The Somerville News

The Pavement Picasso celebrates the people's poet: Jack Powers

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Sidewalk Sam is a Boston-based street artist, who often uses sidewalks of the Hub as a canvas for his work. Sam believes in bringing art to the people through his sidewalk paintings, outreach, and through his organization “Art Street.” So it seemed natural for Sam to be organizing a 70th birthday party for Boston’s poet of the people and founder of the venerable Stone Soup Poets.

Duehr and Tuitt:

Photographers with city perspectives

By Pam Rosenblatt

Urban Interpretations, a photography exhibit exploring the human behavior, diversity, spirit, rhythms and patterns of everyday life in a densely populated urban environment is in its final week at the Nave Gallery, ending on Sept. 28. But the show does not end there as it moves on to the Mayor’s Office in City Hall from Oct. 4 through Dec. 6.

Curator Michelle Fiorenza said the relationship between people and their physical urban surroundings and the ensuing impact is reflected throughout the show.

30 to 35 years later and so much has changed

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

(Editor’s Note:  For those who missed his debut here last week, Jimmy DelPonte is a well-known local radio personality and Somerville native who has a seemingly endless supply of stories and anecdotes and we are lucky to have him as a regular guest commentator. We know you will enjoy his writings about living in this great city of ours. Enjoy.)

Welcome all you new Somervillians. I am glad that you are enjoying all the new restaurants, coffee shops and stores in Davis Square, but for those of us who have been here for our entire lives, the memories of the old stores and landmarks still have a place in our hearts.

The View From Prospect Hill

Another local primary election come and gone, can you believe it? The election results weren’t surprising to anyone, but it would seem that some of the events leading up to and including Tuesday were.

Considering there were no ward races except in Ward 6, the turnout was higher than expected for such a snooze fest citywide. We have seen a few colorful moments here and there and without Rick Scirocco in the final, it will most likely return to the land of yawn.

It wasn’t as much of a surprise to see the mayor get as many votes as he did in Ward 6, even though he didn’t concentrate much of his overall effort there and left the vote pulling to the primary race contenders there. Had he not won by more than 75 percent of the vote against his two opponents, it would have been much less impressive.

Mayor focuses on green

By George P. Hassett

It has been a long time since Somerville was known for vast open spaces and green grass. But Mayor  Joseph A. Curtatone and his administration say they are pushing a number of initiatives that will revitalize and expand the city’s parks, gardens and fields.

On Sept. 18 and 19, city officials opened two new community gardens, the Durrell Garden on Beacon Street and the Allen Street Garden. Thursday Curtatone requested that aldermen allocate $1.575 million to renovate and design Hodgkins Playground and Grimmons and Albion Parks. The Hodgkins Playground renovation is expected to cost the city $785,000 while Albion and Grimmons Parks are each slated for $395,000. Curtatone is also applying for a $495,000 state grant to repair Central Hill Park, the first city-owned park opened in 1895.

Bike path robber foiled by MySpace page

By George P. Hassett

Somerville police patrolled the world of cyberspace this week, investigating Craigslist ads and MySpace pages to catch a man allegedly responsible for an armed robbery on the city’s bike path.

The stick-up victim monitored Craigslist postings looking for the cell phone that had been stolen from him Sunday Sept. 16 as he passed Lexington Park and was robbed by two young black men, police said. He came across a phone just like his and the location was in Somerville, police said. Police regularly monitor Web sites such as Craigslist, hoping to find items taken in recent thefts and robberies, according to Somerville investigators.

Cops arrest men in connection with shots fired at Pearl and Walnut

Somerville police arrested a Fitchburg man and a Randolph man for a daytime incident Wednesday in which gunshots were allegedly fired. Police said no one was injured in the shooting which took place at Pearl and Walnut Streets at 4:09 p.m. yesterday.

Newstalk for Wednesday September 26th 2007

The Primary is over and with just over 6,000 votes citywide cast, turnout was slightly higher than expected with results we honestly weren’t surprised with – Mayor Joe with over 75% of the vote, facing Ms. Bremer in November. 

                                                                                 

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We saw shades of former Senator Sal Albano when we read the Herald article (see Herald September 22nd online – “Jehlen story”) imagine that - our own Senator Jehlen missing votes and being ranked by the Herald as missing more votes then almost all the other Senators since being elected. Senator Albano lost to Senator Shannon (a Republican at the time) when he refused to be inclusive and represent our entire district. Maybe the Queen of the Progressives/Liberals is marching down that road as well - we hope not, but maybe the Herald article didn’t go deep enough?                                                                        

Curtatone wins big, Scirocco takes a beating

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone received more than 75 percent of the vote and Suzanne Bremer beat out fellow challenger Richard J. Scirocco to narrow the field of mayoral candidates to two after Tuesday’s primary.

Curtatone easily outdistanced his two grassroots challengers and came away with a commanding victory on primary day. He received 4,652 votes to Bremer’s 822 and Scirocco’s 464, garnering 76.7 percent of the total vote, according to unofficial poll results.

Female candidate beats up on Scirocco; Curtatone to face Bremer in November

Suzanne Bremer will be Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone's opponent in November after defeating Richard J. Scirocco in today's primary. According to unofficial election results, Curtatone received 4,652 votes to Bremer's 822 and Scirocco's 464. Curtatone walked away with 76 percent of the vote. He will face Bremer in the Nov. 6 general election.

It's Chisholm vs. Gewirtz in November

Charles Chisholm will challenge Rebekah L. Gewirtz in the November city elections after beating out Robert Adams in today's Ward 6  primary for alderman.

Election Day is Over - Turnout Higher Than Expected!!!

