To Whom It May Concern,

I am pleased to announce that this spring we are bringing ‘World Cup Bull Riders’ to New England at the Shriner’s Auditorium. Home of the Shriner’s Circus!

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Laurette Folk is a poet and novelist who founded The Compassion Project: An Anthology, an online collection of poetry and art that promotes compassionate thought and action through the arts. Through this project, her struggles with depression, the demands of being a wife, mother, teacher, and author, she has found portals for her creative work.

Susan LaFortune’s work indulges us with gritty moments of everyday life and often illuminates them with traces of love and beauty. Her first chapbook, Talking in my Sleep, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2013 and was nominated for a pushcart prize. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in various publications including Muddy River Poetry Review and Ibbetson Street Magazine. She is an annual supporter of the Newburyport Literary Festival, Poets & Writers Magazine, and is associated with several poetry organizations in New England. She is a member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards.

During its Wed., Feb. 10, meeting, the Somerville High School Building Committee (SBC) will vote to submit the educational plan created by the school department, and options being considered for renovation or replacement of the current school. The SBC, a 14-member appointed committee, has been working to identify the educational plan and associated facility that would meet the needs of the 21^st century learning environment. The Committee is currently evaluating five options, including: base repair, full renovation, addition/renovation (5 versions), new construction at the existing site, and new construction at another site.

On average, residents report high satisfaction with neighborhoods, city services.

The results are in, and Somerville residents are, on average, still happy! In fact, according to the city’s most recent Happiness Survey, Somerville residents are happier on average than the happiest country in the world, Switzerland.

All cars must be moved from municipal lots by 9 p.m. to avoid ticketing and towing. Property owners must shovel sidewalks within 6 daylight hours following end of snowfall.

The City of Somerville’s snow emergency will end, and normal parking rules will go back into effect, on Mon., Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. Here’s some important information to help you avoid being ticketed and to be a good neighbor.

The Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) committee recently awarded grants to 31 programs in Medford and Somerville. TNSF collects donations from university employees throughout the year and then awards grants to community-based, charitable organizations that serve Tufts’ host communities (Boston’s Chinatown, Grafton, Medford and Somerville) and actively engage Tufts volunteers in their work.

Arrests:
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Jorge Furtado, of 11 MacArthur St., February 1, 9:44 a.m., arrested at Horace St. on warrant charges of abuse prevention order violation, destruction of property under $250, larceny over $250, harassment prevention order violation, and receiving stolen property over $250.

All cars must be moved by 9 a.m. to avoid ticketing and towing. Somerville Public Schools, Libraries closed Monday

In accordance with the city’s Snow Emergency Procedures, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has declared a snow emergency for the City of Somerville to go into effect at 5 a.m. on Mon., Feb. 8.  During snow emergencies, parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street only (unless otherwise posted). Cars not moved by 4 a.m. Fri. morning will be subject to ticketing and towing. Residents unable to find a parking space on the odd-numbered side of the street may park in any municipal or school parking lot for the duration of the emergency. Full snow emergency and snow removal policies may be found on the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/snow.

Seeking, Now Found!  Teachers with Great Ideas to Teach Children Math in Somerville!

Many teachers have great ideas on how to make their classrooms a better place for their students to learn math.  The teachers’ ideas frequently outrun the budget schools have for supplies and their own ability to subsidize their classroom.  The Somerville Mathematics Fund tries to fill this need through the generosity of their donors:  John Bullock, Jay Landers and Jasper Lawson, the Apple Tree Fund supported multiple grants and Ersin Dur, William Kuhlman, Winter Hill Bank and Rebecca Wood-Spagnoli each sponsored a teacher’s grant.  The following teachers won grants to encourage and support mathematics achievement in the classrooms of Somerville.