Tufts University has awarded emergency response grants to 30 local organizations in its four host communities of Medford, Somerville, Boston and Grafton in an effort to help its neighbors impacted by COVID-19.   

Adult Family Care Social Worker Eliza Royer meets with AFC Social Work Manager Nina Cohen via teleconference. AFC recently provided tablets for 46 caregiver families, to help them maintain connection with the program through teleconferencing.

By Nathan Lamb

Working with families in their homes is at the heart of how Adult Family Care (AFC) helps families provide care for loved ones. But with Coronavirus changing everything in recent months, the nonprofit program is sharply increasing use of videoconferencing technology to deliver support.

Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

Representative Christine P. Barber of Somerville and Medford recently voted to pass An Act creating a 2050 roadmap to a clean and thriving commonwealth. This bill, a priority of the House Progressive Caucus, establishes comprehensive planning mechanisms to help Massachusetts achieve bold greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. This bill was also part of the Green New Deal for MA resolution, of which Rep. Barber was one of the lead sponsors.

As neighboring communities are showing elevated rates of COVID according to data released from the state, Somerville’s Phase 3 Step 1 reopening will remain on hold. Somerville is focused on mitigating community spread, reducing the chances of an unmanageable spike, and providing a safe context to open schools later in the 2020-2021 school year. Local officials will continue to review the situation in two-week intervals, with the next update coming on or before Thursday, August 27.

Somerville Prevention Services, in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance, seeks up to 12 Somerville teens and their caregivers to participate in a photovoice project to raise awareness about the risks of problem gambling. Over the course of 8 to 12 weeks, teen participants will attend online workshops to learn about youth gambling and build skills in advocacy, leadership, and photography. Participants will take photos to convey educational messages and present their images at a final virtual showcase for state and local leaders in the fall.

Four polling places were moved for COVID-19 safety; one to address resident feedback

Five of Somerville’s polling places have been relocated for the September 1 and November 3 elections. Four were moved into locations where COVID-19 safety measures could be better put in place and a fifth – formerly at the Kennedy School – was moved in response to resident feedback. If you plan to vote in person on either of the upcoming election days don’t forget to double check your polling location.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police officers were dispatched to the McGrath Hwy. Star Market parking lot last Friday morning on reports of a man passed out behind the wheel in a SUV.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Family heirlooms are a treasure! Packed with memories and stories, a passed down family item is very special. For instance, I’m lucky enough to own the icebox that was in my father’s Somerville house where he grew up in the 20’s and 30’s. We know it was in the kitchen since at least 1920 when he was born. It’s still in my grandfather’s cellar but someday I’ll bring it to my house. It will fit right in with the metal squirrel nutcracker my parents got for a wedding gift in 1951, and the small end table that my dad made in woodworking class at the Western Junior High School in 1934.

Plans and options for Tufts University’s reopening were discussed at a virtual meeting last week.

By Alberto Gilman

As schools and colleges prepare to make their fall return, questions and answers were discussed during Tufts University virtual community Zoom meeting on Tuesday, August 4.