STV, a nationally recognized transportation design firm, will serve as the lead designer for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) $1.3 billion Green Line Light Rail Extension (GLX), as part of the design-build team led by the Fluor Corporation/Middlesex Corporation/Herzog Contracting Corp./Balfour Beatty joint venture (GLX Constructors).

(l-to-r) Vice President of Development David Hirschberg, Manager of Institutional Giving Joelle Barton Nims, Senior Vice President of Services Nancy Mahan & President/CEO Bill Sprague celebrate CASPAR/Bay Cove Human Services receiving a Sustaining Grant from Cummings Foundation.

CASPAR, a homelessness and addiction recovery services provider working on the front line of the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts, is one of 33 local nonprofits awarded a total of $10 million from Cummings Foundation through its new Sustaining Grants program, which provides funding for up to 10 years. Bill Sprague, President & CEO of Bay Cove Human Services/CASPAR represented the nonprofit at a May 3 awards night at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn.

Innovation Hub host Kara Miller (right) met with Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services client Louisa Solano to discuss the Music & Memory program. Produced at WGBH, Innovation Hub is a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast.

By Nathan Lamb

A Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) program that uses music to improve the quality of life for older adults was recently featured on a nationally-syndicated public radio show.

By Jim Clark

~Photos by Bobbie Toner

A three-alarm fire broke out at a Tufts-owned 3-story home on Teele St. in Somerville on Saturday.

According to reports, sleeping students were awakened by a neighbor who spotted the blaze that appeared to have originated on the porch of the building.

The Ward Aldermen along with the At-Large BOA representatives are kicking off the 2018 Block Party Challenge. Residents can contact their ward alderman or Stephanie Hirsch (stephanie@stephaniehirsch.org) for more information.  Their  goal this year is to increase the number of block parties held throughout the city. Block parties are easy to organize and a great way to build community.

More about the effort and FAQs on organizing block parties are below and here: http://www.somervilletogether.com/blockpartychallenge

Thirty-fourth Middlesex District State Rep. Christine Barber.

House budget package increases women’s commission funding, upholds MassHealth coverage

State Representative Christine P. Barber of Somerville and Medford joined her House colleagues in voting last week to pass a $41.1 billion fiscal year 2019 budget package that includes critical investments in important programs and services across the Commonwealth.

The Somerville Arts Council and Somerville Media Center present an ArtsUnion and Cinema Somerville Short Film Fest on Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. held in Union Square plaza or indoors at SMC (in case of inclement weather). Any further questions, please contact Erica Jones at ejones@scatvsomerville.org.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

A schoolwide clothing swap was held at the West Somerville Neighborhood School cafeteria on Monday, April. Among the items donated to support the West Somerville Neighborhood School Community were clothing, shoes, toys, books and home goods.

By Phil Chisholm

Today I, or should I say the City of Somerville, lost one its beloved residents, Tony Matarazzo of Tony Matarazzo’s Barber Shop ‘s at 294 Broadway, Somerville.

He was a friend to all that came into his barber shop. Always a friendly “How you feeling or what do you think about what’s happening to our city “.