The Somerville News Blog

Mike Capuano's 70th "Open Mic" Rally held at the Holiday Inn

~Photos by Donald Norton By Donald Norton Hundreds of supporters of Mike Capuano for Senate came out tonight for the 70th "Open Mike" Rally held at the Holiday Inn, Somerville. All the current elected officials from Somerville were there along with some from Cambridge. Speeches were given before Mike took the stage from State Senator Pat Jehlan to Mayor Joe Curtatone. Mike spoke to the crowd and was very optimistic that the Capuano team would win on Tuesday against all the pundits. Never before has there been such a diverse crowd in one room to support Mike. New comers as well as long time Somerville residents were there to enthusiastically show their support. Campaign workers are very encouraged with the late surge Mike is showing in recent polls, and as many Somerville residents can attest to, he's always been the underdog but came out the winner at the end of day. Capuano's speech encouraged everyone to call their neighbors, relatives and friends to vote. It's going to be close.

Somerville police officer helps to revive man

~Photo by William Tauro By William Tauro Somerville police officer Soares vigorously tries to revive an unconscious man who collapsed onto the ground on Medford Street. Emergency crews treated and soon transported the victim to the hospital. This incident occurred at 3:15 p.m. Friday.

No license, don't drive!

~Photo by William Tauro By William Tauro Somerville police send a backup unit to assist an officer who pulled over a motor vehicle in front of 118 Broadway. Officers ran the operators license along with his plates and determined that the operator was driving without a license and ordered the van with out of state plates to be towed. This incident occurred at 1:07 p.m. Friday.

MBTA bus involved in serious accident with bicyclist

~Photos by William Tauro By William Tauro Somerville police, fire as well as Transit police responded to a call at the intersection of Broadway and Josephine Avenue for an accident involving a bicyclist and a MBTA bus. According to sources the bicyclist bounced off the curb then into bus #0061. The bicyclist was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The incident occurred at 8:50 a.m. on Friday morning. Transit and Somerville police are conducting an investigation.

Board of Aldermen Committee Meeting discusses MaxPak

The MaxPak site is the site of an old plastics factory that is now empty and condemned. Lee Durocher Demolition of the old buildings at the MaxPak site was the topic of discussion at the Board of Alderman (BOA) - Committee on Public Health and Public Safety Meeting this past Monday, November 30, 2009. Bill White (Alderman-At-Large), the committee chairman, led the discussion on how the demolition process would be conducted and what steps were being taken to ensure the safety of the population around the site. The committee meeting was open to the public to ask any questions or express their concerns about the project. The underlying theme of the evening's meeting was "safety." The MaxPak site is located on the corner of Clyde and Warwick streets (56 and 61 Clyde Street). It was the site of an old plastics factory that is now empty and condemned. Despite its state of disrepair, this has not deterred people from entering the property. This is a great concern for many residents since most of those who have entered illegally are children. KSS Realty Partners which currently owns the 5.5 acre site has taken the necessary steps to have the buildings demolished. The utilities for the site are scheduled to be shut off on Wednesday, December 2nd. The presence of asbestos in the buildings was a contributing factor why the utilities had not been shut off previously. According to Sal Querusio, the general contractor in charge of the demolition, the power was not shut off because of the ongoing presence of asbestos. Querusio went on to tell the committee that the water was not shut off because it was needed to keep dust particles under control and the telephone remained on because it is hooked into the fire alarm system which is connected to the sprinkler system that is connected to the water and sewer system. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) authorized the removal of asbestos which began on November 16th. The committee reported that 100% of the asbestos was removed from 56 Clyde Street and that removal for 61 Clyde Street was 50% complete. Once the utilities are shut off, a demolition permit will be issued to start the demolition of the two buildings. The reason for the delay in issuing the permit was due in part to the size of the buildings and ongoing safety concerns. There will be a 24-hour fire watch once the demolition begins. The demolition site has a six-foot fence around it to prevent people from wandering on to the site. The demolition is expected to take about four to five weeks which includes about five to seven days of crushing bricks. The crushing machines are very loud therefore crushing will only be conducted between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. All that will be left after the demolition will be the slab foundation. Ted Tobin of KSS Realty who is the site developer does not anticipate any problems with the demolition. Tobin said that the project was undertaken due to safety reasons. The development of the land after the demolition however is still up in the air. Tobin said that due to current economic factors it is difficult to get the financing required to start construction of the 199 condominiums which will also include an MBTA green line stop. "Somerville has retained its value," Tobin told the committee. "Once the MaxPak site has been developed it should be another boon for Somerville."

A resounding opposition to preschool fees to keep Somerville's core values intact

By Julia Fairclough Parents and school committee members alike opposed the idea of charging an annual $2,800 fee for preschool education, stating that receiving an additional $259,200 in revenue to aid an ailing city budget would be offset by the damaging negatives, of which there were many. The school committee called a public hearing on Monday night at the high school library to float a proposal to charge parents an estimated $16 per day for SMILE or the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP), or $2,880 per year. Afterschool care is available until 5:30 p.m. to preschool students at a rate of $25 per day. If you add the new $16 per day fee, the proposed total then would reach $41 per day for those children who are in school nine hours a day. The city would receive $259,200 in revenue from 90 full-pay students ($2,800 each) or about $129,600 if there was a sliding scale option. The proposal will go before the school committee this Monday night for a final vote. "We talk about core values of the schools, and being able to offer free preschool is one of our core values," said Adam Sweeting, Ward 3 school committee member. "We should continue to do this with a pride of which we should embrace." The city has worked hard for it's good reputation for offering early childhood education, he added. Ward 6 Committee member Paul Bockelman agreed. Preschool, more than any other level of education, has the most impact on children, he said. But he acknowledged that the city faces a troubled economic future. "If we are looking at increasing class size or more layoffs, I hope that we don't regret that we could have raised a quarter of a million dollars by adding a fee for preschool," he said. Then, addressing Mayor Joseph Curtatone, "When it comes to budget time, we will remember your impassioned speech." Curtatone, who spoke up as a parent and not the mayor, said he has a child in the SMILE program. He added the programs are not in financial jeopardy and the city has worked hard to cut costs to keep programs like this free to parents. He questioned whether a sliding scale was equitable, what other increased costs the city faces, and what if a family has to cut back on healthy food choices or sports program just so that they could afford preschool? "This is also a value statement," Curtatone said. "Our job is to improve the quality of life for people. I want to keep families here in the city and I want them to go to our public schools." Curtatone added that he is proud to say that the city has not charged-like many other Boston area cities-for preschool. The tax players have stepped up to the plate on this one. Kelly Demers, whose children went through the SMILE program, said that she opposes the fee for three reasons. Offering free preschool sends the positive message that the city is progressive-minded. Second, she supports socioeconomic diversity in the public schools. And third, she is concerned that the cost of monitoring and negotiating a sliding scale fee would supersede any financial benefits the city would receive. It's also hard for parents to negotiate the system, what with all the acronyms and names of various programs, said Suzanne Bremer, another parent. Parents of preschool students are the most likely to be confused about choice and controlled choice, she said. Sliding fees invites more confusion. "In the past, Somerville has charged for extra curricular activities and I heard the results were dismal," Bremer said. "The perils of these times is to pit one group against another." Alan Ball has a three-year-old and is just talking about long-term schooling options. If Somerville incurs a fee for preschool, he would reconsider whether he wanted to put his child into this school system. Ball's comment invoked some passion about keeping parents and their children in Somerville. "I don't want anyone to tell me that they are thinking of Somerville," said Teresa Cardoso, Ward 2 school committee member. Ward 7 School Committee Member Mary Jo Rossetti said that she first raised the fee proposal during last year's budget meetings, considering the school budget comprises a third of the city's overall budget. "We have not charged for anything in a long time," Rossetti said. The preschool program cost the city a total of $1.9 million (of which includes $732,000 for ECIP, $735,000 for SMILE, $396,000 for administrative and programs, and $38,000 for supplies). The program is funded through IDEA grants ($412,000), Title I grants ($530,000), and local appropriations ($958,000). The per-child cost is $8,700 for ECIP and $5,600 for SMILE, according to Tony Pierantozzi, Somerville's school superintendent. There are 39 students in the ECIP special education, 36 in the regular education, and 143 in the SMILE program. Seventy students are eligible for free lunch, and another 20 for reduced lunch. That would leave a balance of 90 students who would face a tuition charge. Part of the funding problem rests with Title I monies, he said. Title I used to pay for the bulk of preschool programs, but things have changed. Title I Federal funds target low income children and those students in grades one through eight who need remedial services. So the city has been shifting Title I funding away from early childhood programs and will continue to do so, he said. The city must then lean more on local appropriations to fund preschool, Pierantozzi said, as it has been doing over the past few years.

