The Somerville News Blog

The tale of the Somerville Santa

Jimmy Del Ponte On The Silly Side (At this time of year, there are many versions of the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas" - I hope you enjoy this one.) Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the 'Ville; All my presents were purchased, and man what a bill. Thank heaven for credit cards, I have more than a few; Though I'll pay through the nose when those buggers are due. I just watered the tree because last year I forgot; And three days before Christmas, it turned yellow with rot. I was walking the dog up at Powder House Park; On each tree he stopped to leave his special mark. The TV was calling, so I tried to rush home; I unleashed the pup and gave him a milk bone. I took a few Advils and gulped some Mylanta; And sat back in my chair, and that's when I saw Santa! There wasn't a sleigh, no reindeer I'm afraid; This "Somerville Santa" drove a Red Escalade He parked in my driveway and when I looked out; I saw some familiar figures and I heard him shout: Come on Bobby, and Dennis, and David, and Johnny; Let's go Eddie, and Richie, and Kenny, and Ronnie! I had seen these guys someplace but I couldn't say where; From the High School, from little league, from Teele or Ball Square? They came up to my living room and we had some egg-nog; Their faces were friendly, but my memory was fogged. We laughed and we joked, and we had a few beers; But my face - it was wet - I was shedding some tears. I finally remembered who all these folks were; Though it was very dreamlike and their faces were blurred. It was all of my friends who had left us too soon; My pals who I'd lost - were all here in one room! We hugged and we laughed and we had lots of fun; They all looked so healthy, they all looked so young. Christine and Diane - even Janet was there; She was just seventeen, it just didn't seem fair. When I said "oh my God" and yelled "Joey" real loud; Three Joeys had answered, three was such a sweet crowd! They were kids we grew up with, they were friends who had passed; We were all reminiscing, we were having a blast. Was it something I ate, was I dreaming it all? Who cares, it was like Heaven, and we all had a ball! But the next thing I knew, it was getting near dawn; I suddenly glanced to find everyone was gone. I looked out the window - the red Caddy was there; Then quickly it rose up and sped through the air. As I whispered goodbye and took one final peek; There still was one tiny tear left on my cheek. I suddenly wanted to call all my loved ones; I needed to talk to my buddies and chums. I told them I loved them and how special they were; Since I'd had such a gift from that jolly chauffeur. So at Christmas it's all about people we love; The ones still down here, and the ones up above. As we open our presents - Chia Pets and the Clapper; There is one gift that just doesn't come in a wrapper. They are memories, mementos, they are photographs too; Of the loved ones so special to me and to you. I yelled "Thanks Somerville Santa" as they sped out of sight; Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. You can email Jimmy directly at jimmydel@rcn.com.

City of Somerville and Liberty Mutual reach agreement on East Somerville Community School

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the City of Somerville and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company reached an "agreement in principle" last week that would provide the City with $12 million toward the rebuilding of the East Somerville Community School (ESCS), which was heavily damaged in a predawn fire on December 9, 2007. Curtatone expects that this settlement will be presented to the Board of Aldermen at its next meeting. The City has already received $1.7 million of this settlement amount to defray interim costs, including those associated with replacing school contents and materials, busing students, and with selective demolition, which began in November. Curtatone also said that the City continues to work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on their proposed emergency regulations, and how those regulations pertain to the rebuilding of the ESCS. "This is tremendous news for the City and the ESCS community, and further ensures that we will be able to take the most appropriate action in terms of providing a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment for the students, staff, and families of the East Somerville community," Mayor Curtatone said. "$12 million is a substantial sum, but any viable plan for even a partial rebuilding will cost considerably more. Even with this agreement, it's still too soon to make any definitive decisions with respect to the ultimate scope of the rebuilding effort - but this settlement reinforces our commitment to rebuild the ESCS on its current site. We will continue to work closely with the MSBA to follow their proposed regulations, and to provide the best possible facility as soon as we can." "I am extremely excited to learn that this hurdle has been cleared, and we can now look forward to the next phase of our work to bring the ESCS community back together, under one roof," said Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi. "The students, staff, and families of the ESCS have been incredibly supportive and patient throughout this entire process, and I want to again thank everyone for working with us during this process. This is an important step in the process, and we are committed to bringing the ESCS community back together." "It has been a long year for all of us here in the East Somerville community, and I'm relieved that this portion of the legal process has finally been resolved," said Ward 1 School Committee Member Maureen Bastardi, who will begin serving as School Committee Chairperson in 2009. "The ESCS has been a community gem and important community center for many decades, and though we are all sad to leave this building behind, I am excited to move forward and help make this a place everyone can once again come together to learn and play."

