The Somerville News

Bringing punk back home

By Walter Smelt

American punk was born in a dive bar and music club whose name stood for Country, Bluegrass and Blues, which is the kind of music the owner expected to book there. Instead, the Ramones started playing at CBGB's and turned the music world upside down. So in an upside-down kind of way, it seems appropriate that Somerville's own dive bar and music club should book bands whose members grew up on punk but found their way back to punk's roots in older American music: music like rockabilly, rhythm and blues, and country. Of course it's the Abbey Lounge we're talking about, which last Saturday night hosted a sold-out show in which all these traditions were represented-and not just represented, but resuscitated.

Three aldermen appointed to national committee

By George P. Hassett

Three Somerville aldermen will serve on a national policy committee for the Washington-based National League of Cities.

Ward 7 Alderman Robert C. Trane will serve on the Steering Committee on Energy, Environment and National Resources, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston will become a member of  the Steering Committee on Community and Economic Development and Alderman-at-Large  John M. Connolly was appointed to the Policy Committee on Transportation Infrastructure and Service. 

The View From Prospect Hill

Whether you use it as a noun or an adjective, the word “progressive” means pretty much the same thing - movement forward with new ideas and in different directions than the “status quo.” We find the Progressive Democrats of Somerville, especially those behind it, lacking when it comes to truly progressive ideas in the community - in fact, the PDS should not go by the moniker “progressive” at all.

Maybe it would be different if they as a group didn't turn into the very people they originally set out to unseat politically - but they did. Too bad. Youth and liberal ideas do not a progressive group make, period.

Neighbors: Residents of sober house drinking, drugging

By George P. Hassett

Neighbors angry about a sober house they say is anything but sober, will have a chance to air their complaints publicly at an upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, city officials said this week.

City spokeswoman Lesley Delaney Hawkins said Inspectional Services Director George Landers went to 31 Wilton St. and determined that owners Michael Cartolano and Russell Colombo did not have the necessary permits needed to operate the home as a sober house. Cartolano and Colombo will have to apply for the permits with the Zoning Board of Appeals which will hold a public hearing on the issue. The date of the public hearing has not yet been determined, she said.

Newstalk for Wednesday February 27th 2008

Wow and we thought the Progressive Democrats of Somerville weren't very open - now we find out that the Somerville Democratic City Committee, behind closed doors, is about to announce at their meeting this coming March 10th, a new slate of officers - ok, well maybe not so new…seems kind of funny that the Democratic Party here in Somerville behaves more and more like the Politburo. Some of us here at The News and Newstalk have been members of the Democratic Ward/City Committee for over 30 years - and quite frankly can't recall an election for officers so underhanded and non-Democratic…The proposed new chairperson is a Ms. Chang - and oh yeah, don't worry, Helen isn't retiring from the committee - she's running for treasurer we hear. One off the record elected official made the remark to us that this was done to keep out the so-called “Progressives” - and before you get all huffy with us, we weren't happy about that kind of remark either. Regardless of who wants in or not, in the end we think the process should be open and above-board - this meeting on the 10th could be interesting.

In three busts, $50k of dope and a pound of coke seized in East Somerville

By George P. Hassett

Somerville Police drug unit detectives seized 196 grams of heroin and more than a pound of cocaine in three drug busts over two days last week in East Somerville.

Two of the busts were the result of a cooperating witness who identified Angel Enrique Moreno, 22, and Carlos Euelio Chavez, 38, both of Revere, as main suppliers of heroin and cocaine in the area, police said. Moreno and Chavez were arrested separately, seven hours apart on Friday.

You can't beat a woman

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.)

This past week, Deval Patrick, Paul Celucci, and Tom Menino co-chaired White Ribbon Day. Men across the Commonwealth took this pledge: “From this day forward, I promise never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women, sexual assault, and domestic violence.”

Most who read this will nod and agree that those are words we should all live by. Not all will realize how challenging it is to do this effectively.

Somerville poet ponders factory workers

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Lisa Beatman worked as an Adult Literarcy teacher at the Ames paper factory in Somerville. Somerville's Ibbetson Street Press has published a book of her poetry “Manufacturing America: Poems From The Factory Floor.” Many of the poems are studies of the workers she taught while there. This is hardly a subject for trendy or sexy writing, but it deals with a shrinking underclass in society that for the most part is invisible. Laurel Johnson of the Midwest Book Review wrote this review of the book. I decided to include it in my column this week. Here is Johnson's review:

Hero cops and firefighters honored

By George P. Hassett

On Dec. 6, an aggressive fire destroyed the home at 9-11 Harvard Place. It could have destroyed more and possibly taken lives were it not for the heroic actions of three Somerville police officers and two Somerville firefighters.

With the home in flames, Somerville police officers Alex Capobianco, Derrick Dottin and Steven St. Hillaire arrived on scene. As they tried to gain access into the house they could hear voices coming from inside. Capobianco and Dottin entered the home but could not see through the smoke.

Hockey game benefits fire

Photos by Donald Norton

A cop versus Somerville Icecats "oldtimers" game of hockey was given more significance last week when the money raised  was donated to the fire victims of 9-11 Harvard Place. In December, the Thibeault's lost their family home of almost 100 years in a devastating blaze that destroyed almost everything in the home, including the Christmas gifts.

Sciortino could have an opponent

A Medford man has taken out the neccessary forms from the secretary of state's office to run against State Rep. Carl M. Sciortino, D-Somerville. Michael DiBenedetto will now have to gather signatures in Somerville and Medford to appear on the ballot against Sciortino, whose district includes Winter Hill, West Somerville and parts of Medford. Sciortino said his only previous interaction with DiBenedetto was when he and his wife contacted him to express their opposition to gay marriage. Since defeating incumbent Vincent Ciampa in 2004, Sciortino has been a strong supporter of gay marriage. DiBenedetto could not be reached for comment. No other information is available at this time.

