Individuals and families in Massachusetts will receive their first state-funded extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment on April 7, following Governor Healey’s signing of a supplemental budget that includes $130 million to create an offramp from the extra COVID SNAP benefits, known as SNAP Emergency Allotments. The Congressional Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 ended these payments as of February 2023 and Massachusetts households received their last federal payment on March 2, 2023.

SHS launched an accreditation process in Fall 2022; Collaborative Conference is the next step in the multi-year process to attain accreditation by regional review board.

Somerville High School Interim Co-Principals Alicia Kersten and Sebastian LaGambina announced today that five educators from outside the Somerville Public Schools district will conduct an on-site Collaborative Conference visit to Somerville High School (SHS) on April 11 and 12. The Collaborative Conference is the next step in the Accreditation process conducted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Public Schools. Carl Johnson, Principal of Plainville High School in Plainville, CT, will chair the Collaborative Conference visiting team of educators. Johnson has had extensive experience in the association’s accreditation process.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Willow Ave. location last Friday evening on reports of a vehicular hit and run.

Responding officers were advised by Somerville Police Control that a motor vehicle struck two parked cars, left the scene, and turned left onto Highland Ave. The vehicle reportedly had a flat tire and heavy front-end damage.

Dr. Geiser was selected by the Belmont Public Schools as its new Superintendent during a vote on March 29th

The Somerville School Committee announced today that Dr. Jill Geiser, one of the five current finalists for Somerville’s Superintendent of Schools, has removed herself as a finalist as of March 29th. Dr. Geiser was selected by the Belmont School Committee on Wednesday evening to serve as the next Superintendent of the Belmont Public Schools. Dr. Geiser had been scheduled to visit SPS and participate in a public School Committee interview on Tuesday, April 4th.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I’m a big coffee drinker. I hang around with a lot of people who also enjoy a good cup of coffee. I drink coffee basically all day. I make it myself with K cups or instant but the day usually starts out with a nice large Dunkin’s coffee.

The Somerville City Council recently passed ordinances bolstering the rights of individuals in non-traditional relationships.

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council on Thursday, March 23, ordinances amending section 1-4 of the Code of Ordinance to add definitions for relationship status and intimate personal relationships and amending section 2-326 of the Code of Ordinances, related to the Personnel program were brought forward and passed by the Council.