The Lady Wizards’ defensive skills have established their dominance on the court heading into the championship race.

By Charles Lane

Defense – with a splash of offense when needed – has the Prospect Hill Academy Lady Wizards positioned to play in this year’s girls basketball championship of the 2016 Massachusetts Charter School Athletic Organization set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at U Mass Boston’s Clark Athletic Center.

The online registration is closing down today, Friday, March 11 at 6:00 p.m. for the Rás na hÉireann USA 5Km in Somerville, Massachusetts, taking place on March 13.

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)

Last week was an important milestone in the most recent chapter of the Green Line Extension story. The state’s new project management team hosted an open house event to update the public and share their preliminary efforts to save money and get the project back on track. Once again, our community rose to the occasion admirably. Hundreds filled the Arts at the Armory. The message Somerville residents sent was clear and unmistakable: Find a way to get this done. Finish what you’ve started. Build the Green Line.

On March 12, celebrate Somerville’s annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival. Community members of all ages are invited to the Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Avenue between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to watch and learn for free as sap from local sugar maple trees is boiled down into pure maple syrup over a warm fire.

By Charles Lane

12 residents from Somerville will run to conquer cancer as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team in the 120th Boston Marathon® on April 18.

The local runners are Micho Pilotte, Erica Omobono, Jennifer Primeau, Kathryn Nathan, Christopher Pollard, Scott Aland, Heather Hagerty, Sara Marden, Laura Burke, Miranda Hooker, Amy Holmstrom, and Jackie Silago.

By William A. White, Jr., President (At Large)

(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)

At the last meeting of the Board of Aldermen, I introduced a zoning amendment which would have required that in certain parts of our City designated as critical development areas, any developer who wanted to build more than 3 residential units on a 10,000 square foot lot, would have to split the development between 60% high-end commercial development and  40% residential.  The high-end commercial development would include office, high-tech, bio-tech and research and development buildings.  The critical economic development areas are the area around Union Square by the proposed T stop and the Boynton Yard area, the Brick Bottom area, the Inner Belt area and the area at Assembly Square that has not been built.  It would not apply to any other areas of the City.  It also would not apply to the high end commercial developers who did not propose any residential units.  After discussion, the Board unanimously recognized that commercial development was so important that we agreed to increase the commercial development  requirement to 68%.  All members of the Board signed on as co-sponsors of the proposed zoning amendment.

‘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)

It’s a good time to be a nerd. Fanboy fantasies are becoming reality as superheroes have leapt off the comic book page and conquered both movies and television.  The much anticipated Batman vs. Superman movie hits theaters later this month. It’s a dream come true for both the casual superhero fan and old school comic book readers like myself. An epic heavyweight battle that looks to answer the great age old nerd debate of who would win in a fight between The Dark Knight and The Man of Steel. (I’m geeking out just thinking about it). Batman vs. Superman is just one of several Superhero movies that will dominate the box office this year with Captain America: Civil War and Suicide Squad scheduled for summer releases.

By Gabe Pastel (gabepastelblog.wordpress.com)

(click to enlarge)

By Josie Grove

Redesigned Green Line coming into sharper focus

A raucous crowd packed the Armory for a first glimpse at how a bare bones Green Line Extension (GLX) might look in Somerville. The project must find $1 billion in savings in its construction, or be eliminated altogether.

By Haley ED Houseman

Conceptual drawing of proposed community terrace and new wing as possible features of the renovated West Branch Library.

The West Branch of the Somerville Library is overdue for a renovation, and the city is looking to plan a “hundred year renovation,” that will look to concerns of the future while preserving the beloved but downtrodden historic building.