The Somerville News Blog

The new Assembly Square station

~Photo by Bobbie Toner By Jeremy F. van der Heiden On Monday, June 29th, some of the guiding minds of Somerville gathered at the Capuano Early Childhood Center Cafeteria on Glen St. in Somerville to discuss the initial plans of the new MBTA station at Assembly Square. Various members of the local City of Somerville government, as well as some from the MBTA, Mystic View Task Force, and a solid amount of concerned Somerville residents attended this meeting of minds. The mood seemed to be mostly one of excitement toward the new project that aims to make a hot spot for Somerville retail, residence and office spaces more accessible to rapid transit riders. Though, for the most part the various Somerville residents seemed concerned with not only the funding for this project as is, but also the fundamental design that members of the MBTA and other organizations spearheading the project like ACOM had come up with thus far. The station right now is projected to be a $50 million project. According to Joe Nolan, a member of the Construction Department for the MBTA, the new station at Assembly Square has gathered about $40 million in funds so far, which already leaves a $10 million gap in the initial estimate of the cost to build the station. Still, this station is in the very early stages of production. The organizations in charge of the design will take another year just to design the station. The station will be right in between Sullivan Square Station and Wellington Station, filling a gap in a now non-accessible area where a new IKEA is being built. This area will also have a tremendous amount of retail outlets, as well as over 1.75 million square feet of office space and a vast amount of residencies. The idea, according to the project leaders such as Joe Cosgro, Patrick Dunford, a traffic engineer, and Kyle Davis, the deputy design officer of ACOM, is to pick a particularly busy and emerging node of business and focus as much public transportation around it to make it grow as much as possible. This technique, if executed, can be a great step for the City of Somerville to pull itself out of this great economic crisis it finds itself in today. One of the best parts of this equation is the cost to the taxpayers of Massachusetts. As mentioned, the project has gathered $40 million in funds to go toward the design and building of this new station. The MBTA will not need to pay any of this, a very bright point considering the $27 billion backlog to repair its existing infrastructure. Instead, the Federal Transit Authority will be contributing $25 million dollars, while the Federal Realty Investment Trust and IKEA will be picking up the other $15 million. This is a big step considering the vast shortages in funds for vital projects that the MBTA has been trying to take care of for an extended period of time. During the question and answer stage of the meeting, it was clear that the majority of concerns were toward the initial designs that the project overseers had come up with. The proposed station will be state of the art, and of course fulfill all MBTA guidelines, but will only have one headhouse. This poses somewhat of a problem in the sense that only having one headhouse would not make the spaces that are the target area of new accessibility not completely optimal in accessibility. Most of the residents of Somerville asking questions, as well as the Mystic View Task Force who were represented at the meeting, seemed to believe that having only one headhouse would be a complete waste of time and money. For optimal accessibility, the station apparently needs to have two headhouses. The members of the MBTA seemed to only be able to say that right now the money is so tight, that an addition to the new Station so big, one that could come close to doubling the costs is just not in the cards at the time being. The MBTA stated that it would continue to consider this change to the design. The next meeting will be held in the fall of this year, when the initial designs should be beginning to take some shape.

