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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne visits The Greater Somerville Homeless Coalition’s new home in Davis Sq. for a listening session, tour, and ribbon cutting on July 31.

Prospect Hill Tower illuminated in purple tonight to observe National Purple Heart Day. ~Photos by Bobbie Toner

To celebrate National Purple Heart Day, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Department of Veterans’ Services recognized and commemorated Somerville Purple Heart Recipients at Dilboy Post 529.

Also, at today’s event, Somerville was formally named a Purple Heart Community by the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization.

The summer session at Edgerly Education Center ended abruptly last week after it was determined that disruptions caused by renovation work were creating problems for students and school staff. — Photos by Claudia Ferro

By Jim Clark

Last week, parents of students attending the summer session at the Edgerly Education Center were notified that classes would end three days early due to disruptions caused by construction crews working in and around the building.

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.