Community members of all ages are invited to watch and learn as sap from local sugar maple trees is boiled down into pure maple syrup over a warm fire. Attendees can expect to enjoy syrup-tasting, music, activities, and more! Waffles, syrup and T-shirts will be on sale. Join Groundwork Somerville  on March 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at  The Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville.

Somerville resident Beth Kaufman, right, will be running the 2014 Boston Marathon as part of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s team. All funds raised by Y Marathon team members will support the YMCA of Greater Boston’s teen programs.

Somerville’s Beth Kaufman considers herself one of the lucky ones. Last Marathon Monday, as she stood on Boylston Street, a block away from the bombs that struck Boston, she was able to flee from the scene of the tragedy physically unscathed.

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)

When I announced in my inaugural address that we would launch a new community budget process, which we held over the course of three public meetings last week, I said that when I submit a proposal to the Board of Aldermen, it will be our budget, reflective of what we as a community want to collectively accomplish. But what is a budget? It’s more than just an accounting spreadsheet. A municipal budget might be the clearest indication of what a community values. You can tell which communities value the arts and culture, getting kids active, keeping their community healthy, and listening to residents by which communities invest in those areas. We’ve been fortunate in recent years that, despite cuts to state aid and an economic downturn, we didn’t have to resort to slashing important community services like recreation and school athletics, like many surrounding communities. We even increased services in some areas. And though we have one of the most transparent and detailed budgets in the state, it’s the community’s needs that are important to us as a city, and we always strive for even more transparency and community input.

The Old School Game show beckons you to take the plunge into their fishbowl of fun and games. – Photo by Jason Walsh

By Erica Scharn

For its Valentine-themed show Feb. 23, Old School Game Show demonstrated its love for all things Patrick Swayze with an interpretive dance and a mullet.

By Jim Clark

Police drug investigation officers focused their attention on a particular individual last Saturday, as he appeared to behave in a manner consistent with someone waiting to make an illegal drug purchase, according to police reports.

By David R. Smith

The Somerville High School Machine Technology Program is the recipient of $10,000 in tools donated to the program by the late Bill Wright, a research and development machinist who passed away last fall after a short battle with cancer.

President Obama in his budget released this week recommended federal funding to support the Green Line Extension (GLX), marking a significant milestone for a project that will bring thousands of new jobs to the region and create new economic opportunity.

The President’s proposal includes $100 million in Federal Fiscal Year 2015 and paves the way for agreement with the federal government for greater support over the next several years.

Local kids got a healthy dose of creative empowerment as MakerState and the Somerville Arts Council brought the Somerville Builds: A Hands-On Kids Maker Event to Union Square this weekend. – Photo by By Nidhi Mathson

By Nidhi Mathson

Children from Somerville got a taste of what a future at companies like Google or Apple could look like as they convened in Union Square this past Sunday to learn how to make LED pop-up books, stop-animation movies and participate in guided workshops at the Somerville Builds: A Hands-On Kids Maker Event.

By David R. Smith

Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne, in what was first listed as an order but subsequently changed to a resolution, requested the city explore changing the snow-emergency policy regarding parking, In particular, she would like to see the rules alternate from one year to the next so that emergency parking is not always required to be on the odd-numbered side of the street, which is the current policy. Instead, she would like to see odd-numbered one year and even-numbered the next.