The Somerville City Council Finance Committee of the Whole invites all interested community members to attend and speak at a Public Hearing on the Transfer of City-Owned Parcel, 82-D-1 in the North Prospect Block to the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (City Council Agenda Item #204755). The transfer would mark one of the final steps before the start of development of the first parcel in the Union Square Neighborhood Plan by master developer Union Square Station Associates (US2). The Hearing will take place on Tuesday, September 10, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave.

This fall, Somerville voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots for Mayor, Ward City Councilor, City Councilors-at-Large, and School Committee members. A preliminary election for Mayor and Ward 3 School Committee, similar to a primary election, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10. On this date, voters will be voting to narrow down the Mayoral candidates to two candidates and the Ward 3 School Committee candidates to two candidates. This is a nonpartisan preliminary and all voters may vote for any candidate running for either office. The general election will be on Tuesday, November 5.

Michael Winograd is the co-founder of the nation’s largest Yiddish cultural festival, Yiddish New York, and the artistic director of the world’s largest Klezmer workshop, KlezKanada. He’s also performed with master violinist Itzhak Perlman among many others, including revered Pakistani vocalist Zeb Bangash

Recommendations to be discussed at September 4 City Council Committee meeting

The City of Somerville Open Space Creation Task Force recently released a strategy memo with recommendations on new and innovative approaches for the creation of more open space in Somerville, the most densely populated city in New England. The 4.1 square mile city has been working to achieve its goal to create an additional 125 new acres of open space by 2030, with 105.1 acres left to go.

The City of Somerville is seeking to fill vacancies on three commissions under the purview of the Health and Human Services Department: the Human Rights Commission, the Commission for Women, and the Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Somerville’s boards and commissions offer an opportunity for community members with a range of experience, skills, expertise, and perspectives to share their talents and insights with their community. HHS will be accepting applications for the open positions until they are filled.

On Monday, Sept. 2, City and Public School Offices will be closed for the holiday. Trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup will be on a one-day delay all week. To check your trash pickup schedule, please visit: somervillema.gov/trash. For more info, please contact 311 (617-625-3311).

The Somerville City Council Committee on Land Use, and the Somerville Planning Board, invite all interested community members to attend and speak at a joint Public Hearing on the adoption of a new Somerville Zoning Ordinance. The Hearing will take place on Thursday, September 19, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. The Land Use Committee of the Whole and the Planning Board will hear testimony on the proposed new ordinance. Written public comment will also be accepted as noted below.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The Somerville Road Runners presented the 7th annual Race to the Row, a series of events through Assembly Square and along the Mystic River, in Assembly Square in Somerville on Sunday, August 25.

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Unlike other squares in the city, Davis Square is unique and has a distinct vibrant culture not replicated elsewhere. Most cities have a downtown, Somerville does not. Instead it has a number of multi-street intersections we call squares. But Davis Square comes close to being our ‘downtown’.

— Photo courtesy Google Map

Tree removals on private property now require permits (with some exceptions)

On June 27, 2019, the Somerville City Council passed a Tree Preservation Ordinance (Ord. #2019-15) with new requirements for the removal of trees on private property. The ordinance went into effect on August 1, 2019, and incorporates and updates the prior City of Somerville Tree Ordinance, which set requirements only for the removal of public trees.