“One Flower Ceremony” – Florentine Codex, 16th Century, World Digital Library.

Ever wonder what life was like in an Aztec village? Well there are some very old and amazingly illustrated books called “Codices” that exist and give us a little window into the daily life that existed in ancient Mexico. And this year at the Cinco de Mayo festival in Union Square, Somerville Artist Fellowship awarded artist Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer will present a large version of a page from one of these books. The opposite page will be blank for festival attendees to add their own drawings of what daily life is like in Somerville.

Amy Elizabeth Gardner, age 58, passed away April of 2016. She was born in Long Beach, California; she spent her formative years in Winchester, MA and was active in Forum in the First Congregational Church of Winchester. For the last few years she has resided in South Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts.

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Mark Pawlak, a longtime editor at the acclaimed Hanging Loose Press has sent us a poem from his new collection, Reconnaissance.

Two-year street reconstruction project will improve pedestrian accessibility, bicycle safety, and traffic movement.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston today announced that the private contractor hired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will begin major construction activities on Beacon St. on Monday, May 9.  Newport Construction, which was selected through a competitive bid process administered by MassDOT, will be responsible for the expected two-year project, which stretches from Oxford St. / Somerville Ave. south to the Cambridge city line near Inman Square.

Arrests:
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Moises Aguilar Reyes, of 332 Lowell St., April 25, 4:31 p.m., arrested on warrant charges of assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and mayhem.

Domingo Peters, of 362 Rindge Ave., Cambridge, April 27, 8:27 p.m., arrested at Somerville Ave. on charges of shoplifting by asportation and disorderly conduct.

Join the Kennedy School After School in the school playground on Elm Street at 1:00 on Wednesday May 11 for a dedication of two new garden mosaics that have been installed on the garden beds.  A group of students in Kindergarten through 5^thgrade worked with artist Emily Bhargava for ten weeks to design and build whimsical garden-themed mosaic panels inspired by their own experience with gardens.  Celebrate with them as their mosaics take their place as a permanent addition to the playground.

Investigators are looking into to a reported shooting on Lowell St Sunday afternoon. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

UPDATE:

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, Somerville police received a report of a man shot in the neck at the corner of Lowell and Albion Streets. Police have confirmed that upon arrival officers found one male seated in a vehicle shot one time in the neck.

Winter Hill Community Innovation School fifth graders got a taste of nature recently as they explored the great outdoors in Groton, MA.

By Louise Carpenter

Fifth grade students at the Winter Hill Community Innovation School spent a recent weekend in Groton, MA, learning and exploring at Nature’s Classroom. Students participated in various hands-on activities as they studied the flora and fauna in the area, and investigated scientific and engineering concepts.

On this episode of Greater Somerville, the Chair of the SHS Building Committee, Tony Pierantozzi, discusses the preferred design and site option for the new Somerville High School with the architect, and host Joe Lynch.