By Jessica Sisavath

The Somerville Community Growing Center had great turn out for this year’s Maple Syrup Boil Down last Saturday, March 7.

The boiling began at 7:40 a.m. before the community event started at 10:00 a.m. Five trees were tapped for the month of February from Tufts University and they received 89 gallons from the tapping.

Essential functions and services will continue, but municipal buildings will be closed to the public

Today, the City of Somerville and the Somerville Public Schools announced that effective Monday, March 16, all City buildings will be closed to the public and all Somerville Public Schools will be closed for a minimum of two weeks to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. During this time we will reassess if the closure needs to continue beyond two weeks.

Upfront work is projected to shorten duration of full-time bridge closure by up to two months; additional mitigation efforts planned for residents and businesses

In an effort to continue advancing progress on the project to extend the Green Line into Somerville and Medford, and in consideration of the unique geographic circumstances surrounding Somerville High School, Medford Street Bridge, and School Street Bridge, the School Street Bridge, in Gilman Square near Somerville City Hall, will close on weekends, effective this weekend, starting Friday night, March 13. While the bridge is scheduled to close on a full-time basis in May, these additional weekend closures are expected to reduce the overall schedule for reconstruction of School Street by approximately two months.

Given the quickly evolving COVID-19 situation and the need to take every precaution possible to protect community health, the following buildings and programs will be closed Thursday through Sunday:

One case has a connection to the West Somerville Neighborhood School, which will close for additional cleaning

Today, the City of Somerville’s Board of Health was notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) that there are two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Somerville residents. Both cases are linked to the Biogen conference held in Boston in February.

The Somerville Police Department Hockey Team defeated the Somerville Fire Department 5-3 in a well-played, hard earned victory. Leading the offense team were T. Lambert and E. O’Brien both with a goal and assist. The veteran leadership was key in this game with solid defensive play by D. Rego and a key goal by R. Lavey that broke the tie going into intermission 3-2. Their game never trailed behind due to the strong efforts put in by M. Capasso, E. Kim, R. Desrochers, B. Pavao, and J. DiGregorio, which had the SFD pressing late in the game and allowing for the eventual score of 5-3.

My Plans and Thank You
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Dear friends and neighbors,

I am writing to share the news that I will end my service as a City Councilor at the end of April. After April, my family will spend time in my hometown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where we will be close to family.

Arrests:
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 Juan Martinez, March 4, 2:59 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on warrant charges of felony nighttime breaking and entering of a vehicle or boat, receiving stolen property under $1200, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

Akbar Rashada, of Chelsea, March 4, 5:43 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of shoplifting by asportation.

The Somerville City Council is looking into various issues governed by the current Adult Use Marijuana Ordinance, including disclosure of ownership and the removal of the local preference provision.

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the City of Somerville City Council, orders were put forward seeking to clarify and refine the current Adult Use Marijuana Ordinance.

One order asks the City Solicitor to draft proposed language to amend the ordinance to require, in any application, full disclosure of all ownership interests, including names and percentage interest of all owners or shareholders in LLCs, corporations, or any other ownership entities.