Residents urged to use bug spray when outdoors 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes in Massachusetts for the first time this year. The presence of WNV was confirmed  by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory in a mosquito sample collected on June 29 in the town of Medford in Middlesex County. No human or animal cases of WNV or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been detected so far this year.  There is no elevated risk level or risk-level change associated with this finding. 

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to a Temple St. location last Friday afternoon on reports of an assault.

Upon arrival, responding officers spotted several parties engaged in actively fighting.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

When I was a kid growing up in Somerville in the 60’s and ’70’s, we loved July 4th. We lit off firecrackers and sparklers, plus we got free Hoodsies. The aldermen would go to playgrounds throughout the city and hand out free Hoodsies ice cream cups to all the kids.

The City of Somerville will host its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field on Wednesday, June 30.

Live entertainment at Trum Field will begin at 7:00 p.m. with DJ Brother Cleve playing pop, soul, funk, and other classic tunes followed by Booty Vortex. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:45 p.m.

The City of Somerville FY22 budget was approved by the City Council at their regular meeting on Thursday of last week.

By Joe Creason

The City Council held a regular meeting on June 24. A full Council vote on the final appropriation of the FY22 budget was a major order of business during the meeting. “The Finance Committee met over nine nights in the last month,” said Ward 2 Councilor J.T. Scott.

The proprietors of Premiere Broadway are eagerly awaiting the restaurant’s opening, currently scheduled for mid-July. — Photos courtesy of Premiere Broadway

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

After a tumultuous year that saw a global pandemic, many businesses big and small were forced to close their doors. However, as restrictions loosen around the Commonwealth, many establishments have begun to open and flourish.

The City of Somerville will host its annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field tonight, Wednesday, June 30. Live entertainment at Trum Field will begin at 6:30 p.m. with DJ Brother Cleve playing pop, soul, funk, and other classic tunes followed by Booty Vortex taking the stage at 8:00 p.m. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. While fireworks attendees are not required to wear masks, anyone who is not fully vaccinated is advised to wear one whenever they are in a crowd. To ensure public safety and pedestrian access to events, traffic and parking restrictions will be in place. For more information, please call 311 (or 617-666-3311), or visit www.somervillema.gov.

Fuji at Assembly is one of the four local restaurants that will be participating in the Taste of Somerville passport addition.

By Bella Levavi

Food festivals can be fun for all in attendance, but while restaurants are extremely short staffed this summer it is unreasonable to bring restaurants to the street for Taste of Somerville and Cambridge. Welcome to: Taste of Somerville passport addition.

By Joe Creason

The Urban Design Commission met on June 22 to review and discuss plans for upcoming developments and projects within the city.

A high-rise development is being constructed right off of the bustling thoroughfare at 15 McGrath Highway. Plans for this development, managed by real estate firm Leggat McCall Properties, have been reviewed by the commission before and adjustments were made with the intention of bringing a smooth transition as well as a pedestrian feel to the highway-attached development.