Somerville is preparing for cuts to state aid

By Nick Vennochi With the threat of local aid cuts looming over cities and towns in the Commonwealth, Somerville is hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst. "Everything is on the table for cuts," said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. Last week, House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi warned that cities and towns could face five to ten percent reductions in local aid for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. According to Victoria Bonney, a spokeswoman for DiMasi, legislators may take up the matter of local aid cuts as soon as January. State aid makes up about 32.5 percent of Somerville's revenue for the current fiscal year. The city is slated to receive $57,597,171, making it the third highest local aid recipient behind Lawrence and Chelsea. A ten percent cut means Somerville would receive $5.7 million less. That is on top of the $6 million cutback in local aid that Somerville endured in 2002. The state money funds two separate budget sections - General Aid, which has no earmarks and Chapter 70, which funds public education. The city will be "re-evaluating every program," said Curtatone. But he worries that "cuts to core services and education have a negative effect on the economy." On one hand, Curtatone is trying to remain optimistic. It is "not clear if cuts will happen", the mayor said. But he knows that that will hard to avoid, given the recent economic problems. "We understand there has to be shared pain," the mayor said. He calls the prospect of midyear cuts "devastating" and "inherently unfair." However, to deal with the possibility, the city will "plan conservatively," Curtatone said. "We are assuming that we will get the money until June of this year" said Alderman at Large Bill White. "The fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, so we are in the middle of it" said White. In 2002, Governor Mitt Romney made cuts midyear but "the Patrick administration has always said there will be no midyear cuts" added White. However, when looking ahead, White said "it looks horrible for the state next year." Local aid packages have been consistent over the last three years. But with banks closing and the housing market plummeting, many local cities and towns are now braced for the worst. Each city and town receives general aid, plus chapter 70 money, minus so-called "assessments." Assessments are made by the state on charter schools or the MBTA and these can make a big difference, plus or minus, when aid is handed down. "What the state gives with one hand, it can take away with the other" said Thomas P. Champion, the mayor's director of communications. "The state aid could go up, but the assessments could go up, making it a wash or a minus" he explained. Local aid was at an all-time high until the Romney administration made cuts in 2002. Curtatone hopes that if these cuts do come down, Somerville will be able to come up with new revenue options, "We need a way to diversify revenue," the mayor said. Curtatone said he has tried to make sure that Somerville has a fall-back plan. "We are in a better situation than under Romney because we have damage control" said Curtatone. If these cuts were to come down the city would lower costs and look for flexibility with local taxes. But Curtatone said a "high quality of service will be maintained" and "we will be prepared to move forward."

A gift worth 35,000 words

Third-grade students at the Argenziano school listen to their superintendent, Tony Pierantozzi. Students take a look at their brand new dictionaries. ~Photos by Jack Nicas Every Somerville third-grader receives new dictionary By Jack Nicas This Christmas, every third-grade student in Somerville Public Schools was given the gift of words. For the third straight year, the Medford Elks Lodge #915 donated one dictionary to every Somerville third-grader Thursday. The program is part of a national Elks initiative "to put dictionaries in the hands of every child in the country," said Anne Leetch, a past "exalted ruler" of Lodge #915. With the absence of an Elks Lodge in Somerville, many Somerville residents are members of Lodge #915, Leetch said. "That's why we decided to do Somerville," she said. "There was a connection." The Medford Rotary Club provided dictionaries to Medford third graders this month. Leetch, incoming Exalted Ruler Warren D. Costa, and two other Elks members handed out dictionaries to third-graders at the Argenziano School on Thursday. Many students pressed the cold, brand new books to their faces and flipped through the pages. "Oh this is good! It tells you what it means!" exclaimed one student, sitting Indian-style on the floor. Leetch led the group of 43 students through a hunt for new words, such as benevolent, jovial and putrid. Then the quest turned to the information pages in the back. "Who can find what the Massachusetts state flower is?" she asked. After a few minutes of searching, Leetch finally revealed the answer: "The mayflower." "That's the name of the ship the pilgrims came in on!" shouted Faisal Maniar, a bright-eyed, outspoken student sitting up front. He later said he was happy to finally have a dictionary: "For seven years I didn't have one." Throughout the program's three years, Leetch said the response has been positive. "[The students] love that it's theirs and that they get to keep it-take it home," she said. In today's technology age, Leetch said it was increasingly important for children to experience books. "Kids today do everything on the computer," she said. "It's important to give them a book they can hold and realize that books are important too."

