(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)

Dear Elected Officials of Somerville,

As a parent of student athletes and a concerned citizen I wanted to share my frustration and disappointment with the lack of progress Somerville is making to address it’s severe large and medium sized athletic field shortage. The city is failing its athletes and citizens that need safe reliable athletic fields to play and lead healthy lifestyles.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Local artists opened their studios and workshops all over the city to the public during the 19th annual Somerville Open Studios (SOS) this past weekend.

In this episode of Fallon’s Daily Toast, I sit down with Somerville’s Mayor, Joe Curtatone. We discuss economic development, sustainability, opioid crisis, green-line extension, sanctuary city, intergovernmental cooperations, waste and more.

Definitions for “Neighborhood Council” and “Neighborhood Advisory Committee” were discussed by the Board of Aldermen’s Legislative Matters Committee last Thursday. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jordan Deschenes

At its meeting last Thursday, the Legislative Matters Committee further discussed the proposed Community Benefits Ordinance, calling for a “meeting of the whole” to include input from all the city’s aldermen. The Committee finished reviewing its current draft version of the ordinance, but still have yet to discuss suggested alterations in a community draft.

The 2017 edition of the Union Square Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday in Union Square Plaza, bringing fresh, locally grown produce to Somerville shoppers.

By Tom Bannister

On Saturday, May 13, Union Square in Somerville will be the place to be. It is the opening day of the 2017 Union Square Farmers Market.

The Union Square Farmers Market is open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday through November 18 in Union Square Plaza.

Residents and civic leaders shared updates and engaged in discussions about the latest goings on in Ward 3 at last week’s ResiStat meeting. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

About 80 to 100 residents attended the Ward 3 ResiStat meeting this past Thursday, May 4, at the SHS cafeteria.

Ward Three Alderman Bob McWatters welcomed everyone and gave an update on various things going on in the ward. Many department heads from the city were present and spoke to the attendees, including Police Chief David Fallon who presented information on crime in the ward and city.

This Friday evening, May 12, at the high school’s Highlander Café, the annual Somerville High Scholarship Foundation fundraiser is once again upon us, with the chance to win $10K CASH, plus up to 24 prizes of $100 each. Tickets for the $10K drawing are $100 each and only 250 tickets will be sold. A great cause serving the students from Somerville. Over the years the foundation committee has raised over a million dollars and each year many students from Somerville High benefit from the generosity of the foundation and those that support it. Contact Eugene Brune or mail a check for $100 to SHS Raffle c/o Joseph Favaloro, P.O. Box 440275 Somerville 02144. Better yet, come on out and have a great night and buy your ticket in person.

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Planning to have a few friends over for a cookout on Memorial Day and want to impress them? Give a bone-in Ribeye a try.

By Donald Norton

The election process for local office holders has begun, and so far on the first day for filing this past Monday the mayor himself filed to run, eight candidates pulled papers for Alderman At-Large, and many of the incumbents in the various wards have pulled and or will do so by the end of this week.

(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)

Dear Editor,

On May 20, thousands of Massachusetts students, parents, and educators will rally at Boston Common in support of public education.  As a mother of a first grader and a member of the Somerville School Committee, I look forward to taking part in this important demonstration to advocate for equitable access to quality education for all students, and to emphasize the need for less testing and more learning.