— Photo by Jon Seamans

Seven-year-olds Natalia Villareal and Brynn Barker of Somerville work on their creation at the annual Fairy House Building event held April 18 by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at Schoolmaster Hill in Franklin Park.  Children are provided with natural materials and encouraged to make homes for magical woodland creatures at the whimsical family event.

Bank surveillance image of robbery suspect.

Update: The FBI Boston Violent Crimes Task Force and the City of Somerville are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect in yesterday’s bank robbery in Davis Square. Anyone with information should call the FBI Boston Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force at 857-386-2000. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.

By Jim Clark

State and local police, as well as FBI personnel, are searching for a  suspect who reportedly fired gunshots while engaged in an attempted robbery at Middlesex Federal Savings in Somerville. Authorities are urging area residents to stay indoors and exercise caution as the search for the suspect continues.

The robbery took place at 9:57 a.m. on Wednesday. Witnesses said that the suspect fired a shot in the air as he entered the bank and later shot at a police officer who engaged the suspect. The officer was uninjured, according to police, and the suspect immediately fled the scene on foot.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the Home Depot on Mystic Ave. on reports of a possible shoplifter in the store.

The Loss Prevention Officer notified the officers while en route that a man, later identified by police as Steven Garcia, of Boston, who had been previously trespassed for shoplifting was inside the store.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

We recently watched the Ball Square Bowling Alley come down to make way for the new Green Line station. As Somerville has gone through many changes in my lifetime, I’m happy that some of old Somerville became part of a new Somerville.

On May 3, 4 and 5, Somerville Open Studios celebrates its 21st year as more than 300 artists across the city open their studios during one of the largest single weekend open studio events in the nation.

Somerville bursts at the seams with art. From fashion to film to interactive art, there is something for everyone. The annual SOS weekend continues to inspire and enchant the art-loving public as artists open their doors in this family friendly event. Visit home studios and commercial buildings to see a wide range of artists, artwork and creative space. Some participating artists show in the community space at Arts at the Armory, Saturday and Sunday at 191 Highland Avenue. Organized entirely by participating artists and their loyal supporters, this citywide event showcases both established and emerging artists working across a broad range of fine art and craft – painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, jewelry, clay, glass, furniture, and installation art – anything you might want to explore is here in the ‘Ville.

A group of 60 Boy Scouts hiked the Minutemen’s Pursuit Trail to Prospect Hill Tower on April 19.

By Judy Carlson

Shortly after sunrise on Friday, April 19, as predictions of rainy weather gave way to a pleasantly overcast, breezy day, some 60 Boy Scouts and adult leaders met to hike in the historic pathway of events of April 19, 1775.

Sean Donaghy of Fossil Free Somerville addressed the City Council, speaking in favor of the resolution to urge the state to pass its fossil fuel divestment measures.

By Jim Clark

A resolution was put forward at the latest regular meeting of the Somerville City Council which urges the Massachusetts state legislature to adopt measures H3662/S636 to enable independent public retirement systems to use their prudent judgment regarding fossil fuel divestment.

The National Bike Month Kick-Off in Somerville was held on April 28. — Photos by Jackson Ellison

By Jackson Ellison

May is National Bike Month, which is intended to help spread the health and environmental benefits of riding a bike. The Somerville Bike Committee hosted a Bike Month Kick-Off celebration.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan joined other regional officials in filing a lawsuit aimed at blocking immigration arrests in courthouses.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins, the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), and the Chelsea Collaborative filed a groundbreaking lawsuit on Monday demanding an end to federal immigration enforcement in and around Massachusetts courthouses.

The Somerville Chamber of Commerce monthly After Business Hours this month is set for Thursday, May 2, at the Flatbread Company, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Contact the Chamber to make your reservation.

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Driving around Somerville these past several weeks and months has been torture. What with the detours, construction of bridges and the vast amount of pot holes that are everywhere, it has been a major headache. Who plans this to all happen at the same time? The Ball Square bridge closed, Washington St. bridge closed, and now soon the Medford St. bridge will be closed. Then you have Union Square, which is just horrible to get through unless it’s 3:00 a.m. What person is responsible for a city which is less than four miles square with a population of 78K to 80K and makes it so difficult to get around. Regarding the pot holes, the City Councilors are now telling people to call 311. They can’t or won’t do anything. In days not too far in the past, the Aldermen got a call and the pot hole was filled. We hear one City Councilor has multiple pot holes on his street. Wonder if he called 311?