Adopt-A-Tree: Help Us Care for Young and Newly-Planted Trees

Our city trees provide us with a wide range of benefits: carbon sequestration, oxygen production, providing food and habitat for wildlife, keeping streets cool, and beautifying our surroundings.

The Urban Forestry Committee and collaborators have been developing ways to celebrate our hard-working city trees. If you want to help our trees too, you can Adopt-A-Tree.

Watering is the most important thing you can do to help a newly planted tree. They require 15-20 gallons of water each week between May-October, and even more during hot summer months. This extra care and consideration you give to a young tree is critical for ensuring its establishment and future success.

There is also an option to participate in citizen science work by monitoring insects that visit the tree. Here, you will make an important contribution to our understanding of the important relationship between trees and insects. It is easy, fun, and we will train you.

How to Adopt-A-Tree in 1, 2, 3!

Look for colorful “Adopt me!” tags on newly planted trees in your neighborhood.
Scan the QR code on the tag or visit tinyurl.com/somervilletree to go through the steps to adopt the tree.
Name it, water it, love it, and even receive an adoption certificate!

Staying Safe and Cool in the Heat

With the temperature rising, it is important to take steps to keep cool throughout the summer season. Keep Cool Somerville offers a helpful flyer with tips.

Check out www.somervillema.gov/keepcool for more information. Printable flyers are available in Español, Portugues, Kreyol Ayisyen, and नेपाली.

More heat safety resources

Sign up for 311 alerts from the City of Somerville.
Contact SomerViva and 311 (617-666-3311).
Visit cdc.gov/extremeheat for tips and information.
Visit the Federal Emergency Management Administration website for heat alerts and resources.

Learn how the region is tackling heat resiliency

Join us tonight! Hear from Erin Noël, Community Engagement Specialist for the Office of Sustainability and Environment, at a webinar titled, "Keeping Metro Boston Cool: A Public Forum on Building a Heat Resilient Region" today, May 24 at 6:00 PM. Click here to register.

Click here to view Somerville parks with water features

Many parks and playgrounds across the city have water play features or sprinklers. Stay cool at one of Somerville's Splash Pads:

Albion Park
Chuckie Harris Park
Deanna Cremin Playground
Dickerman Playground
Florence Playground
Grimmons Park
Kenney Park
Lexington Park
Osgood Park
Perkins Playground
Walnut Street Park

Visit the Public Space webpage for updates.

Somerville Water and Sewer Department Conducting It's Annual Flushing Program

The City of Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program began the week of May 9 and will conclude in late October. This annual program flushes pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality.

Flushing will be done on Mondays and Thursdays between 6 PM and midnight to minimize disruptions to water service. In most cases, residents will not notice any changes to their water service. However, some homes may experience a temporary, slight drop in water pressure and/or discolored water.

Residents will be notified via signage when their neighborhood will be affected by the program. For more information, please get in touch with the Water Department at water@somervillema.gov, or 617-625-6600 ext. 5850.

Public Information Meeting for the Somerville I-93 Viaduct Bridge

The I-93 Viaduct Bridge construction meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to hear an overview of the Somerville I-93 Viaduct Bridge Preservation Project, including project overview, schedule, and traffic impacts beginning in June 2022. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments. All residents, abutters, local business owners, and interested commuters are invited to attend.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 25 at 6:00 PM. To register, click here.

Prior to the meeting, if you have specific questions or concerns for the project team, please email I93SomervilleViaduct@dot.state.ma.us.

Announcements and Upcoming Events

Announcements:

Adopt-A-Tree: Help Us Care for Young and Newly-Planted Trees
Staying Safe in the Heat this Summer
Somerville Water and Sewer Department Annual Flushing Program
Public Information Meeting for the Somerville I-93 Viaduct Bridge

Upcoming events:

May 24: Keeping Metro Boston Cool: A Public Forum on Building a Heat Resilient Region at 6:00 PM
May 25: I-93 Viaduct Bridge Public Information Meeting at 6:00 PM
May 25: Boynton Yards Master Plan Neighborhood Meeting at 6:00 PM
May 27: Vegetable Gardening 101 at 12:00 PM
May 30: Memorial Day Ceremony at 10:00 AM
June 1: Meet with a Fuel Assistance Representative at the Council on Aging at 9:30 AM
- For more information, read October's Newsletter
June 9: Office of Sustainability and Environment Virtual Office Hours at 5:00 PM
June 14: Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change Meeting at 7:00 PM

Stay Cool!

Erin Noël, Community Engagement Specialist, Office of Sustainability and Environment
www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville

SustainaVille is a program of the City of Somerville's Office of Sustainability and Environment.
To stay up to date on all City events, sign up for the City's weekly ResiStat Newsletter or check out the City Calendar.

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