From revolution to achievement, Somerville is the All America City

By Julia Fairclough Charlie Chisholm remembers the days back in the late 1960s when he would pick up the Boston Globe and read about Somerville's corruption in its "Spotlight" series. That was when up to 27 candidates ran for Alderman at Large, major upheavals amongst city boards were not unusual, and there were probably only a handful of citizen activist groups. So imagine how amazing it was for city officials and residents alike when Somerville won the All America City award in 1972, just on the heels of what old timers called a "revolution." Thirty seven years later, or a little over a week ago, Somerville again earned the All America City award. This time around, the city earned the recognition because of its forward thinking, which is why those who have been around long enough find it so interesting to compare and contrast how far this city has come. "It's not about a city being perfect, but a move toward change," said Chisholm, a Somerville native, who was a School Committee member back in 1972. "Back then, it was a revolutionary time that prompted the award. This time around it is more about the cutting edge accomplishments. It seems we are engaged in best practices, now. Somerville has become quite the place." The All America City award is sponsored by the National Civic League, a non-profit organization that fosters innovative city building and reform. The All America City award, since 1949, has recognized the efforts of extraordinary communities. Each year the National Civic League honors ten communities for effectively addressing their most critical challenges. The overall theme Somerville chose this year was "Improved Communication." The city highlighted its commitment to the MBTA's Green Line extension through Somerville (which is slated to be complete in 2014); the efforts of the Somerville Cares about Prevention program to educate about and prevent substance abuse amongst the city's youth and the adoption of "SomerStat," the 311 hot line number initiative that streamlines how the public communicates with the city's offices. Over 30 years ago, people say it was Mayor S. Lester Ralph, who was not only new blood on the political scene, but breathed new life in the failing city. The "Spotlight" series exposed bad contracting practices on the part of the city. In 1969, three men ran for mayor; incumbent Joe Marino, Jim Brennan and Ralph. Ralph, a newcomer to politics, was a minister no less in a Catholic city. But he got up and confronted the two other candidates during one of the debates, saying he was the "rose between two thorns," Chisholm recalled. "He went on to beat Marino," he said, adding Brennan got knocked out in the primary. "It showed the public was fed up." Not only that, nine out of the 11 Aldermen lost in the election that year. The schools were also in terrible shape. In Chisholm's Ward 1, the East Somerville Community School was condemned. Ralph not only promised to replace the school, but he also built the Powder House Community School in West Somerville at the same time. Then he oversaw the building of the Lincoln Park Community School, followed by the Winter Hill Community School to make for four new schools in the city, Chisholm said. New staff were hired for the schools, there was more buzz about city office accountability, and citizens groups sprung up almost as quickly as the school construction. In those days, there was a lot of competition for every elected position, Chisholm said. Every post had a primary. Today, we're lucky if two people run for a seat, he said. But that could be due to increased public satisfaction with elected officials. Somerville's population is also more transitory in nature, Chisholm said, with people coming and going and not getting as involved in local politics. "Back then, there were so many problems to deal with, that folks were engaged more in politics," he said. "Today there is a certain level of contentment with city government...In terms of the award, we're looking at two different eras, two different times, two different yard sticks. It's not about the same award for the same type of thing, but the same basis of movement." Ralph describes those days as "very hectic." He admitted he didn't necessarily feel as if he got along with the rest of the city government, but had an excellent staff and feels like he got the job done. And why did he, a politically green pastor of an Episcopal Church, run for mayor? He said he had to persuade himself. He felt compelled. "It was after John F. Kennedy was shot and Martin Luther King was also killed," he said. "It was a traumatic time." Ralph identified with the people of Somerville. "I said to myself that I could not stay away from public service." Somerville is a very vibrant city. It is a great place to be in government, he said. The people are down to earth and very genuine. "We were a real community," he said. "I had a sense of accomplishment as a mayor and I felt great satisfaction in making change. It was a great experience. Politics can be a tough game sometimes, but it is still worth it." Jack Connolly, an Alderman at Large, was a junior at Boston College during the city's turbulent times. He was around to watch Ralph hire new staff at City Hall and the city clean up its act. Back then, public transportation was also an important focus, with officials talking about extending the Red Line into Davis Square, akin to today's focus on the Green Line extension. Residents got active and helped to make the Red Line happen, finally, in 1984, Connolly said. "Somerville really united (under Ralph) and people became connected to the neighborhoods," he said. "The award back then was for the transition that Somerville made to get back in touch with the people. It was about opening the doors to City Hall and involving the neighborhoods." Frank Bakey, who served as a Ward 2 Alderman in 1972, said that it was probably more difficult to win the award today. "(Mayor Joseph) Curtatone has done a great job, considering the financial limitations," he said. During Ralph's tenure, the city built the four schools, repaired 33 percent of the streets in Ward 2, and offered more community outreach. The movement back then was a huge expansion of services, as the city didn't have much to begin with, Bakey said. "It is much harder to win this type of award now," he said. "This year, we were up against a lot of competition. It's quite a tribute to the city. Somerville is now safe, clean, with amazing educational opportunities." It is unusual for a city to win this award twice, said Donald Norton, a long-time resident and city activist. He remembers when he was chair of the Civic Association for Ward 7 in 1970. The police department was mired with police brutality issues. More and more citizens groups were forming to move Somerville out of corruption. People often referred to Somerville as "Slumerville." "There was a big divide in the city," Norton said. "We don't have that now...The city needed the award back then to feel good."

Update on Tuesday's Bank robbery on Highland Avenue

2009 Lincoln Towncar used as the getaway car is seen here being towed away. ~Photo by William Tauro By William Tauro According to sources regarding yesterday's bank robbery on highland Avenue, two of the bank robbery suspects allegedly robbed a bank in Dedham first then drove to Somerville and robbed the East Cambridge Savings Bank. According to sources, when they robbed the East Cambridge Savings Bank on Highland Avenue the masked duo, upon exiting the bank, had a couple of pedal bicycles waiting outside of the bank and then peddled their getaway down the street where a third person, the getaway driver was waiting in a 2009 Lincoln Towncar. The trio then allegedly proceeded to the Sunoco Gas Station on Broadway where they held up and robbed them up as well. Then the team exited the city of Somerville by driving into Charlestown where their getaway car got stuck in traffic and caused them to be apprehended after a short foot chase by two Boston Police officers who just happened to be there doing a private detail in the shopping plaza who heard the radio broadcast about the robbery that Somerville police put over the air which eventually led the three suspects to a dead end alley that was blocked off by a big old fence!

Newstalk for July 1

Wow Tim O'Malley just recently retired from the Lion's as King Lion, and now he's retired from his job at the Winter Hill Bank - Tim's a great guy and we think we will see a lot of him around the city still involved, best of luck! *************** Congratulations to Alex and Sarita Capobianco on their newest arrival last week - another boy - his name is Vince and that makes three boys now added to the Capobianco family. Our best to them! *************** Some of us went over to Cambridge last week to help celebrate Senator Anthony Galluccio's birthday - a large crowd of supporters turned out at the Charles River Boat Club - you can see why this guy is so popular not just in Cambridge and here in Somerville. We met and talked to some activists who kept asking when we are going to start a newspaper in Cambridge - that they are sorely disappointed like we are in what has happened to the Dole Family legacy who once owned the Journal & Chronicle. *************** Happy Birthday to our own Mayor Joe who celebrated his birthday last week. We wish him the best and many more; he's a great Mayor for us here in Somerville, guess that is why he has no one opposing him for re-election this year. So literally he's already re-elected for another term of office. *************** Well the Farm Team has a new boss over there on the 4th floor - another newbie on top of the 2 others already over there - we were thinking of sending them a GPS, but we're sure that the promoted Kat will tour what she knows. We just hope that duty isn't left to the picture freak Assistant Editor who loves to throw her weight around. Welcome to Somerville, we know you were in Natick - some of our network people over there gave us some info on your performance. *************** Birthday greetings to Ed Tauro of Pat's Auto Body! Ed's a good guy with a million dollar personality who always has a pleasant smile on his face when he greets you. *************** Looks like the Henry Family down at the Mount Vernon are once again expanding their famous restaurant. As of the first week in August, dining customers will have three great locations to choose from. There will be the one right down on lower Broadway, the one over at the Wharf in Revere and now on Route 1 in Saugus as the Mount Vernon at The Ship. Nice to see businesses expanding in this economy, obviously they are prospering, they are a long time old Somerville family and we wish them much success in all three locations. *************** Another celebrity sighting he in the Ville! The Somerville Hospital saw a visit from Actor Ben Affleck last week. Apparently he is looking for suitable filming locations here in the Ville. The Cambridge-born actor took pictures with a number of the staff there that day then toured the Ville with a friend! He even joked around and asked him if he had any more access to any "U2" tickets! *************** The Somerville Youth Hockey Association is looking for sponsors to help with the cost of running the program. Lots of dedicated parents and of course the kids who make up the various teams here in Somerville. If you'd like to help out in any way possible, please send your donations to Somerville Youth Hockey, PO Box 440506, Somerville MA 02144. They would appreciate it very much. *************** Apparently the all-city permit parking that was approved recently will have a second life, we think businesses here in the City will suffer dramatically with a full-city permit parking and increasing the times for tickets up to 10pm from 8pm. We are fortunate to have businesses that attract people from everywhere inside and outside the city, let's hope we don't ruin it for everyone. *************** Seems like that Coldwell Banker office that used to be on Highland Avenue had to run back to Cambridge this past year and now the parent company has been fined over $66K by the EPA. We're not surprised here, almost everyone over there, especially the manager there at CBREB feels they're entitled and can do whatever they want - for several years now. *************** Last week the Farm Team listed everyone's salary that works for the city, but we hear that some of the figures are wrong, you think they could be? Nah...the Farm Team always checks their facts don't they? ***************

