The Somerville Allied Council and the City of Somerville invite everyone to the annual Veterans Day Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11 at Dilboy VFW Post on Summer Street in Davis Square. Please consider bringing a used and unneeded cell phone and donating it to Cell Phones for Soldiers. A donation box will be available at the memorial service.

Ward 5 ResiStat community meeting will be held tonight at the Kennedy School at 6:30 p.m.  ResiStat meetings are an opportunity for you to learn more about things happening in your neighborhood – including development in Winter Hill – as well as ask questions and share your ideas with the Mayor, elected and city officials, and your neighbors.

Sen. Jehlen’s bill S.294 would call a three-year moratorium on test score-based sanctions against schools and districts.

A group of legislators recently called for a moratorium on the punitive uses of standardized tests, citing a “perfect storm” that has undermined the credibility of the state’s test-based accountability system.

In Massachusetts, low scores on standardized tests lead to severe sanctions meted out to schools and districts, including school closures and district takeovers. Low scores can keep high school students from getting their diplomas even if they pass all their courses. Student scores are also factored into teacher evaluation.

By Maureen Bastardi

There are so many beautiful things about Thailand. Just ask Chu Race, who is a native of that country and a weekly participant in the Cross Street Center’s English Conversation group. In Thailand, Chu explains, it’s common to see fruits and vegetables beautifully sculpted into flowers and art. People then use the creations decorations for plates, for their home, and in their food.

Crossing Guards provide essential public safety by ensuring safe student crossing at intersections along the routes to school.

The future chefs and restaurateurs of Somerville High School are learning the ins and outs of the business while serving up delicious gastronomic delights for the patrons at the Highlander Café.

By Matt Carli

At the eastern end of Somerville High School, across from the intersection of Highland and Vinal Ave., the only hint that a gourmet restaurant is tucked away inside are a few tables covered with white cloth that can just be spied through the school’s large windows.

Somerville Neighborhood News is a community service production of Somerville Community Access Television and the SNN team produces a bi-weekly newscast.

Can you spare your green thumb this Saturday? Before you stop by the‪#‎SquareFlair‬ party at 2, join your neighbors around the city planting bulbs that will sprout in the spring.

By Jim Clark

Police were dispatched to the TJ Maxx store at the Assembly Square Marketplace last week on reports that an uncooperative alleged shoplifter was being held by store security.

Upon arrival, the officers proceeded to the security office where they were met by store personnel who were apparently engaged in something of a standoff with the detained suspect.

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)

Somerville’s Inspectional Services Department provides critical services to our community as an extension of our public safety departments. Whether ensuring that construction meets code and buildings are safe for people, maintaining our quality of life by enforcing important regulations for everything from trash disposal to snow removal, or holding restaurants to high standards of cleanliness and food preparation, ISD is on the frontline when it comes to our community’s safety and health. Because these functions are so critical, five years ago I sought an independent examination of ISD by consultant Zucker Systems that detailed where the department needed reform. Since then and especially since the arrival of ISD Director Goran Smiljic, the department has made significant progress in addressing the areas detailed in that independent report. Upsetting the status quo naturally always leads to some criticism, and we welcome constructive criticism that helps us identify where we need to do more. That said, I want to set the record straight on some of the anonymous criticism that has appeared in the Times, and lay out the facts about ISD’s performance today.