Getting your 'ears lowered'

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.)

Disclaimer: these recollections are as accurate as my fading memory will allow - please feel free to e-mail me any corrections or additions. “Getting your ears lowered” was what my father called going to the barber. The first place I remember getting a haircut was from Lionel's Barber Shop in Ball Square. We lived on Pearson Avenue, so it was a short walk for my father and his two young boys. Lionel would put the booster on the seat and we'd take turns getting our wiffles - I later graduated to a flat-top which required the “ butch stick” to make the front stand up.

The View From Prospect Hill

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test has done some positive things for our schools. It has put the spotlight on districts that are struggling and in need of additional help and resources from the state. And students who otherwise would simply be passed along from grade to grade are challenged to succeed in school.

Yet those advances are likely to mean little to the tens of thousands of kids who have dropped out of school in the years since the test became a make or break graduation requirement. Do the creators of MCAS have anything to say to these children? Probably not. They have already demonstrated they care little about the students left behind by MCAS.

Truck uproots tree in front of Capuano's house.

At approximately 12:30pm today, a tractor trailer truck traveling South on Central Street moved out of the way of an oncoming vehicle heading North. This caused the driver of the truck to move to the right to give the vehicle more room, and through no fault of the weather, uprooted a tree directly in front of Congressman Michael E Capuano's home at 172 Central Street. The tree suffered the only injury and the scene was cleared quickly, thanks to the quick work of the DPW.

Story by James A. Norton, pictures by Donald F. Norton.

Somerville seeks to limit alcohol ads geared toward youth

By Bruce Desmond, Alderman at Large

(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.)

State and local communities are becoming increasingly alarmed by the alcohol industry's aggressive marketing campaigns. The alcohol industry spends more than $5.7 billion each year marketing its products. Of particular concern is the exposure of underage youth to advertising and promotional messages that glamorize alcohol and downplay or ignore risks associated with underage drinking, and tout alcohol as an integral part of becoming an adult. At least with normal advertising media such as television, magazines, sporting events and music events, parents have an opportunity to avoid the advertisement. By placing billboard ads near parks, playgrounds and schools, all places that are unavoidable by children, the alcohol industry is creating an involuntary and unavoidable form of solicitation to a select audience. Kids are automatically exposed to it and can't avoid it. The ordinance that I have proposed, if enacted, would prohibit the outdoor advertising of any alcoholic beverage within 500 feet of playgrounds, elementary or secondary schools, places of worship or child care facilities. Somerville already prohibits advertising alcoholic beverages on public property or property controlled by the city, such as the new bus stop shelters.

East Broadway could soon get a makeover

By Kimberly Geronimo

Week by week, east Broadway gets closer to receiving its long awaited makeover. Residents met with public officials and consultants at a community meeting on Feb. 13 to voice their suggestions and opinions on possible streetscape revisions to the long-underutilized district.

The idea to redesign Broadway was originally conceived under former mayor Michael Capuano's administration in the 1990s but had floundered because of a lack of funding, according to Ward 1 Alderman William Roche. It had been in the planning process for about five years, he said. Finally, “Mayor [Joseph A.] Curtatone made the commitment and has most of the funding” for a full-scale renovation, he said.

Capuano pressures China on Darfur

By Keith Howard

The plight of hundreds of thousands of displaced Africans hit Somerville when one politician took action to defend the lives of the victims of a brutal conflict.

Over one hundred congressmen, including U.S. Rep. Michael E. Capuano, D-Somerville, signed a letter urging China to work harder at putting an end to the conflict within the Darfur region of western Sudan. Capuano has been outspoken about the United States' responsibility to end the suffering of Darfur.

According to the letter, millions of Sudanese civilians, who suffer from violence between rebel forces and Sudan's militia, are in desperate need of food and medicine. “The absolute need for the civilian protection and a basic level of humanitarian operational security has never been clearer,” the letter reads.

Tree stops Summer Street condos

By George P. Hassett

The tree beat the condos. In a battle pitting a 14-unit condo development against a single tree, the tree has prevailed.

The developers of 343-347 Summer Street, had seen their project delayed by lawsuits from the neighborhood for six years but were coming off a legal victory and had only one obstacle in their way before cashing in with new West Somerville condo's: a single tree that had to come down for construction of a fire lane.

Newstalk for Wednesday February 20th 2008

Apparently things are better now between Alderman Bob Trane and Mayor Joe - both were seen recently at The Independent having a bite to eat and it appeared to be a nice conversation. While we're on Alderman Trane - he has also been seen over in Medford as well - with several of the elected Medford Council members having coffee. We think Bob is leaning towards giving the “Prince of the Progressives” Carl a run for his money.

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Speaking of the Progressives and especially our own far out left guard, last week The Somerville News published the Beacon Hill Roll Call and will be doing it every week, so you can see what our legislative delegation has voted on in detail. The Somerville News has committed to doing this weekly - unedited the way it came to us - so you can draw your own conclusions, left or right. The Somerville News has some more surprises coming very soon - so keep an eye out.

City teens lead MCAS reform charge

By George P. Hassett

Somerville teens led an MCAS reform rally last week at the State House urging lawmakers to take a second look at the test, six years after it became a graduation requirement.

Greg Rego, an 18-year old- Somerville resident told a group of 200 Boston-area high school students of his personal struggles with the high-stakes Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test. He said he was never given notice of the test until the day it came and after failing twice by a combined 3 points, dropped out of school.