Boston Emissions presents 2016 Rock & Roll Rumble Semifinals Night #1 with Worshipper, Abbie Barret, usLights, Eric Salt & The Electric City on Friday, April 15, and Night #2 with Weakened Friends, Salem Wolves, Analog Heart, The Devil’s Twins on Saturday, April 16 at ONCE Lounge and Ballroom, 156 Highland Avenue, Somerville. Doors: 8:00 p.m., show: 9:00 p.m. (ends at 1:00 a.m.) each night. $13 in advance, $18 day of show. Online ticket sales: http://www.ticketfly.com/event/1091467. In association with Cuisine en Locale. Phone 617-285-0167 for more info.

(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)

Dear Editor,

I am humbled by the support of the many people from Somerville who stuck it out for nearly four hours to participate in the 7th Congressional District Bernie Sanders caucus on Saturday, April 9.  It took three very stressful ballots, but the effort was worth it. I was elected as a delegate to represent our district and Bernie Sanders at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, July 25 – 28, 2016.

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)

The telltale signs that spring is upon us are all around: longer days, daffodils, leaf buds forming on the trees. Yet in Somerville we have additional signs of spring: our streets fill up with bicycles and our sidewalks fill up with pedestrians. We have built a city where you can get around without a car and that is exactly what people do when the weather gets warmer. Yet that also means we’ve got vehicles, bikes and people on foot trying to get where they’re going in a congested space. People’s attention slips and tempers flare. What we want is everyone to arrive at their destination safely and my challenge to everyone (including myself) is to put courtesy first while we’re doing it.

By Margaux Maxwell

Q’s Nuts are making a splash all over Somerville and the Greater Boston area.

Tucked away on Highland Avenue near Davis Square, Q’s Nuts is a tiny store packed with shelves of roasted nuts from all over the world. Mexican Chocolate Cashews, Brazil Nuts, and Yerba Mate Chocolate Almonds are just a few of the flavors overflowing behind the glass. These are not the typical nut flavors you find at Fenway Park. Almost four years ago, Beth Quinn opened the family nut store with her husband Brian Quinn because she saw a need for nuts that “taste as good as they smell,” says Beth. Now, their nuts are starting to appear all over Somerville and Boston.

By Sal Ghamo

The Union Square Dance Party provided kids with an opportunity to cut loose and have some fun, while letting parents hang out and enjoy themselves too.

On Saturday, April 9, Somerville residents busted a move at the Union Square Dance Party. The Kids Union and Arts Union teamed up for an outdoor dance party on the Union Square Plaza. The crew spent all winter hosting indoor dance parties for kids, but they’ve had a big hankering to get outside and dance in the fresh air.

On Saturday, April 16, more than 300 youth are expected at the 10th Annual Somerville Youth Peace Conference at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St. Somerville, from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. The conference, Back From the Future, will feature original performances by Somerville teens based on their own lives, workshops, and a services fair, while also highlighting the growth of Somerville over the past decade. Attendees will share their own experiences in interactive breakout sessions facilitated by youth. The conference, presented by the Center for Teen Empowerment, Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Somerville Public Schools, and the City of Somerville, will examine teen violence, substance abuse, social media, bullying and other issues, with a special focus on destigmatizing mental health. Mayor Joseph Curtatone and other elected officials will join the mostly youth audience to listen to teens’ stories and ideas.

Villens United by Chris Haskell

(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)

Those of us who still read the newspaper were treated to a glimpse of a possible future this past weekend. The Boston Globe ran a mock front page of what our headlines would look like a year from now under a Trump Presidency. Mock articles spoke of a stock market crash, trade war, soldiers refusing to kill terrorist’s families, and of course, mass deportations.

By Jim Clark

The Somerville Police Department was asked to review a surveillance video at the Saks Off 5th store at Assembly Row last Thursday evening.

According to reports, the video from a few days earlier showed two males and a female arriving in a car. The female reportedly entered the store while one male waited outside on the sidewalk, and the other remained seated in the driver seat of the car with the engine running.

Eagle Feathers #101 – Out of Many, One

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Most people realize that Somerville is and always has been a land of immigrants. If you didn’t come from a foreign country, then your ancestors probably did. Early on they came here in what was called the great migration, which took place during the 1620’s and 1630’s. Governor John Winthrop and his Puritan followers were looking for the “pot of gold” at the end of the rainbow … freedom of life and religion.

(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)

I just received my new Water bill, it was ridiculous as usual. I was looking at the sewer charges and over the last two years they have increased $1.25 per 100 c.u. There has been an increase per 100 c.u. on every bill. Since I use about 700 c.u.’s a month this increase has cost me about $85 a bill, but with no end in sight. I was wondering if anyone knew who was setting these rates.