Buidling the urban ring

The Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Monday at the State Transportation Building, conference rooms 2-3, at 10 Park Plaza in Boston. The discussion will center around the revised draft environmental impact report and draft environmental impact statement for Phase 2 of the project. The state Executive Office of Transportation is working to provide new transit services for communities surrounding Boston that would connect to existing public transportation by way of a corridor. The corridor would loop through Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford and Somerville. For more information, go to theurbanring.com.

- Katheleen Conti

PIZZA CONTEST OPENS SEASON - The Massachusetts Cultural Council has awarded a $40,000 matching grant to bolster the city's annual Third Thursdays series, which promotes arts and economic development in the downtown area. The events are held on the third Thursday of each month, from May to December, from 5 to 8 p.m. Businesses in Central Square offer special promotions, discounts and other incentives to lure people downtown. This year's season will start next week with the Great Lynn Pizza Bake Off, when the city's pizzerias compete to be named "Best Pizza." The state grant was awarded through the John and Abigail Adams Art Program, and must be matched by the Central Square Collaborative, the nonprofit organization that sponsors Third Thursdays. - Kathy McCabe

MOTHERS DAY RUN - Calling all runners, walkers, and families who are searching for a different way to celebrate Mother's Day. The Melrose Running Club, in partnership with the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, is sponsoring the 11th annual Melrose Run for Women on Sunday. The 3.5-mile race starts at 9 a.m. at Pine Banks Park. The fee is $20 and runners can enter until race time on Sunday. Entry forms are available online at melroserunningclub.com or on race day at the park. The event will also feature a free quarter-mile children's race, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Raffle prizes, refreshments, and awards for race participants will follow the events. For more information, e-mail margaretfisher@melroserunningclub.com.

- Kay Lazar