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.
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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.
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—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 Jim Clark
Police responded to a reported dispute taking place at a Memorial Rd. location last Thursday afternoon.
As the officers sorted out the reported incident underway in the building’s courtyard, they began hearing what seemed to be a fight in progress on the other side of the building.
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“The Semi-Permanent Lifestyle Art Show” will bring urban street art indoors for a change, at The Arts at The Armory this Friday.
By Sarah Levine
At a historic armory and Somerville landmark, new and innovative young talent is headed to the Center for Arts at the Armory this Friday, April 24 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. With the purpose of putting on an art exhibition that is unlike that found in the usual stuffy art gallery, the collective will focus uniquely on urban art.
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Victims of 2013’s Boston Marathon bombing and their loved ones are waiting for closure as the sentencing phase of convicted bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s trial unfolds.
By Josie Grove
Runner Kevin McWatters skipped the Boston Marathon this year. He ran the race twelve times, but his last race was in 2013.
That year, his then fiancée Karen Rand was waiting for him at the finish line with her friend Krystle Campbell. She lost her leg as a result of the bombing, and Campbell was among the three people killed that day.
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Tufts students protested the impending custodial worker layoffs scheduled for next year at Friday’s unveiling of the new “Jumbo” statue recently donated to the campus. — Photos by Brianna Moody
By Anna Gaebler, Tufts Labor Coalition
On April 17, 2015, the Tufts administration held a communitywide event in celebration of the debut a brand new statue depicting Tufts’ mascot, Jumbo the elephant. Tufts Labor Coalition (TLC), a student group on campus, chose to disrupt this event in protest of the administration’s decision to fire 35 custodial workers later this month, nearly one in five on the campus.
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