Newstalk for Wednesday December 5th 2007

The recount on Saturday ended up with the expected results - Bruce Desmond picking up 14 votes to extend his lead to 52 - both he and Tony LaFaunte had plenty of people and two well connected lawyers as well (we heard about $6,000 for one day for one of them).  Desmond summed up the room of volunteers and election department workers as a “classy operation ” - although some of us here at Newstalk miss the old days of the wild recounts. We think it was a necessary thing to do, that Tony owed it to his workers so that there would be no doubt. We hope that Tony LaFuente does decide to stay active in the city and run for office again. 

    
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Speaking of the recount, on a lighter side, there were plenty of donuts and pizza for everyone and a highly placed source inside City Hall told us that DPW Commissioner Stan was instrumental in picking out the days menu - we doubted it, maybe it was that smile on the sources face.    

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On Saturday at the Masonic Building on Highland Avenue, the Nardella Family hosted almost 100 families in the city for a Christmas Holiday Party - the party was for special needs kids (autistic kids) and everyone seemed to have a good time. Joe Nardella worked hard along with many other volunteers.   

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Lyndell’s Bakery is celebrating 125 Years in business and in honor of their longevity passed out FREE cupcakes and some say even coffee to everyone that came in the store Monday and Tuesday.

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Happy Birthday to Jimmy Legee, life-long resident and former City Hall ISD employee – who celebrated his 82nd birthday with his family and friends. Some of us here at Newstalk even worked with him many years ago - many happy returns Jim you deserve it.

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Last week two prominent and well-respected life-long residents of Somerville passed away. Former Alderman from Ward 7 and later City of Somerville Clerk of Committees Lee Figgins passed away from a long illness. Another life-long resident and well-respected former business owner Llewellyn Green of Willow Avenue passed away.    Both were very nice and extremely popular here in Somerville, they will be missed.

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Brandon Wilson, head of the Somerville Historic Commission, was working her board members hard last week at the so-called Public Hearing up at City Hall on their new list of historic designations - 171 to be exact. Seems that when asked by  aldermen what the process was about and how they came to select individual properties, she avoided answering directly most of the questions and went on the defensive about how they worked hard at the process, even the commission members who lined up one at a time to go and speak wouldn’t answer questions other then to boast how hard they worked on the selection. What’s that old adage - “The best defensive is a good offense”? We know more than a few people in the audience that night felt something else was going on and it wasn’t about how the selection process was done. There were more then a few that watched her organize her committee members to get up there and defend the process but for some reason get the board to vote it ASAP without questioning why. So before the bloggers attack, please re-read what I wrote, it’s not the hard work they did – we don’t question that, especially now, we just want answers on the process of selection.   

      
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Although some of us thought that the new management opening the Paddock Restaurant was good news (and we still do to some degree), now we hear that our favorite waitress Joannie Batzek was told she can’t work there anymore after 25 years – a lot of her fans will be disappointed to hear that – we’re not sure why, but we hear the new owner won’t talk directly to her – he has other people doing his talking. Some of us are sad to hear she won’t be back – she was the one bright spot in that place before and we think the new owner at least owes her a face-to-face talk.   

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The “Best of Somerville 2007” is going strong – it’s the third week and balloting is going real well  - hurry and cast your votes for the Best of 2007 – the polls close soon and hopefully there won’t be a recount!

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The ERA The Norton Group and The Somerville News Christmas Party will be on Thursday, December 13th at the On The Hill Tavern in Magoun Square – should be the usual huge turnout and good time by all associated with both businesses. Between The News and ERA there are over 85 agents and employees and more than half of them live in Somerville.

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We here at The News are encouraging everyone to please remember the Little Sisters of the Poor and all its residents this holiday season. Also in the city remember those residents at the Somerville Home as well on Summer Street – both organizations do a great job for their residents but need a lot of help as well – so please donate either money or call and find out what they need. 

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We hear Carl Sciortino, Rebekah Gewirtz and Marty Martinez are beginning to distance themselves from the organization they helped jumpstart – the Progressive Democrats of Somerville. Maybe those three are as put off as we are by the mudslinging.

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We winced when we heard a sushi joint would be replacing La Contessa in Davis Square. But we almost vomited when we learned Sacco’s Bowl Haven is going to be turned into a 100 room “connection center promoting a renaissance lifestyle.” What? Sounds like a cross between a hostel and a brothel to us. But hey what do we know about this renaissance stuff. We would rather bowl.  Do you think they’ll serve Kool-Aid there?

Comments

[Spell and spell again]

A "hostile" ?

[Election]

Are you implying that SN employees cannot spell?

