Spring is here and that means the return of Hubway in Somerville, where the shared bike stations reopened on Friday, April 17, as the system begins its 5th season.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone invites residents to the Spring 2015 ResiStat Community Meetings, a twice-yearly effort to share the latest city news and neighborhood updates directly with residents and gather their feedback.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) invite all interested community members to the second Lincoln Park DESIGN community meeting with our team of landscape architects from Weston Sampson/Spurr Associates who will present three conceptual park designs with new circulation systems, activity areas, and sustainability options. The meeting will be held at the Argenziano School Cafeteria, 290 Washington St., on Mon., April 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend and share the ideas. Spanish and Portuguese interpreters will be available. For more information, please contact Arn Franzen at 617-625-6600 ext. 2545, or AFranzen@somervillema.gov.

Somerville Youth Arts Coordinator, Jimmy Del Ponte, announces the return of the popular Somerville Rocks! show for 2015.

More than just a community-wide youth talent show, Somerville Rocks! is 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. Whether you’re in a band, a solo singer, a comedian, or you have any other talent you want to showcase to your peers, this program is for you! Auditions will be held on Fri., May 1, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. in the Somerville High School Band Classroom, located on the first floor of SHS (opposite the school library). The final show will be held on Fri., May 22 in the SHS Auditorium. Participation is free. For more information, contact Jimmy Del Ponte at Jdelponte@somervillema.gov, or 617-625-6600 ext. 2616.

 — Photos by Claudia Ferro

Ms. Harris’ ESCS Kindergarten class held a plant party on Friday, April 17.

By Jim Clark

A routine warrant arrest detail turned more difficult than expected for officers last Friday morning, as they were met with extreme resistance by the subject of their assignment, Gilman St. resident Cameron Bourque.

The Somerville Public Library will host a “Document Freedom” Workshop on Mon., April 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Central Library at 79 Highland Ave. Led by Devin Ulibarri and other members of the Open Source/Open Standards Movement, the workshop will provide training on accessing documents electronically.

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)

The debate around casinos in Massachusetts has moved beyond whether to allow them. The voters have spoken, and agree or disagree—and everyone knows that I disagree—casinos are a reality in the Commonwealth. But the issues we must now resolve as plans are developed are just as urgent and critical to every community in the region. Most importantly, we must make sure that these projects follow the law and that the overseeing agencies take the time, do the work, and make sure that these locations work not only for the cities and towns that will host or be neighbors to the casinos, but for the entire region. Unfortunately, it appears that we are still not examining the potential impacts closely enough, and our environment, our health and our economy will suffer if we do not.

—Photos by Claudia Ferro

The city’s annual Shape Up Somerville/Somerville Recreation Road Race took place on Sunday. Beginning with a one mile children’s “Fun Run” at 10:30 a.m., the day’s events also included a 5K race and walk at 11 a.m., and a celebration for runners at Casey’s Grill. Top male and female finishers in each category received awards.

By Tom Bannister

Although a long winter has kept most teams practicing indoors right up to the start of the season, the Somerville Highlander Varsity Softball team began the season last week dropping their first three games against Cambridge, Everett and Salem.