— Photos courtesy of City of Somerville

Prospect Hill Park officially reopened to the public Friday. Make sure to check out one of Somerville’s most iconic locations.

Full details of the project can be found here: www.somervillema.gov/prospecthillpark

EMHOT Social Worker Shaina Benoit uses videoconferencing to connect with her colleague Courtney Johnson. Video conferencing has been an essential tool for the program during the Coronavirus, helping social workers maintain connections with older adults facing behavioral health challenges.

A Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) program dedicated to helping older adults with behavioral health conditions is earning high marks from participants, even amid the pandemic.

Nearly $1 million in additional job training/retention funds also approved  

In response to the immense need for community assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Somerville has distributed $2,218,384 to local non-profit agencies to help residents with necessities such as rent, food, and childcare.

The Somerville Public Library will close for contactless services at both Central Library (79 Highland Avenue) and the West at TAB (167 Holland Street) from August 31 through September 7 to accommodate voting in the primary election. Both locations will serve as polling places on September 1 and will remain closed through Labor Day for cleaning and sanitizing. The East Branch (115 Broadway) will continue to offer contactless pickup and printing throughout the week. 

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Kessler wrote the introduction and edited What I am Always Waiting For a collection of verse written by Miller.

City Hall to be lit with purple lights; flag display for those lost to overdose; community-wide call for all to hang purple ribbons and more

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on Monday, August 31, and National Recovery Month in September, advocates and officials in Somerville have united in their call for Somervillians to observe both events in a few simple but powerful ways to send a message of support and hope for recovery.

At a Monday, August 24, meeting with Phase 3 business owners, Mayor Joe Curtatone announced that, if the data continues to trend in the right direction, the city will consider a limited reopening for fitness centers, gyms, and indoor recreation facilities on approximately September 8. These businesses would be required to have an approved health and safety plan and meet stringent COVID-19 safety requirements. The requirements, which are designed to decrease the risk of virus transmission, include measures that exceed State standards such as mandatory face coverings for all staff and patrons at all times. Activities that pose a high risk for virus transmission and superspreader events would not be allowed to open in this phase.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the McDonald’s restaurant on McGrath Hwy. last Wednesday on reports of a man threatening a customer with hot water and a knife.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

This week’s story is by my good friend Anthony Accardi, a lifelong resident of Somerville.

The summer of 2020, as different as it has been, slowly heading toward its end. Just another month or so and we will be putting the summer of 2020 into the books.

A small group of protestors gathered outside Tufts President Monaco’s home last week. The protestors are concerned that an influx of students will adversely affect the community at large.

By Denise Keniston

Tufts University is reporting three positive COVID-19 cases on its Boston Health Sciences Campus in Boston’s Chinatown. Patrick Collins, Tufts Media Relations Executive Director, confirmed the three cases on Monday, August 24.