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Poet Barbara Reynolds writes: “The evolution of the vacant lot between Central Street and Laurel Street in the Union Square area has always caught my attention when I walk by: not only the changes in vegetation that occur each season, but also, the changes in usage. For a while the lot was allowed to grow wild, then, became a storage spot for trucks and building materials. Now, it is to become the location of a six-story luxury hotel. As recently as last summer, I saw rabbits roaming.”

Latest quarterly opioid data shows continued impact of fentanyl in overdose deaths

The rate of opioid-related overdose deaths in Massachusetts fell an estimated 5 percent from its peak in 2016, despite the growing presence of the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a driver of opioid-related overdose deaths, according to preliminary data in the latest quarterly opioid surveillance report released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

On January 22, the City of Somerville community meeting on police-community relations following the “Boston Straight Pride Parade” and Counter-Protest was held to gather additional public comment. The Draft Report on Community Feedback is now available online and open for public comment on the city website here: somervillema.gov/CBIDraftReport. The city is continuing to work on a number of initiatives following these events as noted in the City Response Memo posted here, and will now begin efforts to respond to input gathered at the meeting and elsewhere.

L to R: Director of Nutrition at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) Meghan Ostrander and Director of Outreach and Community relations at SCES Nathan Lamb.

By Meghan Ostrander and Nathan Lamb

Elder services is about providing supports that help people maintain health and independence. The assistance Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) provides is often life changing, and we had a vivid reminder of that through a recent survey that illustrates how nutrition programs support Aging in Place.

City offices and public schools will be closed on Monday, February 17, in observance of Presidents’ Day. Trash and recycling will be on a one-day delay for the rest of the week. Meters and resident permit parking will not be enforced on Monday.

For more information, call 311 or 617-666-3311.

Somerville Media Center offers a set of free Digital Literacy Workshops for anyone wanting to improve their ability to navigate and participate in the digital media sphere. These sessions aim to expand digital inclusion with expert guidance on savvy smartphone use, better internet research, media production skills, graphic design, building a user friendly website, becoming a community journalist, deepening media literacy and critical consumption. These workshops will run from January – June and you can view the full list of workshops online here.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro and Makayla Lancaster

Hosted by Connexion, Hopeful Hearts & Local Arts, a market featuring a curated collection of makers, artists, designers, and small business owners took place Saturday, February 8, at Connexion, 149 Broadway.
In addition, there was be food, music and a raffle. Raffle ticket funds and all donations were pledged to help Connexion continue to be a staple in the Somerville community through its many works.
For more information about Connexion, go to https://connexionumc.org/

Discuss Upcoming Improvements Holland St., College Ave. to undergo mobility, roadway improvements in 2020

Join the City of Somerville, Ward 6 Councilor Lance Davis, and Ward 7 Councilor Katjana Ballantyne for a community meeting on Monday, February 24, to discuss planned improvements to Holland St. and College Ave. The meeting will be held in the Atrium Room of the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. City staff will introduce the purpose and scope of this project, provide existing conditions data, and present concepts for potential roadway improvements to support sustainable, multi-modal transportation and improve traffic safety. Community members are invited to provide input about the conceptual designs and priority locations for different types of improvements.

The students of West Somerville Neighborhood School held their fundraiser to raise money for field trips, including an overnight one to Washington, D.C. School Principal Kathleen Seward challenged them to get pledges from all 50 states and whichever class got the most would be able to tell her which super hero she would have to dress up as. Kate Anaya’s kindergarten class won and they chose Captain America for her.

(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.)

By Joseph A. Curtatone

Voting is one of the most fundamental aspects of our democracy, so it makes sense that throughout history the trend has been to expand voting rights. But along with expanding voting rights, we need to keep looking at how we can make it easier for everyone to participate in elections. There are often barriers that keep people away from the polls, but when we remove them we get broader participation in our democracy.