Snow emergency over at 8am Monday - schools still closed.

The City of Somerville has lifted its snow emergency as of 8 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2008. Residents parked in municipal or school lots during the snow emergency have a two-hour window in which to move their vehicles once the emergency has been lifted. Cars still parked in city lots at 10 a.m. on Monday may be subject to ticketing and towing. Residents, landlords and business owners are required by city regulations to shovel their sidewalks but may not shovel snow into the street. Somerville Public Schools are closed for the day.

Obama slept here

Obama lived here. ~Photo by Bobbie Toner Now alderman wants to honor his basement apartment By George P. Hassett Barack Obama slept here. In Winter Hill to be exact, and Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan wants to commemorate that. At last week's Board of Aldermen meeting, Sullivan proposed to honor the president-elect's historic achievement by mounting a plaque outside the basement apartment he lived in at 365 Broadway while studying at Harvard from 1987 to 1990. "It's a very historic thing. There's a buzz in the city that the president slept here for three years and a monument signifying that would be nice. "Let's show the kids in Somerville that if you come from modest means, through hard work and perseverance you can be successful, you could even be president. Obama is the first African-American president. And he lived in Ward 4," Sullivan said. The cost for a monument would be minimal and an invitation could be extended to Obama. "I understand he has bigger priorities but maybe Somerville could be one stop on his way through. Why not?" Sullivan said.

City presents stadium plans for Inner Belt

Questions of ethics, benefits to city remain By Tom Nash City officials presented a plan Wednesday to put a major sports facility, possibly a professional soccer stadium, in the long underutilized Inner Belt and Brickbottom commercial district. A Green Line station, slated to be built in the neighborhood by 2014, is expected to help revitalize the 160-acre area bordered by McGrath O'Brien Highway. A soccer stadium for New England Revolution home games could be in the plans as well. City officials helped present the study last week, conducted by CBT, after the Kraft Group, who owns the Revolution and the Patriots, expressed interest in building a soccer stadium in Somerville. "We agreed that something like a sports facility can really capitalize this area and in fact kick start the identity for this area," said Kishore Varanasi of CBT. Alderman-at-Large Bill White said, "the study didn't go into great detail about the effects of a soccer stadium" such as the traffic it may generate. Among the four site options included in the report, one included using air rights above a 10-acre Green Line train maintenance facility that has been proposed by the state for Inner Belt. White said it is still not clear if the city can reap the commercial tax benefits of a stadium if it is built on top of the maintenance facility, property owned by the state. Lee Auspitz, a member of the Davis Square Task Force which advocated for city residents when the Red Line came to Somerville in the early 1980s, criticized the city's inaction on addressing the legality of the Kraft Group providing 95 percent of the study's funding under a charitable loan despite the fact that they stand to profit from the stadium as its owners. "I've seen no action on (the issue), and it's really a disgrace," Auspitz said. "None of us is elevated by being a party to the abuse of charitable organizations. Everybody knows the difference between giving to charity and giving to yourself, and the Kraft Group has given to itself." Both Varanasi and the city's development director Monica Lamboy refused to discuss that issue.

Local prosecutor honored for community work

In honor of his exemplary service to the office of the Middlesex District Attorney, Somerville resident Sean Griffith was presented with the Paul R. McLaughlin Community Activist Award at a ceremony held Thursday in Woburn, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone announced today. Griffith was presented with the award by District Attorney Leone and ADA Elizabeth Keeley. The Paul R. McLaughlin Community Activist award is presented to a member of the Middlesex District Attorney's office for working in a selfless manner to collaborate with communities as a partner in creating a safer environment to live in. Griffith is an ADA in Lowell District Court. "Sean Griffith's dedication to his work, as well as the Lowell community, is significant," Leone said. "Sean's involvement goes beyond the courtroom and extends to two community outreach programs, Safety First and Community Based Justice, where he actively works to keep the community safe." The annual Middlesex District Attorney's Awards Ceremony was held Thursday evening at Woburn Memorial High School.

