Tune in to GovTV (RCN 13, Comcast 22) and Ed TV (Ch. 15) to celebrate Black History Month as they broadcast past programs highlighting Black history. Programs include Martin Luther King Jr. Day concerts and events, a Somerville Museum event honoring the first African-American US Army aviation unit, Haitian Creole (SomerViva) talk shows and events, and more. To find out when these programs will be airing, check out the  schedule at somervillema.gov/TV.

As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate racial disparities in our health care system, Attorney General Maura Healey announced that $1.5 million has been awarded to 16 organizations across the state as part of her office’s new grant program to promote equity in treatment programs and recovery services for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Massachusetts.

The City of Somerville seeks four residents to serve as Commissioners on the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. The Commission strives to coordinate and carry out programs designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, the Commission provides information, reviews policies, and provides recommendations on issues affecting people with disabilities. 

On Sunday, February 28, the Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets (SASS) will hold a virtual public summit focused on the safety issues faced by Somerville’s street users. In just the past two years, four pedestrians were killed by drivers and at least 160 pedestrians and cyclists were injured in crashes with motorists. This is far too many incidents for a Vision Zero city that is committed to eliminating deaths and serious injuries from vehicle crashes.

(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,

The upcoming reconstruction of Highland Ave. is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve safety on one of the busiest streets in Somerville. The City can honor commitments it has made in its ClimateForward, SomerVision, and VisionZero plans by making Highland safer for everyone.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Dunkin’ Donuts location on Somerville Ave. last Thursday on reports of an unwanted vehicle in their parking lot.

Upon arrival, the officers found a motor home parked sideways taking up four spots in the parking lot with the left front tire off the rim.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I can’t explain how sad, mad and melancholy I was when I heard that they tore down the Somerville High School Auditorium (the news was circulating on social media) No! The historic auditorium where so many of us spent time at concerts, plays, lectures, and school assemblies? The auditorium where the great big S hovered over the stage? Some say it’s gone, some say it survived. At this writing I’m still unsure.

Representatives from Somerville’s Climate Forward Ambassador program recently held their kickoff webinar event to inform the public about climate change issues.

By Max Eidelman

Somerville’s Climate Forward Ambassador program hosted its first of four scheduled webinars last Thursday. Hannah Payne and Oliver Sellers-Garcia of the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment led the webinar, which ended with a Q&A session.

By Joe Creason

On Thursday, February 4, the Somerville City Council held its Legislative Matters Committee meeting.  The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss specific provisions within a surveillance technology ordinance passed by the City Council last year. The ordinance, which was drafted to create a policy around the acquisition and use of surveillance technology by various city departments, had revisions added by councilors looking to ensure more oversight of the city’s security.