Let’s face it we all need food to survive. That being said, why not enjoy your food?

Over the past 20-25 years eating habits have continued to evolve. Eating pre-packaged frozen meals, grabbing fast food or following the popular “fad” diet of the time has become our way of life.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Computers and tablets were humming with programming activity in classrooms and school libraries throughout the District last week, as nearly every student in the Somerville Public Schools (SPS) participated in the Somerville Hour of Code event. An estimated 4,600 students throughout the district learned the basics of computer science during Computer Science Week (December 8-14), each logging at least one hour of computer coding during the week, thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 100 volunteers and district library/media teachers. These 4,600+ Somerville students are among the more than 76 million students world-wide who have tried at least one hour of code so far this year in a global learning event movement.

 By William C. Shelton

(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)

In October, Mayor Curtatone announced “Sustainable Neighborhoods,” an initiative to maintain Somerville’s housing affordability and economic diversity. The good news for me is that the city will finally mobilize the full range of tactics that Mayor Capuano’s Affordable Housing Task Force recommended sixteen years ago.

(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)

Once again Somerville has surrendered a giant plot of prime real estate to luxury condos, in this case the property behind the Stop & Shop, between Garfield Ave and Cross Street. The city was supposedly obligated to reserve this parcel for commercial use, but after two and a half years of haggling, the planning board finally threw in the towel last Thursday. There will be NO commercial use at the Cross street site, none, zero. The lone dissenting vote was from Joseph Favaloro, and he prefaced it by emphasizing that many citizens of East Somerville still bitterly oppose this project, even after years of marketing and greenwash from the developers.

The Somerville Kiwanis Club held its annual Head Start Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 9 at the Holiday Inn. Santa Claus greeted and met with seventy Head Start children and their families. All children were provided a gift sponsored by individual Kiwanis Club members. Pizza was provided and a good time was held by all.

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)

In September, I vetoed an ordinance that sought to set tough restrictions on campaign contributions from developers and others not because I disagreed with the intentions, but because I believed that as written the ordinance would be unenforceable. We should be grateful that Somerville has such a progressive Board of Aldermen that won’t wait for others to undertake the reforms that our state and nation so badly need. We share the same values: That elected officials should represent everyone, not only the biggest campaign contributors, and that even the appearance of influence can negatively impact our community.

Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin urged the Board to pass the proposal to support SOA’s recommendations for opiate addiction treatment and prevention.

By Jim Clark

A proposal sponsored by Ward One Alderman Matthew McLaughlin and Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti that the Somerville Board of Alderman support the proposals of Somerville Overcoming Addiction regarding opiate abuse was approved at the last regular meeting of the Board on Dec. 11.

Residents and visitors to trolleys and bicycles this weekend to soak up the illuminated atmosphere of the city’s festively decorated neighborhoods this year’s Illuminations Tour kicked off. — Photo by Douglas Yu

By Douglas Yu

The houses in Somerville tried to out do each other as the 18th Illuminations Tour kicked off on Saturday night. Each house seemed brighter than the one before it. Six trollies lined up outside of City Hall, ready to entertain over a thousand participants with the festive lights and Christmas-themed features that decorate the houses in the neighborhoods and stories about the history of the city.

Open House! Visit the Pets In Need Animal Shelter this weekend at 2 Bradley Street, Somerville, MA 02145, from noon to two on Saturday and Sunday.

— Photos by Donald Norton

By Jim Clark

While on duty blocking traffic in support of the ‘Jungle Bell Run’ marathon race last Sunday, a Somerville police officer’s cruiser was smashed into by another vehicle while the race was underway.