By Louise Carpenter

On January 30, Senator Patricia D. Jehlen (Second Middlesex District) hosted a briefing at the Massachusetts State House to introduce the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA) to the state legislature. The briefing was sponsored by the 2015-2016 Senate Special Committee on Innovative and Alternative Education. Senator Jehlen, leaders of MCIEA, and key partners introduced the newly launched initiative and discussed how their work will redefine the way we measure student learning and school quality in Massachusetts. MCIEA is a partnership of six MA public school districts and their local teacher unions from Attleboro, Boston, Lowell, Revere, Somerville, and Winchester.

Cremin, Christine L. – Of Somerville March 8, 2017.

Beloved daughter of Katherine Cremin of Stoneham, Albert Rodgers of NH and the late Michael Cremin.
Loving mother of Quinten Sinclair. Companion of Paul Sinclair of Reading.
Sister of Albert Cremin of Peabody, Mark Cremin of Lowell and the late Deanna Cremin. Also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jayne Davis (second from left) was recently presented the inaugural Kate Thomas Spirit Award, for her work in establishing LGBT meal sites for older adults. The new award was launched by the LGBT Aging Project, in part to honor the contributions of SCES case manager Kate Thomas, who passed in 2014.

By Nathan Lamb

Six years ago, Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) Elder Care Advisor Kate Thomas organized a monthly dinner for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults and friends. At a recent event, SCES and the LGBT Aging Project honored her memory with the inaugural Kate Thomas Spirit Award.

On Sunday,  March 12, 2017 at  2:00 a.m.,  turn your clocks  forward 1 hour to 3:00 a.m.

Please check out the latest Somerville Neighborhood News headlines and video segments. Somerville Neighborhood News is a production of Somerville Community Access Television, made by professional journalists, volunteers and staff. We also invite you to become more involved with SNN! You can join as a community reporter, researcher, contributor or in some other volunteer capacity. You can reach out to us at news@scatvsomerville.org. Below are the latest SNN story headlines and you can watch the full news segments online at www.somervillenighborhoodnews.org!

By Louise Carpenter

After implementing a campaign encouraging students to meet with their counselors to consider taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course, Somerville Public Schools saw the number of its students enrolled in AP classes increase by more than 50% in just one year. With nearly three-quarters of the district’s students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals, Somerville also committed to covering 85-95% of the cost of AP Exams, with help from the national nonprofit Mass Insight Education (MIE). Now in their second year of partnering to increase student participation in AP science, math, and English classes, MIE and Somerville High School are expanding access and opportunities for success.

By William C. Shelton

(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)

Somerville has the worst jobs-to-workers ratio and commercial-to-residential-property ratio in Massachusetts. Both accelerate the displacement of long-term residents, while limiting revenues that can support city services. And a tiny commercial tax base means high homeowner taxes.

(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)

Somerville High School, 1954. We weren’t thinking about the future, only about the upcoming Class Day and then graduation. Later, a train would take us on a trip to a more serious place, a place where we’d begin the process of evolving into adults. It was waiting there at the station. Our teachers were aware of the train, they’d seen it come and go many times. So they continued to feed us huge spoonful’s of knowledge, hoping we’d digest enough of it to be prepared for our journey.

By Jim Clark

Members of the Somerville Police Drug Unit received information from a confidential informant regarding someone who was actively selling cocaine in and around the city of Somerville, according to police reports.