By Louise Carpenter

East Somerville Community School students recently enjoyed a hike at the Fells, thanks to programming made possible by the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant.

As part of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant, Somerville will continue to expand its student programming with Waypoint Adventures this winter and moving into the spring, with the help of Kathleen Houghton, Special Education Recreation Specialist for the Somerville Public Schools.

We ask residents to review these extreme cold safety tips and check on neighbors or family members who may need assistance preparing for the cold.

During extreme cold
* Try to minimize time outside, even for pets.
* If you do need to go outside dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing . Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

Massachusetts Attorney General (and former Somerville Pride coach) Maura Healey will be offering a free girls’ basketball clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the Somerville High School gym, 81 Highland Ave. The clinic is also sponsored by the City of Somerville and the Somerville Recreation Department. The clinic will include skills practice and a motivational pep talk from Attorney General Healey.

Monday is Presidents’ Day, public schools and city offices will be closed for the holiday. Trash and recycling collection will be on a holiday schedule all week,  put everything out the day after your normal trash day. Residential parking permits and parking meters will also not be enforced.

The sap is flowing and hopes are high for a large yield of maple syrup as Groundwork Somerville prepares for its annual Boil Down event on March 12.

By Haley ED Houseman

On Saturday, March 12, Groundwork Somerville will hold a community day to share their annual Maple Syrup Boil Down Festival, turning maple sap into syrup. Running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will use a large metal boiler made 10 years ago by local high school students in their shop. The event will also feature the goodies associated with maple syrup, including pancakes, and also some fresh delicacies like sap tea.

Escape the weekend chill this Saturday at the best community gathering space in Somerville. Here’s your last chance to pick up a unique item for that special person, to show their or your Somerville pride, as well as support historic enrichment projects in the community. The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission, working with artwork by the SHS CAD students, has designed “Preserving Somerville: Home to Diverse Architecture, Streets, and People” merchandise which is available for sale. Stop by to see all of the T-shirts (youth and adult sizes), long-sleeved shirts, and tote bags which come in a variety of colors and will be on display this Sat., Feb. 13th, at the Winter Farmer’s Market located at the Somerville Armory at 181 Highland Ave.,and open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Saint Clement School recently celebrated their scholar-athletes Ivan Mertilus and Larnel Coleman and their achievements with a signing ceremony in the gym. Mertilus has signed with Assumption College Football, and Coleman has signed with UMass Minutemen football. Congratulations to both!

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)

Lately there’s been a lot of news concerning the settlement of the lawsuit between the City of Boston and the Wynn casino in Everett. That dispute garnered lots of media attention, but paid little notice to the fact that the City of Somerville still has four lawsuits regarding the proposed casino working their way through the court system. Our focus has been on serious environmental issues, significant and unaddressed traffic impacts and the integrity of the licensing process, which may not grab headlines as easily. But rest assured, we have multiple days in court still pending.

As of September 1, 2016, the Somerville Housing Authority will adopt smoke-free policies to protect residents from secondhand smoke. Because smoke drifts between units and cannot be contained, the only viable solution to the issue of secondhand smoke is for buildings to go entirely smokefree.

By Josie Grove

Somerville residents were briefed on the latest developments in the SomerVision Union Square neighborhood plan at a public meeting held last week at the Argenziano School. ~Photo by Josie Grove

The plan for the Union Square neighborhood’s redevelopment is far from finished, but residents are getting impatient. At a meeting last Thursday in the Dr. Albert F. Argenziano cafeteria, Somerville’s Director of Planning George Proakis presented updates and clarifications on the Union Square neighborhood plan.