— Photo by John Borzain

Betsy Bowman, of Somerville, is a Pan-Mass Challenge cyclist and cancer survivor who was honored by the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, June 15 during PMC Day at Fenway Park. Bowman was among other cancer survivors who rode their bikes around the warning track in a pre-game ceremony during which the PMC’s 35th anniversary logo was unveiled on the Green Monster. On August 2 and 3, together with 5,800 cyclists, Bowman will ride up to 190 miles across Massachusetts in the 35th annual Pan-Mass Challenge. This year’s goal is to raise $40 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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)

I was very proud to hear my son’s name called at his high school graduation ceremony. Two down, one to go.

There is a little bit of farmer in all of us, and now we can prove it as urban agriculture initiatives are taking root in the city.

By Jim Clark

A “Food Production and Distribution Triangle” is now in place in the City of Somerville thanks to two newly adopted initiatives that will connect the newly created Somerville Innovation Farm, a hydroponics based learning farm at the Edgerly School, the South Street Farm, and the mobile farmers market, which services food desserts and low income residents.

The city joined forces with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Public Schools, Shape Up Somerville and the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Garden Institute in implementing the program.

Joe’s Jazz and Blues Fest 2014, June 21 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A free concert at Powderhouse Park .

By Cathleen Twardzik

Joe’s Jazz and Blues Festival is returning this year. Mayor Curtatone, who was a trumpet player in the Somerville High School Jazz Band, came up with the idea.

The Somerville Arts Council (SAC) event will occur on June 21 from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. A free concert at Powderhouse Park will take place.

 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)

Partners HealthCare has submitted plans for its Assembly Square Development, and there’s good new and bad news.

Mayor Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Alderman have reviewed and approved six members of the Somerville Fire Department for promotion to higher ranks. The appointments were made official at last week’s General Meeting of the Board. The promotions went to: Michael Avery, to Deputy Fire Chief; Sean Tierney, to Deputy Fire Chief; Gregory French, to Fire Captain; Steven Mauras, to Fire Captain; Timothy Flynn, to Fire Lieutenant; and Paul French, to Fire Lieutenant.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The East Somerville Community School presented its annual Spring Concert on Friday morning, June 13. Students played and sang for the public free of charge in the ESCS Auditorium.

Somerville Neighborhood News is a production of Somerville Community Access Television, made by professional journalists, volunteers and staff. The half-hour news show has as its mission to provide a lively, informative newscast focusing on the events, issues and information impacting Somerville residents.

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)

The redevelopment of key blocks of Union Square and Boynton Yards is one of the most important and sensitive projects our city will undertake in its history. Through the community discussions that yielded our SomerVision comprehensive plan and the rezoning of Union Square, the community charged us with specific goals for the neighborhood. We have been told to create new types of development, economic growth and employment opportunities, while making the neighborhood more walkable, bikeable and easier to traverse. We have also been told to balance this revitalization by preserving what we already love about Union Square, retaining its identity, and creating more housing that has a range of affordability, using sustainable development and adding more public green space. Picking the right partner to help us achieve these goals means we have to do our homework.

With recent renovations to the site complete, Albion Playground will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 19. Renovations to the playground included: a new concrete retaining wall at the grass slope; reducing the grades at the steep portions of the grass hill; new sod; repairs to the irrigation and drainage system; two new trees; tree and shrub pruning; and a new sealcoat surface at the water spray area.

For more information about this or other city parks and open spaces, visit www.somervillema.gov/ departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space.