Somerville Arts Council's ArtBeat is back in person this summer to celebrate pop art! This year's theme is “Pop!” so expect to see pops of color, eyepopping art installations, and a whole lot of surprises popping up all over Davis Square. This year's event will be held on Saturday, July 10 (rain date July 11) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout Davis Square, with a kickoff parade featuring the School of HONK starting at 10:30 a.m. ArtBeat is free, but with a suggested donation of $3 you will get an ArtBeat dog tag.

The City of Somerville’s Veterans’ Commission on Monuments, Memorials, and Dedications Committee is accepting applications for five positions - three to be filled by veterans. The commission will have charge and control of the construction of any memorial for a veteran and will have custody and care of the memorial after its construction. The commission, which will also develop policies and procedures to follow for dedicating memorials, will meet when needed to name these assets. Meetings are expected to begin in the fall of 2021.
 

Sunday, July 11, is Somerville Vaccine Day. Three mobile clinics will be set up around the city to provide COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 12 or older. Clinics will be held at Holy Bible Baptist Church, 64 College Ave.; St. Anthony’s Parish, 12 Properzi Way; Brazilian Presbyterian Church, 212 School St. 

The clinics will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all three locations, allowing people to get a free vaccine, while enjoying free food, music, and a gift.

The City of Somerville is seeking four community members to serve on a selection committee for the next Chief of Police of the Somerville Police Department (SPD). The next Chief will lead the department through an important moment in policing in Somerville, as the work of the reimagining policing process – led by the Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) Office under the leadership of RSJ Director Denise Molina Capers – will be in full swing. 

The Police Chief Selection Committee (PCSC) will be responsible for: 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Somerville Public Library West Branch planned for Monday, July 12, has been postponed. A new date will be announced as soon as possible. 

The Central and East branches will open for in-person visits on July 12, and the West will continue to offer curbside services until further notice. We look forward to celebrating with you soon!

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, and the Union Square Community Design Team invite you to participate in a series of community engagement pop-ups to inform the future of Union Square’s public spaces.

The Community Design Team is a diverse group of 11 Somerville residents leading the research and engagement effort for the Union Square Plaza and Streetscape Redesign project. This team is using participatory action research (PAR) to engage community members to imagine and share new ideas for Union Square. 

The newly renovated and restored Somerville Public Library West Branch at 40 College Avenue will open for indoor services Tuesday, July 13, welcoming visitors into the historic site for the first time since it closed for construction in early 2019. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration will be held at a later date.

The SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) will be hosting an event to celebrate and recognize the contributions of immigrants in our community on Friday, July 23, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross Street. There will be a special focus on the ways in which immigrant workers and families have played a vital role on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery process.

The City of Somerville and Somerville Public School Career in Technical Education is seeking applicants to serve on the FabVille Advisory Board. The advisory board will help guide the strategic development and growth of FabVille, Somerville’s digital fabrication lab that will relaunch this fall in the new Somerville High School. FabVille aims to complement the collection of professional, semi-professional, and artist-focused spaces already available in and around Somerville.

As part of ongoing efforts to overhaul planning and zoning in Somerville, the City has launched a new web-based permitting portal for proposals that require approval by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals.