Well Senator Pat Jehlen has proven again that the PDSers don’t care about anyone other than themselves. Seems she co-sponsored, along with Rep. Donato of Medford, a resolution to have DCR rename Sandy Beach in Winchester the Senator Charles E. Shannon Beach, but then did nothing further on it. Can you imagine what a slap in the face Queen Pat’s neglect is to all the friends and supporters of Senator Shannon? If Charlie was alive and in the position to honor a deceased friend (and Charlie was truly a friend to all), he would have taken control of the dedication, got the word out to the public about the event and made sure the sign stayed covered until the official unveiling. But not Queen Pat. She’s more interested in doing a nature walk with her friends at the Middlesex Fells Reservation that day. We here at Newstalk and at The News liked and supported Sen. Shannon for all his good work in the community. Shame on Senator Jehlen and her lack of respect for a good man’s memory. We hope that a large crowd of Charlie’s friends show up and remember him this Saturday at 10 am at the Upper Mystic Lake. And we hope they remember the Queen’s disgraceful actions the next election day.
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Primary Election Day is this coming Tuesday, expect a huge crowd of out of towners and special interest groups to be pushing those stickers in your face. Just so you know, there is a 150 foot rule on election day, no candidate or worker for a candidate can stand inside 150 feet of the polls. Let’s see how closely that rule is followed.
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Well another real estate office closes its doors here in Somerville - Remax Specialists came to Somerville 2 years ago and has now officially closed down. The owners returned to their roots: working for a Malden Century 21 company. Another office, Good Neighbors real estate, also closed down and there is still a rumor that another company will surprise their agents and give them one day notice before closing the doors permanently here in Somerville.
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Sources tell us that the special project on Park Street that the Demo Man is involved in got quite a bit of opposition at the neighborhood meeting. It seems that neighbors are against the project overwhelmingly and the developers will likely seek fewer units -- but not too much less, we hear.
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Stickers Carl raised over $91K for his campaign, of which 70 percent came from special interest groups and outside the district donors. Plus there are the free mailings he’s getting from special interest groups. This Tuesday is Primary Day and this is going to be an interesting election. Recently Stickers Carl put out a plea for 300 volunteers on his Facebook account. The Progressives like to talk about political hacks and machine politics; this is a prime example of him and his cronies using special interest money to buy their way into office. If that’s not the definition of a hack, we don’t know what is.
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The Ward 1 City Democratic Committee recently met and endorsed all the candidates on the BALLOT for the Democratic nominations including Bob Trane.
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Sources tell us that Ed Nuzzo, a special projects manager for the city, is doing well after being swept out to sea last week after jumping off a vessel owned by a Somerville building inspector in Boston Harbor. Mr. Nuzzo was overcome by a strong current and washed up on the rocks by George’s Island about 150 yards away. He was a little cut up and disoriented but came out ok. He later decided to re-jump into the ocean again and swim back out to the vessel that he had originally jumped off of in the first place. What some people will do to show off in front of a crowd, huh?
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Last Friday afternoon, Somerville Police in marked cruisers staged themselves outside of the AJ Wright parking lot after receiving a call of a shoplifting crime in progress. The police officers patiently waited outside of the store for a signal and then moved in. Store security and police placed the culprit in custody. Another job well done by the local force.
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The Mayor’s pick of two deputy police chiefs could take place as soon as this coming week. We wonder who will it be? There are three very qualified serious contenders to choose from, making it a difficult choice. We wish them all the best of luck.
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Happy Birthday to Phillip “Phippy” Jefferies who has a party coming up, we heard it was supposed to be a surprise party but he found out. Anyway it should still be a good time, it’s this coming Saturday night at the VFW Hall on Mystic Avenue in Medford starting at 7 p.m.
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We were all sad to hear that popular Davis Square fixture and nice all around guy Joe Errico Sr. passed away recently. He was 102 years old, a nice man and ran a good business. A lot of us here in Somerville - new comers and old timers - all know how nice he was, always a smiling face in Davis Square.
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On Wednesday Sept. 17th at the Precinct Bar in Union Square from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., this newspaper is having a reception to celebrate five years of the new Somerville News. Come and meet and greet all the friends, supporters, staff, owners and writers of the Somerville News. Who knows? You may even meet a Newstalker.
Congratulations. I've been undecided about this election, but you pushed me over the top. I'm voting for Carl mostly because The Somerville News has been so incredibly obnoxious and sophomoric in their support of Bob Trane. So you just cost your buddy 2 votes (mine and my wife's).
I've been waiting for a month to hear something substantive about what Bob Trane would do differently than Carl and all I hear time and again is some crap about out of district people. A nice little diversion, I suppose, but nothing of any real substance.