Cartoon of the week for July 1

The View From Prospect Hill for July 1

Finally the budget nightmare is over, for now. Thursday night is the annual fireworks, which if the weather holds out, should be bigger and better than ever. Hopefully there won't be any incidents and it will go off without a hitch. Because the 4th of July is on a Saturday this year, most people (especially the the 'ville) will probably take off for the weekend right after the fireworks. Leaving Thursday night instead of Friday is probably the smarter thing to do, considering just about everyone in the country will have the day off and will likely be traveling to their Independence Day celebratory location of choice. Around here it will be a ghost town for a few days - many of the regular, more visible people will head off to the Cape or up North to Hampton Beach or Lake Winnipesaukee. You are more likely to run into a 'villen at the Dunkin' Donuts in Falmouth on Sunday morning than you would at the Dunkin' Donuts in Magoun Square - that's just par for the course. Enjoy the weekend - spent time with family, friends, a good book or a movie. Play some golf, take a boat ride, just go for a walk - whatever suits your fancy. This is the perfect time to wind down from the school year, budget woes and anything else that might be on your mind lately. Believe it or not, in no time, it will be blazing hot, then summer will be gone, the kids will be back to school and the election bump and grind will be in full effect. Of course, then Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will be right after that. Yes, time is flying by - so enjoy it while you can. When you pause to remember what this holiday means to us as a nation, keep in mind that we are lucky to live in a country with many more freedoms than most other nations - that we are lucky to have evolved into the nation we are. There are well over 100 nations in the world that celebrate an Independence Day of their own - but none have made such a global impact or have been as historic as ours. Keep that in mind this weekend, when you're lighting up the grill or throwing back a few beers - enjoying the family and friends and not thinking about work and life's stress all that much. And remember not to drink and drive - this is one of the most dangerous weekends when it comes to motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol and drugs. Don't be a statistic. Happy Independence Day from everyone at The Somerville News and Prospect Hill Publishing, Inc.

Two challengers take on School Committee members

By Tom Nash While most members of the Somerville School Committee face no opposition in November, two new candidates have emerged to challenge both Ward 5 member Mark Niedergang and Ward 4 member James Norton. Anna Lavanga, former vice president of the John F. Kennedy School Parent-Teacher Association, is running for Niedergang's seat. Among her chief concerns, she said, was a lack of accountability for school officials. "The school system needs to be held responsible for what it does," Lavanga said. "The open door policy is non-existent. Parents are not getting their problems addressed. We need to protect the children from the school system." Lavanga, who grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1987, began what she said was one of the first after school language programs for elementary students, teaching Italian. She said she would like to see more of such programs provided to students. "I'm just going to state what I believe in and (Niedergang) will state his record, and we'll let people choose," Lavanga said. In response to Lavanga's concerns about school accountability, Niedergang, the committee vice chairperson, said school staff members work hard to address parents' concerns but that the committee is always looking at ways to help the system improve. "We don't do enough parent outreach, especially to low income parents and immigrant parents," Niedergang said. "In order to get parents to participate in their child's education, the district needs to go to them. I've advocated for staff knocking on doors and trying to get parents involved." Christine Rafal, who describes herself as a curriculum writer and classroom researcher, said that she decided to run for Norton's seat to give voters a choice - adding that she has worked extensively with him in the past. "I obviously want to try to win, but I certainly respect (Norton) as an opponent," Rafal said. "I really want to offer the ward a choice because I think we both have good strengths." Rafal almost ran for the Ward 4 seat in 2007, when incumbent Charlene Harris failed to turn in her election paperwork and was forced to run as a write-in candidate, but said she changed her mind after taking out nomination papers. Two years later, Rafal said she's ready for the campaign, adding that while it's difficult to run against an incumbent she wants to give Ward 4 voters a choice "People are reluctant to put up a challenge," Rafal said. "It's a lot easier to wait for a seat to open up." James Norton, editor of The Somerville News and co-owner of real estate company ERA The Norton Group, has held the Ward 4 seat since winning a sticker race against Harris in 2007. He previously served in the position from 1994-95 after an unsuccessful run in 1989. Norton said he is confident that his record will stand out in the election, and that Rafal has yet to explain how she would be a better committee member. "She has no reason to run other than getting her name out there," Norton said. "If she comes up with reasons after the fact, she's grasping at straws." "I'm happy to stand on the issues facing the Somerville public schools today, tomorrow and the next day," Norton added. Both Niedergang and Norton said they look forward to running a campaign to share the committee's accomplishments with their constituents. "I take my hat off to Ms. Lavanga; I admire her for running," Niedergang said. "I think it's lamentable that there are so few people running for office this year. It gives me a chance to run on my record." Norton said he will be knocking on every door in Ward 4 while the committee is in recess during July and August.