Stop at Bread on Broadway for taste of Brazil

~Photo by Bobbie Toner For all Somerville's restaurants, not many serve a full breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now there is one more. Bread Co. opened at 349 Broadway this week. Owner Petra Maia, who runs another bakery in Everett, said her spot is open long days, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

At 23, she lives in the past

Elizabeth Butters has you in her sights. By Camille Pandian At first glance, Elizabeth Butters appears to be the living rendition of I Love Lucy. Her hair is looped and tied up in an enormous black bow. A pink vintage handbag dangles from her fingers, and she swears by a deep green sweater that matches her eyes, overset with an antique necklace. Everything about her is dainty, delicate and simply aches 1930s starlet. Butters, a Somerville folk singer, will be performing at Club Passim in Harvard Square Sunday. At the age of 23, she has already made a name for herself on the local folk circuit. Sunday will be her sixth time playing Club Passim. Butters has been involved with music ever since she can remember. She has been singing since she was young, and she picked up the dulcimer at age 16 following the path of her idol, poet, Cuban revolutionary and musician, Richard Farina. A few years later she began playing the guitar as well. She is almost completely self-taught. She says she learned to play music by listening and applying. "I collect a lot of records and I learn everything off the records." Themes and appearance are very important to Butters. "Half the performance is the way that you look," she says. She only ears the throwback dresses for her performances. Butters grew up around Boston, but her family originated from the Midwest, a concept that has had enormous influence on her work. She is inspired by the archetypes of the American West: images of horses and cowboys. She also finds the concept of profound tragedies fascinating. "Like the image of swallows swarming from trees in the movie Bonnie and Clyde," she says. "I want to capture that feeling in music. I think it's nice when people can hear sad things, because then they have hope that there are other people out there who feel the same way and understand them. It's lonesome but it's hopeful in its loneliness." Elizabeth Butters plays Club Passim, 21st Dec, 7.30 p.m. at 47 Palmer Street, Cambridge MA 02138. Tickets available 617.492.7679 or online at http://tickets.passimcenter.org

Mayor hesitates to sign trash contract

Teamsters picketed Russell Disposal last year because the company is non-union. This week, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said trash pick-up in Somerville has no ideology, he just wants to get it off the streets.~Photo by Ethan Backer Not satisfied with Russell bid, he says By George P. Hassett In Somerville, trash can be political. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone this week said he is trying to avoid that and only wants a trash pick-up company that "delivers the best service to taxpayers. I'm not concerned with ideology." Last year aldermen criticized the no-bid process that led to F.W. Russell, a non-union company, getting the contract. Teamsters had recently scuffled with police and Russell owner Charles Carneglia during a labor protest that ended with 11 Teamsters arrested. This year, Curtatone did put the contract out to bid and said he was not happy with the return. Russell's bid, he said, came in at a higher price than expected. Still, he said, aldermen who demand a union trash company might be putting this city at risk. "I don't think aldermen want trash all over the city's streets because we couldn't find a union company. This isn't about politics or ideology,it's about picking up the trash and delivering services to taxpayers," he said. He said he has met with other vendors who could step in when Russell's current contract expires at the end of the month. Alderman-at-Large William A. White said he will ask city officials at the next Board of Aldermen meeting why they waited until October to start the bidding.

Christmas in Somerville, 1934

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.) I've reminisced fondly about the Christmases we had when I was a lad - in the 60's - as well as the present day Christmases that my kids enjoy. I recently wondered what Christmas in Somerville was like for my dad - he was born in 1920 and if he was still here I would sit him down and interview him for this story.. Thankfully I still have his sisters (my aunts) around to tell me of the Christmases back then. We were having lunch at one of our favorite restaurants last week and we started talking about Christmas. It began with the complaint that kids today get so many gifts as opposed to when we were kids. My cousin Carol, who is right behind me in age (but doesn't look it), agreed that we got less gifts back then, but always felt that we got more than enough. Christmas was a very big deal back then. Auntie Olga chimed in and told us about what she used to get for Christmas when she was a little girl. In 1934, Olga was 10 years old. Italy had won soccer's World Cup, and a new federal prison called Alcatraz had just opened. There were 3 sisters in 1934 - Gemma, Gilda and Olga. Marie came along a few years later. My father, Fred, was the oldest and Uncle Joe was the youngest - until my Godmother (Marie) arrived. Auntie Olga remembered sitting in front of the Atwater Kent radio and staring at it the way we now watch TV. At Christmas time my Grandfather would play the piano and sing carols in Italian. I still remember his version of Jingle Bells that he joyfully sang to us grandkids. Olga recalls the sound of her mother (my Grandma) making noodles from scratch in the kitchen. You could hear her working the dough with the rolling pin. It made a bang as it hit the wall, because the table was up against the wall. Scooping some sauce up with a meatball was a true treat. On Christmas Eve the girls would hang their long brown stockings on their headboards. In the morning they would be filled with an orange, some nuts and perhaps an apple. The best Christmas was the one that all three sisters got brand new dolls and baby carriages. Auntie Olga's eyes lit up as she was describing how special those carriages were. The boys got brand new sleds one year, and that was pretty extravagant for those days. They also received the dreaded "gift of clothes." Back then they probably appreciated clothes, even if it didn't have Reebok or Phat Farm stamped on them. A trip to Davis Square with 50 cents each in 1934 would find the kids at Woolworths. All the sisters went together and their mother would warn them to "keep their hands in their pockets" and to not take anything without paying. That was before Mr. Wise ran the store and kept his eye on everything. I wonder what kind of Christmas decorations Woolworths sold in 1934? Maybe those plastic candles we put in our windows were real candles? Maybe not. Imagine if we gave our kids a stocking stuffed with an orange, an apple and some nuts? They would look at us as if we were nuts! To hear Auntie Olga tell about how happy that houseful of kids was really made me smile. They didn't have a lot, but they made do with just enough. The best part of talking to my Auntie Olga about her brothers and sisters and her parents was the love that was on her face as she was reminiscing. She said more than once that her parents always treated all the kids equally, and it was a very happy house. Having my aunts so close makes not having my dad around all that much easier, especially at this time of year. Thinking of him as a 14 year old boy on Christmas Eve is priceless. Christmas in 1934 was very special for the Del Ponte family, so we will carry on the tradition of putting family first - now and always. Thank you Auntie Olga for sharing your special memories with me. Someday I hope someone will tell my grandkids about the wonderful Christmas of 2008. Please e-mail your comments to Jimmy at: jimmydel@rcn.com

