By Joseph A. Curtatone (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) In this first column of the New Year, I want to focus on our plans in 2010 to expand the very successful Shape Up Somerville initiative. But first, I want to comment on something completely different:

Next Tuesday, January 19th, is Election Day in Massachusetts – and it's essential that every Somerville resident turn out to help elect Attorney General Martha Coakley as our next U.S. Senator. I know that, like me, many of you were proud to back Congressman Mike Capuano is the special election primary this past December. And, like me, many of you were disappointed when Mike lost. But even while giving Mike my full support, I never doubted that Martha, too, would be an outstanding U.S. Senator with the all of the skill, experience, courage and wisdom necessary to protect the interests of Somerville and its people.

Martha won the primary because she is well-known, well-liked across the state and because she has been a tough and effective attorney general. But the biggest reason she won is that most Democratic voters were comfortable with the idea that Martha is well-suited to carry on the work of her distinguished predecessor.

Given our all-Democratic congressional delegation, the preponderance of Democratic voters in Massachusetts and the fact that it is Ted Kennedy's Senate seat that hangs in the balance, I'm sure many of you thought that the primary was the crucial test, and that whoever won the Democratic nomination would be assured of victory in the final.

Like me, you probably dismissed the notion that the voters of our state would give Ted Kennedy's seat to a Republican who promises to kill health insurance reform, who thinks waterboarding isn't torture, who doesn't think humans are contributing to climate change, and whose campaign platform consists of cutting taxes for the rich, deregulating banks and corporations, and using the death penalty more often.

Yet at this strange moment in Massachusetts politics, those who embrace these Bush-Cheney-era values are excited, passionate and likely to vote, while the far more numerous moderates and progressives who reject these ideas seem less motivated to turn out on a winter Tuesday. Too many of us seem to think the race is over, and turnout is predicted to be low.

That lack of concern and urgency could be fatal to the national policies and legislation that help Somerville and its taxpayers. Martha Coakley has a strong grasp of the needs and priorities of cities like ours. She deserves your enthusiastic support.

And now that I've said my piece on that important topic, let me shift gears and talk about Shape Up Somerville.

In my January 4th inaugural address (thanks to all of you who joined us for a memorable evening), I noted that SUS had "caught the attention of the national media" by "permanently improving access to [healthy, nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity] of an entire generation of Somerville children – children who will someday be adults whose better health, longer life expectancy and commitment to healthier living will help improve the lives of their children as well. Shape Up Somerville has inspired the whole community to eat smart, play hard, and live well."

The night before the inaugural – on Sunday, January 3rd – SUS was the subject of a CBS News report that noted that our efforts to prevent childhood obesity began with a focus on bringing fresh, local, healthy food in the schools. Since that time we've worked to make our streets pedestrian and bike friendly; to incorporate more access to recreational opportunities; to develop more and better facilities – especially parks – where those recreational opportunities can occur; to implement a wellness program and fitness incentive for city workers; to support the Union Square and Davis Square farmers' markets; and to increase healthy menu options at local restaurants.

In the coming year, we plan work with our partners at Tufts University – and especially program co-founder Dr. Christina Economos – to build on our initial success by creating a set of ten major contests, competitions and activities designed to bring more children and adults into the Shape Up Somerville circle. We'll be reaching out to every neighborhood with what we're tentatively calling the "Mayor's '10 for '10' Challenge."

Our goal will be to promote practical and fun ways that children and adults can meet the US Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly physical activity guidelines.

Shape Up Somerville's "10 for '10" Mayor's Challenge" will help you be healthier in the New Year.

Stay tuned for more details – and please take part if you can.