Newstalk for Wednesday March 26th 2008

Our ears were burning last week - it seems even before the paper hit the streets, certain individuals were on the phones, making calls - all denials, they said - one or two were even threatening. Frantic calls were made to individuals around the city asking how we found out about certain items in Newstalk. Well, we have a lot of Newstalkers out there and the list keeps growing all the time - more and more individuals have joined, so that we now have eyes and ears in a lot of places. We think its called being thrown under the bus so to speak, so when we’re called, and we ask the famous question: “whom did you recently piss off?” - start there.
    

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Regarding the Harvard Place fire and the home belonging to the Thibeault’s - we now hear that there were 22 truckloads (that’s right, 22 truckloads) to clean the mess up - now we’re not in the demolition business here, but 22 truckloads sounds like a huge amount to us. Sounds like the amount that the Lincoln Park School would have been when they tore that down, never mind a single-family home on a little dead-end street that was severely damaged by a fire. We heard first that the disposal of the debris was in Rhode Island and now we hear it was in New Hampshire – we’re beginning to wonder if it went to the same place that famous money desk from the Police Station went to. We now hear that the District Attorney has been asked to step in and see what’s going on – and we also heard that there are no manifests for the 22 truckloads - that’s interesting, isn’t it?    

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That other Newstalk item last week regarding that large building that certain ZBA board members past and present (also a lot of other names floating around) – well, we heard they did go to the Barracuda of Winter Hill and she refused to give them money too. Seems like this 70 to 98 elderly unit complex that they want to build is in Ward 2 and they’re having problems finding the $$$$ - from what we’ve been told, a lot of wealthy people here in the city are saying “no” flat out.   

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Huge crowd at Representative Paul Donato’s time over in Medford and an even bigger surprise was the Somerville contingent over there - seems a lot of Somerville’s residents prefer to deal with Rep. Paul instead of calling their own Rep’s here in the city. One thing is for sure, you’ll always get a call back from Rep. Paul Donato - besides we hear he doesn’t like sitting alone in coffee shops like some other local Reps waiting to give an audience. 

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Rep. Carl (Prince Carl of the PDSers), according the legislators record on votes, seems to be marching to the tune of the House Speaker - who wanted the casino gambling bill killed - but what we found very funny is that he voted to give himself a raise…now we’re not saying he doesn’t work for it, but, we added up the hours on the “Beacon Hill Report” and frankly we think it’s strange that he would vote with the speaker, who is in the middle of a pissing contest with our Governor (whom everyone was behind before).

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Is anyone in the market to buy a high-rise? Well, apparently there’s talk on the street that instead of gutting and remodeling the Middlesex Courthouse in East Cambridge, it’s being put up for sale! The asking price is at $40M! According to sources, a new courthouse containing the Middlesex Probate, Deeds, Superior and District Courts will be all in one building combined. Two sites in mind for a new structure are being considered.  One site would be behind the new North Point area, which is presently under construction and the other choice location would be on Route 2 - next to the old Faces Night Club property. But don’t hold your breath waiting for the new building to pop up anytime soon - according to a past study conducted, the Middlesex Probate Court should have been out of their current outdated building and into a new facility back in 1974. Not a penny has been appropriated as of yet to build any new structure to house the court systems and the Governor wants the current high-rise sold FIRST before any shopping process can begin on a new location. Up to a $10M dollar price tag shopping limit for a new property is the projected price when it comes time to buy a new site.

 
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Congratulations to Mayor Joe and his wife Nancy on the recent new birth of another son -- James Anthony! The new addition to the Curtatone family was born this past Good Friday on the 21st.   

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Happy 30th Birthday to Matt Capobianco of Ward 3, who recently celebrated with a large crowd of family and friends in Boston last Saturday night. Also this month, amongst other well known Somerville residents, our own Jamie Norton (managing editor here and member of the School Committee in Ward 4), is going to celebrate his 40th birthday this Saturday evening - to both we wish many more years and happiness from Newstalk.
                                             

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Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of that fatal crash from a car that rolled over into a house then burst into flames on Fellsway and Charles Street in Malden early Friday morning.

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The Breakfast War in Ball Square took a different twist this past week - seems like Mike Moccia - the owner of the Ball Square Café took the first step in trying to settle things peaceably. Mike sent a very apologetic letter to Yasser at Sound Bites, Mayor Joe and to all the businesses in Ball Square. Hey, it takes someone to make the first step and Mike has done that - in an attempt to quiet everything down - we congratulate him for doing this. We hope now all sides in Ball Square can come together. Mike also started a web site for Ball Square and it features all the businesses in the square with links to their own sites at www.ballsquarecafe.com. So if you haven’t been to Ball Square lately, come see why there are long lines at all the famous breakfast places on the weekends.

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The 34th Annual PTA Scholarship Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, May 2nd at Anthony’s in Malden. This year they’re honoring Mary Jo Rossetti, Steve Tuccelli, Joe Vilaine, Marie DiFava and the late Joe Mackey by presenting five scholarships to deserving seniors in the honoree’s names. All contributions to the program book and to the dinner/dance will be the source of the funds for the scholarships – any donations can be dropped off at any of the public schools – put “Attention PTA Dinner Dance” on the envelope.

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In a world driven to be more “Green” – the organization known as EarthHour.org is urging people all over the globe to turn off their lights for one hour to send a message about the need for action on global warming. To join in, either visit the website at www.earthhour.org or simply turn off excess lights and electrical equipment that will not compromise your safety from 8pm to 9pm on Saturday, March 29th.

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Mayor Joe submitted for a board vacancy, Congressman Mike Capuano’s son Michael as an alternate on the Planning Board, congratulations to him, another attorney - we think that’s good.

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The “Somerville Money Fair” will be held at the Elizabeth Peabody House at 277 Broadway on April 5th from 10am to 2pm. There will be workshops and information on hand for all people – young and old – looking to learn how to budget their money, discover strategies to increase income, find help and resources for money troubles and focus on young adults workshops so that kids will walk away with some real money skills! There will be a free lunch and free childcare provided that day. Sponsored by the Somerville Commission for Women with generous support from the Tisch College Citizenship and Public Service Scholars Program of Tufts University. For more information, contact (617) 625-6600, x 2406 or email [email protected]. The Somerville Commission for Women is a part of the Somerville Public Health Department.

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In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the New England Regional Unit, Boston Chapter of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D)® will host its annual Record-A-Thon from April 28 to May 3, at its studio at 58 Charles Street in Cambridge. The production goal is to have volunteer/readers staff all eight recording booths at the Chapter’s studio in Cambridge for 12 hours (8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.) during the six-day event. The event’s financial goal is $30,000. To participate in the 2008 Record-A-Thon, please contact Ron Wudarsky at (617) 577-1111 ext. 22, or [email protected] for more information.

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The Duhamel Educational Initiative is having their 12th Annual Spring Breakfast on Saturday, March 29th from 8:30am to 10:30am at the First Congregational Church, 89 College Avenue. This organization honors the legacy of the late Paul Duhamel, who devoted a great deal of his energy to helping the welfare and well-being of students in the public schools here in Somerville over the years – the monies raised from this event and direct appeals help fund special programs which directly benefit Somerville’s Public School Children across this city.

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We hear everyone’s favorite progressive – Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz – has the city caught in the midst of a nasty legal battle between two companies that have absolutely nothing to do with our lives here in Somerville. It seems last year she pushed a resolution that would support an out of state campaign to improve conditions at Smithfield Foods Incorporated. And now the company is suing the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and wants all communications between Rebekah (or any member of the board but Rebekah is the only member “progressive” enough to take up irrelevant out of state causes and probably the only one to have any extended communications with them). Remember Rebekah, if you answer one question in front of the grand jury you have to answer them all. Just start out by taking the fifth immediately and no one can force you to incriminate yourself.

Comments

[Ron Newman]

Sell the Middlesex Courthouse? I'd rather see that eyesore demolished, if they aren't going to move back into it.

[Hauling pro]

Who transports loads out of state without a manifest? Nobody, that's who! I've been driving for a hauling company my whole life just about and a manifest log is part of your daily routine! Anyone saying that they don't have one is definitely hiding something especially when they crossed state lines like these hoodlums did! Their full of shit! A manifest could be easy to find, just locate what company that he's using and go from there!

[FP]

How much money can Somerville waste?

Honda motorcycles replacing Harleys at police department because they are cheaper to buy and cheaper to maintain -- shocker!

[Newman and Only Three]

Why don't they build it up in Lowell and combine the two Superior courts. Then you would need only one Register of Deeds and one Register of probate and so on and so on etc.

It would be accesible to the T and would rid Middlesex County of countless employees, most through retirement, who wouldn't dare make the trip to Lowell everyday.

It would save millions on the payroll and would help Lowell with new jobs and construction.

[Step #1]

He's using Robert's Demolition and Excavating out of New Hampshire!

[Why cut down all those trees?]

