(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.)

Dear Editor:

Over the past year, it’s been heartening to finally see some broad public concern in this country about the myriad environmental crises we face. The mass die-off of bees and other pollinators across the US — and the threat that die-off poses to our ability to grow some of our most critical crops — should be considered one of the most important of these problems, and one that requires an urgent response from beacon hill and our federal government.

Are you a local artist? Join City of Somerville staff for a forum for local artists as part of SomerVision2040 on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 6:00 p.m. We’ll discuss your concerns and ideas about how the city can better support our arts and creative economy. The forum will be held at the Lowell St. VNA, 259 Lowell St. (park on Lowell St.).

Purple ribbons are the symbol of elder abuse awareness. SCES and the Cambridge Council on Aging will distribute them in June, as part of Elder Abuse Awareness Month.

By Norah Al-Wetaid and Susan Pacheco

Older adults are disproportionately underserved when it comes to mental health issues, and this often contributes to elder abuse or neglect.

The good news is that resources are available to help. But both of these common issues typically fly under the radar, making awareness a key barrier.

Farmers To You will host a seed share and plant swap on Wednesday, June 5, and Thursday, June 6, at their regular weekly pickup sites in celebration of National Gardening Week.

Join these festive gatherings to get to learn about growing food in your own backyard or in pots on your front step.

Seeds from High Mowing Seed Company will be provided to all who attend, and participants are encouraged to dig up plants from their home garden and bring them to the event to swap.

Somerville Media Center and Let’s Talk About Race have announced a symposium entitled White Supremacy: Where Do We Go From Here?

The public invited to a free public symposium that will address the role of white males in dismantling white supremacy in America and beyond.

Music lovers from across Somerville heard Freddie Hubbard’s “Little Sunflower,” “All of Me,” and traditional Irish tunes such as “Swallowtail” performed by SHS students and faculty at the East Somerville Community School auditorium late last month. The occasion was a benefit concert to support the Somerville Homeless Coalition and Save Our Homes Walk Coalition and it was the brainchild of Andrew Blickenderfer, the SHS Orchestra Director.

(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 Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

Taking a closer look at notable city data—and interesting numbers.  This week’s focus is the City’s Nibble program run by the Arts Council.

More than 6,000 attendees: The Arts Council’s Nibble program started in 2012 with a mission to facilitate cultural exchange, encourage cultural economic development, and support immigrant culinary entrepreneurs with opportunities and training and immigrant communities overall through food. It started with just a few small programs. Now, more than 6,000 people attend Nibble’s annual Ignite Street Food and Fire Fest each year in Union Square. More than 800 people have taken one of Nibble’s international market tours, and more than 400 people have taken a Nibble-sponsored cooking class – and counting. Most recently, attendees learned how to make a full vegetarian Ethiopian meal. You could say Nibble is opening doors and minds one dish at a time.

Across Somerville, Wednesday, May 22 was a much-anticipated day for rising Kindergarteners and their families. It was Kindergarten Transition Day, the opportunity for some of Somerville’s youngest learners to visit the schools they will attend in the fall.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to a Powderhouse Blvd. location on reports of a dispute involving damage to a motor vehicle. Officers en route were advised that the individuals involved were Tufts students and that Tufts Police was already at the location.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Recently, I had to go into Cambridge Health Alliances’ emergency room when a close friend was rushed there. Thankfully, they were okay, but then my mind started to go back to my early youth.