The City of Somerville Tree Warden invites all interested residents and community members to a public hearing on Wednesday, May 2, to discuss upcoming tree removal as part of the rehabilitation of Prospect Hill Park. The hearing will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Academy Room at the Public Safety Building, 220 Washington St. Any objections to their removal must be submitted in writing prior to or during the hearing. Written objections should be addressed to Somerville Tree Warden, and emailed to: trees@somervillema.gov, or mailed to: 1 Franey Rd., Somerville, MA. 02145.

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It’s been a good month buying and selling and other stuff. I finally figured out the Salvation Army’s 50% off promotion. A month ago, I saw a nice clock there for $100. If you pose with the item, post it on your Facebook page and tag the SA, you get the item for 50% off.

Members of the public are invited to attend the second public hearing hosted by the Board of Aldermen to discuss the updated proposal for a transfer fee home rule petition. The hearing will take place on Monday, May 7, at 6:00 p.m., at Somerville City Hall on the 2nd Floor in the Aldermanic Chambers.

Join the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee (SBAC) on Sunday, April 29, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler St., for a celebration to kick off Bay State Bike Week. The event will feature live music and a special presentation (at 2 p.m.) and book signing by nationally renowned urban planner, safe streets advocate, and author of “Walkable Cities” Jeff Speck. Additionally, more than 20 bike advocacy organizations, businesses, and agencies will be in attendance, including representatives from MassDOT, MassBike, Boston Cyclists Union, and more.

Another harsh New England winter has thankfully come to an end. As the colder time of year comes to a close, allergy season is right around the corner. Itchy and watery eyes, runny noses, coughing and sneezing, and pollen make for a difficult few months for many as we all try to enjoy the outdoors and warmer weather.

— Photos by Bobbie Toner

Aloud, along with Samantha Farrell and Benjamin Cartel, performs at ONCE Ballroom this Saturday. left to right: Charles Murphy, Chris Jago, Henry Beguiristain, and Jen de la Osa. — Photo by Jennifer Esteban

By Blake Maddux

Musicians Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain, who first “got together over a shared love of The Beatles and Oasis,” moved to Boston from their hometown of Miami in 2001.

According to de la Osa, “There wasn’t a lot going on in Miami at the time regarding rock and roll bands and venues.”

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Holiday Inn on Washington St. on reports of an individual who was using fraudulent credit cards.

Upon arrival, the officers spoke to the reporting party, who stated that a man had come into the hotel and attempted to obtain two hotel rooms that were reserved via an internet website, for which he used a fraudulent credit card to hold as a deposit.

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)

Taking a closer look at notable city data—and interesting numbers. 

$500,000 in minibonds available for residents to purchase: Many people are familiar with U.S. government savings bonds as a way to invest while also supporting civic goals. But less than 1 percent of U.S. households have direct access to municipal bonds, which allow you to do the same thing at the local level. To help pull back this process from Wall St. to Main St. (as my colleagues in Cambridge so aptly put it when they put their minibonds on sale), Somerville residents will soon have a chance to invest directly in the future of our community by purchasing minibonds.