Lt. Longo (l) and Capt. Doheney are seen being presented with their retirement badges by Chief Charles Breen and Chief of Operations Christopher Major.

Two veteran Somerville Fire Department officers will retire on August 5th. Lt. Stephen Longo  of Ladder 2  will complete forty years of service and Capt. James Doheney of Engine 7 will finish out a thirty-two year career. The Somerville Fire Department will miss their dedication and wishes them a long and healthy retirement.

Tonight’s scheduled GLX question and answer/information table in Magoun Square has been cancelled due to weather. It will be rescheduled for another date in August.

In advance of planned bridge closures as part of the Green Line Extension Project (GLX), City staff along with staff from the MBTA, MassDOT, and GLX Constructors, are hosting a series of events and meetings throughout the summer and fall to provide information and answer questions about construction, which is already underway. Staff will be available at most summer events and have planned GLX-specific Q&A sessions and public meetings throughout the summer and fall as follows (subject to change):

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The 2018 International Sand Sculpting Festival took place July 20 – 22 at Revere Beach. Visitors enjoyed the magnificent sand sculpting competition, delicious food trucks and vendors, and amusements and fun for the whole family. A spectacular fireworks display took place Saturday night.

First Row (L to R): Alyssa DeSantis, Deseree Ernst, Claudia Cooper, Wendy Guo, Isra Khan, Sagin Gani, Fidendi Francois, Nick Dipietro, Devin Coneeny, Janaan Khan, Drexler Pierre.
Second Row (L to R): Nehemiah Simon, Facilitator: Samantha Bolt.

The CIT/ LIT Job Readiness Program held its graduation on July 17, 2018 from 12:30-2:00 at The Arthur D. Healey School on 5 Meacham Street. Our graduating class consisted of students between the ages of 13-15, who dedicated four-weeks out of their summer to participate in a program that taught them about job readiness and leadership skills. Throughout the four weeks these students learned how to lead children, the significance of leadership and communication, the meaning of diversity, how to solve conflicts, and employment training. This program not only taught the student’s skills that they need to work with children but also gave them the opportunity to work with kids at camp settings at The Somerville YMCA’s Summer Day Camp and the Somerville Recreation’s Somertime Day Program.

By Jim Clark

While parked near the intersection of Kidder and Willow Ave. last week, police officers observed a vehicle speeding toward the intersection heading North on Willow.