Mayor Joe Curtatone with a message urging everyone to avoid indoor gatherings with people from outside their households this Thanksgiving.
As the national death total surpassed 250,000 and MA sees rising numbers, it is critical Thanksgiving not be turned into a superspreader event.

(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)

Harold Cohen
1/16/1931 – 9/29/2020

To: The Editor and the people of Somerville

I wanted to let the people of Somerville know about the passing of a true Somerville Icon last month. His name was Harold Cohen. He was the co-founder of Somerville Lumber. Along with his brother, Melvin Cohen, they purchased Prospect Lumber on McGrath Highway in 1956. . They renamed the company Somerville Lumber and turned the business into a Retail Powerhouse that employed several thousand employees with 10 different locations in 3 different states.

Eagle Feathers #218 – Thanksgiving – 399 Years

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

In the autumn of 1621, the custom of Thanksgiving in America was first announced by Governor Bradford of the Plymouth Colony. This tradition was created to give thanks for the survival of the European immigrants who fled religious and self-governing intolerance and survived the grueling sixty-six-day voyage across the stormy Atlantic Ocean.

Arrests:
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 Alan Kelly, of Medford, November 17, 10:12 p.m., arrested at Springfield St. on charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

This year’s Thanksgiving Day observance will be like no other in our lifetimes. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to our health and safety, and therefore guidance dictates that we should avoid the traditional larger gatherings and instead only celebrate among those in our immediate circle.

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Julia Kanno writes: I am the mother of two amazing young men ages 27 and 17. I am from Appalachia and Botswana. I am an artist and also work in healthcare. I have self-published with my co-pilot levin pfeuffer two books of prose a storm is cuming and The hardest helmut. My first reading was done at Northeastern University and since then I have read at the Somerville Armory two times. I consider myself an introverted artist/writer. I give birth to my works including those that have been displayed at the Decordova Museum as well as Howard University and local gems such as The Middle East and Out of the Blue gallery. I will be published in Tell magazine featuring my textiles and art in the spring. Currently, I am studying behavioral science and psychology because there is a need for more people of color to be there for people of color to help end the stigma of seeking mental health.

And remind you to ship early this holiday season

Post Offices across the commonwealth will be closed on Thursday, November 26, in celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Street delivery on Thursday will be limited to guaranteed overnight parcels and there will be no collection of mail.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 6 Councilor Lance Davis, and Ward 7 Councilor Katjana Ballantyne invite you to attend the third virtual community meeting about the Holland Street and College Avenue Mobility Improvements project on Wednesday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place on the GoToMeeting webinar platform. Register to attend at bit.ly/HollandCollegeMeeting3. 

Residents behind on rent or certain mortgage payments urged to apply quickly; funds must be allotted by December 30, 2020

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that $500,000 in federal Covid-19 Cares Act Relief funds are being dedicated to the Flex-CV Fund to support residents behind in housing payments due to impacts of the pandemic. The FLEX-CV program is an emergency temporary rental and mortgage assistance program for Somerville residents who have had an income loss, or an increase in expenses, caused by or exacerbated by Covid-19.