The View From Prospect Hill

2008 we hardly knew ye... It's easy to look at all the nice, warm and fuzzy stuff happening around Somerville and then point at Mayor Joe and say it's all because of him - but the truth of the matter is that he is only one piece in the puzzle, albeit the most visible piece. The Board of Aldermen and the School Committee really accomplish a lot more on a day to day basis than most people realize - and while they serve two year terms like the Mayor, their respective President and Chairperson only have 12 months in their leadership roles. That's not a lot of time to get things done when considering each body's goals/agendas. Dennis Sullivan has always been a colorful character - his effervescent personality and his genuine interest in what you have to say automatically endears him to what is generally regarded as the widest age range appeal of anyone holding office today. As President of the Board of Aldermen this past year, he has stepped up and demonstrated his ability to corral a group of 11 elected officials with very different personalities, that can be occasionally divisive and bring them together to make tough decisions. He did a great job this year and we are sure he will continue to fight the good fight when he rejoins the horseshoe. Paul Bockelman has done an outstanding job this past year as Chairman of the School Committee - a difficult elected body to understand for the average person on the street - in a year with plenty of action. Sure most people have no idea what the School Committee does, but this year saw plenty of work being done there from contract negotiations to setting lofty long term goals for the school district. His personal and professional experience in dealing with municipal issues on both sides has proven vital this past year and we could certainly use more people like him on our elected/appointed bodies. With impending local aid cuts looming in the not too distant future, this coming year will prove interesting at the very least for both the new President of the Board of Aldermen and the Chairperson of the School Committee. It will certainly not be a year without some pain - thankfully each of these two elected bodies has had their eyes fixed cautiously on the horizon for some time now - so it most likely won't end up as bad as most will suspect from the start. We wish Walter Pero and Maureen Bastardi the best of luck as President and Chairwoman of their respective bodies that work very hard every day for all of our citizens. They are both outstanding elected officials who will take their roles very seriously and do what's right for the residents of our fair city.

Parking meters reinstalled on Somerville Avenue

Had been removed during reconstruction Director of Traffic and Parking James Kotzuba this week announced that the city reinstalled 55 parking meters on Somerville Avenue in Union Square. The meters had been removed during the most recent phase of the Somerville Avenue reconstruction project in Union Square. The meters, running from Market Basket into Union Square along Somerville Avenue, are operational from 8 a.m.to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. "The City is working to get the word out to residents, businesses and visitors to the Union Square area that the meters will be reinstalled next Monday and that Traffic and Parking enforcement will be present," said Kotzuba. "Union Square is a thriving business community and enforcement is necessary to ensure that visitors to the square have access to short-term parking." The state-funded Somerville Avenue project is more than 75 percent complete and six months ahead of schedule. Major construction has been suspended during the winter months and will continue in spring 2009. The project is expected to be substantially complete in late 2009.

