Vilma Sullivan asks one of the performers a couple of questions.

By Maureen Bastardi

Since April of 2015, older adults in Somerville have been able to witness some of the incredible talent residing at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The concerts take place in various, smaller concert venues and locations across the Berklee campus and feature faculty and students practicing their art as musicians and vocalists.

The New Orleans Suspects will be bringing their signature Crescent City sounds to Johnny D’s on Wednesday, January 20.

By Blake Maddux

As a musical unit, the Crescent City quintet The New Orleans Suspects has everything going for it. Its members include longtime Neville Brothers drummer “Mean” Willie Green, onetime Dirty Dozen Brass Band lead guitarist Jake Eckert, saxophonist and former James Brown bandleader Jeff Watkins, classically trained pianist C.R. Gruver, and bassist Reggie Scanlan.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon have announced that Christopher Carney, 43, of Austin, Texas was arraigned on Tuesday, January 12, 2016, in Woburn Superior Court on charges of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, indecent assault and battery (2 counts), assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered the defendant held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing on January 28, 2016.

Committee of residents, experts, advocates, and industry professionals develop bold and innovative recommendations to address housing affordability

From a proposal to establish a 1 percent real estate transfer fee to the expansion of tenants purchase rights, the recommendations in a report released this week by the City of Somerville Sustainable Neighborhoods Working Group propose innovative new approaches for increasing  housing affordability for Somerville residents and families.

Annual ceremony will include youth performances and essayists, Interfaith Choir, Poet Laureate and more.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Somerville Office of Commissions and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled, “Power to Impact Positive Change in our Community,” to be held on Monday, Jan. 18, in observance of national Martin Luther King Jr Day.

This coming Monday, Jan. 18 all City offices and public schools will be closed in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Trash and recycling pick up will be on a one-day delay for the week.

(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)

Dear Editor,

Since Congress continues to fail us, President Obama recently answered our call to reduce gun violence by taking executive actions that will save lives in cities nationwide and right here in Massachusetts.

The Somerville High School Girls Varsity basketball team played a game against Malden on Friday, January 8, at the SHS Fieldhouse. The score was 47 to 47 in regulation, with Malden taking it in overtime, 50 to 47. The team plays at Everett  this Friday at Everett High at 7 p.m.

By Jim Clark

A police officer on routine duty near Assembly Row last week was informed that a loss prevention agent from Saks Off 5th on Canal St. had phoned in a report of a woman concealing a pair of shoes in her bag and leaving the store without paying, accompanied by two female companions.

By Mayor 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)

During the past few decades, Somerville has worked hard to make itself a city that can deliver quality of life to its residents. We rightfully take pride in good schools, low crime, tree-lined neighborhoods, our ever-increasing number of parks and playgrounds, a diverse community and bustling city squares. There’s a lot to like about Somerville and, not surprisingly, it puts our limited living space in high demand. People who live here want to stay. People who don’t live here want to join us. Add to that the external pressure of our region’s rapidly rising housing prices and it makes housing affordability a clear and present challenge.