Celebrate Arbor Day at the Quincy Street open space with nature walks, art projects, tree planting and interactive activities for people of all ages

The Somerville Arts Council and the Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment present the Tiny Great Outdoors Festival, a free Arbor Day and SustainaVille event, at the city’s tiniest “urban wild,” Quincy Street Open Space, 16 Quincy St., from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, 2017. (Rain date: April 30.) Join scientists on tiny hikes in the park exploring wildlife here in Somerville. Learn how global warming is changing the environment, even in our backyards. Help plant a tree and take home a free seedling, and participate in activities, games, and art.

The Joint Committee on Marijuana Policy, chaired by Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Representative Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), will hold its final public hearing Monday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. in rooms A1-A2 of the State House.

Monday, April 17 is Patriots Day and City offices will be closed for the holiday. If you’d like to celebrate, don’t forget about the festivities at Foss Park starting at 10 a.m.

Trash pick up will be on a holiday schedule, one day after your normal pickup day.

Parking meters will not be in effect.

The City’s annual Patriot’s Day celebration, to be held at Foss Park on Mon., April 17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Annual celebration of the historic event to include colonial games, refreshments, visit by “Paul Revere” on horseback.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin, and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission invite all residents and community members to the City’s annual Patriot’s Day celebration, to be held at Foss Park on Mon., April 17, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Co-sponsored by the Preservation Commission, Historic Somerville, the Somerville Museum, and East Somerville Main Streets, the day’s events will include Colonial games, light refreshments, live music by the Somerville High School band, and a visit from “Paul Revere” on horseback on his historic ride from Boston to Lexington through Somerville.

The mighty Reverend Peyton and his Big Damn Band takes a one-night stand at Thunder Road on Sunday, April 30.

By Jim Clark

Hailing from southern Indiana, singer-guitarist Reverend Peyton and his Big Damn Band has been bringing its their unique brand of traditional rootsy country blues to audiences the world over for more than a decade.

Somerville Neighborhood News is a production of Somerville Community Access Television, made by professional journalists, volunteers and staff. The news show has as its mission to be a lively, informative news resource focusing on the events, issues and information impacting Somerville residents. SNN is evolving its vision and community engagement! We are trying to become more of a “community journalism” model – managed by SNN producer Peter Levine – where SCATV members and community members contribute to the journalism program content through various ways such as news research, interviewing, news anchoring, filming, editing, blogging and more! If you want to get involved, please reach out to us.

“The Gap” torn painting collage, Karl Stephan 2017.

The newly re-named Somerville Media Center Gallery hosts Uncharted, a show of recent paintings, collages and collaborations by Karl Stephan and the student artists of Karl Stephan Studio. The show will hang in the SMC Gallery at 90 Union Square, Somerville, for the month of April. An Artist’s Reception will be held Tuesday, April 25 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

By Nathan Lamb

Federal funding for a program that provides free health plan counseling for Medicare recipients would be nearly eliminated under a supplemental budget put forward by the Trump Administration, according to information provided by the National Council on Aging.

(L to R) SHS Senior, Miranda Melanson, Head Coach, Paul O’Halloran and SHS Senior Kiara Alejandro.

Somerville Girls Basketball celebrated their 2016-2017 season with a banquet at the City Club in Somerville Tuesday night. The event was catered by the Mount Vernon restaurant. T-shirts were handed out to all players, awards were also handed out to the High School teams. Somerville High Girls Varsity had two seniors that celebrated their last year playing at SHS, Miranda Melanson #13 and Kiara Alejandro #21. Long time Pride and High School coach Alicia Querusio announced that she will not be coaching next year. Thanks to all the players and coaches for a job well done!

By Jessica Fisher

Elizabeth Schlatterer of Somerville, will be running this year’s Boston Marathon as part of the first ever Susan G. Komen New England Marathon Team.