A reminder that the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) day originally scheduled for this Saturday, July 11 is canceled.
Due to COVID-19, all HHW depot days are canceled until further notice and the DPW Yard is not accepting any electronic, hazardous, or other waste for drop-off. We will provide an update when the DPW Yard reopens.
After months spent indoors at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s clear that many people are itching to get back out there and take a vacation. This is with good reason. Staying isolated for too long can take a substantial toll on one’s mental health and well-being, according to the American Psychological Association.
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Dear Community Members,
Thank you for everything you are doing to help slow the spread of COVID-19. As we move into Phase III of the reopening, it’s important to keep social distancing and wearing face coverings to preserve the progress we’ve made. As we continue to work together to protect public health, we also can’t forget about the other ways COVID-19 is impacting our community. Below are some ways you can help your neighbors as we work together to get through this public health crisis. If you’re looking for more ideas, visit our COVID-19 page.
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
Somerville’s finest are of course our outstanding police force. Names like Remigio, Fallon, Mitsakis, Stiles, Dervishian, Gilberti, Cabral, Howe, Hodgdon and so many more. But Somerville’s other finest was actually spelled Finast with an a. An acronym for First National Stores.
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By Alberto Gilman
The Somerville City Council Finance Committee hosted a virtual Committee of the Whole meeting on Thursday, July 2.
In the previous week, the City Council hosted a five-hour virtual public hearing discussing the proposed budget for the 2021 fiscal year on Wednesday, June 24 by Mayor Curtatone.
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(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 3: The historical purpose of policing
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By William C. Shelton
Understanding the historical creation of police forces and their function in preserving the established order will go a long way toward explaining why police violence against the poor, people of color, and African Americans in particular persists.
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The city is reminding residents not to set off fireworks this summer. Along with being illegal in Massachusetts, fireworks pose public health and safety threats. Fireworks can start fires, which can spread quickly through our densely populated neighborhoods. The noise from fireworks can also be traumatizing to those with post-traumatic stress disorder and can be very upsetting to animals. Throughout the summer, everyone is being reminded to be a good neighbor and not set off fireworks.
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By Rachel Berets
On July 5, 1852 Frederick Douglass asked “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” in his now-famous speech of the same name. He proceeded to reply to his own question, stating, “I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license … a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”
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