Yard waste, heating bills, summer jobs … and PorchFest!
Articles
EDITORIAL: NOW EVEN LESS NEWS IN SOMERVILLE
DigBoston goes digital-only, yet another reason to donate to the Somerville Media Fund
https://binjonline.com/2022/04/19/editorial-now-even-less-news-in-somerville/
ARTS AT THE ARMORY CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY WITH NEW CO-DIRECTOR
Jess White promoted to chief operating officer
https://binjonline.com/2022/04/19/arts-at-the-armory-continues-its-journey-with-new-co-director/
Shorts
Yard Waste Pickup Begins Today
Now we know it’s really spring: Seasonal yard waste pickup resumes today.
Yard waste should be put out on your normal trash pickup day in a paper bag or a trash barrel that has a “Yard Waste Only” sticker on it. Stickers are available for free at the DPW building (1 Franey Rd.) or at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.). Stickers can also be mailed to residents. Request yours by dialing 311, emailing 311updates@somervillema.gov, or calling (617) 666-3311.
Yard Waste Pickup calendars are also included in the Environmental Service Guide, which is posted on the city’s website and will be mailed to all Somerville households later this month.
Remember: All waste pickup is delayed by one day this week thanks to the Patriot’s Day holiday.
Worrying about next winter’s heating bills?
The deadline is approaching to request help from the City of Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program, which offers subsidies to Somerville as well as Cambridge residents.
Renters and homeowners in both cities are eligible to apply for help paying your oil, gas or electric heating bills next winter, if you meet federal income guidelines, based on your recent four-week gross income.
The staff at the Fuel Assistance Program can also help you find resources to reduce your utility costs now and all year long. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps residents pay water and sewer bills. You may also qualify for free air sealing and insulation, free heating system replacement, and more energy-related improvements.
If you are in a no-heat situation or facing immediate utility shutoff, fuel assistance can be provided within 24 hours to eligible applicants.
Households that include non-citizens may be eligible for assistance. The program provides information in Spanish, Portuguese and other languages.
The deadline to apply for winter heating fuel assistance is Friday, May 13. Visit cambridgema.gov/fuelassistance or call 617-665-6234 for more information.
Wanted: Students to Work for the City
The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program gives Somerville high school students the chance to work in the community and learn new skills.
Jobs are available in Parks and Recreation, Public Works, and other City departments. Some positions can be done remotely or in a hybrid of remote and in-person work. Job training opportunities are available.
Students who are hired can expect to work 20 hours for approximately six weeks starting in late June or early July. All positions pay the City’s living wage rate, which is currently $15.46 per hour.
Applications are due at 12:30 p.m. on April 29. To apply, visit somervillema.gov/summerjobs.
Time to Get the Band Back Together
PorchFest is back to its regular springtime schedule, after several years of pandemic-related disruptions. PorchFest 2022 is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 (rain date Sunday, May 15), and registration is now open for musicians who want to take part in this city-wide, decentralized performance event.
Organized by the Somerville Arts Council, PorchFest is a showcase for Somerville’s musical talent. Any musician with a porch or other outdoor performance space in Somerville, or a resident willing to host them at their house, is eligible to participate. Musicians must perform on their own, or their host’s, private property; no performances are allowed in public streets or sidewalks. Bands or hosts should remember to be considerate and respectful by informing neighbors of your intent to perform.
As in prior years, porches located in the western section of the city (west of Willow) will perform from noon-2 p.m.; Central (from Willow to Central) from 2-4; and East (east of Central Avenue) from 4-6. As the date approaches, participants and audience members can go to the PorchFest map to plan their musical journey for the afternoon.
For more information and to register, visit somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest.
Image: Signs in Davis Square, Somerville, April 2022. Photo by Jason Pramas. Copyright 2022 Jason Pramas.
This article is syndicated by the Somerville Wire municipal news service of the Somerville News Garden project of the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism.
All Somerville Wire articles may be republished by community news outlets free of charge with permission and by larger commercial news outlets for a fee. Republication requests and all other inquiries should be directed to somervillewire@binjonline.org. Somerville Wire articles are also syndicated by BINJ’s MassWire state news service at masswire.news.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SOMERVILLE WIRE EMAIL NEWSLETTER: https://eepurl.com/hpBYPv
Check out all our social media here: https://linktr.ee/SomervilleWire.
Linda Pinkow is a reporter for the Somerville Wire. She is also a development consultant for the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism.
