(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 Joseph A. Curtatone

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

Options for Voting in the Presidential Primary

Somerville voters can cast their ballots ahead of the March 3 primary election during early voting hours from Monday, February 24 through Friday, February 28. All early voting sessions will take place at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Early voting hours are:

• Monday, February 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 25, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 26, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 27, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 28, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Voters can also cast their ballot on Election Day, Tuesday, March 3, at their polling place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can find out where you vote by entering your address at www.somervillema.gov/mysomerville.

If you’re unable to go to a polling location in person, you can request an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested through noon on Monday, March 2. Completed ballots must be returned to the Elections Department by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.

For more information about voting or getting an absentee ballot, visit www.somervillema.gov/elections.

Work at a Polling Location in the Presidential Primary

The Elections Department is hiring polling place workers for the Tuesday, March 3, Presidential Primary Election. All registered Massachusetts voters are eligible to apply. Polling place workers are paid $165 for the day and work from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after the polls close at 8:00 p.m. with a two-hour break. For more information, please contact Maria Pierotti at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200 or mpierotti@somervillema.gov.

Make the 2020 Census Count

Invitations to respond to the federal census will be showing up in mailboxes in mid-March. Responding to the census ensures that our community gets its share of federal funding and that Massachusetts has the right number of representatives in Congress. So, please, take just a few minutes to fill out your census as soon as possible, but by no later than July. In Somerville, we’re working on a Complete Count effort to make sure every Somerville resident is counted. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Community Services Manager Jennifer Mancia at 617-625-6600 ext. 2406 or jdutra@somervillema.gov. The Census is also hiring for positions with flexible hours to support census efforts with pay starting at $25 per hour. Visit 2020census.gov for more information.

Holland St. and College Ave. Mobility Improvements Meeting, February 24

Come learn more about proposed upgrades for Holland St., between Davis and Teele squares, and College Ave., between Davis Square and Powder House Circle. Roads and sidewalks will be reconstructed as part of the project, but other infrastructure upgrades are also planned and we’re seeking community feedback. The community meeting will be on Monday, February 24, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St. For more information, visit somervoice.somervillema.gov/hollandandcollege, call 617-625-6600 ext. 2323, or email transportation@somervillema.gov.

Department of Conservation and Recreation Meeting on Draw Seven Renovation, February 25

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is hosting a meeting on Tuesday, February 25, to share plans for the renovation of Draw Seven Park. The meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in room B on the first floor of the Partners Health Care Building, 309 Revolution Drive. If you have questions about the meeting, please email Mass.Parks@state.ma.us or call 617-626-4973. You can also find more information under the events tab on www.mass.gov/dcr.

Hall St. Infrastructure Upgrades Community Meeting, February 26

Replacement of the more than 100-year-old water and sewer mains on Hall St. is tentatively scheduled to start this summer. Come learn more about the project at a community meeting on Wednesday, February 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Kennedy School, 5 Cherry St. For more information, contact Haleemah Qureshi at hqureshi@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 5411.

Stay Up-to-Date on the Issues You Care About

There’s a lot happening in Somerville, but there are also a lot of options for staying informed about the things you care about. The City has several newsletters and mailing lists that you can subscribe to to get regular updates on things like affordable housing opportunities, the arts, and construction. We also have a general City email newsletter that has a wide range of information in each edition. For a full list of newsletters and information on subscribing, visit www.somervillema.gov/subscribe.

Next Election Deadline, August 26

The deadline to register to vote for the March 3, Presidential Primary has passed, but you still have time to register for the State Primary election on Tuesday, September 1. The deadline to register is Wednesday, August 26, but you can register any time before that. For more information on how to register to vote, visit www.somervillema.gov/elections.

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.