The last day to register to vote or to change your party enrollment for the March 1 Presidential Primary is on Wednesday, February 10.

Click here to find out how you can register to vote online, in person, or by mail.

If you are enrolled in one of the four political parties (Democrat – D, Republican – R, Green-Rainbow – J, or United Independent Party – CC), you may only vote in that party’s primary. If you are not enrolled in any party (UNENROLLED), you may vote for the candidate of your choice, regardless of party enrollment.

By Charles Lane

Saint Clement School has announced it is offering a Metro-Boston basketball clinic for boys and girls grades 2 through 8 on Monday, February 15 through Friday, February 19 at Saint School Gymnasium, 579 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA.

Area coaches will teach kids the proper skills on how to ball handle, shoot, pass and play defense. Cost for the program is $50 if you register before Monday, February 8 or $100 at the door.

By Jim Clark

Acclaimed children’s author and actor Paul Carafotes is pleased to announce the release of the latest addition to the Charlie Bubbles family of children entertainment options, Sing With Charlie Bubbles.

The music CD is based on the characters and their adventures from the original The Adventures of Charlie Bubbles trilogy of books.  The songs are currently available as both a digital download as well as on a CD that was released on January 15 of this year.

“Somerville Towards Route 93” – Cynthia Maurice

Out The Window & Around the Town exhibit opened last weekend at Brickbottom Gallery, 1 Fitchburg Street, Somerville. Paintings and drawings by two of Brickbottom Artist Building’s founding members, Cynthia Maurice and David Campbell are featured. The exhibit will run through February 27. Gallery Hours are Thursday – Saturday, 12:00-5:00 p.m. Visit http://brickbottomartists.com/ for directions and more information.

Senator Pat Jehlen sponsored the bill that would help close the wage gap between male and female workers in the Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Senate passed legislation today that would help close the wage gap between male and female workers in the Commonwealth. The bill was sponsored by Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville) and Representative Jay Livingstone (D-Boston).

Massachusetts passed the nation’s first equal pay act just after World War II, and continued to steadily close the gender wage gap in the many years that followed. In recent years that progress has slowed to a crawl, barely moving in the last fifteen years.

Public meeting Feb. 3 to discuss artist certification process, application timeline. 15 of the 100 units in the development to be designated affordable. 5 of the 15 affordable units are for certified artists.

The Somerville Arts Council and the Housing Division of the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development announced this week a public meeting to discuss a first-of-its-kind housing opportunity for Somerville artists. On Wed., Feb. 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Armory at 191 Highland Ave., City staff will present information about five (5) affordable rental units for certified artists as artist live/work space. The 5 affordable artist units are included in the 15 total affordable housing units to be offered through the City’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance, but are the first of their kind to be offered specifically to income eligible artists in Somerville.

UPDATE: Somerville Police Department have taken the suspect into custody peacefully.

Early this morning, during a federal law enforcement operation, an 18 year old male Somerville resident who is a known criminal MS 13 gang member escaped federal custody while being transported in Somerville. A search is currently underway by the Somerville Police Department and federal agencies. The suspect is not armed and was handcuffed when he escaped custody. While there is not believed to be a threat to the community, please be aware that there is a heightened law enforcement presence, particularly in the Union Square area.

Somerville High School’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods will be performed on February 4, 5, and 6 at the Somerville High School Auditorium. — Logo design by Dylan Alvarado

By Jessica Kenney

Somerville High School will be performing their production of the musical Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The film version of the Broadway hit Into the Woods premiered in theaters on December 25, 2014. The story is about a baker and his wife who are left childless due to a curse from a once-beautiful witch. Three days before the blue moon, the husband and wife venture into the forest in order to find the ingredients that will reverse the spell and grant the witch her beauty once again. The ingredients are a milk-white cow, hair as yellow as corn, a blood-red cape, and a slipper made of gold. During their trip “into the woods”, they come across Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Jack. Each of these characters is on a mission to fulfill a wish.

The Somerville High School Art Club, National Art Society and Art Major students all worked with the City Hall Wellness committee on a new 3 x 18 foot painted mural at City Hall.

By Tom Bannister

On March 12, celebrate Somerville’s annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival. Community members of all ages are invited to the Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Avenue between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to watch and learn for free as sap from local sugar maple trees is boiled down into pure maple syrup over a warm fire. Attendees can expect syrup tasting, kids’ activities, demonstrations, and more. Waffles, hot drinks, and Maple Syrup Project T-shirts and posters will be on sale.