An unclear question is going through my mind regarding this Demo Guy Sal! Why did he remove all those lovely irreplaceable trees that were nowhere near the fire scene at all? I know he charged her to take them down! But why! Did he just do that to just fill up more trucks loads to overcharge these poor folks? If you really think of it, it's pretty senseless the trees weren't anywhere in the way of anything? This guy should be sued and arrested by the city for malicious destruction! Also I heard that he used his inpolitical influence to overcharge those poor folks $5000.00 for police and fire details as well! Come on now, it's a dead end street and it's no a big structure at all? What gives? He's even using the police and fire departments in his scams to make money and nobody is doing scwat about it? Come on people, let's wake up some here! The city should think twice before letting this guy work in the city again to chance him over charging others in his schemes! And what's the story with his wife? Is she the one with al the connections up city hall that's fueling this fire of manipulation? Things like this make me more ashamed of myself to live in this city!

[Larry G]

Residents can't fix up their houses because of all the charges and paperwork to get things done. Instead of city that fights corruption and improves things for the residents we have culture of corruption that leaches off the residents and owners!

And Who has prevented the war with Iran?

the Democrats that is who. I like ron paul but despite what he believes he has no power to stop the GOP as long as he is a GOP.

Make no mistake about it. If it were not for the Dems and Pelosi we would already be fighting a third losing war with Iran. The republican neocon strategy for winning is to beat Iran too. They have no other plan.

[J]

Somervillians in the news Ron Craven one of the asst. coaches of the Seattle Supersonics was at the Celtics game recently. Nice to see after the game he was talikng with Kevin Durant..

[City Hall Monitors]

Why don't you update your website and replace the names of the Zoning Board people who left with the current one's who are on the board?

[Chand Stevens]

What is the goal of the zoning board? to increase quality of life in Somerville or to increase revenue for cronies? Or something else?

[Sal's wind storm!]

In Somervile, it's not who you know but it's who you blow! And Big Sal got a lot of wind!

[Demolition Procedure]

The following is the City of Somerville's Demolition Procedure;

http://www.somervillema.gov/CoS_Content/documents/forms/ISDDemolitionStructures.pdf

[Ron Newman]

Would someone at the News like to write a proper news story about this? It would be far more informative than the rumors and blog comments.

[Inspectional Services]

Department of Public Work, 1 Franey Road, 1st Floor

8:00-10:00am & 3:00-3:45pm Monday-Friday

617-625-6600 ext. 5600

Superintendent, George Landers

The Inspectional Services Program is to provide permitting, plan review, inspections and related services in order to have compliance with the Mass State Building Code and Somerville Zoning Ordinances to provide a safer City.

Issue building permits to homeowners, licensed contractors or architects and ensure they comply with all City Ordinances and State Regulations to provide a safe City.
Issue plumbing permits to licensed plumbers and ensure they comply with all City Ordinances and State Regulations.
Review plans submitted by homeowners, licensed contractors or architects to ensure proposed construction meets all City Ordinances and State Regulations.
Conduct field inspections on building permits, plan reviews, certificate of occupancies, certificates of inspection, fire escapes, elected officials requests, homeowners and contractors to ensure all City and State Regulations are being met.
Respond to all complaints received by homeowners, tenants, elected officials or contractors to ensure a safe and clean environment.
Represent the City of Somerville in Court for violations of the Somerville Zoning Ordinance and/or State Regulations to ensure public safety.
Respond to all emergencies requested by Somerville Fire Department to ensure all life and safety requirements are being met.
Coordinate with the Somerville fire department, health department, engineering department highway department and fire departments to ensure all life and safety issues are being met.

[Bret Stevens]

Ron, wouldn't a proper story be kind of boring?

What questions would you like answered?

[Elaine]

I all ready contacted Help-Me-Hank and she's coming!

[tim Stevens]

Then why didn't an inspector come to my house after sears installed a new water heater in the form of the leaning tower of Pisa?

My guess is that they believe they can pick and chose based off of who and what they like.

That is dangerous.

[Inspectional Services]

"Conduct field inspections on building permits, plan reviews, certificate of occupancies, certificates of inspection, fire escapes, elected officials requests, homeowners and contractors"
Then how are developers able to build contrary to the approved plans, and noone knows about it until the neighbors complain?

[What a joke!]

Elaine,

Help-Me-Hank is no match for this Administration!!!!!!

[To: I.S.]

Welcome to Somerville!

[To: City Hall Monitors]

We all know that you moniter this blog on a daily if not hourly basis, why doesn't someone from City Hall respond to all the questions being asked on this blog?

Is everyone conniving their own "save their butt plan" before answering any questions?

