The North Street Veterans Playground is about to get bigger and better, according to city planners. – Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Tiffani Westbrook

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane hosted a community meeting  to discuss the renovation plans for the North Street Veterans Playground. The proposed design would add approximately 4500 sq. ft. of additional land to the existing park, offering a more inviting and inspiring area with more trees and green space that will be 100% accessible to residents with disabilities.

The recent efforts by the Davis Square Streetscape group to bring together residents and city planners for the purpose of seeking solid direction in the future development of the area are to be lauded. It is always encouraging to see citizens involved in community planning, and civic leaders receptive to the input given.

The Somerville Alibrandis are going strong heading into mid-summer play.

By Benjamin Klein

The first-place Somerville Alibrandis finished June with two wins and now have a four-game winning streak after defeating the Malden Bulldogs and South Boston Saints to start July.

Somerville welcomed the second-place Bulldogs to Trum Field last Monday and, just like they have for most of the season, the Alibrandis scored first with a run in the first inning. Malden would respond with a run of their own in the top of the second, but Somerville struck for three in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Poor Old Shine takes to the stage at Arts at the Armory this Thursday.

An Americana Dance Party will occur each Thursday in July from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Arts at the Armory. This free event will include food and different types of beer, all of which will be local, as well as music and dancing.

The Somerville News Person of the Week, Dave Lebahn.

Meet Dave Lebahn, a newly planted Somerville resident originally form Scranton, PA, where he grew up and attended and graduated from Bishop Hannon High School. David is recently married to our Publisher Emeritus Bob Publicover. Since moving here to his new permanent home in the ‘Ville, Dave has been going to school to become a Registered Nurse, presently half way through his classes.

By Jim Clark

While making a routine patrol of the area around 299 Broadway, a police patrol unit stopped to investigate an apparent instance of open container violations last Thursday afternoon.

– Photo by Donald Norton

A resident on Fellsway West has started getting the word out 13 months early to re-elect Mayor Joe Curtatone. The mayor must be impressed by such loyalty and devotion.

Poet Barbara Bialick is a member of Somerville’s Bagel Bards, and the author of the poetry collection Time Leaves ( Ibbetson Street Press).  You can see Barbara shopping in Davis Square on any given Saturday.

Officials set Aug. 11 as Styrofoam Recycling Day for city residents
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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Office of Sustainability and Environment Director David Lutes announced  that the City of Somerville has increased its recycling totals by 51 percent since the full adoption of zero-sort recycling in November 2011. The shift in recycling totals was most dramatic in East Somerville, where past recycling rates had not been as high as in other parts of Somerville. Under the new program, East Somerville has increased its totals by 88 percent.  Lutes also announced that the City will hold a Styrofoam Recycling Day from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, August 11 at the DPW Yard at One Franey Road.