[Condolences]

Retired Somerville Police Officer John Canty also passed away last week and with him went a million stories about this city and the people that lived in it. He was a cop's cop who would rather give someone a break, but of course you would receive a very large foot in the ass, than lock someone up and ruin their lives. He was a bear of a man who served his country proudly with the Marine Corps in World War II. He treated the homeless in the street the same as he would treat the President of the United States. He was loaded with common sense and street smarts and would put to shame most of the Police Officers that we now unfortunatly employ. He was the real thing. He will be missed greatly.

He leaves a very large network of family and friends.

Thank you John, for just being you! RIP

[Trish Blain]

Wow! I had said at the meeting that we are still using the working name “The Connections Center” but we are in the process of changing it (I mentioned a possible name of “Spaces”)....I guess we really DO need to change the name! LOL

The reference to the "renaissance lifestyle" was a casual (and arguably unsuccessful) attempt at describing an aspect of our social mission (think Ben and Jerry’s NOT Jim Jones) – of supporting the growing numbers of individuals that have very eclectic lives that don’t fit into traditional boxes. For example: engineers that are also artists, or stay at home mom and dads that are also entrepreneurs.

You did miss the heart of the concept though – which is providing unique spaces that can be an extension of people’s homes and businesses(of a legal nature), such as… office spaces that are rentable by the hour or a high technology media room. We have even met with Somerville parents to discuss including a possible indoor play space.

The guest rooms/hotel aspect fits in well because of all the unique meeting/event space we will have… The guest rooms would NOT be rentable by the hour.

I think we have an innovative idea that will provide a valuable resource to the Davis Square community…and I hope that you and others will give me another chance to provide more detailed information (and select a new name !! lol) before locking in an opinion…and in the future, I’ll do my best to try to describe it in ways that don’t compel the use of a barf bag. :)

[Ron Newman]

Thanks for posting that; I look forward to hearing the new name. Meanwhile, check out the "Davis Square hotel talks begin" story which has a number of comments about your plans.

[Terri]

In response to your article about Joan Batzek and the Paddock Restaurant, you should be ashamed of yourself for the negative comments you made about the new owner. He's a hardworking young family man who shouldn't be obligated to hire the previous owner's employees. The person Joan should be upset with is the previous owner, James Wakely, who didn't inform any of his employees and just closed the doors. That was the gratitude his local employees received after working for him anywhere from 10 to 25 years.

[James Norton]

Terri -

Let me be the first to welcome you to the land of online delusional people. I just re-read what was in Newstalk and could you point out exactly where in there you saw something that was even remotely insulting to the new owner of the Paddock?

I know as an Irish Catholic I personally walk around with a whole bunch of guilt, but for once I would like someone to explain to me why I should feel so shameful at this moment. Is that possible? What exactly was in Newstalk that would be considered shameful?

Maybe Joannie is lying to us - I mean, we only see Joannie every single day - I dunno...Maybe we made it all up? I guess we can't take the word of a woman we have known for over 30 years when she says the person won't speak to her directly.

Hold on a second - I just re-read the Newstalk item for a third time about the new Paddock ownership and I am still looking for what was said about the new owner that was so bad we should feel ashamed for making a comment...wait! Maybe if I re-read it BACKWARDS...yes - yes! I see it now! Terri!

Oh my Lord, Terri, please accept our apologies - how could we say such a thing about a truly saint-like person such as that? Joannie MUST be lying to us every single day. Over and over. And over and over.
Can you ever forgive us?

Okay listen up cupcake, when you figure out what was so shameful, let some of us on planet sanity know, otherwise, take a seat at the back of the bus with the other online delusional people (Kate, Election, et al). Don't forget your hockey helmut.

Have a great night.

JN

[ccollins]

The journal has posted the city's gift to property owners. Out taxes are baing raised again.

[EIection]

Jesus, JN, I don't mean to sound disrespectful to you, but you sound EXACTLY like Imux here, with the trite bus metaphors and the pseudo-macho talk.

>>
Okay listen up cupcake, when you figure out what was so shameful, let some of us on planet sanity know, otherwise, take a seat at the back of the bus with the other online delusional people (Kate, EIection, et al). Don't forget your hockey helmut.

[Ron Newman]

And I hope you don't intend to talk that way at School Committee meetings.

[Bill Shelton]

Well, I agree with everything that JN wrote except this: (Kate, Election, et al).

If memory serves, Joannie won a Best of Somerville award for her waitressing. Joannie is the Platonic ideal of a waitress that remembers you, greets you warmly, teases you gently, and keeps you entertained while waiting for the food.

