On Sunday,  March 12, 2017 at  2:00 a.m.,  turn your clocks  forward 1 hour to 3:00 a.m.

Please check out the latest Somerville Neighborhood News headlines and video segments. Somerville Neighborhood News is a production of Somerville Community Access Television, made by professional journalists, volunteers and staff. We also invite you to become more involved with SNN! You can join as a community reporter, researcher, contributor or in some other volunteer capacity. You can reach out to us at news@scatvsomerville.org. Below are the latest SNN story headlines and you can watch the full news segments online at www.somervillenighborhoodnews.org!

By Louise Carpenter

After implementing a campaign encouraging students to meet with their counselors to consider taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course, Somerville Public Schools saw the number of its students enrolled in AP classes increase by more than 50% in just one year. With nearly three-quarters of the district’s students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals, Somerville also committed to covering 85-95% of the cost of AP Exams, with help from the national nonprofit Mass Insight Education (MIE). Now in their second year of partnering to increase student participation in AP science, math, and English classes, MIE and Somerville High School are expanding access and opportunities for success.

By William C. Shelton

(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)

Somerville has the worst jobs-to-workers ratio and commercial-to-residential-property ratio in Massachusetts. Both accelerate the displacement of long-term residents, while limiting revenues that can support city services. And a tiny commercial tax base means high homeowner taxes.

(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)

Somerville High School, 1954. We weren’t thinking about the future, only about the upcoming Class Day and then graduation. Later, a train would take us on a trip to a more serious place, a place where we’d begin the process of evolving into adults. It was waiting there at the station. Our teachers were aware of the train, they’d seen it come and go many times. So they continued to feed us huge spoonful’s of knowledge, hoping we’d digest enough of it to be prepared for our journey.

By Jim Clark

Members of the Somerville Police Drug Unit received information from a confidential informant regarding someone who was actively selling cocaine in and around the city of Somerville, according to police reports.

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)

Opioid-related deaths have increased dramatically in recent years across the Commonwealth, and Somerville is not immune to this tragic loss of life. In 2012, 698 opioid-related deaths were confirmed in Massachusetts and that number has been steadily climbing since. Last year, 1,465 such fatalities were confirmed and another estimated 514 opioid-death confirmations are pending. In Somerville, the numbers are equally heartbreaking. The city saw an increase from 3 narcotics deaths in 2012 to 21 deaths in 2016. Again, that’s 21 lost, when even one is too many.

Applicants invited; train for accreditation to provide basic pro bono immigration services to fellow residents

The City of Somerville invites residents, employees of Somerville nonprofit organizations, and employees of nonprofits that directly serve Somerville residents to apply to participate in an intensive, 40-hour Introduction to Immigration Law class offered in partnership with The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). After completing the course, participants will be qualified to apply for official Department of Justice accreditation that will allow them to help others with immigration forms and applications while serving as a volunteer or staff member of a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 

Somerville Positive Forces, Junior Edition will be out in force sketching smoking prevention messages on the sidewalks of Somerville.

By Charles Lane

Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) has announced that its youth leadership group, Somerville Positive Forces, Junior Edition, will take to the streets on March 8 to promote smoking prevention messages in a colorful way along sidewalks around Somerville High School as part of the National “Kick Butts” Campaign.