Update: Due to forecast— Yart Sale has officially moved to the rain date of Sunday, August 15

Did your children make tons of macaroni artwork during quarantine? Did you find the postcard collections from your great-, great-, great-grandparents in your basement? Or are you an artist making lots of artwork and need to sell or exhibit? Yart Sale is an opportunity for you to showcase or sell artwork from the comfort of your yards, driveways, and porches and for art lovers to browse new work and maybe pick up a new piece or two. Think of it as a yard sale for art.

By Rachael M. Hines

For those looking to spend time outdoors while the weather remains warm, Groundwork Somerville welcomes all to enjoy Somerville’s very own Urban Farm at 138 South St. Currently, the space is open for volunteers, picnics, or touring from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on Saturdays between July and October.

The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 23, and conclude on or around Saturday, September 4. This procedure requires the flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of the hydrant.

City also ahead of schedule to fully fund retirement system

For the second year in a row, the City of Somerville’s Retirement Board was ranked first out of 106 retirement boards in the state on its investment returns. In 2020, the city’s retirement investment portfolio earned a 27.59% annual rate of return. This distinction is part of a longer trend of high investment returns. The Somerville Retirement Board has a five-year investment return of 13.77% and a 10-year investment return of 11.31%, both of which also rank first among Massachusetts retirement boards.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

This article was first published on April 2, 2008.

A lot of us remember going to the drive-in to see a movie. I can even recall going there in my pajamas. I remember my Uncle Joe Galli taking us to the drive-in to see The Blob. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories and we often bring it up at family gatherings. As soon as one of us kids got their license to drive, it was an overstuffed junk-box, full of your buddies, heading to the drive-in.

Board of Health to review indoor masking order at August 19 meeting

With the fast-spreading Delta variant driving an increase in COVID-19 cases both locally and nationally, the City of Somerville is moving to require all people wear face coverings in indoor public settings regardless of whether they have been vaccinated against the virus. At their upcoming meeting on August 19, the Board of Health will consider a mandate with a potential immediate start date of Friday, August 20. As with previous masking orders, children under the age of two would be exempt.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is offering free transportation to help older adults and adults with disabilities cope with heat waves.

SCES is providing round-trip cab rides to local cooling centers for older adults during heat waves this summer. To arrange for transportation, call 617-628-2601 and ask for the Transportation Department.

Several Days of Dangerous Heat and Humidity Expected; Here’s How to Stay Safe in Somerville

Public swimming facilities are at maximum availability through the hot summer season, bringing relief to locals looking to stay cool. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

Several days of oppressive heat and humidity are forecasted for the Boston area through at least Friday, August 13, and residents are urged to take precautions to stay safe. The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously hot conditions that could feel like 109 degrees outdoors. Review the following heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in Somerville. Most importantly, do not leave children or pets in a vehicle even if the windows are open, drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun, and limit your outdoor activity.