If the new owner won't talk to her, he is foolish as well as rude and uncaring. And like JN, I can't see any logical connection between Terri's quote and the News Talk item that it refers to.

[James Norton]

Bill -

Thanks. The "et al" was designed for the people like them, not everyone on here. I wouldn't include you in that bunch on my worst day.

Have a good night.

JN

[Terri]

Hey, Jelly Roll (JN), this is Cupcake. You call yourself a journalist? A real one wouldn't insult the handicapped by telling them to get at the back of the bus and put a helmet on. If Daddy didn't own the paper, you would be in the same place as Joan. (Out of a job). What next, Jelly Roll? Are you going to insult the victims of Katrina and the mothers of fallen soldiers in Iraq?

- Terri "Cupcake"

[EIection]

I though the helmet comment was a not so subtle physical threat.

[James Norton]

Hey cupcake -

Once again you fall short on a getting a firm grasp on what's been written (and for that matter, reality). What's the matter - are you one of those people who actually think they're the smartest in the room (or the weblog) all the time and feel the need to fire back wildly at someone merely because you can't stand your own shortcomings?

The jellyroll comment would probably apply if I have ever eaten one, but you got that wrong all day and all night. By the way, the only insult to handicapped people I inadvertently made was associating you with one, read it again, dumbass. I have never labelled myself as a "journalist" so I don't know where you got that one, but I appreciate the elevation you have unwittingly given me, thanks.

Oh and for the record, if you knew what you were talking about or actually knew me or my family, then you would know that I own my own business (by myself, seperate from the family businesses) and have for the last 15 years, which is the main source of my yearly income. I don't take a salary from either the newspaper or the real estate company - nice try with that one too.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people just lash out with stupid-ass comments which are borne not from a valid and rational perspective, but merely from jealousy and unfettered disdain.

Want to take another wild stab at fiction for the readers? Think you are the smartest in the room because you think I'm too weak-skinned with your comments? Give me a break - I invite you to give it your best shot, but at least come at me with something worth explaining or that might make me feel like I actually did something to deserve it.

If you want to engage me or anyone on here, rather than flailing haphazardly, why don't you post something which is tangible and debatable (read - factual) from an informational standpoint?

Enjoy your evening cupcake -

JN

[norton is SO right!]

Norton is a God!

[James Norton]

Honestly I am not so sure I can take anymore stupidity tonight.

Sorry to unpublish your comment too Ron, but it wouldn't have made any sense if I was unpublishing the other one.

I just don't have time to run around wasting my time with some of this foolishness. I am sure you can agree.

JN

[Ron Newman]

No problem, JN. I thought the comment that I replied to was nearly libelous, and I'm glad you removed it.

[Kate]

To JN's -- "with the other online delusional people (Kate, Election, et al).

I can't remember what I've ever posted that would elicit that comment.

[EIection]

Kate, no idea why you were included. I play a lot around here because I take this for what it is, but your posts are generally sound. You did insult Imux, after he insulted you multiple times, but why would JN care that you insulted Imux? Unless, of course...

[James Norton]

Kate -

Actually I don't remember either, must have been the heat of the moment. Sorry about that, I probably didn't mean to type your name, it must have been on one of my windows I had open, sorry.

Election -

You're funny. I notice you didn't take my challenge, but hey that's cool.

Enjoy your day.

JN

[EIection]

I must have missed the challenge! I always love a good duel at dawn, JN. Any time! :-)

[kate]

James - No sweat, no problem. You, enjoy your day and weekend, too.
Election - thank you, for such a nice remark about my posts. I honestly don't enjoy insulting Imux, it's a knee-jerk reaction to some of his posts. I need to lighten up.

[James Norton]

Election -

Check under the last immigration column by Wild Bill.

Enjoy.

JN

[Ron Newman]

I wondered about that too. Kate is the most level-headed person posting here!

[Kate]

OMG, Ron - that is so nice of you to say, but I must bow to you. You always maintain your cool under ribbing and outright criticism. I frequently get quite angry and don't control myself.

[EIection]

Think about how nice and productive this blog would be, if all posters were like Ron and Kate. Seriously. I'm not only talking about the content, but also about the fact that they are gracious, which is especially important for online conversations (since what we think we know about the other posters is 95% a projection in our head).
It seems that JN does not want to encourage this kind of tone, in the name of a phony "freedom of speech" argument. JN, if you disrupted a meeting the way Imux and Grog do here, you'd be kicked out and ostracized by the community. JN must have an ulterior agenda, that's the only conclusion a rational person can draw.

