RESPOND, Inc. Executive Director Jessica Brayden has been named as a finalist for the Mass Nonprofit Network’s Excellence in Leadership Award.

By Rebecca Danvers

Jessica Brayden, Executive Director of RESPOND, Inc., has been named a finalist for the Mass Nonprofit Network’s Excellence in Leadership Award.

Brayden has been at the helm of RESPOND, a Somerville-based domestic violence agency, for the past six years and has been committed to raising RESPOND’s visibility and reach within the community, enabling the organization to fulfill its important mission of supporting victims of domestic violence.

By Katjana Ballantyne
Alderman, Ward 7

(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)

Somerville needs a regular, open process to negotiate voluntary payments in-lieu of taxes (PILOTs), with our local multi-million dollar, non-profit institutions, so that these institutions pay their fair share for city services like police and fire departments, even snow removal.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the Home Depot store on Mystic Ave. last week on reports that a man who attempted to steal three air conditioners was threatening people in the store with a knife.

Somerville PD is looking to identify the suspect pictured here in relation to an unarmed robbery at the Davis Sq. Bank of America (406 Highland Ave) at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28.

The suspect is described as a heavyset white male (approximately 240 lbs.), approximately 5’11”, most likely early- to mid-40s, bald with a mustache and goatee.

Anyone with information on this incident or the pictured suspect is asked to contact Det. Ernest Nadile (617-625-1600 x7235) or Det. John Oliveira at the FBI Bank Robbery Task Force (617-742-5533).

By William C. Shelton

(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)

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade and investment agreement being negotiated among the U.S. and eleven other Pacific Rim countries. It would be the largest trade deal in history, affecting 40% of the world economy.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte, presented the 2015 Somerville Rocks! youth talent show on Friday, May 22 at the Somerville High School Auditorium. Somerville Rocks! provided an opportunity for Somerville youth, ages 12 and older, to polish performance art and talents with twice-weekly rehearsals with performer and musician Jimmy Del Ponte. The concert featured Somerville youth bands, soloists, comedians, and other talented young residents.

Volunteers at Field of Greens in Lincoln, MA lend their efforts to help produce food for the needy. — Photo by Alexa Gonzalez Wagner

By Patrick McDonagh

“I’m really nervous,” Somerville resident Matt Crawford confesses. “I’ve started a lot of things from seed this year.” Beige, sun beaten, hardware-store plastic pots contain the gardener’s source of anxiety, gently buried beneath a quarter inch of chicken manure.

Union Square Station Associates (US2), the City of Somerville’s master developer partner for Union Square’s revitalization, today announced that it is seeking proposals from Somerville-based artists to design and install wall art inside the new US2 headquarters and co-working space which will soon open at 31 Union Square, the former home of Elegant Furniture.

During a recent visit to the TD Banknorth Garden, Somerville Attorney Phil Privitera and son Payton Privitera met with Former Boston Bruins Player and Assistant General Manager Don Sweeney. Sweeney spoke about the Bruins accomplishments during the 2014-15 season and plans for the direction of the team in the 2015-16 Season. On May 20, 2015, the Boston Bruins named Don Sweeney the team’s General Manager. Congratulations Don Sweeney.

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)

At Harvard Kennedy School last week, officials from all levels of government exchanged ideas and experiences during a symposium on government innovation, from developing new solutions to how to implement those solutions to the problems that government must tackle. The key word there is “must.” Whatever the issue—climate change, mental health, the job market—government has an obligation not only to respond but to lead. Government has a critical role to play in shaping the future of its citizens’ lives, and when it comes to improving people’s lives, government is not just an essential player but the essential player. If we are to meet that challenge in an era of dwindling outside support and resources, we have to do more than manage. We have to innovate.