City buildings will remain closed to the public beyond Monday, June 1. In the coming weeks, some city offices may begin to reopen for in-person business. More details will be shared as they become available. As a reminder, all city-sponsored and permitted events are canceled through the end of the year. Many city services are still available online and 311 is available 24 hours a day to answer any questions or for service requests. You can find more information on the city’s COVID-19 response at www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Full Circle/Next Wave started the celebration of their  seniors with a Cap & Gown drop off on May 28 –  the principal, assistant principal and teachers caravanned to each of the 16 graduate homes to drop off their caps and gowns, lawn signs and a few small gifts (class of 2020 SWAG).

(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.)

Dear Sir,

Inequality is the root cause of the region wide affordable housing crisis. The efforts by Somerville to remedy the affordable housing is like whack-a-mole, it just keeps coming. We will never be able to build enough affordable housing to satisfy the demand. That’s because we are addressing the symptom and not the cause of the problem. There are two obvious major issues that impact affordable housing that are not being addressed.

The sense of anticipation is rapidly building as we all await and live through the gradual reopening of various businesses and services in the city.

So many of us need and want our haircuts and styling – we’re even willing to go without the blow dry. It’s one of many small steps that will eventually lead us back to business – and life – as usual.

Starting June 3, and continuing through Monday, June 15, the Department of Conservation and Recreation will close various sections within Draw Seven Park in the City of Somerville from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to enable soil surveying work. Additionally, the state park will remain open for the public to visit.

*

Review by Off the Shelf correspondent Dennis Daly

Holding court in his realm by the sea, Ed Meek mines the details from every corner of his kingdom for poetic nuggets that teach and transform. The raw materials include mushrooms and ethnic sensibilities, a mythological crossing guard, family memories, meatballs pertaining to human nature, and barbarian children. Meek is a veritable Everyman (in the medieval, morality play sense). His upwardly mobile progress, as he negotiates around or through annoying obstacles, is toward goodness and evolution’s steady continuity.

*
Lindy Conroe has taught college English for eighteen years and holds an MSW in social work from Boston University. She has worked in hospital and community social work and had her own practice in psychotherapy for many years. She has written two children’s books, Rockafella Jones and the Hidden Treasure and Rockafella Jones and the Journey Home (published by Blue Mustang Press), and has just finished an adult novel, Clearly Hidden.

SHS is highlighting graduates on their @SHS_SeniorSpotlight Instagram account.

CAP & GOWN / GRADUATION SCHEDULE

• Cap & Gown / Gift Bag Pickup is at Somerville High School. Graduation is at Dilboy Parking Lot.
• Social Distancing Guidelines MUST be followed. Masks are required. Please allow 6 feet of distance from others.
• Bring Chromebooks, textbooks, instruments, uniforms & other items to return to Cap & Gown Pickup.
• One automobile per senior at graduation ceremony, or maximum of 5 people per family if walking.
• Graduation schedule 2020

A wonderful birthday tribute took place for a special young man, Julian, who turned five on Saturday. The drive-by entourage for Julian consisted of the Fire Department, Police Department, DPW, family, friends and the mustang club. The tribute started on MacArthur St. and proceeded to Broadway. It was a fabulous birthday present for this young man and another great gesture of the community in Somerville.

(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.)

Dear Editor,

I want to remind people that starting June 1^st, 2020, flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes like Kools and Newports will no longer be sold in Massachusetts. Last Fall, the Fight All Flavors campaign and many supporting partners worked to build grassroots understanding of and support for a proposed flavored tobacco restriction with an explicit focus on building youth leadership and calling out the tobacco and nicotine industry’s targeting of menthol in communities of color.