(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

It may not feel like spring outside, but inside City Hall we have big open space and tree canopy plans that are getting ready to blossom. In a city like Somerville, green space doesn’t happen by accident. Not only are we the most densely populated city in New England, but we’re a former industrial city and we’ve somehow managed to cram 105 miles of roadways inside 4.1 square miles. Now we have community organizations working with talented people at City Hall to constantly push for a greener future here in Somerville.

The Somerville High School Boys Ice Hockey Team was recently awarded the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Educational Athletics Achievement Award, in recognition of their outstanding community service work this year. Aside from their commitment on the ice, Somerville ice hockey student-athletes have dedicated their off-ice time to giving back to the community in a number of ways. From serving veterans and seniors at the Mayor’s Thanksgiving Dinner held at the Somerville Council of Aging, to helping at a local toy drive and running a toy drive with the Lynn Jets that donated toys to the Mystic Learning Center and to the Lynn Community Center, Highlander Ice Hockey players have played an important role in making a positive difference in the lives of their fellow Somerville community members. The MIAA acknowledged their leadership in demonstrating the five pillars of MIAA Educational Athletics at a special recognition event on Wednesday, January 23rd. MIAA’s five pillars serve as the criteria to achieving excellence in a school’s athletic program and include the following:

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event was on Monday, January 28, at the East Somerville Community School.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Dunkin’ Donuts on Broadway last Saturday morning on reports of a fight in progress, possibly involving a knife.

Upon arrival, the officers found a large crowd of people in the parking lot who had stopped to observe the commotion.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Originally published August 26, 2009.

Here is a little Somerville history for you newcomers – some of it is a review from former columns and supplemented with reader comments. It concentrates mostly on the Davis Square, Powder House Park and Ball Square area – because that’s where I have lived for the last 54 years.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

The West Somerville Neighborhood School Winter Concert, Songs of Peace and Kindness, took place on Thursday, January 24,  in the WSNS Gymnasium. All ages performed from the Smile program through Grade 8.

 Alleges violation of RICO, public nuisance, fraudulent misrepresentation, among other claims

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced that the City filed suit today against opioid manufacturers and distributors, including the chain pharmacy Walgreens as a distributor, for their alleged deceptive and illegal promotion of opioids and failure to investigate, report, maintain effective control, and take steps to terminate suspicious orders of the highly addictive prescription drugs.

So-called safe injection facilities offer drug users the ability to take advantage of a clean, medically supervised environment, thus eliminating many risks while additionally offering support for getting clean.

By Jim Clark

An order was put forward at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Aldermen requesting that that the Director of Health and Human Services report to the Board on the feasibility of situating a safe injection facility in Somerville.

Safe injection facilities are legally sanctioned, medically supervised facilities designed to provide a hygienic and stress-free environment in which individuals are able to consume illicit recreational drugs intravenously and reduce nuisance from public drug use.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and law enforcement authorities are requesting assistance from the public on the sixth anniversary of the murder of a store owner in Malden on January 29, 2013.

Shawn Clark was shot six years ago while working at Patriot Skateboards at 804 Main Street in Malden. Since the incident occurred, Malden Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office have continued to investigate the circumstances of Clark’s death. Authorities have made some progress, but no one has been charged in connection with the crime.

The Fifth Annual Chili Cook-off held at the Holiday Inn Boston-Bunker Hill last week brought out the best of chili chefs to compete for bragging rights, while helping to raise funds for Respond Inc.

By Jackson Ellison

Chefs all over Massachusetts came together on Thursday, January 24, at the Holiday Inn Boston-Bunker Hill to compete in the Fifth Annual Chili Cook-off presented by Respond Inc. The goal of the cook-off was to help raise money for Respond’s mission of putting an end to domestic violence.

The chili cook-off had four different awards: best classic, best vegetarian, most creative, and audience favorite.