Diversity on display at Winter Hill Community School

Winter Hill Community School celebrated it's student's diversity by hosting a Multicultural Festival for students and families and staff. By James Reddick The last week of school is always a cause for celebration for elementary and high school students. At the end of June, the two months of free time that lies ahead seems like an a span that surely will never end. At the Winter Hill Community School, the penultimate day of school provided even more reason to celebrate: the multicultural fair. Generously catered, by donation, by 15 restaurants around Somerville, from Chipotle to House of Tibet to Rodizio Bakery, the diverse menu mirrored the range of cultures of the parents and children in attendance. "My favorite food is definitely pizza," said one elementary school student, who ran off to play with his friends before providing his name, with a plate full of rice and beans, pad thai and Brazilian sweets. In a city in which over 29% of the population was born outside of the country, its diversity is to be heralded. Since the city's foundation, immigrants have been a cornerstone of Somerville's economy and of its character. Angelo Fedele, a 5th-grader whose family is of European descent, astutely said that the wide range of cultures represented at his school "helps you know what other cultures do. Diversity means a lot of people having fun," he added--an assertion hard to refute amidst the salsa dancing and plates filled with delicious food from every continent imaginable.

Weather Permitting

Jimmy Del Ponte On The Silly Side (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) As I look at the 5-day forecast for Somerville online, it says scattered thunderstorms and showers. Don't the powers that be know that Somerville's Fourth of July celebration featuring the debut of the Sunsetters along with a lot of other great entertainment is slated for Thursday night? Don't they know about the shopping cart vendors with all those lighted swords and spin around toys and illuminated teeth grilles? And what about all that fried dough? What have we done to deserve such crappy weather? What do I tell my anxious Sunsetters who are eager to perform as many numbers as Frank Senesi will allow us? Obviously we won't be able to have any electrical equipment outdoors if there is a threat of rain. I am asking every citizen of Somerville to pray for sun! Mayor Joe has confidence that things will brighten up and the show will go on. I hope he is right. As you read this, I am assembling the sound system and we will rehearse with it tonight in preparation for our debut. And what about all of us working folk who are eagerly waiting our annual Fourth of July getaways? I don't know about you, but I am a worry-wart and I am getting antsy. I want my steak tips, brewskies, buns, burgers and weenies. And the rain isn't going to stop me. But geez...would a little sun be asking for too much? I might as well use this space to talk about another summer program that is experiencing very low enrollment. Somerville Recreation is offering Project Star 2009 - a 6-week, 4 day a week theatre camp. The Cost is $25 per week, which includes lunch and a couple of field trips to see some local theatre presentations. Somerville teacher, star of Joey and Maria's Wedding and theater aficionado extraordinaire Sophia Carafotes will be running the camp, along with myself. Venues will include the Winter Hill Community School, Somerville High School and other venues. It is our profound objective to bring theatre and music back to the youth of Somerville. If we get enough kids signed up, we will produce the original mini-musical "Back in the 'Ville." If we only get a few kids, we will still have a blast and perform a smaller show. We want to build on the Project Star idea in a time when funds are at an all time low. We cannot let the arts suffer at the hands of fiscal chaos. My Klass Klownz group had 10 kids and that show will be on city cable shortly. Next seasons lineup should be bigger and better. So tell all the kids you know who are in grades 6 to 12 that a wonderful theatrical and music experience is waiting for them. Interested people can call Danielle at recreation at 617-625-6600 extension 2980, or e-mail me at jimmydel@rcn.com. Meanwhile back to this weather - is the Lord punishing us? I've been good, for the most part. I almost threw my back out installing 4 air conditioners the other day and we have only had to use them twice. I know the real summer weather is coming, but I am running out of patience. Thank God the kids couldn't care less about the weather. The computers, PS3s, PSPs and all that other crap are indoors. All I know is that I will be heading up to my little trailer on the pond Friday morning. I don't care if its raining or snowing or if locusts are invading - Moosie the Wonder dog and I are out of here. And mom's going away too, so the boys have to come with me .We will take a day trip up to Old Orchard to check out the Palace Playland. Oh yeah, I forgot those two dirty words: "weather permitting." The city has a lot of wonderful activities planned for the summer. There is only one thing missing. Summer. So lets all do those superstitious dances, rub the rabbit's feet and do whatever else you have to do to try to appease Mother Nature. Maybe Father Time and Mother Nature can work out a deal. In the meantime, get out the galoshes, umbrellas and lets have as much fun as humanly possible! No Rain! No Rain! No Rain! You can email jimmy direct at jimmydel@rcn.com.