[harvard place]

Its quite obvious that somebody close to the family on harvard place is dropping dimes on Demo Sal! The only way to obtain how many truck loads of debree were taken from Harvard Place would be (A. Sal would release the info, or B. The family that owns the home would release it.) Somebody must have an ax to grind against Demo Sal. My guess somebody who is actively involved with that family is underminding the demo man!

[Ron Newman]

Would a proper story be boring? No, it would be good journalism, and useful to the local residents who read this paper.

[Who's the barracuda of winter hill?]

Who's the barracuda of winter hill? Why is this person called teh barracuda? How did he/she get this name? Can somebody please elaborate more?

[Fran]

I also saw Ronnie Craven at the Celtics vs. Seattle Sonics as he was out with the team before the game when they were warming up. I went down and said hello, he shook my sons hand and had Chris Wilcox come over and say hello to my son.. My son has not stopped talking about it, Ronnie is a class act..

[Addint to it]

""Conduct field inspections on building permits, plan reviews, certificate of occupancies, certificates of inspection, fire escapes, elected officials requests, homeowners and contractors"
Then how are developers able to build contrary to the approved plans, and noone knows about it until the neighbors complain?"

Great Point. And I once received a notice to abutters by mail after the work was approved. The Post office seemed to have lost the mailers until after it was done according to the post mark. Perhaps they have friends everywhere? Or maybe I am paranoid. If I am, it for good reason anyway.

[uh?]

Ron,

You should know by now that good journalism and The Somerville News don't mix!

[The Big Ragu]

The barracuda is the woman who is president of Winter Hill bank initials SM. I dont know why they call her this. Also Sal's a good guy. I wish that everybody throwing bombs at him would wait until they have solid evidence about how many trucks and how much money it cost and then if it looks that much out of wack then go for it. But until them they shoudl leave it alone. He's related to the mayor I think and maybe thats why he is under the heat.

[As long as we're vamping]

Whatever happened to all of that cash that disappeared from Traffic and Parking Office? How's that "thorough investigation" proceeding? Or that "plow job" on the T & P Director's driveway? Welcome to Somerville indeed!

[Ron Newman]

I'm not sure what beef the News has with Winter Hill Bank, but I appreciated the bank's collecting donations for the East Somerville Community School after last year's fire. The bank also helped sponsor a Chamber of Commerce fundraiser for the same cause.

[Why?]

Why are all of these allegations falling on the head of Sal? Sal is a good guy with a heart of gold. Wasn't there another guy mentioned in the last posting about this situation, HF, that has a long history of shady deals?

[The Barracuda runs the Winter Hill Bank]

I've known her since I starting doing business with her in Somerville. She's very determined when it comes to doing business with the opposite sex. She's a sassy barracuda to say the least. Well known with developers throughout the city as having a feminine mystique! Operation Barracuda just recently struck down a development project on Park Street. This fish has been known for being bold and inquisitive, and fearfull to developers throughout the city. The great barracuda is known to have been involved in many silent partnerships.

[Bonasera]

Did anyone stop to think maybe Sal was trying to do the family a favor with regard to insurance? Maybe he just put a higher cost on there so they would get more from the insurance and then they could apply that to rebuild the house. its happened with others situations and I have seen it before. Sal's a decent guy who will do what he can to help anyone and I dont think he's about screwing people when their down and out like that. Cut him a break.

[Mike Moccia's playbook looks similar to Karl Rove's]

Rumor has it Moccia was seen reading Karl rove's secret playbook. That was very genuine of Miguel to apologize to his neighbor. I love how he's using the jedi mind trick. He should of used this tactic along time ago. Cute to say the least.

[My Cousin Vinny (Ciampa)]

What happens if Becky Boo-hoo gets into legal trouble and has to relinguish her seat on the board? Who gets it? Choo-Choo Charlie Chisholm?

[Al Coholic]

helping with the insurance?? Isn't that illegal padding bills?

[Sal is for Sal!]

Sal is for Sal and don't forget it!Don't start to believe anything less!It's all about Sal! As for the other hit HF he's made of the same stuff! Just think of all the doe that everyone contributed to his so called fundraisers! We all paid for his T Bird, his Florida property and everything else that he constantly flaunts in front of everyone every day! He's the king of scams!?al is just his student and buy the looks of it,he's a good learner!Just remember when Herb and Sal are done empting all your pockets to make them look good, they will fade into the warm sunset of Naples Florida sbd look back and laugh at is all!

