(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

Taking a closer look at notable city data—and interesting numbers. 

50%: This summer marks the halfway point on construction of the new Somerville High School and the first portion of the new building is on schedule to open at the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year. In 2016, 72% of voters approved a ballot question that allowed the City to fund the construction of a new high school. Somerville High School was made up of a series of additions that had been built from 1852 through 1986, which meant it had not been designed for modern educational needs and presented a variety of challenges around maintenance and heating and cooling. 

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The 16th Annual National Night Out takes place on Tuesday, August 6, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Foss Park, featuring first responders and vehicles, community partners, performances, family fun, music and food.

By Jim Clark

While performing traffic enforcement on Monday, July 29, parked at Broadway at Kenneson Rd., a public way with a 30 mph posted speed limit, a Somerville Police officer’s attention was drawn to a vehicle that was following another car, dangerously close.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Every time I drive by Somerville High School my memory starts going wild. The term “old school” takes on a new meaning now that the “old school” is mostly gone. I can’t help but think about my days at Somerville High in the hectic late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Mayor Joseph Curtatone’s “Old Time” Senior Picnic took place on Wednesday, August 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Powder House Park. It was a wonderful day of food, dancing, music, entertainment and prizes galore.

City staff updated the public on the current state of planning for construction of traffic mitigation and safety measures for Powder House Blvd.

By Jim Clark

The City of Somerville held a community meeting at the West Somerville Neighborhood School where developments in the planning and implementation of construction plans for Powder House Blvd. were presented to the public.

Residents and city officials celebrated the reopening of the newly renovated Capuano Field last week by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony.

By Melissa Rosales

On Friday, August 9, Mayor Joseph Curtatone cut a red ribbon to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Capuano Field, located at 150 Glen St. The project was carried out with the cooperation of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), Ward 1 City Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, The Mayor’s Office, East Somerville Community School committee, and Somerville Youth Soccer League.

(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.)

I don’t know if 48 years of living on Powder House Blvd. constitutes a “study”. Traffic traveling from North Street along the boulevard in the evening, 25% of it turns left onto Curtis Street causing a back-up because cars traveling from Powder House Circle don’t allow them to turn. Traffic on Curtis Street, from Tufts, has to turn left or right but traffic from Teele Square mainly goes straight not allowing cars to turn left. If you change signals so the one lane of traffic is moving at a time, this would allow traffic to keep moving. You would have 3 lanes of traffic stopped at any one time. You would also have a pedestrian signal allowing safe crossing.

Somerville poet and State Representative Denise Provost will read from her new collection of poetry, Curious Peach, in the Central Library auditorium, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville, on Thursday, August 15, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

By Marshall Collins

Last month, the Somerville Planning Board approved an application by US2, the city’s master developer partner for Union Square, to begin the revitalization of the area with its first LEED Gold project, a seven-story life science building. This week, US2 will come before the board once again as it determines whether to approve the proposed LEED Gold residential buildings and civic open space that will ensure equal access to Union Square’s future Green Line station.