Christine Barber, State Representative from Somerville and Medford, speaks about Laura’s Bill, the state budget, Covid 19 vaccine distribution, affordable housing updates, and more.

The City of Somerville will not join the Commonwealth in raising capacity limits on Monday, February 8 for certain businesses. Capacity limits in Somerville businesses will remain at 25% or the limit set in the business’s city-approved health and safety plan until further notice. 

Here is the COVID-19 update for Friday, February 5. Please also check somervillema.gov/covid19 for information and resources that are updated frequently.

Join Somerville Media Center’s Joe Lynch and Andre Green, Ward 4 Somerville School Committee member for our school update.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Walgreens Family Company–Pharmacy Store on McGrath Hwy, last week on reports of larceny. Police were informed that the suspect, Terrell Dorest, of Medford,  who was an employee, was in the office with manager.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I grew up in Somerville with second generation Italian parents. My friends were of many different ethnicities and most of our grandparents were, as they said, “Off the boat,” a term I never liked.

Rosa (Masciave) Moccia passed away peacefully at home in the company of her loving family. She was 74. Born and raised in Corato, Bari, Apulia, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Nunzio and Teodora Norina (Fiore) Masciave. She came to the United Sates in 1965, met Vittorio and the two were married. They lived in Somerville before settling in Medford. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Rosa was devoted to her family and friends. She and her husband operated Victor’s Deli in Ball Square for 37 years. Rosa along with her husband worked hard to build what became one of Somerville’s landmark establishments. Rosa cooked and served delicious home cooked meals to their large customer base. Whether they came for Italian specialties or simple American fare, every customer left satisfied and well fed. At home she delighted her family with her cooking and always looked forward to time at the ocean and being with her beloved grandchildren.

The Urban Design Commission is currently considering approval plans for a multi-unit building for 73 Summer Street, which is currently the location of a now closed service station. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Max Eidelman

The city’s Urban Design Commission met on Tuesday, January 26, to approve new rules and regulations, as well as listen to presentations regarding proposed unit developments.

Among the new rules and regulations, which were unanimously approved, is a revision concerning the high-rise district that now allows for 7-story buildings in the affordable-housing overlay. This is intended to “maximize the buildout potential of those buildings to maximize the amount of affordable housing that they produce.” Other revisions were addressed but the bulk of the meeting focused on proposed building developments.

By Joe Creason

On Thursday January 28, the Somerville City Council held a regular meeting via teleconference in accordance with Govern Baker’s executive order in regard to the Open Meeting Law.

The City Council meeting began with a series of remembrances for recently deceased residents. After the memorializations, there were several infrastructure items on the agenda to determine the maintenance of roads, including the installation of conduit and manholes at Somerville Avenue, Prospect Street and Medford Street.