Capuano makes final push in Senate race

Congressman Capuano talks with The News about his campaign for Senate. ~Photo by Tom Nash Anna Yukhananov According to the polls, Somerville native Michael Capuano faces long odds in next Tuesday's primary election for the U.S. Senate, which will pare four Democratic candidates down to one. In the days leading up to Dec. 8, however, Capuano says he is not looking to clean up his image as a fighter. "Poll numbers have never shown me favorably, ever," Capuano said during a recent visit to The Somerville News office. "I've always run my campaigns the same way. I am who I am, and I tell people who I am." Capuano is running for the seat left vacant after the death of Senator Ted Kennedy in August. He is in second place in a Nov. 24 Rasmussen poll, trailing Attorney General Martha Coakley by 15 points. He has grown accustomed to the role of the underdog. He was first elected mayor of Somerville after a highly-contested race in 1989 against the recently imprisoned former Alderman John Buonomo. He went on to defeat former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn in 1998 for the U.S. House of Representatives seat vacated by Joe Kennedy, where he has served since. Capuano said that since his first city-wide race, he has faced the same questions about his ability to understand issues that affect diverse constituencies. "Western Mass. expresses repeatedly that they feel forgotten by a lot of people in statewide politics," Capuano said of his experience hosting "Open Mike:" sessions across the state. "I explained to them: my whole life I've represented people who feel forgotten. "I tell them the story of the first time I ran city-wide. The first questions I got were from people in East Somerville, asking, 'How could you possibly represent us? You come all the way from Winter Hill.'" Ultimately, however, Capuano stressed that the issues at play on Capitol Hill affect all residents of Massachusetts in largely the same way. "The only real reason for me to go to the Senate is that in a smaller body, an individual member has greater opportunity to impact the issues that they care about," he said. "The issues are the same." His local base - which encompasses three-quarters of Boston along with Cambridge, Somerville, and Chelsea - may be his biggest disadvantage in the Senate race, said Maurice Cunningham, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. "Coakley has a state-wide base," Cunningham said. "Capuano has a base of a tenth of the state. In a short race like this, it's quite hard to overcome that." Tom Nash contributed to this report.

Shopping for Memories

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.) My son wanted to see firsthand what the day after Thanksgiving shopping madness was all about, so we headed off early Friday morning. First we went to Best Buy in Everett and then to the Galleria Mall in Cambridge. We sort of killed two birds with one stone, because he gave me some gift ideas. I bought them while he browsed in a far off section of the store. I picked up a few other Christmas gifts also, but the real kick was checking out the music CDs and DVDs. I actually bought two CDs for myself - one was Jethro Tull - and the other was The Lovin' Spoonful. They were only $5.99 at Borders, and both CDs had each band's top hits on it. I listened to the Spoonful CD, and man did it bring me back - you know how music does that to you - you hear a song and suddenly you're in a faraway place from long ago. When I heard Nashville Cats, Rain on the Roof, Did You Ever Have to Make up Your Mind and Younger Girl, I was back in 1967 - I actually remembered most of the words. I was driving by myself in my truck and I was smiling and singing. It was a great feeling. The real clincher for me was Do You Believe in Magic? That song came out in 1965! I was 12 years old. Coincidentally, I am writing this article on Saturday, November 28th, which happens to be my son Jimmy's 12th birthday. What a co-inky-dink! He is into Green Day, The Killers and Eminem. I wonder if when he is 56, he will be with his son in a store and see an Eminem CD (or mind-disc or whatever they will be called then) and reminisce as he plays it in his spaceship. I have been listening to my Spoonful CD since Friday. The 42 year old memories (yikes!) that the Spoonful songs invoke bring me back to the corner of Bay State and Kidder Ave with my friends. In 1967 I was in Sister Helene's 8th grade prison cell wearing baggy wool pants and a clip-on tie. Speaking of Sister Helene, the Flying Nun debuted in 1967! My favorite shows back then were Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie (of course), the Beverly Hillbillies and Gomer Pyle. The Stones were on Ed Sullivan, and the Beatles performed Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields on American Bandstand. So when I pop in The Lovin' Spoonful's CD, a mish-mash of memories and emotions start stirring around in my mind and heart. I can tell you that is a special feeling. You can't quite put your finger on the specifics, but the trip back in time is cosmic, man! Those songs transport you to a simpler existence - no mortgages, no kids to worry about and no swine flu. It's sort of like mental time travel and I love it. When I was looking through the DVD section, I couldn't believe all the old shows that were now available - Hogan's Heroes and Get Smart - just to name a couple. I still haven't opened the Jethro Tull CD yet - I want to save it. I'll listen to the Spoonful and some Lou Christie I downloaded (Lightning Striking Again and Rhapsody in the Rain). When I hear Rhapsody in the Rain, for some reason it reminds me of sitting in a parked car at the top of Powderhouse Terrace, in the rain, with a young lady. The gal's identity is unknown, but I'm pretty sure we were enjoying the moment. That's funny because Rhapsody in the Rain came out in 1966 and I didn't get my driver's license until 1971. Older woman perhaps? Exact details will always remain vague, but still bring a smile. The memories that Jethro Tull will bring back should be interesting, because that was my "hippie" stage. That song came out in 1971 when my friends and I were full-fledged hippies. You didn't dare call us hippies, but we were. We wore bell bottoms, Army surplus jackets and very long hair. I can't wait to crank up some Tull and experience the memories Ian Anderson and his crew stir up. So, my son got to see what Black Friday was all about and I got an unexpected ticket back to the old days. A simple shopping trip with a stop in the music aisle opened up yet another vault of memories from yesteryear, one of my favorite places. Maybe I will go down to the cellar and see if I can dig up my old green Army surplus jacket. Perhaps I'll throw on a headband, sit back and let Jethro Tull bring me back to 1971 and see what happens. Join me at Amelia's Kitchen in Teele Square on Thursdays from 7:30pm to 10:30pm for piano, pasta and puns! You can email Jimmy direct at jimmydel@rcn.com.

Special election will cost Somerville $120,900

By Tom Nash The special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Edward Kennedy will cost Somerville $120,900 despite state assistance, the Board of Aldermen learned at its Nov. 24 meeting. Elections Chairman Nick Salerno told the Board the Dec. 8 primary and Jan. 19 general election will cost the city $60,450 each, while noting the state is paying for the ballots and machines. Finance Director Ed Bean said the costs will be absorbed by unfilled posts in the city's Department of Public Works, the vacant planning director position at the Office of Strategic Planning and Development and the unfilled chief assessor position.

Special election will cost Somerville $120,900

By Tom Nash The special election for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the late Edward Kennedy will cost Somerville $120,900 despite state assistance, the Board of Aldermen learned at its Nov. 24 meeting. Elections Chairman Nick Salerno told the Board the Dec. 8 primary and Jan. 19 general election will cost the city $60,450 each, while noting the state is paying for the ballots and machines. Finance Director Ed Bean said the costs will be absorbed by unfilled posts in the city's Department of Public Works, the vacant planning director position at the Office of Strategic Planning and Development and the unfilled chief assessor position.

