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.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The Nave Gallery and the Somerville Arts Council presented the 2nd Somerville Squeezebox Slam on Saturday, June 14, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.

The celebration of accordions, button boxes and other freestanding reed instruments were a hit with the appreciative crowds that gathered to listen.

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

In what has been a busy few weeks for the City of Somerville, the Board of Aldermen gathered for a regular meeting this past Thursday, June 12, 2014 to discuss general goings on. After an approval of the minutes for the Regular Meeting that took place on May 8, the BOA covered a citation that was issued by the entire board to commend Richard Knibbs, a long-time mentor of, and advocate for, the youth community in the city.

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Matt Malone toured Winter Hill Innovation School last week and came away very impressed. — Photos by Jack Adams.

By Jack Adams

On Thursday, June 12, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Matt Malone visited the Winter Hill Innovation School as part of his tour of Massachusetts innovation schools. After observing several classrooms, Malone said he was impressed.

This Thursday evening is “3rd THURSDAY BLOCK PARTY: RHYHTM OF THE EAST” from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Chuckie Harris Park. Join the third Block Party called ‘Rhythm of the East!’ This block party includes performances by SHS Jazz, Guitar & World Percussion Ensembles, Somerville Symphony Orkestar and more! Bring a picnic and the whole family and enjoy this fantastic event!

Somerville was well-represented at Saturday’s LGBT Pride Parade in Boston.

By Ryan Thomas

Somerville residents let their ROYGBIV colors show at Boston’s LGBT Pride Parade last Saturday. The parade, held between Copley Plaza and Boston Common, also marked the city’s 44th annual celebration of LGBT pride.

By Jim Clark

Police received reports of a stolen donation jar last week and were advised that the suspected thief was caught in the act on surveillance video.

The incident reportedly took place at Bull McCabe’s, on Somerville Ave., June 10, as the club was sponsoring a fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund.

(L to R) Alibrandis first base coach John Moore along with players Kevin Salines and Anthony Perry. — Photo courtesy Cameron Lynch

By Ben Cassidy

Prior to last Sunday’s game against the Stoneham Sabers, the Somerville Alibrandis were experiencing one of the many incongruous baseball phenomena that are impenetrable to casual observers of the sport and beloved by its most fervent fans: Though the Alibrandis had won their previous two contests, buoyed by excellent pitching and flawless fielding, they weren’t hitting well. In fact, they were hardly hitting at all; in its two victories, the squad had tallied just four runs.

Our guest columnist this week is Somerville Bagel Bard  David P. Miller.

Panel discussion report by David P. Miller

McLean Hospital, the famous psychiatric hospital located in Belmont, Mass., has been the temporary habitation of many creative people. Among the best-known are the poets Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath, with Anne Sexton as a short-term visitor. Doug Holder, poet, professor at Endicott College, and co-founder of Somerville’s Bagel Bards, has led poetry groups at McLean on both closed and open wards since 1982. At the Massachusetts Poetry Festival in Salem, on May 3, 2014, Holder facilitated Poets in the Asylum, a panel discussion with poets Kathleen Spivack and Bob Clawson.

The Bagel Bards, a literary group founded by Doug Holder and Harris Gardner in 2004 is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. It meets every Saturday morning at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Square.  Here is the introduction to our 9th Bagel Bard anthology due out in June 2014.