— Photos by Donald Norton

On Saturday, June 20, about 80 to 100 residents and jazz fans attended Joe’s Jazz and Blues Festival 2015 at Powderhouse Park. The crowd enjoyed live bands and lots of music. Everyone seemed to enjoy this nice Saturday afternoon of music, which seemed like an old fashion band concert.

By Tom Bannister

Somerville’s third annual American Rendezvous weekend (ARDV) is scheduled to take place from June 26 to June 28. Parkour practitioners will participate in training sessions led by elite coaches from across the country and abroad.

By Jim Clark

Police received a call last Thursday afternoon reporting that a man who had stolen a truck and smashed through a locked gate was being followed by two Department of Public Works employees who had witnessed the incident.

Your record-breaking Somerville High School Most Arm-Linked People To Stand Up Simultaneously squad.

By Rebecca Danvers

The Guinness World Records Management Team confirmed on Friday, June 19, that 59 students at Somerville High School had succeeded in breaking a world record before the end of the school year.

— Photo by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

The Election Department deadline for pulling papers ended this past Monday, June 22. Today, Wednesday, is the last day to certify to be on the ballot.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

We know that people are returning to the urban core and in particular to Somerville. There are a host of reasons why people are choosing to move to our community, from our arts and culture to our diverse local businesses and award-winning services, but there is one reason why families are staying: our schools. That’s a testament to what retiring Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi has achieved over the past decade. Superintendent Pierantozzi moved to Somerville after he was hired in 2005 to lead our schools, becoming part of our community and embracing it. As he leaves us at the end of this month to enjoy a well-earned retirement, we should take the time to thank Superintendent Pierantozzi for what our schools have become and his tremendous work on behalf of all our kids over the past decade.

Dead fish are suddenly showing up. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald Norton

A lot of dead fishes and mystery came to Shore Drive and under the Wellington Bridge, as many large fish were found lying dead in the water, rotting away with the smell wafting through the air.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

Mayor Curtatone’s Secret Citizen Initiative Will Cause Divide Between City Employees and Residents

On April 14th, an article appeared in The Boston Globe to introduce the Somerville “Secret Resident Program.” Via Somervillema.gov, the goal of the program is: “to evaluate and improve our customer service standards across all City Departments and to better serve our constituents.” The mayor’s office asks for volunteers to go through a brief customer service training session, where the volunteers will be given a “script and an exit survey for every evaluation of City services,” per Somervillema.gov.

Somerville Overcoming Addiction has helped to shine a light on the need for compassion and positive action in the effort to give hope to those struggling with substance abuse.
— Photos courtesy of Judi Walker

By Patrick McDonagh

“I sat in a cell for seven days. I could not leave; defecating, throwing up on myself.” Jimmy Walker recalls the destructive trajectory of a former opiate addiction.

By Oliver Bok

Artists rendering of the new Gilman Square GLX station.

The rumors aren’t true: the Green Line Extension is fully funded and looks set to remain that way.

At least that’s what Program Manager Karen Arpino-Shaffer told residents at a meeting to present the current plans for the Gilman Square and Lowell Street stations at the Armory on Tuesday, June 16.