Somerville youth protest Recreation Department layoffs

Concerned Somerville children delivered speeches to protest the recently announced layoffs of Karen Harrington and Carol Lane at the BOA meeting last Thursday and returned again on Monday night to plead their case. ~Photo by Tom Nash By Beecher Tuttle On Thursday June 25th, nearly 100 concerned Somerville children and parents marched to City Hall to protest the recently announced layoffs of Karen Harrington and Carol Lane, two veteran youth and recreation employees. The march began at the Rec Center on Walnut Street and concluded as a group of impassioned local kids delivered a signed petition to the Board of Aldermen, asking them to rescind the decision to layoff the two employees. Harrington and Lane have each worked for the Recreation Department for over twenty years, working with multiple generations of Somerville kids in a variety of after-school programs including girls athletics. Several former students came back to Somerville to help support the pair. "I grew up in Somerville--she was always a part of my life," said Vicky Palmacci speaking of Karen Harrington. "She got me playing basketball, got me coaching basketball, and, as I got older, helped me get a job, helped me start my life, and helped me direct myself toward college. In another situation, that wouldn't have happened." After entering the Aldermen's Committee Room, the present and former Somerville students in attendance had to patiently wait for their opportunity to state their case. Sitting through the latter half of next year's school budget meeting and the potential cutbacks in that arena set a difficult stage for 12 year old Jennifer Leone and her friends as they delivered their speeches to the Aldermen. Leone reminded the group that the impending layoffs would effect more than the two people directly involved. "When you people were looking to layoff," said Leone, "I don't think you people were looking at how many little kids, preteens, and teenagers you were cutting programs for. What would you rather see kids do, paint, play sports, or be in their house or maybe even getting into trouble outside? These programs are very important and people love to go because of Karen and Carol. Everyone would hate to see them go. They are a part of Somerville." Some parents and students admit that they understand the need for cuts, but are confused on the why Karen Harrington and Carol Lane were the ones to be layed off. "I understand that there are cuts and layoffs," said one resident before the march, "but there are other people that are [in that department] that make more money that haven't been there as long. If you are going to do it by money, then do it by money. If you are going to do it by seniority, then do it by seniority. We just want it to be fair." Organizers of the march passed out pamphlets that showed the years of service and the 2008 salary information of all Recreation employees making over $50,000 a year. The Board of Aldermen seemed genuinely moved by the show of support and were equally inspired by the youth of Somerville participating so actively in the democratic process. Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz and Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane were among those commending the kids and supporting their cause. "There are a lot of programs that they run that the kids just love," said Alderman Trane in a separate interview. "I think that it is very important to have a staff on hand, and, to me, Karen is a critical part of that mission." The impending difficulty for those who support Harrington and Lane is that the Board of Aldermen does not have the power to reverse a budgetary decision. "Some people think we can restore funding," said Alderman Trane. "Unfortunately we can't If we cut money out, we can make a recommendation of what we think we can do with that money, but that is the Mayor's decision. It goes back to the Mayor." As speeches were cut short on Thursday, supporters of Harrington and Lane returned on Monday during the Board of Aldermen's public forum to continue their fight. As of yet, no budgetary decisions have been made pertaining to the Recreation Department.

Transportation in Somerville: The best of times and the worst of times

Ellin Reisner (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) Unless there are problems, most people take transportation for granted. When it works we do not think about the importance of being able to move from place to place for our personal and work lives as well as our economy. Today, news about transportation in Somerville reflects both the best of times and the worst of times. It is the best of times because after over 20 years of increasing traffic on local streets and highways, and no improvements in transit services Somerville is on the brink of securing greatly improved public transportation with the extension of the Green Line that will connect East and West Somerville and a new Orange Line station at Assembly Square. In 2013 Somervillians will be able to get out of their cars and hop on the Green Line to get to places within the city and in the metro area. Among the changes that will come about will be high school students taking the Green Line to school; reducing the traffic jams around the high school and make transferring from buses to the Green Line at Lechmere a thing of the past. When completed, these projects will mean that 85% of Somerville residents will be within ½ mile of the Red, Green or Orange Line. A series of neighborhood station area meetings are getting underway for people living near the proposed Green Line station. The meetings are being held to enable Somerville residents to talk about their vision of how the Green Line can and will change their use of public transportation, green space and open space and the station design and amenities. There will be opportunities to talk about making sure that the Green Line is accessible for people of all ages and levels of mobility. The meetings are being sponsored by the Community Corridor Planning Project, a collaborative effort by Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP), the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) and the Somerville Health Agenda (SHA). [ See table below or http://www.somervillecdc.org/GetInvolved/takeaction.html or www.somervillestep.org for the schedule and meeting locations]. For most of the proposed Green Line stations the character of the neighborhoods will not change. However, for Inner Belt, Brickbottom and Boynton Yards, the Union Square and Lowell Line Green Line extensions will provide the city with opportunities for economic development that could improve the local economy, bring jobs to the city, increase the city's commercial tax revenue and reduce the city's dependence on property taxes and local aid from the state. It takes many years and the involvement of community residents working with the city to plan and construct transit improvements as the people who lived through the construction of the Davis Square T station can attest. Their involvement throughout the process was critical in making the project a success. The Davis Square experience of greater than expected use of the Community Path for West Somerville and Cambridge residents to get to the T has made the extension of the community path a high priority in planning the Green Line extensions. The Somerville Bicycle Committee, the Friends of the Community Path, STEP and the City have collaborated to secure the commitment from the Executive Office of Transportation to include the engineering design of the extension of the Community Path from Lowell Street all the way into Boston alongside the Green Line because we know in Somerville that the large numbers of people will use the community path to access Green Line stations. While all this is in the planning phase, work is underway to extend the path from Cedar Street to Lowell St. All of these upcoming improvements are important and exciting developments for the city but reflecting the worst of times they are dependent on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts coming up with a reliable revenue stream to fund infrastructure maintenance and finance the transit improvements promised to the city. Our own legislative delegation has been fighting to ensure that the state addresses these revenue needs for transit improvements and infrastructure maintenance, but their efforts have not been supported by fellow legislators. Everyone complains about the lousy roads, potholes, and slow MBTA service but paying to make improvements is very unpopular. If this situation is not resolved by the end of September the state stands to lose its federal share (80%) of funding for transportation improvements unless it finds the funding to pay for the 20% state share for project costs. Despite the lack of willingness to pay for it there is strong demand for Investing in maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure in Massachusetts, as well as across the country. New light rail systems are opening in Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Charlotte - all late in embracing investment in public transportation. These communities are moving ahead strategically, investing in transportation that will serve their residents for the next 100 years by building light rail systems to support a strategy of transit oriented development. We in metro Boston region have been fortunate to have an extensive network of public transportation that has served the region well for many years. Yet, with the exception of expanding commuter rail to suburban and ex-urban communities, there have been very limited improvements made to the MBTA system since the opening of the Red Line station in Davis Square in the 1980's. Somerville stands to benefit substantially when the state finally meets its 1991 legal obligation under the federal Clean Air Act to extend the Green Line through the city and build Orange Line station at Assembly Square. This is a decisive time for our city and involvement in planning for these improvements and supporting transportation financing critically needed. *************************************** Station Area/Meeting Date/Meeting Time *College Ave/June 29/6pm *Route 16/July 8/6pm *Ball Square/July 14/6 PM *Union Square/July 25/10am *Innerbelt/Brickbottom/July 29/6pm *Gilman Square/TBD/TBD