Brune: Watch the borrowing, Mayor Joe

Gene Brune knows how it is. Former mayor urges fiscal restraint during tough times By George P. Hassett Gene Brune has seen this before. The longest-serving Somerville mayor, who began his public service career as chairman of the city's Board of Health in 1969, is no stranger to the tough economic times Somerville, and the nation, are facing now. Brune was mayor between 1980 and 1990. "The 1980s were probably the worst financial times this city ever saw," Brune said at the Dec. 5 Somerville News contributor's meeting. At the top of the list of financial challenges Brune faced when he walked into City Hall was the so called Proposition 2 ½, which, he said, forced him to cut property taxes three years in a row by 15 percent. The financial state of the city was already a mess, he said, and the tax constraints only made matters worse. Equipment was so bad, he said, Department of Public Works employees would pick up trash, throw it in the truck and then watch as it all fell out the bottom and back onto the street. School officials over counted the number of students in Somerville schools and the state wanted $3 million in education aid back, he said. New police and firefighters could not be added to the ranks because of money woes, he said. He did, however, replenish the ranks after retirements, he said. Brune said he got through those tough times by avoiding debt and recruiting young, eager professionals to work for him in City Hall. "I always said I think I had a caliber of staff in City Hall that you'll never see again," he said. "They were all young. I love young people. They give you all the hours you want, they want to make a name for themselves, they have energy. "I told people after my second year in office, I'm going to use the bad times as planning years and good times as building years" he said. Beginning in his second term, 1983, Brune said things got better. He redid the city's playgrounds, paved 175 streets and planted over 5,000 trees. He started the purchasing, personnel and traffic departments and refurbished City Hall without bonding a dime, he said. In all, Brune said the 80s were an economic roller coaster for Somerville. "In the 10 years I was mayor, things were bad, somewhat good and bad again but I was still able to do some good for the city," he said. Now that mayor Joseph A. Curtatone finds himself in a similarly rocky fiscal position (cuts in state aid to the city could reach $5 million by some estimates), Brune said there are some ways to get through it all. "[Curtatone] has to do a few things," Brune said. "He has to not go overboard in starting new programs that the city has to pay for year after year. He has to watch out for debt. And he has to try and get the most out of people who are working for him."

Girl Scouts spread holiday cheer

~Photo by Bobbie Toner Eastern Mass Girl Scout troop 1318 sang Christmas Carols at the VNA on Lowell St Friday afternoon. From there they went on to sing at the Somerville Home. The scouts made Christmas cards and passed them out to the seniors in attendance. Troop 1318 is led by leader Lucy Daiz and co-leader Maria Estey

