Saturday: Mystic River Cleanup in Somerville

Volunteers will help clean up the most urbanized and densely populated watershed in the state, according to an announcement from the Mystic River Watershed Association.

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Improving the Community Through Mentoring

Somerville resident Marty Martinez discusses National Mentoring Month and why community-minded people might consider mentoring a young person.

The following is a letter from Somerville resident Marty Martinez about National Mentoring Month. You can visit his organization, Mass Mentoring Partnership, at massmentors.org: Resolve to impact your community – and yourself– through mentoring The beginning of the year is a time when people make resolutions and think about things they want to improve in their lives. From exercising more to eating healthier to making a career change, people use the new year to make a personal goal or commitment they want to achieve. The new year is also when we celebrate National Mentoring Month and raise awareness about mentoring and its impact in our communities. January is a time to highlight the importance of mentoring for young people while also …

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Volunteer Opportunity: Somerville Bulb Blitz on Oct. 27

Plant bulbs on Saturday so the city can have flowers in spring.

Last year, volunteers planted over 2,000 bulbs across the city, according to a ResiStat email sent by the city. This year they're at it again. If you want to plant bulbs, which will turn into flowers in the spring, you can volunteer for the Somerville Bulb Blitz on Oct. 27. To do so, sign up here. This year, the city will be planting at Albion Park, Union Square, Walnut Street Park, Wilson Square and Blessing of the Bay Boathouse. You'll need to bring your own trowel and gardening gloves.

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Somerville Resident Helps Homeless Children Get Playtime

Amy Gardner was the Horizons for Homeless Children playspace activity leader of the year.

Three years ago, Somerville resident Amy Gardner was riding the T when she saw an advertisement. It depicted a cute kid, and it asked, to paraphrase, if such a child could sell you tires, could she also sell you on the chance to spend a few hours enriching her life? The advertisement spoke to Gardner, and "I just decided it was time to start impacting somebody's life," she said. Since then, Gardner has been volunteering with Horizons for Homeless Children, spending a few hours each week as a playspace activity leader, or PAL, and she recently won the organization's PAL of the Year Award for her efforts. Gardner works at a family shelter in Somerville, where she oversees playtime for the children of five families who live there. She's one …

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