By Sanjeev Selvarajah

The only movie to beat Iron Man 3’s second-biggest opening weekend ever is unsurprisingly last year’s The Avengers. Marvel is doing tremendously well with Disney as custodian. As they enter into phase two, post Avengers, Disney has successfully shuffled around the creative-heads like Iron Man’s previous installment’s director Jon Favreau who takes an executive producer and actor credit in lieu of losing his position of director. With all due credit, Jon Favreau made Iron Man what it is today, but new director Shane Black adds meat on top of meat for a clever and heavy-action script.

Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Director of the city’s Housing Division Dana LeWinter announce that the Somerville-Arlington Continuum of Care, a collaborative planning body of local homeless providers that coordinates housing and services for homeless families and individuals, was awarded $2,334,299 in funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for homeless assistance programs following the 2012 application process. Additionally, the Continuum filed a proposal for a new permanent housing program that would provide housing and supportive services to ten chronically homeless individuals. Those results are expected to be announced later this spring. The Continuum was awarded $2,237,821 in 2011, $2,235,913 in 2010, $2,233, 788 in 2009 and $1.9 million in 2008.

The Somerville Historic Preservation Commission, often in partnership with other local organizations, is sponsoring a variety of events in the month of May as part of Preservation Month.  Below is this weekend’s events.

Part 2:  What makes neighborhoods walkable
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By William C. Shelton

 (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Our 19^th Century ancestors who built Somerville’s streets, structures and squares gave no more thought to walkability than a fish gives to water. They created a built environment that met their needs, and they were walkers.

By Jim Clark

Police responded to a call from the Walgreen’s on Beacon St. that a suspected shoplifter had fled the store.

The responding officer was told that a woman was observed putting five cans of baby formula, each one valued at $16, into a bag and leaving the store without paying.

The Alibrandis bullpen is expected to play a major role in another great upcoming season. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

The Somerville Alibrandis Baseball Club has been unstoppable for the past three years. They plan to make it another great season on the baseball diamond with some extra slugging power and pitching speed this year.

The veteran team has gotten an early start with more batting practice and scrimmaging than ever before. The team is looking forward to the upcoming opening game, which is on Friday, May 10 at Trum Field at 8 p.m. The Alibrandis will start their season with a game against the Brighton Black Sox.

By Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

In case you haven’t heard, Somerville is in the midst of a bit of a baby boom. The past six years have seen an upward spike in the number of births for Somerville residents. We’re approaching more than 1,000 births per year – we had 970 in 2012 – which is a figure we have not seen since the 1970s.

The new entryway will be a welcome addition to the Somerville Museum.

The Wallace Foundation has awarded the Somerville Museum $85,000 in matching funds to support construction of a new handicapped-accessible entrance and first floor restroom.

By Izak Shapiro

On May 2, Davis Square residents gathered in the Community Baptist Church on College Avenue for the Ward 6 ResiStat meeting. Additional rows of chairs had to be created as the room filled with people, the high turnout no surprise anymore as Somerville seems to be implementing changes at a rapid pace while the public tries to keep up.

Everybody is Mexican on Cinco de Mayo.
– Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane and Linjing Cheng

Partygoers sporting sombreros, ponchos, and other Mexican regalia went “loco” over tacos, ice cream, and margaritas during the Taza Chocolate Factory Store’s Cinco de Mayo festival on May 5.