(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Stephanie Hirsch

Children in Somerville are almost twice as likely to be living in poverty. Though Somerville has very few children nowadays (as a percent of the population), we still don’t have enough programs and services to go around. This Community Heroes column features five people who have dedicated their lives to filling those gaps and helping our children grow up to be healthy, happy, and ready for adulthood. In the descriptions below, each person shares his or her thoughts on how to try to help.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville Stop & Shop workers walked out Thursday afternoon after a contract deal could not be reached.

By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer was dispatched to the Nike Factory Store at Assembly Row last week on reports of a shoplifter.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the store manager who said that she observed a man inside the store, later identified as Anthony Dimeco, who appeared to be intoxicated, conceal a pair of shoes underneath his shirt.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Before Somerville was turned into Detourville we were pretty lucky. Occasionally, we would get stuck behind a trash truck, or have to go a different way because of utility work. You may have noticed lately, however, that you have been sitting in a slow moving line of traffic at various points in the city because of Green Line construction detours.

Chris Allen, Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advocacy Group member, presented possible solutions to Somerville’s traffic crisis.

By Denise Keniston

On Wednesday, April 3, members of the public attended and spoke at a public hearing on traffic safety, traffic calming, and the Traffic Calming Petition submitted by the Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advocacy Group and signed by approximately 350 people.

The Parkour Spring Fling Workshop and Community Day took place on Saturday, April 6, at Winter Hill Community School. — Photos by Jackson Ellison

By Jackson Ellison

The Parkour Spring Fling Workshop and Community Day, an event where anyone in the community could give parkour a try, was held at the Winter Hill Community School on April 6.

Parkour is an activity where people go from one point to another, it usually requires people to navigate through or over different obstacles. Over the past few years, parkour has become a popular form of exercise in America.

Attention shoppers and those that have frequented the several food establishments in Ball Square: it’s the second week of the Ball Square Bridge being closed. Letting you know that the square is not that difficult to get to, especially since the bridge has been out. All the businesses would appreciate you still dropping by to shop, eat, or just say “Hi” – it would be very welcome. The Ball Square Café, Sound bites, Kelly’s Dinner – or almost everyone’s favorite, Victor’s Deli – don’t forget Lyndell’s Bakery and, of course, True Grounds is open for business as well. Traffic around the square is good, with plenty of parking. So there’s no excuse for not shopping there.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

By Jack Connolly

US2, the master developer selected by the city to redevelop Union Sq., presented the office lab building for the corner of Prospect St. and Somerville Ave. in close proximity to the Green Line Extension station nearby.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

On Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, the remainder of the Homans building, on Medford St. near the Pearl St. intersection, was demolished as part of Green Line Extension construction. Demolition began at the rear of the building in mid-March and has progressed incrementally since then.

It’s as if, for some of us anyway, that we’ve grown numb to the endless cavalcade of outrages thrown our way as we patiently await the completion of the grand Green Line Extension.

After years of debate, false starts, and massive cost overruns, the dim light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel grows brighter and we can almost see our way to its end.