Schools in Somerville are getting ready for students to return to classrooms in April.

By Alex Reidy

The Somerville School Committee Meeting on Monday night began with presenting details of the hybrid return to school, which is currently in its 3rd phase, as of April 5 teachers returned and on April 8 students in grades 3-6 will return to the in-person hybrid classes.

By William C. Shelton

Last Thursday the Charter Review Committee conducted its first meeting. Its purpose is to design a new governing document – a new government, really – that will enable the City to be responsive to residents and to effectively meet the challenges of this historical moment.

The City of Somerville’s Elections Department has set up an online appointment system to allow candidates for municipal office to safely pick up and drop off nomination papers and speak with Elections staff while City Hall remains closed to the public. Candidates can sign up for a 30-minute appointment between May 3 and June 9 at www.somervillema.gov/elections. For more information about municipal elections, including how to run for office and a full election cycle calendar, visit www.somervillema.gov/elections

By Emmanuel Vincent

The Legislative Masters Committee Meeting started the new month with a virtual meeting this past Thursday. One of the highlights of the meeting was the staffing level of police patrolmen. It was argued that the City Council should have the responsibility of controlling the staffing of law enforcement in the city.

Initial steps in preparing for construction of Somerville’s new public safety building is expected to commence within the next few months.

By Alex Reidy

On Wednesday, March 31, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 City Councilor Matt McLaughlin, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and city staff held a virtual community meeting to introduce the Public Safety Building Project.

Eagle Feathers #227 – Fort Sumter

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

One hundred and sixty years ago this coming week, the American Civil War began in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. After years of smoldering pressure between the abolitionist North and the slave-holding Southern states, Fort Sumter became the war’s first battle site.

The more the merrier, so they say. And when it comes to the latest political season that is currently coming into full bloom, we should all indeed be prepared for some merry times ahead of us.

Along with the regularly recurring contests for various seats on the City Council and School Committee, the current mayor’s recent announcement of his decision to not run again to retain his seat at City Hall has upped the ante in the upcoming power plays soon to unfold.

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A Born Storyteller brings us the saga of our city on the screen
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Like myself, Kat Powers has had a long love affair with the City on the Mystic, Somerville, MA. Kat has a long and accomplished journalistic background, and will continue to bring the saga of our unique burg to the TV screen, through the Somerville Media Center.

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Mary Surabian is a senior at Endicott College graduating this May. She has been studying education and psychology. In her free time, writing poetry has been as escape for her in periods of stress. Some of her hobbies include: shopping and reselling secondhand clothes, cooking Italian food, and trying out new kinds of iced coffee.

The third webinar of the Climate Forward Ambassador Webinar series focuses on the priority transportation strategies from Somerville Climate Forward. This webinar features presentations by Brad Rawson, Director of Mobility, and Hannah Payne, Climate Change Program Manager for the City of Somerville. Find out more about this series at somervillema.gov/cfa