[EIection]

JN, nah, I recently had a duel with a jackass from New Jersey. The sucker now knows better than to challenge people he does not know to duels, at dawn. So you know, I trained with Edoardo Mangiarotti's family. But he did not know that. :-)

[James Norton]

Election -

I certainly wish to promote open and courteous conversation, believe it or not. I guess I should rear my head not just for the problems, but in the middle of debate as well, it would lend my online personality a better perception. Our desire to stay out of the online "fray" at times certainly doesn't mean I subscribe to their (Grog and Imux) believes and/or their presentation. That being said, I am starting to understand why you make the comments you make and the point is taken. I am sure both Ron and Kate can recall times I have been very gracious on here, but being as busy as I have been as of late, I have been a bit short-tempered here.

On that note, regarding your training with such an illustrious Italian family - Bravo! Lei ha mostrato certamente le sue abilità per essere degne. Oso chiamare una tregua poi? Non sono l'asino conosciuto come Imux, non lavora per il giornale, non è frequentato il giornale e non so chi è e ciò è tutto ho per dire su ciò. Piacere la sua notte di venerdì.

Ciao!

JN

[Ron Newman]

If you want to promote courteous conversation may I kindly direct your attention over here. Thanks.

[Election]

Well, JN, what would you think if SN partnered with another other site with a different structure, more like a discussion board? The SN would focus on news and comments and could host more or less engaging exchanges with Imux and the like, a bit like you'd find in a bar.
The other site would be for users wanting to have more serious discussions without having to deal with trolls. All ideas would be welcome, but posts such as the ones by John (see Ron's link above), after a warning, would result in the user being banned. I'm sure there would be intelligent people interested in serving as moderators (and I think people such as Ron be best).
A while back there was that Somerville Politics thing for a few weeks, but that was not what I'm talking about.

JN, parli davvero Italiano?

[Bill Shelton]

I'm a little late checking in. I didn't want to be misconstrued, so let me say I think that Kate, Ron, and Election all add a lot to this forum, and they do so without personalized attacks.

I really do believe that what all of us who live in this city share is more important than our differences. If we can remember that, we can tolerate vehement differences of opinion without attacking the opinion holder.

As I've suggested before, I think that a lot of Imux's comments are tongue-in-cheek, and he makes me smile even when he is insulting me. But I recognize that that may be hard for some people. I wonder if this is a class/cultural difference. Having been a teenager on the streets of Compton,California, I'm used to hearing people playing the dozens. When I read Imux, I can imagine the smile on his face, which I can't imagine with certain other people who post here. I'm not sure how one works out differences of class/cultural communication styles on line.

I also think that JN sets a good example when he comes back and says that his post, "must have been in the heat of the moment. Sorry about that."

I mess up regularly, including in this space. Observer, for example, pointed out a gross error that I made awhile back in mistaking one member of the McKenna family for another. If I didn't acknowledge where I had erred, I wouldn't be able to trust myself, much less expect anyone else to.

We don't get to see each other's faces and hear their voices when we post to a website. So when people acknowledge that they erred, as JN did, it humanizes them to me. And it makes me more likely to trust what they do say.

[Election]

Bill, first of all, you're one of those people I was referring to, together with Kate and Ron, I did not mean to ignore you.
I see your point, and I suspect most people here may have smiled the first few times they read Imux's posts. But the empty and repetitive nature of Imux's "tongue-in-cheek" remarks has become unfunny and without actual content. It's a bit like the drunk uncle who interrupts some interesting conversation with the same old rant about the good old days. I hope that in the future he (I assume it's a he, for some reason) mixes the TIC posts with posts that have some content and actual arguments.

[Imux]

Oh my.... the little lovefest in here is making my heart go pitter-patter. What's next? Are we all going to hold hands and sing Kumbaya in Davis square?

Anyone who thinks Ron, Kate or Election contributes anything beyond some libaloon blabbering needs to have their heads examined. When I post my opinions I always back them up with facts (even with the no links allowed limitation). I also have no hard feelings toward anyone on here - I just feel sorry for the moonbats having to go through life with their heads shoved up their backsides.

And whilst we're on this multi-lingual kick: Election, você é um burro stupid. Obrigado. muito obrigado....

[City Workers]

Hey was that Stan Koty Playing Santa Claus at the tree lighting the other night up at city hall.

ho ho ho city workers

[Why is J Sully a bonafide hater?]

Why is John L a bonafide Hater? "Smile your on camera" Don't hate the player, hate the game! Eat your heart out baby!

[Hudson Street Joe, needs to put his camera away]

Joeycakes from Hudson Street needs to put his camera away!

[Kate]

Imux - In Portuguese, 'stupid' is 'stupido', but you spelled the rest correctly. You also spelled 'kumbaya' correctly, hmmmmm, what's with that.