Staffers from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services recently donated roughly 140 gifts to benefit local families in need, through a joint gift drive with Cambridge Health Alliance.

Staffers from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SECS) recently donated gifts for more than two dozen local children in need.

Coordinated in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the gift drive will provide more than 140 gifts for children from 13 local families, said SCES Clinical Director and drive organizer Annie Fowler.  She said it was a team effort, with nearly 30 SCES employees participating.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Ville
Detours were testing our joy and goodwill
On Broadway the traffic caused all kinds of pain
Trying hard to not drive in that empty bus lane
The new High School is coming along at good pace
And condos are rising all over the place
Election Day happened but alas I do fear
re-elected again were … “insert all names here.”

The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division is making an urgent plea for help across the Commonwealth as donations to the organization’s Red Kettles are down more than 50 percent from 2018 across Massachusetts, with only days left in the Red Kettle Season.

The potential crisis situation means communities in every corner of Massachusetts are at risk of losing critical assistance for a wide range of programming and services, including shelters for children and families, disaster response, meal programs, clothing and energy assistance.

City offices will be closed after 12:30 p.m. on December 24 and all day on December 25.

Starting on December 25, trash and recycling pickup will be on a one-day delay for the rest of the week.

In its annual tradition, the City of Somerville will kick off the New Year on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, with a reenactment ceremony for the anniversary of the “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park.

Important note: the park is currently closed for renovations, so the event will be held along Munroe St. adjacent to the park. The road will be closed during the morning events.

Three-year goals designed to lead to bold and sustainable systemic practices that result in elimination of persistent achievement gaps, better outcomes for students

On Monday, November 18, the Somerville School Committee unanimously approved four long-range goals focused on ensuring that the district is making clear and bold progress toward providing equitable access, opportunities, and support for all students in the district. The three-year goals are designed to address the root causes of systemic inequities that have contributed to persistent achievement gaps, particularly for black and LatinX students. School Committee members worked with Superintendent Mary Skipper and her district leadership team over the course of several months to develop specific goals related to the district’s human capital strategy, enrollment and access to programming, resources, and learning milestones that will support the district’s commitment to achieving its vision of equity and excellence.

Broadway’s new bus-only lanes: Better commuting but some concerns

— Photos by Diego Marcano

By Diego Marcano

The new bus lanes enable more and speedier bus trips but have also resulted in fewer parking spaces.

If you didn’t make it to the recent City Hall hearing, you can learn more about it and hear from your neighbors. Check out the Somerville Neighborhood News video and read the story online at somervillemedia.org/snn.

First graders from the Albert F. Argenziano School at Lincoln Park visited the Truck 1/ Engine 1 fire station on Somerville Avenue to celebrate Fire Prevention Month in October where they learned about putting out fires. Almost 100 youngsters in four classes walked to the firehouse with their teachers Jayne Campos, Olivia Marks, Jane Gardner and Alyssa Baumgarten.

East Somerville Main Streets has announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Boston Foundation to support its small business technical assistance program, through the Foundation’s Open Door Grants program.

Phillip Weiss, now Temple B’nai Brith’s religious leader emeritus, spoke Saturday evening, December 14, at a tribute that recognized his 40 years of service to the city’s historic Jewish congregation.

By Penny Schwartz

Some 200 people filled the sanctuary at Temple B’nai Brith, coming together on Saturday evening, December 14, to pay tribute to Phillip Weiss, the Jewish congregation’s revered and beloved spiritual leader who first wandered up the stairs of the synagogue forty years ago looking for a place to worship for Yom Kippur.