Let’s Talk About Race is a podcast and radio show hosted by Diane Wong which invites people from all backgrounds to engage in courageous conversations around issues related to race. Join host Diane Wong and Somerville Media Center by welcoming back a panel of the past years’ guests who will share their experiences and expertise on Saturday, January 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Somerville Media Center, 90 Union Square. Afterwards, join in for a community meal and participate in racial dialogues facilitated by the panelists.

The Somerville Office of Prevention and the Somerville Health & Human Services Department invite you to join in a World Café style presentation of the 2018 Somerville High School Student Health Survey results on Thursday, January 31, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Somerville High School Culinary Arts Bistro (use atrium entrance).

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

During Mayor Joseph Curtatone’s mid-term address on January 7, 2019, he discussed some of the successes and challenges Somerville has faced in battling the regional housing crisis. The excerpt below touches on some of the work done in 2018 and a look ahead at the work the City will be taking on. To read or watch the entirety of Mayor Curtatone’s speech, which includes information about other upcoming and ongoing initiatives like open space acquisition, support for Somerville’s youth, and improving transportation options, visit www.somervillema.gov/2019midterm.

In 2018 Somerville took significant strides toward addressing the affordable housing crisis we face along with the rest of the Greater Boston region. Yet we still have a lot more that remains to be done in 2019, and this could become a watershed year in terms of local action on the housing issue.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the bfresh Market on Elm St. Sunday morning on reports of an unwanted person on the premises.

Upon arrival, the officers met with the reporting party, the manager of the market, who stated there was person who was sleeping while seated at a table on the Dunkin’ Donuts side of the store, and that he was to be trespassed.

As the halfway mark of the current school year approaches, registration for next year’s group of Somerville Public Schools (SPS) pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students is set to begin this coming weekend. Online pre-K and Kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year begins January 12, 2019. All students who will be 4 years old by August 31, 2019 are eligible for the district’s preschool program. All students who will be 5 years old by that date are eligible for Kindergarten.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

To quote The Tool’s 1978 single Spark ’Em Up, “When we party, we party hearty, and when we boogie, we boogie woogie.” And when we’re hungry, watch out!

Somerville was always a big party city, especially over the past few decades. Lots of bars, clubs and posts kept us very busy on the weekends. We put on our best clothes and hit the night spots. We drank, inhaled second hand smoke, and partied the night away.

Weather permitting, City contractors will need to return to Thorndike St., between Howard St. and the Community Path, on Thursday, January 10, to make upgrades to drain pipes as part of the Somerville Community Path Drainage & Retaining Wall Upgrades Project. Work hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mayor Curtatone offered his views on the state of the city and how public policy should be shaped in the year to come at Monday night’s organizational meeting.

By Jim Clark

While the federal government remains deep in the throes of a (hopefully) temporary “shutdown,” the same cannot be said for local municipalities such as ours. And so, the City of Somerville emerged from its deep winter holiday break this week to forge ahead with the business of the people and its environs.

By Alderman-At-Large Stephanie Hirsch and Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang

Residents reach out to us constantly about their frustrations and fear regarding traffic. Different people are aggravated by different aspects of traffic. Here’s some of what we hear:

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a well-known sort of historian and good guy, Matt Hoey. We wish him the very best on this his birthday week. Happy birthday to former East Somerville, now Magoun Sq., sign guy, Dominick Silvestri Jr. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to Theresa Rodriques, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to one of nicest ladies, Bonnie Raboin Carriger, who is also celebrating this week. Happy birthday as well to a good guy, Ken Sprague. Finally, to one of Somerville’s finest first responders and all around nice guy, Kevin O’Donovan, who is one of our best firemen. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to everyone here and from the city who is celebrating this week. We wish every one of them a very happy birthday.