After years of holding our collective breath, it now seems as though we can let out a shared sigh of relief that the on-again/off-again status of the Green Line Extension project is once and for all set for on-again for good.

Last week’s news that the Federal Transit Administration has tentatively agreed to approve the funding required to sustain the project through to completion represents the fruits of years of effort to hammer and forge together a workable plan that could be supported by the feds.

From left to right: Washington Post Columnist Tamar Haspel, Global Alliance for the Future of Food’s Lauren Baker, Tufts University Researcher at the Global Development and Environment Institute Tim Wise, Johns Hopkins University Professor of Global Food and Agriculture Jess Fanzo, Oxfam America’s Senior Campaign Strategist Oliver Gottfried, Stonyfield’s Mission Director Nichole Cirillo.

By Margaux Maxwell

“Nutritious food is a human right,” said Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, at the opening of last Saturday’s Food Tank Summit at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, a conference that brought together food policymakers, chefs, farmers, and researchers to tackle questions surrounding the future of food security.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

The Anthony V. Fedele Chapter of the National Honor Society Class of 2017 & 2018 held its Induction Ceremony on Thursday, April 6. The class of 2017 received their National Honor Society stoles that they will wear on graduation day and students of the class of 2018 were inducted into the National Honor Society. Guest Speaker Rae Axner, Class of 2010, spoke of what she has done since she graduated and encouraged students to not only do well in school but to also get involved in causes going on around them that they believe in.

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Somerville’s Ed Meek is an accomplished poet and writer. I reviewed a new collection of his short stories:

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Poet Barbara Matteau writes: “I lead a pretty hectic life with 2 teenagers and a full time job at UMass Boston, but each year, during the month of April, I dedicate myself to writing a poem a day since it’s Poetry Month. I’ve had some poems published in The Dudley Review, The Maryland Review, The Antigonish Review, Fulcrum, among other periodicals.”

The City of Somerville’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, and the City Engineering Department, invite all interested community members to the next community meeting in a public meeting series to discuss construction updates and park design for the upcoming Nunziato Field Stormwater and Park reconstruction project. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m., in the Somerville High School Library.

Arrests:
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Joseph Simon, of 21 Elmwood St., April 3, 10:16 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of failure to wear a seatbelt, motor vehicle lights violation, and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Jeremy Lurie, of 79R Oakland St., Malden, April 4, 7:30 p.m., arrested at Broadway on warrant charges of kidnapping, assault and battery on a family or household member, strangulation or suffocation, and shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan has announced that Alessandro Capobianco, 40, of Somerville, was arraigned Friday in Cambridge District Court and charged with uttering a counterfeit note, possession of a counterfeit note and defrauding an innkeeper under $100 in connection with an alleged attempt to pay a hotel bar tab with counterfeit bills. Capobianco formerly worked as a police officer for the Somerville Police Department.

Somerville youth ages 16 and older are eligible to apply for summer employment within City departments and with local business partners. Applications due April 21.

Attention Somerville Youth! The Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program is now accepting applications for summer 2017, and more than 100 Somerville teens will be selected to participate in the annual job program which pairs young job seekers with opportunities within City departments as well as with private business partners in Somerville. Applications are available through Friday, April 21, at 12:30 p.m., and can be picked up at the Personnel Department in City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Due to high demand, late applications will not be accepted. Eligible students must be Somerville residents, enrolled in high school, and at least 16 years of age. For the first time, this year limited opportunities are available for youth that are at least 15 years of age as part of a pilot program. 

Former Ward 4 Alderman

Walter Pero,  69, Of Somerville and Harwichport, suddenly on April 6, 2017.

Beloved husband of 47 yrs. to Florence E. (Sgroi).

Loving son of Teresa M. Pero of Somerville and the late Walter F. Pero. Devoted father of Sarah M. Petitto and her Husband Jim of North Reading, Emily K. Perrone and her husband Michael of Somerville.