The retirement crunch: On this issue, conservative is better

By Joseph A. Curtatone (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.) You may have seen the headline in last week's Boston Globe: "Pensions to strain city, town finances - New infusions needed as funds lose value." And it may have sounded like the most boring topic on earth, but appearances can be deceiving: this is an important issue and it provides a good example of how Somerville's conservative fiscal management will help us weather this recession. In past opinion pieces, I have written about how our strong bond rating has steadily improved over the past five years - and continues to give us access to credit markets at reasonable cost. I've written about creating the City's first-ever Capital Stabilization Fund, which sets aside predictable amounts of revenue for routine expenditures on our parks, schools and other facilities. I've explained how investing in the basic infrastructure of our community helps increase our economic viability by maintaining property values and encouraging commercial investment. And, more recently, I have outlined some of the ways we will be cutting back on spending - including the deferral of hiring to fill some existing vacancies (public safety hiring will proceed) and the reduction of the City's share in the cost of non-union employee health benefits from 85 percent to 80 percent. We've been increasing our efficiency in other ways as well. Last year, we came out with an Environmental Strategic Plan (ESP) that included the hiring of an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to design and install a series of energy savings projects in all our buildings. The guaranteed savings over the life of the project will be $2.7 million. An automated shutdown program puts city computers in sleep mode when not in use - and turns them off entirely at the end of the business day unless workers specifically ask for them to be left on. The savings from this single initiative is estimated at $25,000 annually. Over the past three years, we moved every department in the city to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone system while getting rid of older copper lines no longer in use (by the way, the phone service failure at City Hall last Friday was due to one of Verizon's old copper lines getting wet - our VOIP system never failed). These changes are saving taxpayers roughly $170,000 per year. And, we just saved another $18,000 per year by switching to a new vendor for push-to-talk, cellular and data-card service. Even as the recession has deepened, all of these factors have kept Somerville in a stronger position than many other cities and towns. Nobody would call us a wealthy city, and there is no doubt we are going to feel the sharp pinch of a struggling national economy, but we are going to survive without losing ground on the progress we've made. All of which brings me to the issue of retirement system management: Every city, town and state authority in Massachusetts has an independent retirement system with its own investment portfolio. All of them - including ours - have been hard hit by the steep decline in stock prices. The average loss for the calendar year in Massachusetts municipal retirement systems is 29 percent; Somerville's loss is 28 percent. The effect of that decline, however, varies widely among the various systems - and, as in so many other areas, Somerville is in better shape than many of its sister cities and towns. As recently as 20 years ago, our investment funds supported only about 40 percent of our obligation to retirees - the rest had to come from city appropriations. Nowadays, thanks to the prudent action of several administrations, and the skillful management of our retirement fund investments, we're over 62 percent. That's far from ideal, but it puts us in significantly better shape than many other small and mid-sized cities across the Commonwealth. We've also seen our retirement investments perform as well or better than the state's Pension Reserves Investment Trust (PRIT) and our neighboring communities of Cambridge, Brookline, Belmont and Medford. Calendar Year 2007 investment rates of return were: Somerville (12.14 percent), PRIT (11.9 percent), Cambridge (11.89 percent), Brookline (6.96 percent) and Medford (6.91 percent). On a five year basis, Somerville's rate of return was 12.46 percent. All of this means that we have been able to manage appropriate payments from the City to the retirement system while still having enough resources to expand public safety, education and other basic services. I can't take any credit for this solid record, because the Retirement Board makes independent investment decisions. Its five governing members are Chairman John M. Memory (elected), Mary Phinney (elected), Larry Murphy (appointed), John Rourke (appointed) and Ed Bean (ex officio). They're doing a fine job, and the rest of us in the retirement system owe them a debt of gratitude for their dedicated service. But what they've accomplished is just as important for the taxpayers, because our Retirement Board's strong performance ensures that the negative impact of a slumping stock market will be less severe in Somerville than in neighboring communities. Of course, every little bit helps, and I support the Mass Municipal Association's call for legislation that would tack on several more years to the state's current 2028 deadline for fully funding state retirement systems. Such a change would allow us to further soften the impact of pension system costs on taxpayers, and provide more operating budget dollars at a time when the state is contemplating cuts of up to ten percent in the 2009 local aid budget. Regardless of the outcome of that proposal, or any of the ideas now on the table for more diversity in local revenue sources, Somerville's taxpayers have an advantage in their prudent, conservative Retirement Board. In terms of policy - from the environment to human rights to the expansion of city services - this administration has a strongly progressive record. But when it comes to financial management, a conservative approach is best. That's the approach our Retirement Board has taken - and it's paying off for taxpayers and retirees alike.

Newstalk for December 17

Pescatore's Italian Seafood Restaurant in Ball Square recently had a star sighting - on several recent occasions, World Champion Boston Celtics team captain Paul Pierce, along with a few of his friends, were spotted having dinner there, but in particular last week he was there with some friends seen chewing down their favorite seafood dishes late one quiet afternoon in the 'Ville! Some of us thought he should also try the Breakfast Club Trio as well - and just might suggest it next time we see Paul around. *************** Lots of businesses are slowing down in this recession - already the pinch is on for many smaller businesses - some are even contemplating laying off employees after the first of the year and that would be sad. *************** The Ward 1 Democratic Committee held its Seventh Annual Holiday Party last week (Christmas Party) - there was a great crowd of East Somerville Democrats on hand to celebrate this past year. Many of the area's fine restaurants donated food and several of the Aldermen were spotted there - including the very popular Alderman from Ward 1 - Bill Roche and Board President Dennis Sullivan. Other just as popular Aldermen like Bill White, Jack Connolly and Bob Trane were also on hand. Funny how none of the PDSers are ever spotted at a Christmas Party isn't it? Maybe they have their own Secular Holiday Party - we didn't get an invitation, did you? *************** Speaking of Christmas Parties / Holiday Parties the Mayor's party on Monday night at the Greek Church was jam-packed and everyone had a great time - it was nice to see so many people there. *************** Our condolences to a long time Somerville family member, retired Mass. State Police Sergeant Desmond Howe - who recently passed away. The entire Howe family have been extremely active and dedicated in our community throughout these many years and continue to be seen around the city, we are all sad this day for their loss. *************** Michelle, Donna and Mary - the three "Charlie's Angels" of the Somerville Social Butterfly Team are amongst the missing - these three never miss an event until recently they haven't been seen in over a month. Rumor has it that one of the "Angels" may run for a political seat in the near future. *************** Don't forget if you need a Christmas Wreath or Tree this year, head to Foss Park and support the Next Wave/Full Circle Alternative Schools - they will be there until December 21st - wreaths cost $12 and trees range from $9 to $49, depending on size. *************** The year's Somerville Public Schools Winter Concert will be held this Thursday, December 18th starting at 7:00 pm at the high school Auditorium. This is truly a special event that you should check out if you have never made it in previous years. *************** The annual SHS musical (Bye Bye Birdie) costs around $12,000 to produce - all from funds generated by ad book and ticket sales. This year, the musical will be staged on February 6th and 7th and if you want to purchase an ad and support this wonderful production, then you need to get your ad into Rosemary Sears (the Producer) before 12/31. You can contact Rosemary at 617-625-6600 x. 6109 or email her at rsears@somerville.mec.edu. *************** Auditions for Klass Klownz - which is being coordinated by local friend to all, popular guy, and Somerville News columnist Jimmy Del Ponte - have been extended through tonight at 6 p.m. at the West Somerville Neighborhood School. Auditions are open to all 6th through 9th graders who can sing, tell a joke or just be silly for one minute. Jimmy's been getting a lot of attention lately. Don't forget about us when you're famous Jim! *************** The Somerville Kiwanis recently donated three large flagpoles to the City of Somerville and on Tuesday city workers were seen installing one of them at the Winter Hill location of Broadway & Main Street. *************** There are a lot of charitable organizations in Somerville which need our help even more so than in the past, particularly now since we are in a recession, please remember them and be as generous as you can be. *************** Get well soon to Catherine Hart of Caspar on Highland Avenue - Catherine is dedicated to making sure that everything runs smooth throughout the year and many are wishing for her speedy recovery! *************** Recently heard from is Claire Olsen, formerly of Highland Road but probably more famous for being the founder of the Walnut Street Center - she's retired now - she was the founder and for many years the inspiration for the growth of the organization. Some of us miss her around the city, but she's home in Winchester and hopefully feeling better by the time we write this. A true life-long Somerville family person who did a lot and looked for no recognition.

