Through State grant and community partnerships, South Street Farm expansion, creation of Somerville Innovation Farm enhance the City’s Urban Ag program

On Monday, June 9, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Greg Watson will join Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Public Schools. Shape Up Somerville and the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Garden Institute to cut the ribbon on two exciting new urban agriculture initiatives in the City of Somerville, creating a “Food Production and Distribution Triangle” connecting 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.

By Renée Scott

(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 government promotes our city as a “great place to live, work, play and raise a family.” For the most part it’s true, which is why we all live here. But there are too few places to play.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

A host of activities and events took place throughout the weekend, as well as opportunities to indulge in the nearly two dozen retail outlets, dining options and experiences.

Five Finalists Named in the 6^th Annual PSA Project

Five student-produced videos from four local school districts have been selected as finalists in the 2014 PSA Project, hosted Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.

By Jim Clark

Members of the police Gang/Anti-Crime unit observed a group of individuals reportedly smoking marijuana in Edward Leathers Park last week and called for backup as they approached them to investigate.

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)

Last Sunday we kicked off the fifth annual SomerStreets series with Carnaval at SomerStreets on East Broadway. That afternoon, the streets of East Somerville weren’t filled with cars, but with people dancing, playing music, walking, running and biking. It’s the start of another summer in Somerville and we have a calendar overflowing with fun and free outdoor activities that bring neighbors together. SomerStreets will come to Highland Avenue in July, to Holland Street in September and Somerville Avenue in October. The Somerville Arts Council has a number of great events coming up this month, including the History of Tap dance performance this Saturday in Magoun Square and the second Somerville Squeezebox Slam on Saturday, June 14, with accordionists performing around Somerville and coming together in Davis Square for a concert.

Two of Somerville’s newest parks, Chuckie Harris Park and Quincy Street Open Space, won recognition at the annual awards gala of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA), the oldest and one of the largest landscape architecture society chapters in the U.S., which also presented Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone with its highest award for his leadership in design, transportation and sustainability.

Jim Halloran announces move to DPW. Public process to be utilized in search for new Director

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that following  an announcement by the City’s Superintendent of Recreation, Jim Halloran, of his intent to accept a position within the Somerville Department of Public Works’ Weights and Measures division, the city will conduct a public search for the next Superintendent, effective immediately. Halloran will assume his position at the DPW on July 1.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

The city’s fifth annual SomerStreets series kicked off for summer 2014 with “Carnaval @ SomerStreets” on East Broadway Sunday.

SomerStreets is the city’s take on the internationally renowned “open streets” concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running and other activities.