Somerville Women's Commission fundraiser introduces new co-chairs to community

Sonja Darai Director of Commissions, and the new Somerville Commission for Women co-chairs Correen Demers and Nancy Bacci enjoying the mixer at El Potro Restaurant on Saturday evening. ~Photo by Christina M. Acosta By Christina M. Acosta On Saturday evening, the Somerville Women's Commission (SWC) held a fundraiser at the El Potro Restaurant in Union Square. The mixer was to introduce new co-chairs Nancy Bacci and Correen Demers. Sonja Darai, Director of the Commission, is very excited to have the new co-chairs as part of the SWC. "I've enjoyed working with both Nancy and Correen. We have an energetic group of commissioners who are setting a very active schedule of activities and programming. Its quite exciting." Guests of the family owned restaurant, were treated to live music by the Knuckledusters and were also able to meet the Women's Commission members. "I've been involved with SWC for less than a year, but I'm very excited, and I think we're going to bring a lot of energy, ideas and really help get the SWC more exposure to the community" said Correen Demers. The mixer also raised money for the SWC programs including TADA, Teens Against Dating Abuse, at Somerville High School. A youth inspired program, TADA has just finished its sixth year. "The goal is to take an often silent problem, and give it a powerful voice in the high school. Students can join and learn about what dating violence is, what to do, and how to help others. Funding is important, with more money we can grow this program so we can have assemblies and educate more students," said Sonja. TADA has a very flexible approach to educating students by always trying different methods to reach students. Peer-to-peer teaching is an important aspect of the program as students can present the information they learned in TADA during health classes. The Somerville Women's Commission is a citizen group, dedicated to enriching women's lives by advocating for equality in all facets including education, health and politics working closely with local agencies and law enforcement. Comprised entirely of volunteers, the Commissioners are appointed by the mayor for three-year terms. To become involved with the Somerville Women's Commission attend one of the meetings held every third Wednesday of the Month at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex.

Three Suspects Captured after Brazen Bank Robbery

Stolen money on the front seat of the get-away car. Get-away car being looked over by police. ~Photos by William Tauro Somerville Police released a statement late Tuesday evening that three suspects were captured shortly after a brazen bank robbery in Somerville. On Tuesday, 6/30/09 at approx. 3:40 p.m. the East Cambridge Savings Bank located at 285 Highland Avenue in Somerville was robbed by two males wearing masks, gloves and displaying a handgun. One of the suspects vaulted the teller counter while the other suspect held the customers and bank employees at bay with the weapon. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash in a black Lincoln Towncar driven by a third suspect. That vehicle was a rented car. A dye pack was included with the stolen money given to the suspects which went off prior to the suspects entering their car. The money and dye pack were left near the scene. Somerville Police quickly notified surrounding police agencies of the bank robbery, including the registration number and description of the get away vehicle that was provided by witnesses. A short time later, two Boston police detectives on detail in Charlestown observed the suspect vehicle and stopped it. Two of the suspects were placed into custody while the third suspect fled on foot. After a short foot chase the third suspect was also arrested. Recovered in the vehicle were the masks used in the robbery. The suspects are identified as a James Rigano, d.o.b. 7/13/66 of Malden, Eric Leonard, d.o.b. 7/4/88 of Everett, and Terrence Dunnells, d.o.b: 7/21/79 of Cambridge, New York. The suspects were transported to Somerville Police station where they were booked on the charge of armed robbery while masked and later interviewed. The gun and clothing used in the robbery were recovered from a trash barrel in Cambridge by Somerville Detectives and agents from the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. Two of the suspects have made incriminating statements in connection with today's robbery and two other recent bank robberies. Additional charges will be filed by the appropriate jurisdictions in those incidents. All three suspects will be arraigned tomorrow in Somerville District Court. Chief Anthony Holloway noted that this crime was brought to a quick solution by the keen observations of witnesses who gave police the plate number and description of the get away car and the prompt notification of surrounding police agencies. The quick work by two Boston Police officers on detail brought this crime spree to an abrupt halt without anyone getting hurt. The investigation is continuing in cooperation with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

