Somerville residents Sara Gaeta and Rachel Richardson are training hard to run the Boston Marathon on April 15. Gaeta and Richardson’s goal is even bigger than completing 26.2 miles, though. They are raising funds in support of FamilyAid Boston, a local nonprofit that empowers parents and caregivers facing homelessness to secure and sustain housing and build strong foundations for their children’s futures.

*
John Babin, a thoughtful looking man in his 70s, met me at my usual perch at the Bloc 11 Cafe in Somerville. I have seen him around town for many years, walking around with this broad-rimmed hat and a couple of newspapers under his arms. I had never spoken with him but after our meeting I was glad that I did.

*
Sally Cragin is an award-winning journalist whose arts writing and theatre reviews appeared regularly in the Boston Phoenix, Boston Herald, and most recently, the Boston Globe. She has won two Penney-Missouri Journalism awards for feature writing. From 1999 to 2001, she was the chief drama critic for the St. Louis Riverfront Times. She has also taught critical writing at Harvard Extension School, Webster University (St. Louis), and Fitchburg State University. She also lived in Somerville when it was cheap – those were the days!

Arrests:
*

David Choute, of 106 Arlington St., Medford, April 1, 1:12 a.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on charges of malicious wanton defacement of property, assault and battery, and disorderly conduct.

William Doura, of 24 Crawford St., Randolph, April 1, 1:12 a.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

Marshall M. Sloane, age 92, of Chestnut Hill, MA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 6, 2019.

Beloved husband of Barbara (Gluck) Sloane. Devoted father of Barry R. Sloane and his wife Dr. Candace Lapidus Sloane, Linda Sloane Kay and her husband Jonathan B. Kay, and Jonathan G. Sloane. Cherished grandfather of Marshall M. Sloane II, Jacob G. Sloane II, Charles S.M. Sloane, Joshua B. Kay and his fiancée Brooke L. Patkin, Rachel Sloane Kay and Franklin A. Ross, Tallen K. Sloane, Austin W. Sloane, Tabor F. Sloane and Kensington A. Sloane. Loving brother of Elaine S. Blank and her husband Harry, the late Irene S. Gainsboro, Shirley S. Izen and Melvin Sloane.

— Tufts University Photo

The public is invited to a community update on the status of negotiations between the city and Tufts University for a new Partnership Agreement between the city and the university. Hosted by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the members of the Mayor’s Tufts Partnership Negotiating Committee, the update will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the TAB Building at 167 Holland St.  In addition to Tufts’ Payments in Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT payments”), the Partnership Agreement covers issues related to student housing, partnerships with the Somerville schools, the university’s planning process, and other topics.

More than 60 health and wellness providers will be in Somerville on April 10 for Elder Fair 2019. Elder Fair is a free annual health and wellness expo that’s hosted by Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services.

By Nathan Lamb

Connecting people with programs that support independence and well-being is central to our mission at Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) — so it is with great pleasure that we invite the community to join us at Elder Fair 2019.

Now in its 20th year, Elder Fair is a free health and wellness expo that showcases useful services and government programs for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

Community Journalism 101
Date: Monday, April 8, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at SMC – Class Size: 15 students

About: These workshops are run by Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism (BINJ), in partnership with Somerville Media Center. Participants will learn how to interview people, do background research, write in basic Associated Press style, and cover a range of issues. At the end, we aim to host a network of community journalists and reporters who can work closely on BINJ and SMC content, as well as being able to access other opportunities.

On Monday, April 8, Prospect Hill Park will close to the public for the next phase of the Prospect Hill Park Rehabilitation Project. Preliminary work began in October 2018. The park is expected to reopen in 2020.