Alderman calls for new off-leash area

By Tom Nash With dog owners at one end of the city enjoying two off-leash recreation areas, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz has renewed her call for a place where dogs can roam free in West Somerville. At the Board's Nov. 24 meeting, Gewirtz asked the city to look into the feasibility of placing an off-leash park in the Davis Square area. The city has opened two in the past three years, at Ed Leathers Community Park and Nunziato Field. "Many, many people have dogs," Gewirtz said of her ward. "There's really no place to have them off leash, and we should rectify that. I think it's long overdue." Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane suggested the city should continue investigating whether state-owned property near Alewife Brook Parkway could be dedicated to an off-leash area. Dog owners can find a guide to the city's parks at the Somerville Dog Owners Group Web site, www.somdog.org

Toys for Tots makes it easy to give back

Toys for Local Children, (TLC) is a Somerville based charity that supports local families. ~Photo by Bobbie Toner America’s need has never been greater, with over 14 million underprivileged children living in this country. Ashley Troutman Do you want to give back to your community this holiday season, but don't have a lot of extra time or money? The Toys for Tots Program offers several ways to contribute. Whether you donate online, by mail, or in person, helping a child in need has never been easier. The Toys for Tots Program originated in 1947 when a group of Marine Reservists collected and distributed five thousand holiday toys to needy children in Los Angeles. Since then, the program has become a nationally recognized charity, making more than one-hundred-eighty million underprivileged children smile on Christmas Day. To donate to The Toys for Tots Program, drop off a new, unwrapped toy at any Massachusetts State Police Barracks, Boston Fire Department, Toys "R" Us, or Babies "R" Us. For alternate drop off locations, or to make an online donation, visit the charities website at Toysfortots.org. If you'd like your donation to help a family in the area, Toys for Local Children, (TLC) is a Somerville based charity that supports local families. Bring your unwrapped toys to the Somerville Fire Station, the Boston Sports Club in Davis Square, East Cambridge Savings Bank on Highland Avenue, or any of the City of Somerville Municipal Buildings. If you'd rather make a monetary donation, checks should be made payable to Toys for Local Children, and sent to TLC - P.O. Box 45406 Somerville, MA 02145. For more information, go to www.toysforlocalchildren.org. Are you a parent that would like to receive gifts for your children? Fill out an application form online by December 12th for TLC. To work with the Toys for Tots Program, get in touch with your social worker or Pastor, and keep in mind their deadline of December 4th. By receiving a new toy at Christmas, children are given a message of hope for the future. America's need has never been greater, with over 14 million underprivileged children living in this country. Your tax-deductible donation could make a child's Christmas wish come true, and contributes to the Toys for Tots Program's mission, which is and always has been to "bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children."

Meals-On-Wheels brings on the Thanksgiving turkey

Volunteers unloading the meals on Thanksgiving Day last year. This year 350 SCES’s clients will have their Thanksgiving dinner delivered. ~Photo courtesy of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services. By Cathleen Twardzik This Thanksgiving, 35 volunteers for the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Meals-On-Wheels program will home-deliver meals, which are protected by insulated food carriers, to 350 Somerville and Cambridge residents, altogether --- until approximately 12 p.m., according to Mary Ann Dalton, Assistant Executive Director of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Each Thanksgiving, volunteers are sought because the program's regular drivers have that day off. Normally, about 700 meals are normally delivered on a daily basis. Included in the organization's Thanksgiving meal, one will find the contents of a "traditional" holiday dinner --- complete with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash, a roll, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie --- although, should an individual require a specific diet, he or she will be accommodated. For the most part, SCES's clients are, at least, 60 years of age, although, the number of younger individuals who are receiving services, is on the rise. More than 2,500 people, in various programs and 4,400 callers, were assisted last year. "All of our clients have challenges that require assistance so they can live independently," said Dalton. Currently, "a number of meals that address specific medical and dietary needs" are available, through SCES. Such options include: diabetic, cardiac, low renal, high renal, low lactose, as well as "meals for people who need their food to be a certain consistency, such as chopped, ground [or] pureed," she said. At present, a vegetarian dietary option is non-existent because the organization, "There is not a very big demand. However, we anticipate that the demand will increase in the future, at which time, we would probably add that option, as well," said Dalton. Beginning in the early 1970s, SCES has operated akin programs in Somerville and Cambridge. A private, non-profit organization, SCES is a state-designated, Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) --- as well as a federally-designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA). Moreover, several SCES programs are available in Greater Boston. The organization "strives to enable older adults and younger people with disabilities to remain living in their own or their families' homes, for as long as they choose to do so, through services such as homemaking, personal care, transportation, personal emergency response systems, shopping and meal delivery," said Dalton. Also available are "opportunities for people to improve their health and well-being, by participating in evidence-based, disease prevention programs." In the future, "We would like to enhance our capacity to address our client's mental health needs, by providing in home mental health services," said Dalton. Interested individuals may contact SCES at (617)-628-2601 or eldercare.org.

