Visiting briefly from his home in St. Louis, Missouri, author Byron DeLear will tell the fascinating story about how our nation came to be known as “United States of America”, amidst events occurring right here in Somerville in 1776.

Talk with the author and obtain a personally signed copy of his book at two uniquely Somerville sites. Byron DeLear is an author, enviro-entrepreneur, media producer, and twice former US House candidate. He is a member of the Organization of American Historians and the Missouri Lodge of Research, and is past Editor-in-Chief for NAPA News, the newsletter of the North American Vexillological Association.

City offices will be closed Tuesday, January 1 for New Year’s Day. Starting on Tuesday, trash and recycling collection will be on a one day delay. Parking meter and resident permit parking will not be enforced.

(Please note that December 31 is not a city holiday and city services, including the last day of street sweeping, will be on a normal schedule.)

As of 12:30 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 911 calls from cell phones and land lines are being properly routed to Somerville police and fire departments. Sporadic outages being made from cell phones to 911 are still being reported across the region, so please add these important local emergency telephone numbers to your contacts in case of an emergency, for today and for future use:

If you’re cleaning up from the holidays and wondering how to dispose of things like wrapping paper, your tree, or packaging, visit the Waste Wizard .
You can type in what you want to dispose of and find out the best way to do it.

Arrests:

 Jose Rivera, of 115 Walnut St., December 18, 4:43 p.m., arrested at Central St. on charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, license revoked as HTO, and possession of a class B drug.

Felipe Leao, of 197 Summer St., December 21, 5:36 p.m., arrested at home on multiple charges of drug possession to distribute.

~Photo courtesy of Somerville FD

Fire Chief Charles Breen and Chief of Operations Christopher Major pose with Somerville Firefighter Michael Kilduff. Firefighter Kilduff successfully graduated on Friday, December 21, 2018 from the MA Firefighting Academy in Stow. The rigorous fifty day training program provides new firefighters with the basic skills to perform their jobs effectively and safely.

Annual celebration of America’s first flag raising to be celebrated by City and State officials, residents, and “George Washington” on horseback.

In its annual tradition, the City of Somerville will kick off the New Year on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2018, with a reenactment ceremony for the anniversary of the “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing.