (Gordon) Daly, who sadly passed away on January 1. Daly was extremely active in the community, being affiliated with many local non-profit and charitable organizations. She was recognized and honored by these groups and many more throughout her lifetime here in the city. She will be missed by all who knew her.

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It seems as though “Medford/Tufts” will be the name of the new Green Line station at the intersection of College and Boston Avenues in Medford following an agreement recently announced between Tufts University and the MBTA. The station, near the Medford/Somerville city line, will serve as the terminus for the Green Line extension project, scheduled to be completed in 2021. More information about the station and the name are available in the announcement here: https://now.tufts.edu/articles/new-mbta-green-line-station-be-named-medfordtufts.

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Residents should be aware of new policies aimed at preventing displacement and informing those facing eviction of their rights. To learn about your rights and avoid violations, you can read a summary of the new rules at bit.ly/housingupdates. To make sure you don’t miss important updates like this, sign up for the City e-newsletter at www.somervillema.gov/newsletter.

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We are happy to report that the street sweepers are officially in hibernation. Somerville street sweeping ended on December 31 and will resume on April 1, 2020.

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For those of you who may be property owners here in Somerville, Councilor At-Large Mary Jo Rossetti shared a link to the Assessor’s Office, created to assist in answering any questions you may have regarding the tax bill mailed out this week:  https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/finance/assessing.

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The City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department (HHS) and Somerville Media Center (SMC) are excited to announce the 2020 Screening Series of From My Heart to Yours. This short educational film provides an intimate look at how the availability and use of opioids have impacted the lives of many individuals, especially here locally and around the state. It also addresses various pathways to recovery and resources that exist to help the transition back into society. HHS and SMC partnered with local organizations to host free screenings of the short documentary (about 25 minutes) throughout the city with a Q&A with representatives from individuals who were part of production. Screening events are scheduled as follows: January 16, 6:30 p.m., at MOAR- Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, 9 New Washington St.; February 6, 5:00 p.m., at Council on Aging, 167 Holland St.; March 6, 6:30 p.m., at Connexion, 149 Broadway; and April 15, 6:00 p.m., Somerville Library, 79 Highland Ave.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Somerville Health and Human Services Department and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, to be held on Monday, January 20. The annual event will be held at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St., beginning at 10:00 a.m. The celebration will be emceed by Marcus Santos, and will feature musical performances by El Sistema Somerville and the Somerville High School World Percussion Ensemble, as well as readings by the winners of the student essay contest. A keynote address will be given by Aba Taylor, a social justice educator, facilitator and organizer. Following the speaking program, the Beautiful Stuff Project will facilitate the creation of a community mosaic. This year, the Somerville Human Rights Commission will hold a drive to benefit Project Soup during the event. Attendees are invited to bring toiletries such as shampoos, toilet paper and soap.

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Music Meeting: Reigniting the Boston Music Conversation will be held on January 23 at The Jungle Community Music Club, 6 Sanborn Ct., Somerville, which is relaunching a series of meeting/meet-ups. In this first round, talk about the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) concept and working on a sustainable foundation; old favorites like promoting in the digital age, booking (uh-oh), and looking outside one’s own genres. Guests will be with guests Edrie Edrie of Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys, Jenny Bergman of The Secret Bureau of Art & Design, Bridget Duggan of ONCE Somerville, Carissa Johnson of Fuel Heart Productions and Steve Theo of Pirate Promotions. Music at 8:00 p.m. with The Shirts And Shoes, War On Alexandria, and Lay Low Moon. The meeting is free to all from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Live music is at 8:00 p.m. $6 in advance, $10 day of the show. For more info, visit www.thejunglemusicclub.com.

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Writer’s Den is a free weekly evening creative writing workshop open to all Somerville students in grades 4-8. Creative weekly activities and fun writing prompts, storytelling, script writing and more keep students eager to write and share their writing. Publishing opportunities and snacks. Co-Directors Alan Ball, Cara Feinberg, and Allyson Sherlock invite all students in grades 4-8 to join the fun. Parent/guardian permission required. Writer’s Den takes place Wednesdays and some Mondays (except vacation weeks or if schools close due to inclement weather). Visit the district website (www.somerville.k12.ma.us/events/calendar) for Writer’s Den meeting dates for the rest of the school year. The workshops take place at the Healey School Library, 5 Meacham St.

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