The Somerville News Blog

Newstalk for Wednesday October 31st 2007

No major predictions here (our crystal ball is on the fritz) but it’s probably safe to assume the incumbents are all going to return to office. It’s hard to defeat someone already in office during a controversial election, never mind a boring one. We predict all four at-large incumbents will return, despite the good intentions of Lafuente and Berman. Ward 5 looks to be the closest race in the city; Ward 6 and Ward 7 will see both incumbents return to office and the sticker one in Ward 4 will be close. Fortunately or unfortunately we see no surprises. We wish everyone the best!

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Congratulations to our own Boston Red Sox for making it a great October here in Red Sox Nation, now we can all focus on the Pat’s and watch those Celtics come alive after 15 years of basketball misery. Speaking of the Sox, there was a Champion sighting at Melo & Son’s on Cross Street last week, seems like David Ortiz was spotted dropping off an Antique Chair to be done over.

Rapid response network for illegal immigrants proposed

By George P. Hassett

The city’s Human Rights Commission may set up a rapid response network to spread information to  immigrant communities during times of crisis.

At a community meeting in East Somerville Oct. 10 Human Rights Commissioner Mary Lu Mendonca said the move was inspired by last summer’s immigration raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Mendonca’s proposal was cheered and applauded by community members at the meeting.

Third newspaper comes to city

By George P. Hassett and James Norton

Somerville now has three newspapers. Last week, The Powderhouse —- a “regular journal” covering West Somerville —- debuted with its first issue. The paper was eight pages, printed in black and white and gave prominent advertising and editorial space to progressive democrats running for city office.

The Powderhouse is owned and edited by Neil W. McCabe and funded, in part, by former lieutenant governor Thomas P. O’Neill III. O’Neill said he is one of three investors in the paper. In its first issue, the paper’s name is alternately spelled as one word and two. In an advertisement it is two words but at the top of its pages it is one. The West Somerville boulevard and square the paper shares its name with is spelled as Powder House.

Playwright inspired by Magoun Square

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Playwright John Shea doesn’t get his inspiration by writing about some exotic locale, or from tales of international intrigue, but from the streets of Magoun Square right here in Somerville. In fact Shea told me during our early morning interview at the Au Bon Pain in Davis Square that all his plays are set in the city. Shea’s latest work will be staged at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre at Boston University, Nov. 1 through Nov. 18. The play “Comp” concerns two Somerville brothers’ conflict around a serious work related injury. With a background of a perfectionist dyed-in-the-wool Catholic mother, and the eternal suffering of an ever-present plastic Jesus, the play flames a hellfire of drama.

Electric Ave. poet brings the South to Somerville

By Lazarus Morrison

One of the first things you might notice about C.D. Collins is the cast and sling on her right arm, tagged in marker with the phrase “Please do not bump me.” The request, like the woman who wrote it, is polite but firm. 

The broken arm is a recent accident, but “September has always been a bad karma month for me,” she said, motioning to older scars on her back and shoulder.  “It’s a karmic curse.” 

A conversation with CD Collins leaves no doubt the woman is tough. She ran away from home in Kentucky, lived on Beacon Hill, and has taken residence in Somerville for the last decade.

Way Below Minimum

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.)

Remember your first job? My first job was delivering newspapers - I used to pick them up at Abe’s office (Davis Square News Agency) on Highland Avenue where the new cupcake place is. I had the “Francesca” route - which included my own street.

Balancing the papers in the basket on the front of the bike took some getting used to, but I mastered it pretty quickly. I didn’t master getting the paper on people’s porches though. I also took out a couple of windows and dented a few screen door panels, which I had to pay for (remember, Mr. Larsen?).

The View From Prospect Hill

Seems like we are the only ones who think that this year’s regular snooze fest of an election cycle is something to write home about (or write about here anyways). Gone are the funny moments of the mayoral primary election – we will miss them. Nov. 6 may seem even more boring knowing that there will be no candidates in old beat up limos driving around with bullhorns trying to attract votes.

What we now have are videos, broken yard signs and ignorant/arrogant (take your pick) candidates for election and reelection. Okay, so we have always had ignorant and arrogant candidates for public office, but it seems extra silly to us that some of them don’t even have Web sites – especially when their opponents have professional sites with streaming videos.

Ward 5 campaign video could set a new trend

Lynch: One more video coming before election

By George P. Hassett

The candidate challenging Ward 5 Alderman Sean T. O’Donovan released a video campaign advertisement last week accusing O’Donovan of putting his own business interests and real estate deals ahead of the neighborhood’s needs.

Joe Lynch’s slickly produced campaign video looks more like a television advertisement for a candidate running for statewide or even national office than what it actually is —- a video posted online for a candidate trying to reach approximately 2,400 voters in Ward 5.

Lynch said his campaign spot, which can be found at www.lynchforalderman.com, is the first time video has been used in a Somerville campaign. And, he said, it is working.

311 can track thefts too

By George P. Hassett

The city’s 311 constituent services hot line is moving beyond potholes and getting tough on crime. The almost two-year-old call center has traditionally been used by residents to report constituent concerns or ask for city services in neighborhoods, but beginning this week 311 will be used to help stem the rising tide of car break-ins and portable electronic thefts.

Somerville Police have partnered with the city’s 311 Call Center to create WRAP, the Web Registry Anti-Theft Program. City officials say WRAP will use online and over-the-phone registration of serial numbers to help police track lost or stolen devices from Somerville. It will come in particularly handy, they said, in combating the skyrocketing increase in car break-ins.

IKEA is coming to Somerville

But will it bring jobs?

By George P. Hassett

Swedish furniture retailer IKEA has received the necessary permits to begin building one of their stores in Assembly Square. The permits were issued 10 years after the company first expressed interest in coming to Somerville. 

