More than $3.7 million is available this fiscal year for affordable housing, open space, outdoor recreation and historic preservation projects in Somerville through the Community Preservation Act (CPA), and Somerville residents, organizations and businesses are invited to submit their project proposals to see if they are eligible for funding. Details on what CPA funds can be used for are available at http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa.

In the latest Somerville Neighborhood Newscast, the news team brings you some of the latest headlines and happenings in Somerville. ​Here are the headlines:

Pilot project sets example of tactical urbanism for residents and businesses

The city’s first public parklet (or mini park) is now open on Somerville Avenue thanks to a partnership with Forge Baking Company. At just the size of roughly two car-lengths, the seasonal Forge Parklet qualifies as the city’s smallest park, but it packs in plenty of outdoor seating ringed by flower boxes by seasonally transforming two parking spaces into attractive open space (the spaces will revert to parking during winter). Somerville continues to explore innovative ways to expand public space across the city and plans to launch a program later this year that will provide a “how-to” guide for other businesses interested in parklets and other tactical urbanism ideas that support public life. The Forge Parklet is the city’s pilot program to test the process.

By Rebecca Danvers

Long before punk rock inflicted its puncture wound on the map of mainstream music, the Descendents were in a van brewing a potent mix of pop, angst, love and coffee and influencing a generation to come.

As the revitalization of historic Union Square is undertaken through the redevelopment of seven key parcels in and around the square, the City of Somerville is also aiming to develop an innovative new model for public benefits agreements that address social equity through affordable housing and jobs, open space, infrastructure, sustainability and more. This is being facilitated through collaboration with LOCUS: Responsible Real Estate Developers and Investors. LOCUS, a program of Smart Growth America, is a nationally renowned advocacy and research organization dedicated to building successful mixed-income, walkable urban communities. This is work will be done in collaboration with the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at the George Washington University (GWU). The collaboration is generously supported by a grant from the Barr Foundation.

som|dog’s annual Pet Palooza will kick off this with a TechBark launch party, Friday July 31^st from 6–10 as we bring dogs, beer and technology together for a bark tech social.

The 2015 CIT/LIT Job Readiness Program graduates: First Row (left to right): Salina Naima, Debbie Casimir, Abhijay Chawla, Kenny Doherty, Victoria Ortiz, Hailey Ann Willard. Second Row (left to right): Facilitator: Samantha Bolt, Joshua Bernardo, Emma Butler, Harmanpreet Kaur, Bobby McCarthy, Jasmine Navas, Jalycia Saul-Martinez, Facilitator: Jamey Thompson. Third Row (left to right): Manny Dias, Andres Garro-Duplisea, John Leyva, Teig O’Shea, Sam Peixeto, Nicolle Lacerda, Brian Gay, Robert Todd.

By Tom Bannister

The CIT/LIT Job Readiness Program held its graduation ceremony on July 23 at The Arthur D. Healey School.

The 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.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

The Mystic River deserves to have its true brilliance shine. It is an asset second to none—all we have to do is unlock its potential. Most communities have long protected their waterfronts, but in the urban core, our industrial past meant that our waterfronts were embraced as tools of industries and dumping grounds, instead of as environmental jewels that should be treasured and cared for. We’ve begun to undo the mistakes of the past by fighting for the Mystic, as we can see at Baxter Park in Assembly Square, where six-acres of waterfront park have become an inviting oasis within a new urban village. Earlier this month, we took another step in that fight, thanks to our state delegation of Sen. Pat Jehlen and Reps. Denise Provost, Christine Barber and Tim Toomey, who helped us secure $350,000 in the fiscal 2016 state budget for the river.

Most licensees in compliance; 4 establishments cited for selling to minors.

An undercover check to ensure local liquor stores are not selling to minors was successfully carried out recently as the Somerville Office of Prevention (SOP) and the Somerville Police Department teamed up to conduct a minimum age alcoholic beverage purchase law compliance check in Somerville, announced Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) Director Cory Mashburn.

The OPENAIR Circus’ 30th Annual performances will be taking place this weekend at Nunziato Field in Somerville.

By Rebecca Danvers

The OPENAIR Circus presents its annual performances this weekend, July 31 to August 2.

OPENAIR is celebrating its 30th year of teaching circus arts to the youth of Somerville and surrounding communities. This is an excellent opportunity to see cute kids and accomplished teens performing a great variety of different skills as well as to see what your kids might want to take next summer.