The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) announced today the selection of six cities, including Somerville, for a new multi-year initiative — By All Means: Redesigning Education to Restore Opportunity — aimed at developing comprehensive child wellbeing and education systems that help eliminate the link between children’s socioeconomic status and achievement. By All Means will be operated by HGSE’s Education Redesign Lab.  In addition to Somerville, other participating cities in the initiative include Oakland, CA; Louisville, KY; Providence, RI; Salem, MA; and Newton, MA.

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The City of Somerville took an important step forward this week in its efforts to reduce the entire Somerville community’s contribution to climate change. The city released its Green House Gas Inventory (the Inventory), which provides a baseline of total carbon emissions within city limits both by municipal entities as well as residents and visitors. The Inventory will be used to track progress on the city’s Net Zero 2050 goal to become carbon neutral by mid-century. The results of the Inventory identify emission sources and provide data helpful for setting measurable short-term carbon reduction goals. Somerville’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) oversaw the Inventory as part of the SustainaVille Initiative.

MassDOT and the MBTA are currently working through a re-evalaution of the Green Line Extension project, focusing on four key areas: (1) project management; (2) redesign; (3) re-procurement; and (4) the development of a reliable cost estimate and schedule. This re-evaluation has been prompted by significant cost overruns on the project, and is expected to be complete and submitted to the MassDOT Board of Directors and the MBTA Fiscal & Management Control Board in May.

Join Fossil Free Somerville and Somerville Climate Action for a free screening of This Changes Everything, a powerful look at how communities around the world are facing the challenge of climate change.

Real Estate Research Consultants (RRC), the personal property consultant for Assessing, will be visiting new businesses and those reporting new equipment to determine FY 17 values. Please extend your cooperation to ensure a fair and equitable process. RRC inspectors will have identification but please call Assessing at 617 625-6600 ext: 3100 if you have any questions. Inspections begin Feb 22 and will last until April 1, 2016.

I was privileged to give a talk at the Cervena Barva Studio at the Somerville Arts Armory as part of their intern program. Here is the founder of the Cervena Barva Press Gloria Mindock (Right) and her intern Ruby Struble who is a student at Bennington College in Vermont. I interviewed Gloria about her press and the internship program before my talk.

Help the City re-live Paul Revere’s historic ride from Boston through Somerville and onto Lexington and Concord. Adults and high school students are needed to help plan and execute the vity’s annual Patriots Day event, a Colonial Fair at Foss Park on Monday, April 18.

By Margaux Maxwell

Taza Chocolate is a local favorite, featured at many Farmer’s Markets throughout the city and beyond.

When Daniella Jean Pierre, 32, goes to the Somerville Winter Farmers Market, she is greeted by the sight of lights strung up on the light violet ceilings, the sound of acoustic guitar played on a small stage, the smell of freshly cut flowers, and the excitement of hands extending outwards filled with vegetables and crafted goods for her to navigate through.

Kenneth Manning.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Chief of Police Kevin Molis have announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect in the murder of Colleen Russell, 36, of Malden and for larceny of a motor vehicle.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the vicinity of Osgood St. Sunday night in response to reports of a motorist’s car striking several parked cars in the area.

While en route to the scene, the officers heard from dispatch that a number of witnesses at the area in question were blocking the alleged reckless driver from leaving the vicinity.