The Somerville Public Library announces a new book discussion series entitled, “Muslim Journeys,” beginning on Thursday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. with a discussion of Jim al-Khalili’s book, House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance. The program is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association, and aims to familiarize the American public with Islam and the cultural heritage of Islamic civilizations around the world. The May 30 discussion will be led by Tufts University Professor Malik Mufti, a professor of international relations and politics of the Middle East. The program is free and open to the public. Partners include the Center for Arabic Culture and Tufts University.

The $2 million quarter-mile project will extend the popular pathway from its current end at Cedar Street to Lowell Street, the site of a future MBTA Green Line transit station.

The City of Somerville is about to grow one step closer to its vision of a bicycle and pedestrian path that connects the city to Boston. For the first time in 18 years, a new section of the Community Path in Somerville is under construction.

Statistics show that over 43 million people in the U.S. are giving care to someone 55 or older, and almost 15 million care for someone who struggles with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. This is a huge responsibility that often leaves individuals feeling overwhelmed and “hanging by a thread.” Caregiver burnout mirrors the symptoms of stress and depression, including feeling blue, irritability, sickness, and changes in diet and sleeping habits.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

No, this isn’t a story about pizza. It’s a story about those precious photographs that are part of all of our lives. They are in albums, shoeboxes, envelopes and drawers. They are a look back into our pasts, the way we used to be. Frozen in time, captured for eternity.

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
*

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.