[Paul Rico]

It appears that the feds are zeroing in on some upper echelon members of the SHA Crime Family. Those currently under surveilance are as follows:
1. Joey Mac: Capo di Tutti Capi known for quietly remaining in the background while carefully delegating duties to his faithful followers
2. Louie "DiPaola": Capo Regime who rules his crew with an iron fist. Also known as a good earner due to his connections to the shipping industry. He is a valuable asset to the family due to his contacts with local politicians and law enforcement.
3. Sal "Baby Hewey" Q: Soldier who is intimidating to look at however not the brightest bulb in the bunch. Known to be his own worst enemy when it comes to recent business decisions.
3. Mike "The Chooch" S.: Loyal Soldier who is not afraid to get his hands dirty for the boss. He is known to be the boss's traveling companion and front man on many pending business ventures.
Bobby Mac: This well dressed smooth talker is no relation to the Boss "Joey Mac" however he is a known cohort with a long history as the Boss's "go to guy".
Stayed tuned as the list will grow longer.

[Who'd a Thunk]

Boss Hog's best sayings at the DPW weekly department head meetings was, "It Ain't Easy. I claimed the 5th 23 times before the Grand Jury and they couldn't touch me".

[Mr. Heuston]

Rumor has it that Sal the demo guy was seen last week at a local watering hole with Mr. Heuston, and an unknown 3rd party who had olive skin and a ginny charm. Is it true that Mr. Heuston and his partner have their hands in the cookie jar? I heard also that the alderwomen from ward 2 is on board with the project as long as the criteria regarding "Mr. Heuston" is met.

[LaHa Pizza]

just don't leave the pocketbook behind !

[Empty Suits]

We have alot of empty suits in Somerville. (people with nothing to offer who hang around with developers/players in an attempt to become one) What ever happend to being a stand_up guy! Rats gone wild in this city! Too many half ass gavones wanting to talk ON THE RECORD, AND OFF THE RECORD! The sad part is that we have a big problem on our hands. A sit_down needs to take place. What ever happened to the Omerta' or code of silence. A friend of mine wants to become a friend of ours. Someone's gotta pay the nut or continue the vig. We got too many young turks running around forgettin where they came from. This city needs a good cleaning.

[Is it true that sal was ordered by fire chief and Mayor!]

Sal was authorized by the mayor and fire chief to take down the property at Harvard Place. If Sal diddn't get the authorization in writing, he's a poor businessman. Sal should have recieved a order from the purchasing department. The fire chief has been running around headquarters stating that the mayor told him not to get inovolved with this issue. The mayor should treat his cousin Sal better than this. Sal just wouldn't take down a building without authorization. It would be foolish for him to do that. I think the mayor is running scared after the recent publicity and backing away from the issue. Somebody needs to hold the mayor's feet to the fire. I think an investigation should be done by the DA'S Office to find out what really happened. How come Sal can't come up with any manifests? Did it really take that many truck loads of debree to clean up the property? Is somebody getting paid off? The whole situation stinks! People should have realized that this women works in probate and has various connections within that department.

[Stinky Situation]

The whole situation stinks to me. (SAL, PROBATE, MAYOR, FIRE CHIEF, ROBERTS CONSTRUCTION, MANIFESTS, WORK ORDERS, CITY HALL, FIRE DETAIL, POLICE DETAIL, HOWIE WINTERS ETC) Do the math!

[Bill H.]

Ronnie Craven coaching with the Sonics is such a great story. I am so glad for him and his family.
Fran was right Ronnie is a class act indeed, he helped the big kid from the Somerville high school become a good player.

[Just Sayin']

Maybe someone should check into Federal fraud charges. Look at Social Security/Disability payments. Like Al Capone, when you can't get him for murder, get him for tax evasion. It may be boring, but it does the trick. I'm just sayin'.........

[truthbtold]

I hope this paper follows up on the Smithfield story. I would love to find out how much the city will spend because of this foolish Alderman Gerwitz from ward 6. Why did she feel it was her job to defend some one that has no connection to this city and expose the taxpayers of this city to a lawsuit? Now our lawyers and city personnel will be spending hours and hours putting together records and making court appearances.

[Chris]

Sal and his workers are losers, I was there when he and his crew were demolishing home, they treated the victims like jerks and treated what little property/belongings that might have been retrievable or saved like crap and didn't allow victims to go into home and get stuff that they could have been able to save/retrieve, yet Sal and his crew were in the victims home taking things. They were throwing these victims belonging out the window like jerks. They had no hearts, I yelled at one of them. Sal and his crew and the city took advantage of this family and left them with triple the bill then was first stated and bs answers.

[Mark]

Is this guy who coaches with the Sonics from Somerville originally?

[Where did it go?]

A source that is close to Elaine told me that many items were still in the house that won't necessarily burn in the fire such as jewelry and stuff that didn't burn at all we not found!