Somerville resident walking for breast cancer awareness

Somerville resident Matthew Anomie is recruiting local residents to participate in the 2009 Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Forming a team and working together is a great way to help everyone reach their individual fundraising goals. You can view his team page here and if you would like more information, he can be reached at anomie666@gmail.com

Teen sues cops

Alleges St. Patrick’s Day beating By George P. Hassett An off-duty Somerville police officer too drunk to drive home exacted "street justice" on a 15-year-old boy on St. Patrick's Day in 2006 after the boy kicked a recycling bin near the officer's new sports car, according to a federal lawsuit filed by the boy on Tuesday. In a complaint filed in United States District Court in Boston against seven Somerville police officers, Gerard Contaldi, now 17, of Somerville, alleges that he suffered bruising, a bloody nose and a black eye swollen shut after Officer Marcos Freitas attacked him on Medford Street for kicking the bin near his Nissan Z sports car. Freitas was out of uniform and smoking a cigarette on his parents porch on Medford Street before the incident. He had just downed three to four alcoholic drinks at a bar and stopped at his parents house to sober up, the complaint alleges. When Contaldi kicked the recycling bin near the sports car, Freitas allegedly slapped the boy and yelled, "Don't you know that is city property, you idiot!" A friend of Contaldi's then pushed Freitas to the ground and the group of boys ran down Medford Street, the complaint says. Freitas, and six police officers responding to a call for an attack on an officer, tracked the boys down in the backyard of 33 Dartmouth St. and, according to to Contaldi's lawyer, handed out some "curbside punishment" on the kids. Officer Alan Monaco allegedly pushed Contaldi's face into the gravel and yelled at him, "Don't you realize you hit a cop?" Freitas then struck Contaldi, who was in handcuffs, in the face with a flashlight or a nightstick, the complaint alleges. Contaldi and three other juvenile boys were arrested and charged with assault and battery on a police officer. Contaldi was found not guilty of the charges at his trial. According to his lawsuit, the seven police officers gave conflicting accounts of the incident when they testified. "Instead of following our system of justice it appears these Somerville police officers followed the rules of street justice," said Contaldi's attorney, Howard Friedman. "They all worked together to give Mr. Freitas a chance to assault a prisoner and that is totally wrong." The lawsuit alleges that police officers Robert Kelleher, Kevin Shackelford, Bruce Campbell, Clifford Mansir and James Hodgdon were at the scene of the incident and permitted the beating. Deputy Chief Paul Upton directed questions to the city's law office. City spokesman Tom Champion did not return repeated calls for comment. The complaint asks for punitive damages to be awarded to Contaldi, but does not specify an amount.