Please join the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, Ward 2 Alderman JT Scott, and Alderman at Large Stephanie Hirsch for a community meeting on Monday, February 12, to discuss upcoming renovations to the Allen Street Playground. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the Community Room at the Public Safety Building at 220 Washington St. For more information or with any questions about the project, please contact Arn Franzen at AFranzen@somervillema.gov.

Comments and recommendations by Philip Parsons

(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)

As someone who played a major role in determining the organization and voting methods used for the election of the founding board of the Union Square Neighborhood Council, and who worked with others to determine the winners of the election, I submit the following comments:

Over 40 students are participating in the Highland Theatre Company’s production of “Pippin.”

By Emily Blackwood

Highland Theatre Company’s upcoming production of Pippin will be unlike any production of Pippin anyone has ever seen – at least, theatre arts teacher Charles Jabour hopes so.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police received a call on Sunday from the Loss Prevention Officer at Saks OFF 5TH at Assembly Row, reporting that a male party had just stolen multiple pairs of sunglasses, and that the suspect was heading East on Grand Union Blvd., in the direction of Home Depot.

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)

A monthly look at ways to get involved with your city: Don’t just live in Somerville, be Somerville!

Draw 7 Park Public Meeting, 2/5 (DCR Meeting)

The MA Department of Conservation of Recreation (DCR) is holding a public meeting on Mon., Feb. 5, to receive feedback for proposed renovations to Draw Seven Park in Assembly Square. Can’t attend? The meeting presentation will be available after Feb. 5 at www.mass.gov/service-details/materials-from-past-meetings, and written comments may be submitted by close of business on Mon., Feb. 26, by visiting www.mass.gov/forms/dcr-public-comments or by writing to the DCR’s Office of Public Outreach, 251 Causeway Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114. Sign up for the project email list at Mass.Parks@state.ma.us or call 617-626-4973. When/Where: Monday, February 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St.

The SHS Girls Basketball teams played against Beverly High in Somerville Tuesday night, with the Varsity winning their 6th win in a row with a final score of 48–44. Junior Varsity won with a score of 39–36. The Girls Freshman team lost one to Beverly, scoring only 10-28. Check out all SHS sports team’s schedules by going online at www.greaterbostonleague.org.

GLX Constructors, the design-build entity for the MBTA Green Line Extension Project, will initiate its first field presence tomorrow, February 1, with the advancement of pre-construction activities in preparation of full-scale construction beginning later this year.

By Jim Clark

Discussion took place at the most recent regular meeting of the Somerville Board of Aldermen regarding reporting procedures related to unauthorized or bothersome construction activities after hours and during weekends.

Co-sponsor of the agenda item, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, outlined several concerns brought forward by residents concerning a lack of ability to get Inspectional Services personnel to stop these activities at these times.

Jennifer Wolter and Natasha Blazer sport their Respond Inc. jerseys at the event. ~Photos by Emily Blackwood

By Emily Blackwood

Standing up in front of the crowd of 200-odd some people holding a shot of hot sauce, Josh Innocent was starting to have his doubts.

“This seems like a bad idea,” he said to the other willing participants in Respond Inc.’s annual Hot Sauce Tasting Contest. “What do I have to prove?”

— Photos by Tom Rose

By Tom Rose

With a flashlight in one hand and a bell in the other, 16 performers formed a circle in Union Square last Tuesday night, then commenced their composition, pointing their lights at each other and ringing their bells in seemingly random fashion. Other nights, they stood together collecting breath-water in drinking glasses and serving tea to passers-by, both real and imaginary. And though it may have seemed absurd to many observers, to the artists involved there was more going on.