By Jim Clark

The Somerville Police Drug Control Unit set up a routine surveillance was in the area of the Otis Street Playground last Friday in response to citizen complaints of suspected drug activities taking place in the area.

Along with other opportunities to stay cool at Somerville cooling centers and air-conditioned libraries, as well as pools and park water features, the City invites residents (and other miserably hot folks) to come to regularly scheduled public skating at our air-conditioned Veterans Memorial Rink (Mon.-Fri. and Sunday 12-2 p.m.).

The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites.

Updated August 10, 2016

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is reporting that mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, a potentially serious disease spread by mosquito bites, have been found in Somerville, as well as Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Chelsea, Newton, and Waltham this season. Somerville is considered to be at moderate risk for West Nile Virus. The forecasted conditions (rain and continued warmth) are conducive to further spread of the virus across the area. Ongoing mosquito trapping in the area will monitor for evidence of additional risk. August and September are usually the periods of greatest West Nile Virus activity in Massachusetts.

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

It’s no secret I’m a fan of summertime and getting outside to have some fun. I spend a lot of time talking about making Somerville a great place to play. Yet there’s something just as important to do during the summer as playing: reading.

Extreme heat forecast for Thurs.-Sat. 8/11-13; cooling centers to open; hot weather safety tips

Temperatures are forecast to spike to the high 90s Thursday-Saturday, August 11-13, and a heat advisory has been issued for Thursday. We urge all residents to review these hot weather information and safety tips:

~Photos by Kevin Dickinson

Over 120 children of all ages (including a few adults) performed what they have learned this summer in the 31st annual OPENAIR Circus’ closing performances this past weekend. The two-hour show at Nunziato Field included refreshments, souvenirs and circus equipment for the public’s enjoyment. OPENAIR Circus is a non-profit community-based circus. Their primary program is their summer circus, where they offer classes and performances each summer. In addition, they offer workshops and a teen-leadership program, and performance opportunities to people of all ages. For more information visit http://openaircircus.org/

After years of site preparation and regulatory litigation, the Wynn Boston Harbor resort is finally beginning to take form in Everett.

By Jim Clark

Wynn Resorts announced last Wednesday that it has officially received its Chapter 91 license from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and will immediately start construction on the $2.1 billion Wynn Boston Harbor resort.

— Photos by Lita Vongsavanh

By Sanjeev Selvarajah

This season’s spikes of heat and cool haven’t stopped a whopping thousand people from combing the Mystic River for the invasive water chestnut that hinders activities and harms animal habitats. Businesses and community volunteers went out on canoes to hand pull the invasive plant and clear the Mystic River of the infestation. The zeal and methodology with which Mystic River’s neighboring towns operate to clean up the invasive water chestnut from the waterway should be applauded and used in the cases of water contamination nationwide.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Dear Mayor Curtatone,

We are a group of dozens of public health students and professionals at Boston University School of Public Health – several from Somerville, some from surrounding cities and towns – who have been witnessing the recent debate over the ‘Black Lives Matter’ banner outside of your City Hall with intense interest. We view the deaths of unarmed black citizens by police as well as the tragic deaths of law enforcement officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge with grief and horror. The manner and frequency at which unarmed black citizens have been killed reinforces the truth that black people in the United States are at increased risk of police violence unlike any other group of people.

Dilboy Stadium on the Alewife is once again hosting the 5th Annual Fight Night at Dilboy, Friday evening, August 19. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. First bout at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at the Somerville Boxing Club, 11 Otis Street, or at the door the night of the event. Rain date August 20.