Partnership with Northeastern University researcher and Stantec to offer early detection of COVID-19 spread in city 

Mayor Joe Curtatone announced today that Somerville is launching a community wastewater testing program to monitor for the coronavirus and provide earlier detection of increased spread of COVID-19. In partnership with Northeastern University Asst. Professor Ameet Pinto of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Stantec, the city’s on-call engineering firm for sewer work and design, the program is designed to reveal COVID-19 hotspots up to one to two weeks earlier than current individual testing. 

Mayor Joe Curtatone announced today that certain Phase 3 Step 1 businesses, including fitness clubs and gyms, may open – with restrictions – in Somerville on Tuesday, September 8. All businesses seeking to open must have a city-approved health and safety plan and meet stringent COVID-19 safety requirements.

By Jim Clark

Last Friday, while traveling on Mystic Ave., a Somerville Police officer queried the license plate of a vehicle directly in front of him, resulting in a report that the plates were canceled and attached to the wrong motor vehicle.

The officer contacted Somerville Police control and asked for confirmation on the license plate status, then activated his lights and sirens.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Somerville in the late ’70’s and ’80’s was a lot different than today. High School was a bit stricter and we had creative ways of letting off steam. Please be assured I have the utmost respect for most teachers and the education system.

As the Labor Day weekend and cooler temperatures approach, residents should continue to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne illnesses. Somerville and surrounding communities are still at moderate risk of West Nile Virus (WNV), and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts. 

Uber drivers pull over hoping to quickly pick up their fares on Beacon Street, but often times they end up sitting for several minutes.

By Denise Keniston

On any given day you can find delivery trucks parked in the designated bike lane on Beacon Street while drivers load and/or unload their cargo. Delivery truck drivers have lost much of their parking space in Somerville as bike and bus lanes have been introduced across the city.

Loyal customers of both Dragon Pizza and Sligo Pub are delighted to have a place to enjoy their favorite fare at their outdoor patio area. ~ Photo courtesy of Sligo Pub

By Rachel Berets

The parking lot behind Dragon Pizza in Davis Square used to be an eyesore – a mess of patchy gray concrete with worn white lines marking the parking spaces.

Now it has been transformed into an outdoor patio serving food and beverages, a COVID-collaboration between Dragon Pizza and their Davis Square neighbor Sligo Pub.

Two popular night spots in Somerville have been forced to close their doors for good due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions on social distancing. Both Bull McCabe’s Pub and Thunder Road have recently announced their immediate permanent closures.

A special birthday celebration took place recently for Susan Barry, a DPW employee who is currently waging a battle against cancer. Her friends and family made sure that they are standing with her all the way as they celebrated with her on her birthday.

September is National Recovery Month. The social distancing necessary to control the spread of COVID-19 can make it difficult for people in recovery to connect with others and access support. Groups like Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, and Herren Project, among others, are offering virtual recovery meetings and resources during the pandemic. We have a list of additional resources at www.somervillema.gov/coronavirushelp.