The MBTA will host an in-person public meeting on Monday, February 5, at the Dewitt Center in Roxbury from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. regarding proposed MBTA fare changes.

By Nathan Lamb

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSMP) workshops via Zoom, starting in February. Participants who finish the course will also receive $50 grocery gift cards.

CDSMP is an education workshop that aims to build confidence in managing health and help participants stay engaged with their lives. Developed by a team of researchers at Stanford University, it is for adults with chronic health problems, such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and other ongoing health concerns.

CDSMP focuses on problem solving and decision making, helping participants set goals and develop action plans to address effects of chronic disease, improve health and communicate better with friends, family and health professionals.

The SCES CDSMP workshop will be facilitated by:

Meghan Ostrander, who is Director of Nutrition and Community Programs at SCES.

Andrea Svartstrom, a registered dietitian with the SCES Nutrition program.

The six-week workshop will convene on Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., starting on February 29. For more information or to register call Meghan Ostrander at 617-628-2601 ext. 3172 or email meghan.ostrander@eldercare.org.

The City of Somerville is hiring polling place workers for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Primary on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. 

No experience is required to be an election inspector, you will receive $200 for participating in this important civic activity. More information on election worker roles and payments please see below. 

Somerville community joined a community meeting on Monday, January 29, to learn more about the updated commercial area plan for Davis Square. The presentation reviewed changes to the previous draft of the plan released in 2020 and offered the opportunity for feedback from attendees.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I feel very blessed to have grown up in the Somerville of the 60’s 70s 80s and 90s. If you think Somerville is cool now you should’ve seen it during those times.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Joel Light was the special guest last Thursday at the Somerville COA’s Project Outlook’s monthly meeting. Members enjoyed an afternoon singing a medley of popular songs with Joel. Project Outlook is a group of residents with low or no vision who enjoy getting together for camaraderie and socialization. Project Outlook has been active for over 30 years. Join the conversation, they look forward to meeting you. They meet the fourth Thursday of each month. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Claudia Ferro or Molly Pagliuca at 617-625-6600, ext. 2318.

By Erica Voolich

Many teachers have great ideas on how to make their classrooms a better place for their students to learn math. The teachers’ ideas frequently outrun the budget schools have for supplies and their own ability to subsidize their classroom. The Somerville Mathematics Fund tries to fill this need through the generosity of their donors with grants up to $500.

(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 Denise Cosby

My name is Denise Cosby.  I am a resident of Cambridge, MA. On May 18, 2009, I received a call alerting me to get to a hospital because my 21-year-old son Justin Cosby had been shot.  The next morning my son succumbed from his injuries and died. This was the most devastating call I had ever received.  This call was indeed a mother’s worst nightmare.