Activities for all ages planned including Earth Day story times, a meatless cooking class, and the Annual Spring Clean-Up

Join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Somerville’s SustainaVille program, and other city and community partners in celebrating the Third Annual SustainaVille Week. From Saturday, April 27, through Saturday, May 4, there will be a variety of activities for all ages celebrating sustainability and climate action. Activities include an Arbor Day and Gardening Fair, a self-guided citywide sustainability tour, and an interactive panel discussion about the changing world of waste and recycling. The full schedule of events is below.

(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 Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Superintendent Mary Skipper

Two of the highest callings in public service are to provide basic equality and to educate our children. Sadly, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has fallen short on both of those fronts when it comes to education funding. In 2015, the State Legislature formed a Foundation Budget Review Commission that laid bare our shortcomings. The true costs of educating special needs students, English language learners, and low-income students have been overlooked. The rising cost of health insurance benefits also has eaten into education funding. Many lower-income communities find themselves in crisis mode.

(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.