Public hearing scheduled in  response to citizens’ petition urging the City of Somerville to divest its pension funds from the world’s 200 largest fossil fuel  companies
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In response to a petition signed  by 129 registered Somerville voters, the City of Somerville’s Board of Aldermen  has announced a public hearing to discuss a resolution urging the city to divest its pension funds from fossil fuel companies. The hearing, scheduled for  Thursday March 13 at 6:00 p.m., marks the culmination of a yearlong effort led  by Fossil Free Somerville, the community group who organized the petition  effort. The proposed resolution urges the Somerville Retirement Board to  immediately cease any new investments in fossil fuel companies, and fully divest  from direct holdings and commingled funds within five years. While the decision  of whether or not to divest ultimately rests with the retirement board, approval  by the Board of Aldermen would communicate democratic, grassroots support for  the strategy.

Somerville Youth Softball is looking for athletes willing to try playing softball.  All girls ages 7-15 are welcome to come down to the batting cages at Edgerly Education Center (8 Bonair Street, entrance to gym on Otis & Cross Street) for in-person registrations or register online at www.SomervilleSoftball.com.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Matthew McLaughlin invite you to the third public meeting for the design of Symphony Park, located on the corner of Pearl and Florence Streets in East Somerville. Based on community input, the park is being designed as a neighborhood pocket park containing amenities for all age groups and abilities. The meeting will take place in the Community Room at Bryant Manor (75 Myrtle Street) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. For more information and to view slideshows from the first two meetings, visit the city’s website at: http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/symphony-park

Over 200 will attend Teen Empowerment’s Celebration of Hope and Caring on March 12, 2014 at the Center for the Arts at the Armory at 6:30 p.m. The event, chaired by Somerville Aldermen Jack Connolly and Mary Jo Rossetti, honors Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the City of Somerville for their dedication to improving youth development outcomes. It also marks Teen Empowerment’s tenth anniversary of working in Somerville. The Celebration will include performances by youth, a silent auction and interactive activities for the diverse crowd, and hopes to raise $60,000.

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)

In 2009, I did a story about shopping in Davis Square. Someone left this comment: “I had a relative, Hyman Kimmel, who owned a store called Mickey Finn’s in Somerville.  Do you know how I could find more data about this store or the owner?”

I couldn’t find anything about Hymen, but I sure gathered a lot of info about Mickey Finn’s. It was one of my favorite stores in the square back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. We seem to recall that it was right next to the Smoke Shop.

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.