Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Remember the good old days when we were able to leave our houses and go out? As many of us have been binge watching TV and movies, I’ve dug up some true tales of yester-Ville. Here are some stories of how some of us occupied our spare time growing up in Somerville in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.

Dear Somerville Public Schools Families and Staff,

We are streamlining our district communication and will be sending out these district updates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Toward the top of each update, we will list any new resources or information. The lower section will include reminders and links to information that we have already shared and which you may be accessing regularly. Each Friday we will also be highlighting some of the great work that our educators and students are doing to help students stay connected to their learning, or to support the community during this health crisis. Our hope is that these small changes will be helpful to you as you continue to adjust to new family schedules.

If you’ve recently lost your job or part of your household income due to COVID-19 impacts (or other reasons), you may be eligible for unemployment benefits as well as other cash assistance. We’ve compiled some information below to help you get started.

The start of street sweeping in Somerville has been delayed by two weeks to Wednesday, April 15. Normally, street sweeping takes place from April 1 until December 31. As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 emergency, we will decide if the delay will be extended and share that information as it becomes available.

#5. Dress for success: Even if you are working from the kitchen table for now, don’t hang out in your pajamas. Dress as though you are going into the office. I even recommend going out the front or back door of your home and re-enter your new place of work.

Businesses in the Davis Sq. area, such as the Somerville Theatre, are dealing temporary closure due to the effects of COVID-19 precautionary measures.

By Jessica Sisavath

“Having the students at Tufts University leave is a big blow,” said Joyce McKenzie, owner of Nellie’s Wildflowers. The current COVID-19 pandemic led some small businesses in Davis Sq. to unexpectedly reduce their hours of operation, serve fewer customers, and possibly close temporarily.

Dr. Alex Stone and Dr. Jacqueline Boehme from a leading Boston hospital testing a prototype for leaks and safety.

Digital fabrication company Formlabs, headquartered in Somerville, is recognized as the professional 3D printer of choice for engineers, designers, manufacturers, and decision makers around the globe.

By William C. Shelton

It’s a matter of common decency. That’s an idea which may make some people smile, but the only means of fighting a plague is – common decency.
— Albert Camus

Continuously in print since its 1948 publication, Camus’s The Plague tells the story of a town whose people are preoccupied with the making of money, until a pandemic prevents few – other than looters and profiteers – from doing so. It is a timely read for the currently homebound.

We here at The Times hope that everyone out there is staying safe and following the social distancing guidelines to keep this coronavirus threat at the lowest level possible. Please check in on your neighbors and help anyone that might not be able to get out and go to the store.

(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.)

By Matthew McLaughlin
City Council President

During times of crisis people struggle to find meaning in the chaos, which leads to depression, despair and even death. During such times I reflect on Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Search For Meaning. Frankl was a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who attributed surviving a concentration camp to finding meaning in everyday activities. He summed up his philosophy with a quote from Frederich Nietzsche: “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”