The City of Somerville announced today that it is forming a community advisory committee to assist in the review and recommendation of capital improvement projects for upcoming fiscal years. The committee, which will comprise five community members, will work with City staff to review and provide feedback and recommendations, on behalf of the entire community, on project prioritization.

Join the City of Somerville for the next conversation in our continuing Equity and Inclusion Conversation Series, with a conversation focused on LGBTQ issues.

Hosted by Betsy Allen, Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the City of Somerville’s Department of Health and Human Services, the December 14, 2016, conversation will be moderated by:

Join the City of Somerville for an Arbor Day celebration on Monday, December 19, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall. The event will include a presentation and discussion about urban forestry and an official proclamation read by Mayor Curtatone. Light refreshments will be served.

The City of Somerville is committed to increasing its tree canopy, and to that end, hired its first full-time Arborist this fall. Join us on December 19 to meet City Arborist Vanessa Boukili, and to learn more about the City’s urban forestry efforts.

SOMERVILLE – In its annual tradition, the City of Somerville will kick off the New Year (and Somerville’s 175th Birthday celebrations) on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, with a reenactment ceremony for the 241st anniversary of the "Grand Union" flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park. The ceremony begins at Prospect Hill at noon, however a processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing.

The Mayor’s annual State of the City Address, and mid-term addresses by the President of the Board of Aldermen and the Chairperson of the Somerville School Committee will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9 in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Members of the public are invited to come for this look back at the past year’s efforts as well as a look forward to City and School initiatives in the coming year.

The Community Preservation Committee is considering $2.9 million in requests for historic preservation and open space projects for funding through the Community Preservation Act. Somerville residents are encouraged to share their thoughts about this year’s projects by participating in a variety of ways. Residents may attend public meetings and comment there or later in writing, watch videos of the meetings and comment in writing, and/or read about the projects online and submit written comments. This year, $880,415 in CPA funding is also available for affordable housing projects.

Update

(1/15/17 - 4:17 p.m.)

The suspect in this morning’s attempted robbery in Cambridge, and a subsequent attempted robbery in Somerville this afternoon, has been captured by Somerville Police. Police have confirmed that the suspect in custody is James Morales, the subject of a Mass. State Police manhunt over the past several days.

We appreciate your vigilance and cooperation as this situation unfolded today.

Good evening President White, Vice President Ballantyne, Chair Pitone and Vice Chair Green; honorable members of the Board of Aldermen, School Committee, and Somerville Delegation, Superintendent Skipper; honored guests, friends, family, and staff. And above all, welcome, Somerville residents.

The City of Somerville is seeking community members to serve on a new community advisory committee to assist in the review and recommendation of capital improvement projects for upcoming fiscal years. The committee, which will comprise five community members, will work with City staff to review and provide feedback and recommendations, on behalf of the entire community, on project prioritization. NOTE: the deadline to apply for this committee has been extended to Tuesday, January 17, by 5 p.m.