Don’t forget two events happening this weekend. The City of Somerville and Union Square Main Streets invite everyone to the 4th annual “Mayor’s Fitness Challenge,” which will kick off with a celebration and Fitness Fair on Saturday, April 13 at the Somerville High School Field House, 81 Highland Ave.  The Fitness Challenge encourages community members to pledge to embody the Shape Up Somerville motto, “Eat Smart, Play Hard, Move More,” by making smarter food choices and increasing daily physical activity. The kickoff event will be held at the Somerville High School Gymnasium from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on April 13, and all members of the public are invited.

Representative Denise Provost, (left), Marylin Eastwood, East Branch Librarian, (right)

By Cathleen Twardzik

The awards for Somerville’s Woman of Excellence, as well as of Best Service Provider to Women were presented recently at the Somerville Commission for Women’s Annual Women’s History Month Reception.

Most of the world still views America as the land of opportunity, and one where freedom of expression is held as an inalienable right of the people.

For some, however, the ability to ply their chosen trade or sideline can be thwarted due to unclear or unfair regulations.

By Mike Stoller

There is a good vibe surrounding the Somerville boys’ tennis team, which will try to send the same message this season as it did last year to its Greater Boston League rivals: that it is indeed for real.

Liz Adams and Rob Noyes in the Post Meridian Radio Players’ production of “Red Shift: Interplanetary Do Gooder,” performing at the Responsible Grace Church of Somerville. ~Photo by Jay Sekora

By Terry Clarey

Today people have a large number of ways in which to access entertainment including desktops, laptops, smartphones, e-readers and other mobile electronic media devices. But in the days between the invention of the radio and wide spread television ownership most people in this country could only get their electronic entertainment from a small wooden box with dials and transistors to listen to stories of adventure, comedy, horror, and suspense with only their imagination to allow them to visualize the scene.

Since the Ibbetson Street Press and Endicott College formed an affiliation a few years ago, we have tried to reach out to the creative writing student body as well as the faculty. During this time we have published student interviews with such accomplished poets and writers as Marge Piercy, Maxine Kumin, Diana Der-Hovanessian, and others in our literary magazine Ibbetson Street. Students, as well as faculty have seen their own poems published in my column in The Somerville News. Students have written book reviews on our popular literary blog Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene, and in the bible of the small press itself: The Small Press Review.

Well April is the most rainy month. And rain can be a metaphor for many things. Endicott College Creative Writing student Jason L. Roberts has a lot to say on the subject.

Mayor Joe and a panel of judges sample healthy food items for the Food Challenge at last year’s event. ~Photo by Jackie Rossetti.

Kick Off is April 13

Arrests:
*

Brandon Sheffield, 26, of 178 Boston Ave., April 1, 2:16 p.m., arrested at 220 Washington St. on warrant charges of mayhem, armed assault to murder, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Gilmar Deoliveira, 25, of 10 River Rd., April 1, 5:16 p.m., arrested at 255 Pearl St. on charges of assault and battery, and witness intimidation.

The City of Somerville will host an electronic waste recycling event on Saturday, April 13 at the Department of Public Works, 1 Franey Road, from 9:00am to noon. This event is open to Somerville residents and businesses.