On Thursday, the planning board approved construction of a new IKEA and a realignment of Assembly Square Drive which will be “the backbone” of the new Assembly Square, according to developers.

Newstalk for Wednesday October 24th 2007

Seems pretty quiet with the alderman at large race and even though we have even seen Tony LaFuente out there working hard, as well as Fred Berman, we don’t see these two upsetting the present incumbents - Desmond, Sullivan, White and Connolly. It has been a while since an incumbent alderman at large was voted out of office – the last being Vinny Ciampa – and before him we can’t remember the last one.      

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Ward 5 candidate for Alderman Joe Lynch is causing quite a stir with his Web site and the videos about his opponent - Alderman Sean O’Donovan. We have to admit we didn’t think Sean was that big of a developer here in the city - it doesn’t make him a bad person - but now we understand why he defends certain developers. Check out the videos for yourself at www.lynchforalderman.com

Curtatone addresses young Somerville

By George P. Hassett

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone addressed over 100 young Somerville residents Tuesday night at the first annual State of the Young City address at the Somerville Theatre.

Curtatone said he wanted to reach out to people between 21 and 35 and get their ideas and feedback on how he is running the city.

“I want to sustain a conversation with you,” he told the crowd from the theatre’s stage. “We want a give and take with young people in this city to be on a continuum.”

Feds push Assembly Square T stop forward

By George P. Hassett

Preliminary work on an Orange Line train station can begin immediately in Assembly Square because of a recent Federal Transit Administration (FTA) decision, according to Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

Curtatone said this week that FTA officials have given their assurance to Congressman Michael E. Capuano, D-Somerville, that the $40-million project will not have to pre-qualify for the FTA’s “Small Starts” program, which could have slowed the process down. 

Immigration policy reform

Part 2:  Penetrating the myths

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.)

Twelve million people now live in the United States illegally, more than at any previous time. There are many solid reasons why the United States should have a rigorously enforced immigration policy. However, these reasons have little to do with certain myths that have entered this debate. Among these myths are contentions that undocumented immigrants are disproportionately violent criminals, shirk paying taxes while exploiting generous social services, take jobs from American citizens, and threaten public health.

Oscar nominee headlines Nov. 11 writers festival

Off  The Shelf by Doug Holder

Tom Perrotta is an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his novels “Election” and “Little Children” both of which were made into critically acclaimed, Golden Globe-nominated films. Perrotta co-wrote the 2006 film adaptation of his book “Little Children” for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Perrotta will be the headline featured reader at the Somerville News Writers Festival on Nov. 11. I interviewed Perrotta recently for “The Somerville News.” For information about the festival go to www.somervillenewswritersfestival.com.

Almond: Funny in any language

By Eleanor Goodman

Steve Almond’s book of essays, “Not That You Asked” has just been published by Random House to widespread praise.  He is the author of two collections of short stories, a candy-centered memoir, and a novel written in collaboration with Julia Baggott.  He also teaches at Grub Street and is the proud father of a baby girl.  He will be one of the featured readers at the Somerville News Writers Festival on Nov. 11.

Q:  I found your newest book, (Not That You Asked) shelved next to Woody Allen’s latest in the bookstore.  Is this a good thing?

SA: Yeah, I guess. I’m happy to be in the company of the man who made “Annie Hall.” And we’re both self-doubting Jews with wives who are way too good looking for us.

Brushes with Greatness

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.)

We’ve all had a few brushes with greatness. One of mine went a little awry.

I did a character named Blanche on the radio back in the 90s. Soon I was dressing up like this colorful bingo loving Kresge’s Basement shopper and doing appearances. We were doing a live broadcast in Downtown Boston and none other than Captain Kangaroo was to be our guest. Instead of trying to find someplace to put on my costume, I arrived at the broadcast location fully dressed (wig, lipstick, housedress and pumps). Hey, a gig is a gig. I was standing around waiting for the rest of the crew to show up and low and behold, there was the recently widowed Captain Kangaroo in the flesh. I introduced myself as one of the show’s members, but I don’t think he got it. I think the lovable Captain thought I was a real little old lady – complete with deep voice and a little stubble. He seemed to be a little smitten with me. I’ll never forget the strange look he gave me when I walked away. Maybe he knew - maybe he didn’t - who cares, I had just met Captain Kangaroo!

The View From Prospect Hill

On major local issues there is always a certain modicum of conjecture, posturing and heavily opinionated political haranguing – that being said, the two most hotly debated issues in the last 20 years have arguably been the development of Assembly Square and the Green Line extension through Somerville into Medford. Regardless of what you might think, you can take it to the bank that these two projects will have the most direct effect on the future of this city.

Gov. Deval Patrick took a major step forward this past week at dispelling the popular “street” myth that Somerville will never see the Green Line extension by visiting Gilman Square and announcing that the environmental review and preliminary engineering for the project would begin.

Alderman:Is the city ticketing too aggressively?

By George P. Hassett

Aldermen are asking Director of Traffic and Parking James Kotzuba to appear before them to respond to charges that ticketing processes and policies in the city are becoming too aggressive.

“I have had a number of people complain about parking tickets,” said Alderman-At-Large William A. White Jr. “One person said a parking control officer took out a ruler and showed her she was 13 inches away from the curb instead of one foot. That’s one inch.”

Power to the people!

350 organize for East Somerville's future

By George P. Hassett

Hundreds of East Somerville residents met Wednesday to finalize and implement an action plan to preserve and improve their neighborhood as it prepares for rapid change in the coming years. Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche said the effort is proof of the neighborhood’s strong identity and sense of community.

“You wouldn’t see this happen anywhere else in the city. This is one of the neighborhood’s strengths, people can come together and solve problems,” he said.