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)

Before all the yogurt joints, restaurants and bars with great big windows, there were the native people of Somerville, or “Summahville,” as we pronounce it.  A lot of us are still here raising our third-, fourth-, fifth-generation kids. Those of us who grew up on the streets of Somerville in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s had our own way of talking (before we went to school and learnt to talk right!). You know what I’m sayin’? Bordering cities may have had similar phrases, sayings and styles of language, but we “stahted” it!

The 12th Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5Km sponsored by Marathon Sports & Mizuno is only days away now, taking place on March 16, 2014 in Somerville, Massachusetts.

There are 5000 people from all over New England and New York registered for the premier St. Padraig’s Day 5Km road race in New England that welcomes all!

Somerville High School hosts the 38^th annual Region IV Science Fair on Saturday, March 15 at the SHS Field House. An estimated 100 to 125 students representing 10 schools from metro north and west school districts will compete for an opportunity to advance to the Massachusetts State Science Fair at MIT in May. Forty-one students from Somerville High School qualified to participate at the 2014 Region IV Science Fair. Judging for the March 15 competition at Somerville High School will be from 9am to noon. More than 40 judges from local companies and colleges, including 17 from Tufts University, will judge Saturday’s regional entries.

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)

Rich opportunities for Union Square revitalization continue to emerge. But fully realizing them will require decision makers to resolve inherent, but as yet unarticulated, conflicts among their own visions and among key planning documents.

Marathon victim’s efforts bring girl to U.S. for surgery
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Thanks to the efforts of Karen Rand, Melissa Stefania Salinas (center) is finally getting the medical care she needs at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston.

By Max Sullivan

Since last winter, Boston Marathon bombing survivor and Somerville native Karen Rand has been pushing to bring a teenaged girl from El Salvador who desperately needs medical attention to the United States for treatment. Last Thursday, she finally made it to Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston.

Photo by WGBH/Lisa Abitbol

Somerville High School beat Nantucket High School in a first-round match on WGBH’s High School Quiz Show, which aired Saturday, March 8. Pictured are team members Celine Lessard-Brandt, Miles Bain, Graham Lessard-Brandt and John Iacovino.

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)

Data isn’t the end of debate. It’s the start. When I see a statistic like Somerville’s birth rate surpassing Massachusetts’ falling rate, or the city having a lower unemployment rate than the state and the nation but 85 percent of our workers leaving the city to go to their jobs, those aren’t answers. Rather, they beg questions: Why is our city’s birth rate growing? How do we have a low unemployment rate when most of our residents leave the city for work? We have to start by collecting the data—making decisions without data is like driving a car blindfolded. But once we have the data in hand, we have to ask the right questions, and asking the right questions means making that data available to everyone.

A skirmish over the fate of Ross Moffett’s iconic mural may be in the offing as the city, potential developers and concerned citizens negotiate a resolution to the question of where the work of art should ultimately reside.

By Jeremy F. van der Heiden

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a public meeting Thursday, March 6, to hear comments from the public regarding the impending sale of the Union Square Post Office, as well as the fate of the historic mural therein. Members of the Somerville Arts Council, the Board of Aldermen and the community at large attended the meeting to discuss the any adverse effects of the sale.

Groundwork Somerville holds Maple Syrup Boil-Down
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By Jack Adams

Somerville residents and people from as far as Connecticut gathered to witness Groundwork Somerville’s Maple Syrup Project Boil-Down at The Growing Center in Somerville this past Saturday. Groundwork Somerville’s “Green Team” demonstrated the syrup-making process, from tapping the sugar maple for sap to boiling the raw sap into syrup.

Public input sought on qualifications for next police chief
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The resignation last year of now former Police Chief Tom Pasquarello has sent the city on yet another search for a replacement, and the public is being invited to weigh in on their concerns about the process.

By David R. Smith

A sparsely attended meeting at the East Somerville Community School last Wednesday was held to solicit comments from residents on what qualities and qualifications they would like to see in their next police chief.