Aldermen scrutinize, pass budget after marathon session

home : news : news July 01, 2009 ~Photo by Bobbie Toner By Tom Nash After a contentious week-long series of meetings, the Board of Aldermen passed the FY 2010 budget 8-2 at midnight, June 30. The total approved budget for the city is $160,032,473, down from the proposed $160,272,078 after a marathon session of line item cuts that followed a week of department presentations. During the Finance Committee meeting that began June 29, a total of $239,605 in cuts were made during five and a half hours of deliberation. A public hearing, which saw a capacity audience, saw two speak in favor of the budget and eight against. Mayor Joseph Curtatone's administration said the budget is $4.98 million less than in Fiscal Year 2009 and reflects a 22 percent cut in state aid. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the state budget earlier on June 29, indicating proposals for local meals and hotel taxes could go forward. Curtatone said he would have those taxes ready for Board approval at their July 9 meeting. Until the final moments before the budget vote on Monday, aldermen argued about budget issues ranging from overtime spending to whether the mayor's office had kept them in the dark about litigation payouts - a topic which required a closed-door session. Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz eventually voted against the budget, citing their disappointment in Youth and Recreation Department cuts. Alderman Tom Taylor was absent for the vote. The Public Speaks Out A group of children opposed to the layoffs of two Youth and Recreation Department employees spoke during the public hearing portion of the Board's Finance Committee meeting. They were also sponsored at the Board's June 25 meeting. A group of around 80 also marched to City Hall June 25 to protest the layoffs of Karen Harrington and Carol Lane, two long-time rec department employees. A petition to keep them had gathered 160 signatures. The two who spoke in favor two spoke in favor of the budget at the June 29 hearing were parents of rising sixth graders at the Brown school, which at one point faced the sixth grade being cut. The debate around the school was one of many issues that aldermen debated during a week of budget presentations from city departments. At the Board's June 25 meeting, Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche asked if the city had considered whether the school could be closed altogether. Trane left the chambers after Committee Chairman Maryann Heuston refused to let him ask a follow up question on the school, telling him to "take a walk" as he got up. "Unfortunately the Alderman from Ward 2 likes to stifle debate, because she's so in line with what the administration wants," Trane said before rejoining the meeting. Cuts All Around As the June 30 deadline for approving the budget approached, aldermen continued to suggest cuts they had lobbied for throughout budget review process. No cut was too small, and some city officials spoke to the merits of some items after they had been struck - prompting Heuston to chastise them for being too slow. Roche found $11,129 in unnecessary salary payments. Gewirtz and others questioned the amounts being spent on police and fire department overtime but ultimately lost the battle. Trane won a fight for a roughly 10 percent cut in natural gas spending for the Public Works Department after the measure was voted down twice in earlier forms. At around 11 p.m., Alderman-at-Large Bill White asked why the Board was being asked to approve $112,500 in line item form for a legal settlement for a discrimination case in the police department without any explanation from the city solicitor beforehand. Gannon said that while the city felt the suit had no merit, it decided to settle with the plaintiff. White pointed out any claim more than $5,000 needs to go before the board for approval on an individual case basis. White threatened to cut the line item down to $0 prior to going into executive session, with Police Chief Anthony Holloway in attendance. The item was later approved. White had earlier challenged City Solicitor John Gannon to explain whether the city would move forward with a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration challenging excessive airplane noise if they lost the current case. The city spent $77,000 more than the allotted $100,000 for outside legal counsel in FY09, mostly on the suit, which has cost the city $158,000 so far. "We're in this to win," Gannon said. The Parking Battle Continues During the earlier public hearing portion of the final budget meeting, resident Bob grilled the Board on letting the Traffic and Parking Commission force the changes through without public input. "That's the biggest joke I ever heard in my life," one senior resident said of the proposed citywide permit parking requirement. "What do you do when you have a large family, ration them out? This is a joke. Why force it down everyone's throat whether they want it or not?" The parking changes proposed to take effect August 1 were dealt with mostly at the Board's June 25 meeting. The aldermen rejected a resolution 5-6 that would have asked the Parking and Traffic Commission to reconsider citywide permit parking and extend meter hours in Davis and Magoun Squares. Sean O'Donovan, Tom Taylor, Dennis Sullivan, White and Gewirtz voted to send the resolution to the commission. Bruce Desmond, Jack Connolly, Walter Pero, Roche and Heuston voted against it. The changes, Heuston said, were a major factor in determining the budget and that the potential revenue had already been worked in. Gewirtz said the recommendations of a recently convened parking task force will be released by mid-July. The Vote As the clock struck midnight, the Aldermen approached the final vote on the budget, with all weighing in on the cuts being a "shared sacrifice" except for Trane and Gewirtz. Both said the 21 percent cut to the Youth and Recreation Department was unfair, with Gewirtz stressing it could lead to an increase in youth violence - which White said was unlikely. Gewirtz also pointed out the two top administrators in the department, James Halloran and George Scarpelli, are earning $70,000 a year. "I mean no disrespect to my colleagues on the Board," Gewirtz said. "I'm going to do this because of the kids coming up every night. As a form of protest I'm voting 'no' this evening." She also pointed out that the mayor's proposal to put $3 million in a "rainy day" fund went against the current cuts the Board had just issued. "It's raining now," Gewirtz said. "I'm a little confused," Roche said in response. "Nobody likes cuts, nobody likes layoffs. There's nobody around this board that's happy. What if we all voted no? What would that do? The city wouldn't have a budget. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." After the 8-2 vote, with Trane and Gewirtz voting against the budget, Gewirtz was the lone vote against the $3 million rainy day fund allocation. At the end of the meeting, Heuston noted that the state will likely make cuts to its local aid in the middle of the fiscal year, in January, when that $3 million may be needed. "I would submit that this is as fair and balanced a budget as it can be," Heuston said. The budget took effect July 1.

Mini Van crashes into porch!

