Word from the Somerville Police Station is that the new Police Chief Anthony Holloway is the real deal! According to sources, the new chief strongly believes and is strictly enforcing the chain of command rule. It' said that if a patrolman is not called to his office by the chief himself - that he or she has no reason for ever stepping foot in this office at all - his orders are that if you have a problem, see your Sergeant, if your Sergeant has a problem then he can see his Lieutenant and then to the Captains and so on. Another rule is that he does not like liars, so if you lie, you're fired! This all sounds great, but let's see how long it lasts. Oh, by the way, that controversy over the Chief's new car? It seems that a brand new Crown Vic was in the garage underneath the station at least a week before the story.
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New bank in town on Winter Hill - apparently to get a leg up on all the other local banks - they recruited the former manager of Citizens here in Somerville, who now is trying to take business away from Citizens. At the same time, we heard a strong rumor now that this bank “Citi Bank”, which just opened might be having major personnel cuts throughout the region and the newly opened bank and its staff are on the top of the list to be cut, unless they can convert some major business from the other local banks and fast.
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Bert Gay, the husband of Former Mayor Dot Gay, was rushed to Mt. Auburn Hospital in the middle of the night last week and has undergone a successful emergency surgery. He is by now comfortably resting at home and seems to be doing well.
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Well known CPA and businessman Rocco Antonelli suffered the loss of his wife Elizabeth a few weeks past. Elizabeth was a former executive assistant of Middlesex County officials; our sympathy goes out to Rocco and his family on their loss.
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Bob Publicover's charity - the “Committee For A Response” has tickets available for two Red Sox games on June 10 and July 7 in the right field grandstands. Part of the proceeds of the $85.00 tickets goes to Somerville Charities - email Bob at [email protected] for more info or to order. The tickets will run out quickly for the World Champions.
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Sympathies to the family of Celia Magliaro - longtime owner and hostess of “LaContessa Bakery” in Davis Square for 40 years - she leaves behind family, including her brother, “Baker Joe” Magliaro - who still visits Somerville and lives in the North End. Many local folks spent hours with Celia just sitting in the bakery and talking about the world - she was so proud of her four nieces, all of whom are now great success stories.
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Don't forget about the free concert at the High School by the US Air Force Liberty Jazz Bank, Wednesday Feb. 6 at 7p.m.
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Got a baseball cap, a new toy or a pair of good shoes that you would like to donate to a small village in El Salvador? A friend of The Somerville News is working with a village to rebuild it and is trying to take things that the people can use on each of his trips there. “Little Ed White” will be heading there again soon - you can leave the items at our office at 21A College Avenue and we will see that he gets them.
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The Somerville Food Banks are running extremely low - Bob Publicover, our Publisher Emeritus - is helping start some programs to get various groups and/or clubs in the city to start canned food drives.
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Remember 1972 when Somerville was named the “All American” city? If you don't, take our word for it -- it happened. Now 36 years later we hear there is a new movement afoot to nominate our city for the honor again. A lot has changed here in the last three plus decades but we're just as American as ever. We think we have a shot at it again.
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How will the Green Line affect your neighborhood? Find out Monday and Tuesday at meetings at the Somerville High lbrary and the Visiting Nurses Association, respectively.
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Kudos to Ikea and Mayor Joe Curtatone for allowing East Somerville residents first shot at the jobs the new store is expected to generate.
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Teens looking for a party can have a good time and help the city by showing up at the Glen Street post Friday night. Money raised will go towards rebuilding the East Somerville Community School so get up and get down.
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Remember two years ago when Deval Patrick spoke at the city's martin Luther King celebration? He was still an underdog to win the governor's race but Somerville was behind him early (maybe he could return the favor by hiking up our local aid? Just a thought).
does ANYONE really believe that the Green Line is coming? The MBTA is broke and the Beacon Hill Reps. want to halt all new transportation projects until the current roads and infrastucture is fixed. That will take many many years.
Posted by: Charlie on the MTA | January 23, 2008 at 11:31 AM
With this new "Command" structure you just cut yourself off from a lot of information, nevermind cutting yourself off from the street cops.
A Chief's door should be open to anyone that wants their information to be kept confidential.
This is a bad move that will eventually come back and bite you in the ass. Are you too good to spend time with your patrolman/women?
Posted by: Tony, Tony, Tony..... | January 23, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Surprised you guys missed this, or are you guys suddenly beholden to the DPW powers that be?
Farm Team reporting a little dustup regarding the T&P director getting his driveway plowed by a contractor doing business with the city. Perk, perk, perk...
Posted by: Tricky | January 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM
My understanding is the Police Chief is patrolling with each and every officer during his first months in the job. I respect him for following chain of command -- it's simple people management 101. If there's a problem, at least let the higher up know there's an issue and give them an opportunity to fix it before running to the Chief (Daddy). He's been around the block and he'll get all the information he needs, don't worry.
Posted by: it *is* funny | January 23, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Along with the recent passings noted above, I want to note the sad passing this past Saturday of Mrs. Eileen Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson taught at the Kennedy School for the past 41 years (since it opened) and spent a total of 50 years as an educator in the Somerville Public Schools. She "retired" several years ago but continued to serve the kennedy School Community as a substitute and active PTA member. Both of our kids had her in fifth grade and she was, in my opinion (and I think anyone else who ever had her or met her will agree), a teacher's teacher. Strict but caring. Humorous but serious. Demanding but forgiving. Fortunate, indeed, were those kids who found themselves in her classroom.
