(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

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville!

Join the Complete Count Effort

We are looking for members and supporting volunteers for the City’s 2020 U.S. Census Complete Count Committee. Because the census affects important issues like federal funding and representation in Congress, we want to make sure everyone is counted. The committee and supporting volunteers will especially work on outreach to under-represented communities, including recent immigrants, renters, low-income households, young children, students, and persons with disabilities. The committee will begin meeting in September 2019 and meet regularly through fall 2020. If you are interested in joining the Complete Count Committee please send a brief statement of interest, a summary of relevant qualifications and/or resume, and contact information to Community Engagement Specialist Taylor Ko at tko@somervillema.gov by close of business Monday, September 9. Please put “Complete Count Committee Member Application” in the subject line. If you would like to volunteer to support the Complete Count Committee please send your contact information and any relevant skills or interest areas (for example, event staffing, outreach, languages spoken) to tko@somervillema.gov with “Complete Count Volunteer” as the subject line. You can also find more information on the City website.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Home Depot store on Mystic Ave. last week on reports of a shoplifter.

Upon arrival, the officers were met by the store’s loss prevention officer, who stated that he observed a man walk inside of the store, pick up a box containing an electric angle cutter saw, then walk over to the outdoor garden section of the store and proceeded to exit, passing all points of sale, with the electric saw.

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on Saturday, August 31, and National Recovery Month in September, advocates and officials in Somerville have united in their call for Somervillians to observe both events in a few simple but powerful ways. From displaying purple lights and ribbons to attending vigils and events, residents can send a message of support and hope for recovery.

Flotilla TV joins Somerville Media Center for Vox Pop at 431 Artisan Way, Assembly Row (next to “Pretzelmaker”). Vox Pop is a pop up community arts space, featuring television productions, podcast recording, and live performances running this summer through August 31. Flotilla TV will be bringing its live improv comedy show YOUR TERRIBLE EX! with NAFFY to Vox Pop for a free show on Thursday, August 22, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

I thought that it was pretty cool back around 1968 when I did something crazy in Davis Square. I rode my bike in the front door of Grants five and ten, through the aisles, almost hitting customers, and down the stairway, and out the back door. I had to then keep peddling my Sting Ray like mad because the store manager was right behind me. I remember riding right by the baby turtles in the pet section, on the way down the dangerous and bumpy steps and out through the heavy door.

Board members appear to be in favor of approving phase one of the ambitious Union Sq. Revitalization Project, but doubts linger on environmental issues overlooked earlier in the process. — Photo courtesy of US2

By Denise Keniston

On August 22 the Somerville Planning Board is set to vote on the remaining site design applications for phase one of the ambitious Union Square Revitalization Project.

So-called supervised consumption sites offer drug users the ability to take advantage of a clean, medically supervised environment, thus eliminating many risks while additionally offering support for getting clean.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced last week that he intends to open a supervised consumption site (SCS) somewhere in the city next year.

“The death toll in this opioids epidemic is too high for us to continue to act like the status quo has any chance of fixing it,” Mayor Curtatone asserted in a public statement. “Supervised consumption sites may offend the War on Drugs mentality of some federal officials, but that mentality has done nothing but make this plague of addiction worse. These are our family and friends. This is in every neighborhood, even if it doesn’t seem that way when you walk around your block. It doesn’t take the form of street crime. It’s mostly quiet suffering behind closed doors.”

132 Perkins Street LHD – before

By Marian Berkowitz

On a crisp, sunny day in late spring I interviewed local developers Elan Sasson and John Topalis, who recently completed extensive work, both restoring and enlarging a former single-family house in East Somerville.

Mural artist Calo Rosa.

The City of Somerville will be getting three new murals in August and September, thanks to a mini mural festival by the City of Somerville and Somerville Arts Council. From August 21 through September 1, three internationally-renowned artists will be painting murals in the East Somerville, Union Square and Central Hill neighborhoods.