Holloway among four finalists for Clearwater, Fla. position

By William Tauro According to the St. Petersburg Times, Somerville Police Chief Anthony Holloway is one of the four finalists for the Clearwater, Fla. police chief position. Holloway spent most of his law enforcement career in Clearwater before being chosen as Somerville's police chief in 2007. The four finalists, including chiefs from Orlando, Dallas and Colorado, will return to Clearwater in mid-December to sit down with city council members for an interview. Current Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein, who has served in the position since 1981, will retire in February after a successor is chosen. Holloway has told the News he will not comment on his candidacy.

Green Line report criticized at Somerville hearing

Somerville Chamber of Commerce President Steve Mackey advocated for an economic development plan for the Green Line Extension Project at a public hearing at Somerville High School Nov. 18. ~Photo by Tom Nash By Tom Nash Elected officials and residents weighed in on a Green Line extension environmental report last Wednesday, with dozens putting in more than three hours of testimony cautioning state officials to analyze the project more thoroughly. The Green Line Extension Project, mandated by the federal government as mitigation for the pollution caused by the Big Dig, will reach from the current terminus at Lechmere Station through Medford and Union Square. The recently released Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR) analyzes a variety of environmental issues in extending the service. The meeting, held at Somerville High School, began with a presentation from Green Line Project Manager Kate Fichter but quickly became a forum for a wide variety of officials and residents to explain why the DEIR is lacking. The majority of those commenting spoke against the proposal to put a Green Line maintenance facility on a site in Brickbottom known as Yard 8, adjacent to a converted industrial space that now serves as an artist community. Residents and city officials argued that in addition to quality of life issues Brickbottom neighbors would face, the real estate should be used for economic development or risk losing millions in lost tax base revenue. Aldermen Rebekah Gewirtz, Dennis Sullivan and Bill White registered their opposition to the Yard 8 plan, demanding to know why alternative proposals created by the city were not taken on instead. White said that unlike those who decided to route I-93 through the city, the decision makers at the Department of Transportation would not be able to hide in obscurity. "I'll promise you folks, if Yard 8 goes through where it's sited I'm going to ask the Somerville library to create some shelf space, and we're going to call it 'DOT's Folly,'" he said. "We're going to have the information there." Brickbottom resident George Gabin, a painter, said he had lived through the commuter rail line maintenance facility being put in a half-mile away and isn't willing to put up with the noise just across from his home. "We are a creative group of people, and we are being threatened," Gabin said. "From the moment your bulldozers come, we will be in misery." "I'm 78-years-old," he added. "If it comes to it, I will be the first one laying down in front of those bulldozers." Others, including Medford city officials, picked apart the report's lack of detail in areas relating to disability access, storm water management and traffic issues. Steve Mackey, president of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, said state officials need to include a plan for economic growth in addition to studying the project's environmental impact. "Let's not have another meeting without the Office of Housing and Economic Development," Mackey said. "Let's not underestimate the gateway to Boston and Cambridge -- the Innerbelt and Brickbottom area -- and let's not submit a $1 billion project without an economic development plan." The DEIR can be found at www.greenlineextension.org or public libraries in Somerville, Cambridge and Medford. Written comments will be accepted until Jan. 8 through e-mail to Holly.S.Johnson@state.ma.us or by mail to Secretary Ian Bowles, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, MEPA Office, Attn: Holly Johnson, MEPA Analyst, EEA #13886, 100 Cambridge St., Suite 900, Boston, MA 02114.

