Don’t miss the chance to watch Somerville High High School Quiz Show team compete on WGBH Saturday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m. The show repeats Sunday, February 26 on WGBH 2 at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

http://www.wgbh.org/schedule/index.cfm

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Burger King on Somerville Ave. on reports that a customer was trying to pass a counterfeit bill.

Upon arrival, the officers spoke with the manager who said that an employee had received a counterfeit $20 bill from a customer and notified her immediately when the counterfeit pen showed positive and the safe would not accept the bill.

By Rebecca Danvers

Two grants from the Tisch College Community Research Center at Tufts University (TCRC) will support upcoming research projects in Somerville and Medford, continuing the TCRC’s decade of work backing studies that contribute to Tufts’ host communities. This year’s $25,000 in grant awards will fund studies that seek to evaluate local residents’ access to healthy food in Somerville and gauge the efficacy of a series of community-based discussions in Medford.

Apply now for the 2017 Urban Ag Ambassador Program
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The Mayor’s Urban Agriculture Initiative grew out of the city’s effort to further encourage the growing of healthy, local foods. The initiative includes the passage of the first municipal Urban Ag Ordinance in New England, the Urban Agriculture Ambassadors Program, the raising of the first city farms at South Street, and other projects which promote growing and eating of local food.

By Nathan Lamb

(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)

February is budget season at Beacon Hill, and that has advocates from across the Commonwealth converging at the Statehouse for Elder Lobby Day on February 27.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) will be there backing several proposals for Home Care and other community-based supports. As an elder services agency, we know that the vast majority of older adults prefer to live in their homes as long as possible, and we also know it’s crucial that lawmakers hear from constituents about how important these programs are.

The Master Land Disposition Agreement (MLDA) between the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) and Union Square Master Developer US2 was submitted to the SRA for review at their meeting on February 16 and is scheduled for consideration at a special meeting to be announced. A copy of the MLDA is available online at www.somervillema.gov/US2MLDA.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

Mayor Joe Curtatone, Jimmy Del Ponte and the Moonlighters sang to Somerville seniors at the Alewife VNA and Little Sisters of the Poor last week to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Blood and platelet donors needed now

The American Red Cross is urging eligible donors throughout Massachusetts to give blood or platelets following recent winter storms, which have compounded a severe winter blood shortage.

By Daniel Sullivan

(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)

Recently I attended a forum on the future of public transportation in Massachusetts. It was held at 50 Middlesex Ave in Somerville. I was invited by State Senator Pat Jehlen. So I’ve been making friends in high places. Not really a big deal.

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)

It seems that Punxsutawny Phil – the groundhog who predicts whether we’re going to have a long winter or early spring – was right earlier this month when he saw his shadow, prompting a declaration of more winter weather. Like many years before it, this February has brought with it a batch of snow storms that has tested our snow policies and procedures – and of course, everyone’s patience.