Today was election day - there was a primary race citywide for Mayor and in Ward 6 for Alderman. Polls were open from 7am until 8pm.

Turnout was higher than expected by most people - look here for results in both races.
 

Curtatone campaigns with some help from his friends

Former city leaders John McKenna and Eugene C. Brune support incumbent mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in today's primary.

Curtatone is facing challengers Suzanne L. Bremer and Richard J. Scirocco. A limousine with Scirocco posters in the windows and an SUV with a woman telling voters through an amplifier to "Vote for change, vote for Scirocco" was also seen on College Avenue today.

Portuguese credit union extends membership to non-immigrants

By Amy Tennery

On Friday, Sept. 14, Cambridge Portuguese Credit Union (CPCU) CEO Rui F. Domingos and CFO James Roy came to The Somerville News editorial office to discuss significant changes to the nearly 80-year-old CPCU. Originally founded to assist the Portuguese immigrant population, CPCU now affords membership to non-Portuguese residents.

While some may be concerned that such a change could cost the CPCU its identity, Domingos said the CPCU remains vested in the needs of the Cambridge and Somerville community. 
“We’re able to make change a lot faster than other [larger banks]. We’re a lot more reactive to the people’s needs,” said Domingos.

Unlike traditional banks, credit unions are cooperative financial organizations in which the members control every decision made within the institution. Credit unions are non-profit and other banks cannot buy them out — a credit union can only merge with another credit union if the members vote to do so. Additionally, a member-elected Board of Directors set credit union policies regarding interest rates and any profits made are given back to members in the form of interest on deposits.

Let's fire Columbus

By William C. Shelton

(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.)

There is so much in our past of which Americans can be justly proud, but that we never learn in school—stories of great courage, innovation, endurance, and self-sacrifice. At the same time, we celebrate stories that just aren’t true.

Our national holidays reflect this pattern. In February, we honor our two greatest presidents, Americans who really were extraordinary leaders and extraordinary people.  At Thanksgiving, we retell a feel-good story whose underlying truth is rather more complex. And among our most misleading myths is the one that we repeat on our next national holiday, Columbus Day.

Fenway Park gets literary

By Doug Holder

Further Fenway Fiction. Edited by Adam Emerson Pachter ( Rounder Books. One Rounder Way. Burlington, Ma. 01803) $17. http://www.rounderbooks.com

Fenway Park would seem to be a natural setting to center works of fiction and poetry around. The stadium is a house of melodrama, history, bipolar highs and lows, all the right stuff for writers to mine. Former Somerville resident and author Adam Emerson Pachter edited an anthology of fiction aptly titled” “Fenway Fiction,” that came out in September 2005. In 2007 a second anthology: “Further Fenway Fiction,” edited by Pachter and released by the local imprint Rounder Books has hit the street, and features poetry and fiction focusing around the old town team. And as always Somerville or Somerville - connected writers are represented on these pages. Author Timothy Gager, cofounder of The Somerville News Writers Festival, Steve Almond author of “Candy Freak,” and Festival regular, as well as long-time Somerville resident and novelist Mitch Evich, all have found homes for their work.

Somerville goes to the dogs

By Ethan Backer

Somerville went to the dogs last Saturday as city canines and their owners gathered at Nunziato Field for Responsible Dog Ownership Day. The event was organized by SomDog and the dogs of the city were treated to nail trimmings, massages and professional portraits. Local dog rescue groups, training clubs and businesses that serve the dog-owning community, as well as the Somerville Animal Control Officer helped SomDog kick off their responsible dog ownership campaign: No Pile Left Behind. Attendees signed a pledge to clean up after their dog every time and learned more about organizations that promote responsible dog ownership in Somerville.

Somerville artist develops parallel worlds of abstract art and graphic facilitation

By Pam Rosenblatt

A lot has developed for Somerville artist Kelvy Bird since she was interviewed by The Somerville News in May 2006.

In summer 2007, some of her “Pulse” series was published in Salamander Vol. 12, No. 2, a nonprofit literary magazine affiliated with Suffolk University. Her work is on show in the Window Arts Malden project, Malden, through October 7. On the Board of Directors of Somerville Open Studios for 2007 and 2008, Bird helped develop the online registration for SOS 2006 and 2007.

Bird is an abstract painter whose creative art pieces evokes her own inner emotions or outward emotions from her audience. She is a professional graphic facilitator, a career chosen to help make ends meet while she also pursues her artistic career. She is one of about five hundred graphic facilitators in the world. Graphic facilitation is a field she thinks many struggling Somerville artists may like to look into for a profession.

On the silly side

By Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

(Editor’s Note:  Jimmy DelPonte is a well-known local radio personality and Somerville native who has always been more than generous with his time to help out our community and local organizations. His father was a dear friend of ours and we are lucky to have him as a regular guest commentator here. We know you will enjoy his stories and anecdotes about living in this great city of ours. Enjoy.)

Silly is my way of life.

I have earned a living being silly in the Boston radio scene since 1986. I have played in silly bands with silly names such as The Sled Dogs. Being silly is a way of life for me. It also comes in handy when you have two boys ages 9 and 11. (I am a big Sponge Bob and Nick at Nite fan!)      

The View From Prospect Hill

When state voters overwhelmingly supported Deval Patrick last November, who could have imagined we would get Bugsy Siegel for governor? Patrick’s proposal for three casinos in the state takes what could be a good possibility for new revenues and wastes it.

The Commonwealth is in need of money, no doubt about it. But is it worth filling our communities with multiple casinos and all the social ills they bring with them? We say no.

A single casino in Western Massachusetts could balance the need for new income while maintaining the historic and cultural charm that attracts thousands of tourists each year.