She was, in many ways, a throwback to an earlier time, yet understood in the most profound way the modern challenges of education and loved her students and her job as much as any teacher I've ever known. On top of that, she was just a fantastic human being who I am grateful to have made acquaintance with. Whenever I read or hear the saying "I change the World--I teach", Mrs. Wilson comes to mind.
She is being waked this afternoon and evening at Doherty's. My guess is that this will be a well-attended visiting.
JAR
Posted by: JARfromWard3 | January 23, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Don't waste your time going to the Journal's web site looking for the story about the T&P Director's driveway plow job. No doubt someone threatened the Journal with a law suit. They pulled the story and photo off their site. That story ruffled someone's feathers.
Posted by: SOMERSPEAK | January 23, 2008 at 02:23 PM
It's still there, it's just been bumped off the front page. Do a search for the guy's name...
Vive le Grey Area!
Posted by: Tricky | January 23, 2008 at 02:48 PM
$50? PLEASE!!!!!!! He got caught and now he says that he is being billed $50 dollars for them to plow out his driveway.
$50 for a driveway? Maybe 20 years ago!
Posted by: $50 | January 23, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Mrs. Wilson passed away!?
She was always my favorite teacher. JARfromWard3, you described her perfectly. I remember my Mom was in college when I had Mrs Wilson in the 5th grade. She was having trouble with her math class and Mrs Wilson would stay after hours to tutor my Mom.
Somerville has lost a great resident with the passing of Mrs Wilson. May she rest peacefully.
Kennedy School Graduate- Class of 1990
Posted by: rachelfromtheville | January 23, 2008 at 04:08 PM
LOL!!!!! All-American city!!??! LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! I do remember when we were voted that and we laughed then. Now - if they go to east Somerville - maybe we could win All-Brazilian or Hiatian city! American??? You're hard pressed fine one down there anymore.
Deval doing us any favors? Why would he? He knows the moonbats are in ALREADY in his pocket and we're represented by two of his watergirls - Jehlen and limp-wrist Carl.
I'm seriously considering of getting the hell out of here -- for good this time -- and moving back down to West Palm. This place has gotten out of control.
Posted by: Imux | January 23, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Yes please Imux. Do go.
Posted by: it *is* funny | January 23, 2008 at 05:12 PM
1. Good to hear about the El Salvador project. I never know what to expect next from the Somerville News, and I like that.
2. John, thanks for passing on the information about Mrs. Wilson's wake. She was beloved.
3. What happened to Bert Gay? Did he get so angry this time that his head exploded?
4. What is the store that's creating new jobs? Why would the mayor have the authority to hand them out?
Posted by: Diogenes | January 23, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Imux, lifelong resident of Ward 7, except for the time he lived in West Palm.
I am reminded of Al Franken's book "Lies and the Lying Liars That Tell Them".
Posted by: Tricky | January 23, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Trickster, I have never rented the 2nd and 3rd floors where I live, but I have "lived" for months a time at other places that I own (West Palm and Santa Barbara). Just because I bail the hell of of here most winters does not mean that my legal residence changes from Somerville. I've been here since birth and long before you were even a twinkle in your daddy's eye. Unless... of course... your daddy was a test tube - possible as your opinions never make any sense (WOO HOO MOONBAT!).
All-American city? LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!! I'm still cracking up about that. Half this damn city doesn't even speak english. The best way to get this "All-American City" moving is to yell IMMIGRATION at the star market down there on Winter Hill. They all scramble.
I think I am going to form a Patriot group here to start enforcing our immigration laws. Our local officials don't have the balls to do it (even at the expense of federal funding), so it takes leaders to get a group of Americans (people who speak english and were born here) together to start doing something about this problem. Who is me? [email protected] - let's ROLL!!!!
I can tell a rant is coming on....
"What the [email protected]% happened to the Somerville I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Imux, we might get in trouble." Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer... "
Posted by: Imux | January 24, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Oh wonderful, just what Somerville needs, someone trying to organize a vigilante lynch mob.
Posted by: Ron Newman | January 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Better watch out using that word "lynch".
Golfers know that word a lot more clearly now!
Posted by: To Ron | January 24, 2008 at 12:37 PM
IMUX, a poor attempt at humor and you do no justice to John Blutarsky !
Posted by: Charlie on the MTA | January 24, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Immigration is what made America great. In that sense, there isn't a more all-American city than Somerville. The Statue of Liberty belongs on lower Broadway!
Posted by: Yorktown Street | January 24, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Newman, a vigilante group may not be what Somerville needs, but maybe we could all do with a little less of YOU butting your nose into every freakin' thing that goes on (or online for that matter) in this city.
Or maybe you are just mad because Imux came up with a community meeting you CAN'T be involved in.
Posted by: Dave S. | January 24, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I created an email called: [email protected] - anyone interested in helping enforce the rule of law just email me. It's time we ROLL!!!!
Website coming soon.
Posted by: Imux | January 24, 2008 at 10:48 PM