By Rebecca Danvers

Two grants from the Tisch College Community Research Center at Tufts University (TCRC) will support upcoming research projects in Somerville and Medford, continuing the TCRC’s decade of work backing studies that contribute to Tufts’ host communities. This year’s $25,000 in grant awards will fund studies that seek to evaluate local residents’ access to healthy food in Somerville and gauge the efficacy of a series of community-based discussions in Medford.

Apply now for the 2017 Urban Ag Ambassador Program
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The Mayor’s Urban Agriculture Initiative grew out of the city’s effort to further encourage the growing of healthy, local foods. The initiative includes the passage of the first municipal Urban Ag Ordinance in New England, the Urban Agriculture Ambassadors Program, the raising of the first city farms at South Street, and other projects which promote growing and eating of local food.

By Nathan Lamb

(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)

February is budget season at Beacon Hill, and that has advocates from across the Commonwealth converging at the Statehouse for Elder Lobby Day on February 27.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) will be there backing several proposals for Home Care and other community-based supports. As an elder services agency, we know that the vast majority of older adults prefer to live in their homes as long as possible, and we also know it’s crucial that lawmakers hear from constituents about how important these programs are.

The Master Land Disposition Agreement (MLDA) between the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) and Union Square Master Developer US2 was submitted to the SRA for review at their meeting on February 16 and is scheduled for consideration at a special meeting to be announced. A copy of the MLDA is available online at www.somervillema.gov/US2MLDA.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Mayor Joe Curtatone, Jimmy Del Ponte and the Moonlighters sang to Somerville seniors at the Alewife VNA and Little Sisters of the Poor last week to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Blood and platelet donors needed now

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors throughout Massachusetts to give blood or platelets following recent winter storms, which have compounded a severe winter blood shortage.

By Daniel Sullivan

(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)

Recently I attended a forum on the future of public transportation in Massachusetts. It was held at 50 Middlesex Ave in Somerville. I was invited by State Senator Pat Jehlen. So I’ve been making friends in high places. Not really a big deal.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(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)

It seems that Punxsutawny Phil – the groundhog who predicts whether we’re going to have a long winter or early spring – was right earlier this month when he saw his shadow, prompting a declaration of more winter weather. Like many years before it, this February has brought with it a batch of snow storms that has tested our snow policies and procedures – and of course, everyone’s patience.

Unstraight welcomes all to their shows who welcome all.

Setting the record straight
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By Louise Carpenter

According to the band Unstraight’s lead singer, manager, and Somerville resident Madeleine Ashley: “Unstraight formed through a blaze of social media and dyke marches and community. Their music, simultaneously introspective and ringing with clarity, beckons you to connect and wills you to ponder the tenuous nature of relationships and all that you want from life. Unstraight coaxes the wishes from your imagination, channeling them into instruments and amplifiers, pouring sound it into your ears until you’re moving your body not knowing why.”

Somerville Police Detectives Derrick Dottin and Kilsarys Leguisam were awarded citations of merit on Monday in recognition of their efforts to capture escaped convict James Morales.

By Jim Clark

On Monday, law enforcement officials, along with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, honored the Somerville detectives and state troopers who captured James Morales, who escaped from a detention facility in Rhode Island in December, 2016.