Staff from Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services recently donated more than 75 gifts through the agency’s annual gift drive partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance. ~SCES Photo

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

Coordinated in partnership with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the gift drive will provide more than 75 gifts for children from 10 local families, said SCES Clinical Director and drive organizer Annie Fowler.  She noted that 28 employees participated, saying that was the most ever.

Dana Beguerie is Director of the Aging Information Center at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services.

By Dana Beguerie

Providing information and guidance for those facing challenges from aging or disability is a big part of our mission at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES).  Our Aging Information Center is a free resource, and our experts there can usually identify helpful resources and connect people with them over the course of a single phone call.

On Monday, December 24, City offices will be closing at 12:30 p.m. and there will not be parking meter or residential permit parking enforcement after noon.

On Tuesday, December 25, City offices will be closed all day. Trash and recycling collection will be on a one-day delay for the rest of the week and there will not be street sweeping on December 25. There will not be parking meter or residential permit parking enforcement all day.

The Somerville Board of Aldermen and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone recently presented representatives from the Sanctuary City Steering Committee and Educators for Sanctuary Schools with a citation in recognition of their tireless work “…organizing numerous supports and services to aid immigrant residents, students, and families in Somerville, providing invaluable assistance to our residents while strengthening the welcoming spirit of our community.” Through this work, members from across the Somerville community have worked diligently to ensure that immigrant families continue to feel welcome and safe in our community, and are aware of the resources available to them.

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Sure, I’ve had some nice finds, but I get envious when I read about these people…

The lady who bought a ring at a flea market in England for 10 pounds. She wore it for a few decades not knowing it was a 26 carat nearly flawless diamond. Once she found out, she sold it for $848,000.

Are you a Somerville resident with 15 minutes to spare? The City of Somerville would appreciate your response to a shared mobility survey that will help us plan for future transportation needs. The survey, which takes about 15 minutes to complete, asks questions about your current modes of transportation as well as options you might consider in the future, like autonomous vehicles. We’re hoping to get at least 1,000 responses by Friday, January 18, so City transportation planners and our research and development partners at Audi have enough data to understand Somerville’s current and future transportation needs. After completing the survey you can enter a drawing for one of several $100 gift cards. You can find the survey at somervillema.gov/sharedmobility.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I can still remember the smell of the silver spray paint we used when making those macaroni Christmas wreaths in Hobby Class. It was an afternoon arts and crafts group that met at The Brown School on Willow Ave in the early 1960’s. We also made those wreaths and other Christmas decorations in school.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The East Somerville Community School Winter Concert took place on Tuesday, December 11, in the school auditorium.

Students got a chance to show off their musical skills to parents, friends, and fellow students.