The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Cities of Medford and Somerville announce the implementation of a municipal dedicated bus lane pilot between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays on  Mystic Avenue (Route 38). Painting and signage along the entire stretch – from Main Street in Medford to Wheatland Street in Somerville – has been completed and the dedicated bus lane will officially become operational on Monday morning, June 21, 2021.

The Somerville Board of Health (BOH) approved a proposal at its June 17 meeting that revises and extends the City’s current residential eviction moratorium for 90 days, until September 15. The BOH also approved ending the commercial eviction moratorium and allowing landlords and their agents to enter residential units for non-emergency reasons, with 48 hours advance written notice to tenants, an opportunity to reschedule where necessary, and provided that COVID protocols are followed. The City’s emergency declaration will remain in effect throughout this 90-day period.

The City of Somerville and its contractor, Simple Recycling, are making several changes to Somerville’s curbside textile recycling service to improve the program for residents and the environment. 
 
Each year, only 15 percent of all unwanted clothing in the United States is donated or recycled, while approximately 14.3 million tons of clothing (or about 80 pounds per person) ends up in landfills. These process adjustments will make recycling textiles even easier and make the “pink bag” program even greener. 
 

The City of Somerville’s Licensing Commission is seeking one Somerville resident to fill a vacancy on the three-member board. Commissioners serve three-year terms and earn a stipend of $3,600 per year. Meetings are held monthly, typically Monday evenings at 6 p.m.

Three virtual town halls are planned for July to further the conversation around opening a supervised consumption site (SCS) in Somerville. Each meeting will have a different focus to address various stakeholder perspectives. Each meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and the schedule is as follows:

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 5 City Councilor Mark Niedergang, and City staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss the proposed expansion and renovation of Somerville Junction Park. City staff will give an overview of existing conditions, present conceptual ideas for potential future uses, and gather feedback from attendees.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 7, at 7 p.m. Register to attend at somervillema.gov/JunctionParkMtg1.  

A heat advisory for the Boston metro region remains in effect through Wednesday evening, June 30, and community members are urged to take precautions. Temperatures of 98-99 degrees are forecast through Wednesday but will feel like 100 to 103 degrees. The National Weather Service warns that due to the high heat and humidity that heat-related illness is possible. To stay safe, we urge community members to review all of the following heat safety tips and ways to stay cool in Somerville.

The Somerville Mobile Farmers Market will begin its 2021 season on July 9. On Fridays and Saturdays until October 16, customers can buy fresh, local produce in neighborhoods around Somerville.

The Mobile Market offers a 50% discount for any customers that need it and accepts cash, debit, credit, SNAP, P-EBT, WIC farmers market coupons, and senior farmers market coupons for payment. Any customers who shop and pay full price help the Mobile Market offer the discount to those who need it.

Here’s where you can find the Mobile Market this summer and fall:

Planning an event in Somerville this summer? Take note: Public Event license applications for events before Labor Day must be submitted online by Friday, July 2. Doing so ensures adequate processing time for the application to be submitted to the City Council before its summer recess begins at the conclusion of its meeting on July 8.