Today was day 1 of the SPD’s Junior Police Academy. Junior Police Cadets got assembled into morning formation and are preparing their Guidon Flags for the week. 

Due to anticipated weather, tomorrow’s Senior Picnic will now be a drive-thru pick up event. Attendees can pull up in front of Trum Field and will be given their boxed lunches to go. For questions, call the Somerville Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319.

The City’s Adopt-A-Tree program is back this year. Newly planted trees can be found around Somerville, and now they need your help. Look for the colorful “Adopt Me!” tags and scan the QR code or visit tinyurl.com/somervilletree to find a tree in your neighborhood and go through the steps to adopt it. Name it, water it and even receive an adoption certificate.

For more information, visit somervillema.gov/adoptatree

Kids from the Mystic Learning Center in Somerville at Fan Pier Marina before their day on Georges Island. — Photo by Kayla Dam

47 kids and teens from the Mystic Learning Center in Somerville set sail for Georges Island last month on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s free All Access Boston Harbor Cruises.

Somerville earns Purple Heart Community designation

Somerville has been named a Purple Heart Community by the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization, joining more than 100 municipalities in Massachusetts and hundreds more nationwide in recognizing those wounded or killed in combat for their country. The Military Order of the Purple Heart awards the designation to cities and towns, schools, teams, and other entities committed to honoring and commemorating Purple Heart medal Recipients and their families.

(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)

By Chris Dwan

On October 7, 2017, Newport Construction and their subcontractor Northern Tree Service removed 38 street trees along Beacon Street in Somerville, MA. They did this with none of the notice or public process required under either city ordinance or state law.

Join in on Saturday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville, for Boston Tap Party for dancers, theater-goers, and lovers of the art form.

The Somerville Fair Housing Commission recently held their regular meeting, largely addressing issues brought before it concerning tenant rights and violations by landlords.

By Yoko Zhu

The Somerville Fair Housing Commission, which advocates for tenant rights and deals with fair housing violations, held their monthly meeting on Thursday, July 27.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

The tree my sister had planted next to the house had gotten too big and we had to have it removed. My sister passed away in 1992 and my boys and I planted a tree where her other tree was. It was around 1999.