Arrests:
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Danyell Hardy, of 60 Westville St., Dorchester, May 31, 5:23 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on a charge of shoplifting by concealing merchandise and on warrant charges of assault and battery, assault and battery on a family or household member, and resisting arrest.

Dmitri Edmond, of 129 Sherwoodglen, Somersworth, NH, June 1, 4:56 p.m., arrested at Broadway on a charge of fugitive from justice and on a warrant charge of assault and battery on a police officer.

Last year, 59 Somerville High School students set a new Guinness World Record for the “most arm-linked people to stand-up simultaneously,” earning the school its first record.

The City of Somerville’s SomerVIVA program is bringing back its Haiti and Brazil Hit the Ville! Festival for its third year on Sunday, July 24, 2016, and we need performers! The Festival celebrates Haitian and Brazilian food, culture, and entertainment, and performers of all varieties who celebrate and exhibit one or both of those cultures are invited to apply for limited spots available during the three hour festival in Union Square. A committee will select acts for limited time spots. The Festival is free to attendees, and includes dozens of local vendors, artists, and restaurants. Several thousand attendees are expected for this year’s festival.

Somerville’s immigrant population leaves behind home, family and friends to work for a better life. For many, American citizenship brings a sense of pride and security.

The Welcome Project has begun a citizenship class to guide residents along what can be a long path to a Citizenship Ceremony. Learning history and geography are just a part of the process.

Somerville High School students joined Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan at a recent screening at the Woburn Showcase Cinemas hosted by Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY), featuring videos/PSAs titled Teen Dating A to Generation Z: A Guide to Going Out, Breaking Up and Everything in Between.

The City of Somerville Fields Master Planning Report for athletic fields in Somerville is now available online on the city’s website. The report lays out a path for steady rehabilitation of the city’s athletic fields and identifies priorities for a preliminary schedule of major improvements and renovations as well as new field creation and acquisition. Building upon two community meetings on fields master planning held in March 2016, the plan is guided by thoughtful feedback, comments, and constructive criticism from our community members and elected officials, and prepared by an interdisciplinary staff team included data specialists, planners, field managers, landscape architects, engineers and construction managers. The plan may be viewed or downloaded at www.somervillema.gov/fieldsmaster.

East Broadway will come alive with the sights, sounds and spectacle of Carnaval @ SomerStreets.

Due to heavy rains and possible tropical downpours expected on Sunday, the annual street festival Carnaval @ SomerStreets in Somerville is postponed to Saturday, June 11, 2-6 p.m.

This event is being held in honor of Somerville resident Sean P. Curtis, who recently lost his battle with addiction.

By Rebecca Danvers

The Ryan Harrington Foundation is holding a 5k Walk/Run to raise funds to help individuals and families impacted by addiction.

The “JUST ONE” 5k Walk/Run will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 12 at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse located at 32 Shore Drive in Somerville. Same day registration ends at 9:45 a.m. A kids fun run will take place at 9:30 a.m.

By Mayor 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)

One of the biggest challenges Somerville set for itself in the SomerVision community planning process was the creation of 125 new acres of open space. It’s a vitally important goal. In a densely populated city, people need places where they can gather, play and relax. Open spaces give us patches of sanity in a hectic world. Playgrounds give kids place to climb and run.  Public plazas provide the platform for community events. Amidst the concrete and asphalt, we need bursts of green, places where trees and flowers bloom. They are essential to our quality of life. Yet we are are dealing with some extremely constrained geography.