The Somerville Arts Council recently released the application for Artist Housing Certification for newly constructed live/work units at the new Powder House/MarKa development. The certification application and further details are available online at somervilleartscouncil.org/certification.

Three Town Halls to focus on Covid-19 Planning for Somerville Public Schools   

The Somerville Public Schools and the City of Somerville will be jointly hosting three upcoming (not four) online School Planning Town Halls (two in English, one multilingual) on local efforts to prepare for the 2020/2021 school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, due to the pandemic, the Somerville School Committee will be holding two additional summertime meetings.  

— Photo by Bobbie Toner

Somerville’s Shared Streets initiative will roll out new routes starting Friday, July 31. Shared Streets open up low-volume or residential side-streets to pedestrians, cyclists, and other users while still allowing vehicle access for residents who live on the street or who need to use the street to get to their homes, their guests, and service vehicles such as first responders, delivery drivers, sanitation trucks, and street sweepers.

— Photos by Bobbie Toner

On Monday afternoon, the Somerville Fire Department responded to a multi family home at 84 Lowell St. in Somerville. The Red Cross is at the scene to assist the families displaced.

No injuries were reported,. The cause of fire is under investigation.

Somerville Ward 7 and Community Questions & Concerns
*

SCES staffers Andrea Svartstrom and Lindsey Smilack handle bags of fresh vegetables, as part of a produce delivery effort that delivered more than $2,700 worth of fresh produce to homebound older adults in Cambridge and Somerville

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) volunteers delivered more than $2,700 worth of fresh produce to local older adults on July 15. 

The delivery was part of the annual Farmers’ Market Coupon Program. Funded through the USDA and the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources, the program provides $25 of Farmers’ Market coupons for eligible older adults.

For over 30 years, Somerville’s OPENAIR Circus has taught circus skills to children, teens and adults. This summer many classes will still be taught, but differently this year due to COVID-19.

Classes will be in 2 formats: pre-recorded lessons and synchronous online classes.

Normally there is an editorial from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in this space, but this week the City is instead sharing important information and updates about COVID-19.

 Somerville’s Phase 3 Reopening to Start August 3, at the Earliest

Somerville’s Phase 3 Step 1 business reopening is on hold until at least Monday, August 3, as local officials grow increasingly concerned about potential impacts amid rising new case averages in the metro area and growing concerns about the efficacy of the State’s contact tracing program. Prior State guidelines limiting indoor and outdoor gatherings to no more than 10 persons will also remain in effect until at least August 3 as well. In collaboration with area businesses, the City has developed provisional enhanced safety requirements and guidelines for Phase 3 businesses, but their reopening will be put on hold. 

(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)

Part 4: What we know that the founders didn’t
*

By William C. Shelton

Approaching the end of the War of Independence, Congress chose to put on the Great Seal of the United States the phrase, “Novus Ordo Seclorum,” which they understood to mean, “A new order of the ages,” or, “A new age now begins.” They hoped that what they were accomplishing would inspire people everywhere to create governments in which humanity could live with freedom and dignity.