Residents, developer continue Summer Street battle

In April, project attorney Rich DiGirolamo announced the developer had a new plan for a "land swap" with the adjacent Dilboy VFW that involved building a new facility for them and a new condo development. ~Photo by Tom Nash By Tom Nash Tensions ran high at a third community meeting on a proposed condominium project at 343 Summer St. last Thursday, showing no signs of appeasement from abutters who say the developer is still ignoring their concerns over its size. The Nov. 18 meeting, organized by Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, saw residents, city officials and project attorney Rich DiGirolamo at times shouting over each other to make their points heard. Despite concessions from the developer, an offshoot of Dakota Partners, residents said they were largely unsatisfied with changes made to the long-embattled project. "I still think the size of the building is inappropriate for the neighborhood," neighbor Sue Hill said of the current 32-unit proposal during the meeting. "I've been working on this for nine years and I feel like the neighbors aren't being heard." The struggle began in 2002, when the project began as a 14-unit condo project, and has since been the subject to two lawsuits from neighbors and a third from the developer against the city for blocking the removal of a public shade tree to make room for a fire lane. The fight over the tree essentially halted progress on the project, leading to a potential lapse in the construction license until the Zoning Board of Appeals granted an extension in earlier this year, using justification residents say was faulty. In April, DiGirolamo announced the developer had a new plan for a "land swap" with the adjacent Dilboy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post that would involve building a new facility for them and a new condo development they hoped would satisfy abutters. Since then, the four-story, 30-unit condo project that was to include a ground floor of commercial space has since morphed into an exclusively residential floor plan of 32 units, with the fourth floor decreased by five units in response to concerns raised at a September meeting. The majority of residents' issues raised at that meeting, however, remained unanswered two months later - especially regarding noise and privacy issues with the new proposed VFW site that would directly abut residences. Both VFW members and city officials stressed that the Dilboy Post needs a new facility, as the current one does not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Residents are concerned about the facility's potential use as a function hall and windows that face into yards just a few feet away. "The VFW is a member of our community, and an important member," said Monica Lamboy, executive director of Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Development. "To think of veterans not being able to get into the post is really disturbing." Mickey Curtin, who served as the city's director of Veterans' Services for 41 years, pointed out the current VFW gives much of its use to community events. "I think we've shown we're a good neighbor," Curtin said. "We're not monsters. I think in 90 years we've shown we're not here to infringe on anyone's privacy or safety ... I hope the neighbors would accept us for what we are." DiGirolamo also fended off accusations that the project would take parking space away from the already tightly-packed Davis Square neighborhood. The current proposal calls for 45 underground spaces for condo residents and 68 for the new VFW post, which neighbors doubt will be sufficient. Nancy Iappini, one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit attempting to block the Zoning Board of Appeal's ruling to extend the project's construction permit, said the back and forth seems to be going nowhere. "(This process) seems unnecessarily not straightforward, and it's really frustrating," Iappini said. DiGirolamo said the developer is listening, but, "quite frankly, they have a prerogative." Meanwhile, DiGirolamo promised residents would have a chance to weigh in on the plans submitted to the city in January, after resident Evdokia Nikolova wondered allowed if they would be submitted over the holidays to avoid scrutiny.

Shopping at a local, family business will boost the local economy, your shopping experience