By William Tauro This minivan belonging to, Scott Parisi of Somerville, still with trees and bushes sticking out of it's front end, is what's left of his Ford Windstar that crashed through a front porch located at 16 Fairfax Street late Saturday evening. Sources say that the driver, Mr. Parisi was attempting to back into a parking space but put the mini in forward then stepped on the gas pedal causing him to crash into the porch!

It May be Just A Green Answer to Saving Money

Simple Eco-friendly Tips to Save Somerville Residents Money This Summer By Christina M. Acosta Truth be told the economy isn't what it used to be, but that doesn't mean residents should not go out and enjoy themselves. Lighten up your carbon footprint and put money back into your wallet with these great ideas of how to go green this summer and after. Investing in a programmable thermostat can save a family on average, $180 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency; it also helps fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A programmable thermostat allows families to change the temperature in their homes at selected times. For example, it can be programmed to lower the heat or cold air when the family is away during the day and you can program it to raise or lower the temperature when people begin returning home. Programmable thermostats are simple to install and prices can start as low as $30 depending on the thermostat you choose. Many desktops are not created energy efficient, so take a minute to utilize the power management setting on your desktop, which can save you $40 to $80 each year. You can increase you money savings by choosing an idol time of a few minutes to automate when your computer enters an energy saving mode. Replace floodlights with motion sensor lights that turn off automatically. Floodlights left on all night not only increase your electricity bill, but also can negatively impact local wildlife. If your neighborhood squirrels aren't enough to convince you, motion sensor lights can also increase the security around your home by pouring light in the area when the sensors go off. Going green isn't only about saving electricity around your house. Water is another commodity that is often wasted. By installing low-flow water fixtures, you will see a drop in your monthly water bill. Many older toilets use 5 gallons of water per flush. Try replacing it with a low-flow model toilet that uses less than a gallon of water. Shower fixtures also come with low-flow options and start as low as $10. Remember that leaky faucets and pipes can drip over 3 gallons of water per day, which can add up when your water bill comes. It's worth taking the time to fix it your self, or calling in a local professional plumber to solve it. Recycling has hit an all time money saving high with the non-profit grass roots network called, FreeCycle. Made up of over 7 million members across the globe this group is made of people looking to give and receive free stuff in their own towns. From coffee grinders to winter coats to a full size metal headboard, all the items that would have otherwise been thrown out are here looking for new homes. Instead of tossing your old patio set, post it on the website and check if another Somerville resident could give it a second life. Not only does this reduce trash removal but it also supports the local community by offering free stuff for neighbors. Visit the Somerville group page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreeCycle-Somerville-MA/. Water your plants and yard in the morning before the sun evaporates most of the water. If you have a garden that you water frequently purchase a chic rain barrel from your local garden store that will collect rain. You can then use the fresh rainwater to fill up your watering can. Remember to empty the barrel frequently, as stagnant water can be a breeding ground for insects such as mosquitoes. Traditional cleaning techniques are becoming an eco-friendly staple, which may mean doing things how your grandmother does them. Somerville resident Eda Lasser, who turns seventy-six next month, explained, "I have always washed my clothes with baking soda, vinegar and a little elbow grease. I have done it all these years because the chemicals in the soaps burn my hands and they smell awful." Laughing Mrs. Lasser went on to say, "Now a days these kids think it's a hip, tree hugging thing to do! If they only knew I've been doing it for sixty years and how much money I save. So yes, I suppose I'm a little green myself. Guess you can never be to old or young to be green." There are also manufactured eco-friendly cleaning products that are not has harmful as chemical based cleaning products so it greatly reduces the risk of harmful exposure to children or pets. Going green is about being smart and deciding how thrifty you want to be. Local resident Vanessa Williams explained, "What surprises me are the different ways to go green that actually save money, and yet we still don't take enough advantage of them. In this current economy, I think going green is the best thing we can do for ourselves, our wallets, and our world." Once you start making changes to be more eco-friendly, you will notice that you are not alone in your efforts. Being green saves money but it also reduces waste, pollution and saves natural resources that are limited. "I try to be as sustainable and green as possible by unplugging or turning off appliances that are not in use, utilizing a water filter and using a reusable water bottle instead of disposable bottles," said Heather Brigham, a resident of Somerville. "I also recycle, and take public transportation instead of driving. It's easy and important to have a sustainable lifestyle that is environmentally friendly and often budget friendly too!" Being eco-savvy is easier than you think: Always shut off unused lights Unplug chargers that are not being used since they continue to use energy when they are plugged in Shut the faucet off when you brush your teeth Wash your laundry in cold water then line dry clothes since automatic dryers use about 6% of household energy according to the EPA Use the dishwasher only when it is completely full Use dishtowels instead of paper towels Save gas by making sure your tires are properly inflated Print on both sides of paper Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! If you need a recycling bin visit the Department of Public Works between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with proof of residency Always dispose of old paint, chemicals and oil properly. Remember that if you have left over paint, ask local community groups or neighbors if they could use the paint. You could also try posting it on FreeCycle.

Sex, drugs and Rock n Roll!

By William Tauro The La Quinta Inn & Suites Hotel located at 23 Cummings Street in Somerville is once again in the spotlight! Allegedly a prostitution ring sting was conducted by Somerville police that resulted in arrests made at about 9 p.m. on Friday evening. According to sources, the recently built hotel has been the center of attraction and hangout for pimps, prostitutes drug dealers and drugged up rock bands since it has been opened for business. Back a few months ago a local contracting company source told us that the hotel had a serious sewage blockage that was causing serious backups. When repairs began to correct the problem, crews cleaning out the sewage pipes and catch basins discovered that the system was completely clogged up with hundreds of condoms and syringe needles that were apparently flushed down the toilets by guests!