By The Times Staff

As another year passes, we look back now and highlight some of the stories of particular interest that we covered in 2018.

The year began in Somerville with newly elected members sworn in on the Board of Aldermen. The new members included Alderman At-Large Stephanie Hirsch; Alderman At-Large Wilfred N. Mbah; Ward 2 Alderman Jefferson Thomas (“J.T.”) Scott; Ward 3 Alderman Ben Ewen-Campen; and Ward 4 Alderman Jesse Clingan.

Shortly thereafter, the ominous warnings about an impending so-called “bomb cyclone” became a reality, as a record-breaking winter storm of massive proportions lashed the East Coast with freezing winds and a thick lathering of snow all along the eastern seaboard.

Over the previous two weeks, more than a few records were broken, with the coldest stretch of cold weather recorded in over 100 years, the temperatures measured the coldest since 1896. At one point, wind chills of -28 were registered in Boston. Tides were pushed higher as well as a result of the tremendously high winds that hammered the shoreline.

About a foot of snow accumulated across the Greater Boston area, including Somerville. Cleanup crews were kept busy throughout the storm, struggling to keep roadways and footpaths clear for residents.

Later in January, modular classrooms were delivered to the high school grounds as part of the preparation for the renovation work that began in earnest during the summer months.

The buildings were actually a series of modular constructions, or factory produced pre-engineered building units, that were delivered to the high school on December 26 of the previous year. Fused together, these modular constructions served as a temporary space to house to all of the English Department, as well as parts of the Foreign Language and Social Studies Departments.

Teachers and students took up residence in the modular classrooms right after the April school break due to demolition of the C Wing that began in June, after the school year had ended.

Also in January, it was announced that Amazon had winnowed down its candidates for hosting their second headquarters from 238 to a final 20, with the Boston Metro area – which includes Somerville – making the cut.

Both Boston and Somerville made individual proposals to the online retail giant, and both ended up among the 20 contenders set to be scrutinized for the final phase of site selection. Amazon announced that it would be making its final decision later in the year.

Mayor Curtatone waxed enthusiastic after hearing the news, saying in a statement on Facebook, “I know Amazon can be a polarizing issue, but the Somerville bid has made the final 20 cut for HQ2. We put in a different sort of bid – emphasizing why they should want to be part of what we’re doing rather than the other way around, and tying in public transit. Obviously that caught their attention.”

Ultimately, Amazon passed on choosing the Boston area, a decision that disappointed some, but gave a sense of relief to others who had become wary of what the development might mean for the region in the long term.

A controversial request by the Mayor’s Office that the Somerville Board of Aldermen consider and approve a home rule petition authorizing a real estate transfer fee was presented to the Board of Aldermen in February.

After much debate and redrafting, the home rule petition was eventually submitted at the state level.

A change in the name of Somerville’s legislative representatives from Board of Aldermen to City Council was also discussed in February.

An order was put forward and approved in the Board of Aldermen asking that the City Solicitor prepare a home rule petition to make the name change official. Again, the home rule petition was submitted to the state for consideration.

On February 28, students at Somerville High School staged a walkout to protest what was described as a lack of competent gun control laws across the country. More than 400 students left their classrooms at 8:17 a.m. and walked outside where 17 minutes of silence was observed to pay homage to the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, and address the epidemic of mass shootings in the United States.

After the moment of silence, the students marched and chanted while holding signs, then proceeded to a nearby field where they flooded the inboxes of state representatives across the nation, demanding immediate action on the gun control issue.

Conway field and playground was shut down, after risk assessors from Watson & Sampson, an environmental service company, along with The City of Somerville Parks and Recreation, examined soil solutions around the playground. After primary data examination, only two sections of the park appeared to contain surface-level amounts soil with amounts of lead and poly-chlorinated biphenyls that exceed state regulatory limits.

Months later, it was determined that enough contaminants existed to warrant a complete shutdown of certain sections of the park for cleaning up purposes. It was estimated that the full cleanup could take as long as four years or more.

In May, a coalition of community and labor groups calling itself Somerville Stands Together marched to City Hall, where they held a rally asking civic leaders to show more support for residents and their employment needs.

After arriving at the City Hall Concourse, representatives from the coalition spoke to the assembled crowd of supporters who had gathered alongside city officials, addressing the concerns and grievances of the group.

Coalition representatives were also invited into the Board of Alderman chambers to address the Board at its latest regular meeting and further explain their present agenda and future goals.

A resolution was introduced and passed at a June meeting of the Somerville Board of Alderman opposing the controversial zero tolerance policy imposed by the national administration which separates children from their parents.

Speaking in favor of the resolution, Ward 1 Alderman Matthew McLaughlin said, “Today is a day of the week, so it’s a friendly reminder that the Trump administration is out of control, and that nothing that is happening here is normal. I was asked to submit this resolution and I support it. The zero tolerance policy, which I’m sure everyone has seen, children separated from their parents, put in cages like animals. Boston Cardinal O’Malley has said that this is morally unacceptable, and this is just a reminder that the new normal is not normal or acceptable.”

A documentary film, Runnin’, was made about Somerville opioid crisis.

The city announced that there would be motor vehicle and pedestrian detours as a result of a year-long Broadway Bridge closure in connection with the Green Line Extension project.

Many area residents and those who commute through the area on a daily basis expressed fear and anger at what was being regarded as an imminent disaster in the making.

Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang said that options were being considered that may alleviate some of the anticipated disarray, particularly in the Ball Square area. A delay in the bridge closure until later this year provided some extra time to consider these options.

In September, the Somerville Police Department investigated the removal and defilement of American flags planted in the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, and the desecration of the Veteran’s Monument to those who gave their lives in World War II in defense of their country. The perpetrator of the incident turned himself in to authorities after a widespread investigation was launched to find him.

Also in September, the Board of Aldermen put forward nine orders and resolutions directly relating to the the city’s tree population, which has declined significantly in recent years, mostly due to the effects of building development.

Members of Somerville Stands Together (SST) held a rally in Union Square in October, openly calling for the City of Somerville to require developer US2 to agree to a Community Benefits Agreement that includes a Project Labor Agreement, to make sure that, as they put it, Somerville benefits from the planned projects.

Demonstrators carried signs and chanted slogans such as, “Somerville stands for affordable housing! Somerville stands for good, union jobs! Somerville stands together!”

In December, the Board of Health voted to restrict the sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes) and menthol cigarettes in Somerville, citing concerns on the health impacts of youth. The new regulations will forbid such products from being sold in retail outlets accessible to those under 21 years of age, starting on April 1, 2019.

It was a busy and eventful year in Somerville and its surrounding communities. We can certainly look for more of the same in the year to come.