Both Somerville and Cambridge Local First will hold a press conference Friday at 10:30 a.m. in front of 253 Washington Street in Union Square. By Julia Fairclough When you ask someone what is missing from their life, they will rarely say, "a big box store to shop in," Michael Kanter said. Instead, what people really want is a true sense of community. That's why Somerville Local First and Cambridge Local First launched the "Shift Your Shopping" holiday campaign, asking people to make the 10 percent shift by shopping at local, independently-owned businesses from November 29 to December 31. "This is an opportunity to get people to think about their shopping, and to make it a purposeful attempt to buy from local independents," said Kanter, the owner of Cambridge Naturals and a Cambridge Local First executive committee member. "People need to better understand that doing so can build strong, local economies." Both the Somerville and the Cambridge Local First will hold a press conference this Friday at 10:30 a.m. in front of 253 Washington Street in Union Square (the former Hope & Glory shop) to officially divulge more details. As for a sense of community, spending time with local business owners gives people more of an awareness of the people around them, he said. One will probably conduct a more meaningful conversation with a business owner and experience better customer service, rather than trying to find help at a mall super store. "People appreciate the more thoughtful gifts that local shops can create, rather than just mass-produced items," Kanter said. "The appeal of the local movement means that at the end of the day, what people really need are other people and to have others support them and to not feel alone." The month-long Shift Your Shopping effort is an extension of the annual buy local week that occurs the first week of December, said Joe Grafton, the executive director of Somerville Local First. Somerville and Cambridge, as well as Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME are trying out the month-long movement, to capitalize on the shopping focus that the holiday seasons bring. Somerville and Cambridge Local Firsts will hold a series of events during the Shift Your Shopping month. On Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Somerville Theater, there will be a panel discussion and talk about the New Orleans study, "Thinking Outside the Box," by Civic Economics that shows that local retailers have twice the local economic impact of big box stores, while taking up a fraction of the land area. WBUR's Robin Young will be the moderator and the panelists include Kanter, Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, and Grafton. The businesses that sponsor Somerville and Cambridge Local Firsts will hold special sales and events throughout the season, including casual photos with Santa, sing-alongs and tastings, Grafton said. Shift Your Shopping sponsors include Ball Square Fine Wines and Spirits, Downtown Wine and Spirits, GRAND, Kickass Cupcakes, and Poor Little Rich Girl. Sponsors A complete list of Shift Your Shopping events and participants can be found at www.shiftyourshopping.org Rachel Solem, the owner of Irving House and Harding House in Cambridge, and an executive committee member of the Cambridge Local First, is excited about the Shift Your Shopping program. She added it will be a long, slow process to get people to think about buying at local, independent businesses as it's about a shift in thinking. Many busy people prefer the ease of the Internet or dashing to a department store for something like lingerie, for example. Chances are they will find something in their size. At a smaller, local store they may not. But, often times they can order something, and they will also receive a more personalized and quality shopping experience. "The main reason to do this is that you are in an independent shop dealing with the person in charge who makes the decisions, so that you as a customer are not part of the random world of shopping," Solem said. "You have a better quality experience, which is what we want people to know."

Somerville Rotary Club Hosts Thanksgiving Tri-Meeting

Photo left to right:Mark Alston-Follansbee (Somerville Homeless Coalition Inc), Tony Pierantozzi (President Somerville Rotary Club, Billy Tauro (President Somerville Lion's) and Mike Libby (Somerville Homeless Coalition). ~ Photo by Joe Medeiros By William Tauro The Somerville Rotary Club Hosted it's annual Tri-meeting with the city's three service clubs, The Somerville Lion's Club, The Somerville Kiwanis Club and The Somerville Rotary club. The event was held at the Mount Vernon Restaurant in Somerville mid-day on Tuesday November 24th, it was very well attended by all three club's members who all enjoyed a wonderful meal and had a fun time. Proceed's from the event went to "Project Soup and the "Somerville Homeless Coalition.

A statement from Senator Galluccio

"With the end of the Legislative session, I will be taking time to confront a number of personal issues. As I have stated before, there is no excuse for my actions and I deeply regret them. There is an ongoing legal process. Out of respect for the parties involved, I will have more to say when the process is concluded." From the office of Senator Anthony D. Galluccio

Report of armed men at Brickbottom

Somerville Police Captain O'Connor, Officer Anthony Manzelli and Brickbottom manager Bob Martel. ~Photos by William Tauro By William Tauro Somerville Police responded to a call at 11:20am that men armed with shotguns and other weapons where hanging around in the rear of the Brickbottom Artist Studio Apartments located at 16 Fitchburg Street in Somerville. The call was brought to Brickbottom's facility manager Bob Martel's attention by the description of a "vagrant" that was outside of the building who allegedly witnessed the activity. Somerville police officers searched the entire area sealing off the premises. The situation is still under investigation.