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A buddy of mine was out hunting for things and stopped by the local Goodwill. This store has been somewhat predictable with when they put out the jewelry. So, my friend usually swings by to see if they missed anything with their research and pricing. And, they usually do.

A basket of watches was put out. He reached in and pulled out a stainless vintage watch. Not too impressive, just a plain watch. He sees the name and it ends in an ‘X’. He thinks TIMEX and tosses it back in.

Plan establishes annual allocations of Community Preservation Act funds

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is holding their annual Community Preservation Plan public hearing on Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the 3^rd floor Community Room at the Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell St. The Community Preservation Plan establishes the annual funding priorities and allocations for the three categories that Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds can support.

Groundwork Somerville will conduct its annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Saturday, ~Photo by Bobbie Toner

Community members of all ages are invited to the free Boil Down event at Groundwork Somerville’s urban farm located at 138 South St. between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16. Sap from local sugar maple trees will be boiled down into pure maple syrup over a hot fire, using a “boiler” built by Somerville high school students.

(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 Joseph A. Curtatone

 It’s probably not something you really think about, but Somerville youth often spend most of their day interacting with City government. Somerville Public School students spend a good chunk of each weekday at school. When they’re out of school, they might participate in an extracurricular activity or athletic program run by the schools or Parks and Recreation or meet up with friends in their neighborhood park. Many students stop by public library branches to check out books, do research, and complete their homework. And, of course, they’re getting around Somerville on public streets and sidewalks and using other infrastructure. Every day we make decisions about City services and policies that affect significant portions of Somerville youths’ lives.

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) recently awarded a nearly $1.5 million multi-year grant to Somerville Public Schools (SPS) to expand access, and align and improve quality of its local early education system through strategic partnerships between the school district and EEC-licensed early education programs in the Somerville community. The Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative (CPPI) targets children who will be eligible for kindergarten by September 2020 through a public-private model that meets the needs of local families. Somerville was awarded just over $283,000 during the first period of the grant (through June 30, 2019), and is slated to receive just over $600,000 for each of the next two years pending project state funding availability. Other CPPI grant awardees were Boston, Springfield, New Bedford, North Adams, and Lowell.

— Photo courtesy of Somerville Fire Department

UPDATE: An arrest has been made in the March 12 fire at the Partners Healthcare parking garage. Somerville Police placed Aniel Wilson, of Boston, under arrest on multiple counts of burning personal property, vandalism, and furnishing false identification.

Wilson was arraigned in Somerville District Court later that same day and was ordered to submit to a mental health evaluation.

By Jim Clark

Somerville Police officers were dispatched to the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store at Assembly Row on reports of a shoplifter in the store.

Upon arrival, the female suspect had just fled with perfume and a journal totaling $147, according to the store’s manager. The officers checked the area but could not locate the suspect.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

As we get ready for a slew of construction and detours, it’s a well-known fact that a lot of us “old timers” lament over “the way it used to be” here in our beloved city. In the name of progress, we say goodbye to the old and whether we like it or not, try to get used to the new changes.

On Saturday, March 2, a sold-out room of more than 70 attendees and nine breweries raised a pint and funds for the Mass Brewers Guild during Meet the Brewers Freshman Class of 2019.

The Mass Brewers Guild is the state’s nonprofit organization that works to protect and promote the interest of craft brewers. The intimate, roundtable style tasting event featured the state’s newly launched breweries and offered ticket holders unique access to brewers.

The number of applicants for affordable rental units in Massachusetts far exceeds the supply and is rapidly growing, one of the many issues addressed by the Section 8 Housing Choice Mobile Voucher Program.

By Jim Clark

A resolution to urge the city’s Congressional Delegation to sponsor the Universal Housing budget amendment was put forward at the latest meeting of the Somerville City Council.

Ward 3 Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen said that the resolution was submitted in collaboration with a number of affordable housing activists in the community, in support of fully funding the Section 8 Housing Choice Mobile Voucher Program.