Thanks for helping me out, SN!
Posted by: Jim | September 10, 2008 at 07:22 AM
You know, if you don't count Trane's 16 grand contribution to his campaign, looks like Bob took in at least 60% of his funds from outside the district. The Trane campaign shouldn't exactly be throwing stones here. $4500 that can be tied back to his brother's telecom firm doesn't smell so good, either.
And the Ward 1 Democratic committee endorsed Trane? To quote another poster, "LOLOLOLOLOL".
Talk about outside the district.
Posted by: Tricky | September 10, 2008 at 07:50 AM
If she sponsored the resolution, and the resolution passed, what else was Pat Jehlen supposed to do? I just got her e-mail newsletter, which asks people to attend both the dedication and the walk, a few blocks from each other in Winchester.
Here's the part about the dedication:
Saturday: Shannon Beach Dedication 10 am
September 13 will be a busy morning. At 10 am, I'll be joining Sen. Charlie Shannon's family and Sec. Sullivan of the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation in dedicating the Charlie Shannon Memorial Beach at Sandy Beach in Winchester. This is an appropriate recognition for my predecessor, who loved the outdoors and worked to increase recreational opportunities for children and youth. All are welcome.
Posted by: Ron Newman | September 10, 2008 at 08:21 AM
The party for Phip is not a surprise. He is throwing the party for himself. He has been giving out invitations since early summer. How pathetic is that! Im not going to the party but for those who are, I suggest giving him a bar of soap. He really needs it. If you give him anything else, he will sell it at his weekly yard sale.
Posted by: JunkMan | September 10, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Definition of a hack?
Going over Bob's contributions from outside the district, it turns out he has accepted $300 from someone who works as a mail clerk.
For the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
At the State House.
Aside from the fact that a lowly mail clerk has made 91 contributions totalling $11,085 to a wide assortment of Democratic candidates since 2002; doesn't this smell a little, um, odd?
I submit to you that if the shoe was on the other foot here - if papers had gone missing from Bob Trane's State House office, and Sciortino accepted money from a mail clerk working in the same building, the News would be all over this like flies on a big pile of crap.
May I assume the News will be taking the same approach here, and find out what's going on here? Because it's really starting to smell bad around here, Bob.
Posted by: Tricky | September 10, 2008 at 10:06 AM
It is primarily from reading this column that I have made my decision to vote for Carl Sciortino. Thank you for making it so clear that Bob Trane has nothing going for him other than a dislike of Sciortino, and a following among those willing to listen to his baseless attacks.
Posted by: Andy | September 10, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Well, from my experience the PDSers have a history of ignoring the 150 foot rule. Anyone who sees a violation should alert the police officer on duty (you may find him/her inside the polling place). Also, no politicial signs or paraphenalia can be within 150 feet - that includes brochures, buttons, stickers, etc. I've seen supporters/voters casually gather near the polling place entrance, wearing Tshirts or buttons on their clothing. They've even placed bumper stickers on the back of baby strollers and tried to maneuver it near the door. Also, make sure that poll workers are vigilant about removing any stickers left behind by voters. If you're handed a sticker on the way in and don't use it you might leave it in the booth - this is also a no-no. Be ever vigilant!
I'm still confused about Sean O'Donovan's run. If you're unenrolled must you take a Working Family ballot, or can you write his name on a democratic or republican ballot?
Posted by: Primary Day | September 10, 2008 at 11:04 AM
You can write Sean's name on any party's ballot. But for him to win the primary, he has to (a) get at least 1000 votes, and (b) get more votes than any other candidate in the same party.
Posted by: Ron Newman | September 10, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Wow! I remember the good ole election that Carl Beat Vincent Ciampa! I saw tons of people everywhere! Too bad Carl had to import them all from everywhere but Somerville and Medford! A perfect definition of "Special Interest Groups!" I remember when Sen Jehlen sent out a email memo about a month and a half ago trying to get her crowd to support some hack from Washington State! Shamefully!! Now is that how it works? Will the hack from Washington state be part of the "Special Interest circus of clowns that will be in town holding signs and ringing doorbells for Carl? Senator Jehlen, Carl Stickers, Pudgy Provost and Rebecca Riding hood the tree hugger, SHAME on you all! You all Casting your vote for Snowflake!
Posted by: Tired of Somerville Progessives! Vote Blank is Better! | September 10, 2008 at 07:39 PM
I'll vote for Carl, though I don't know much about him. Mostly because the other guy is running on a platform that is based on intolerance and he looks kinda deranged.
Posted by: Somerville n00b | September 11, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Oh, those poor real estate agencies in Somerville going out of business. What a tragedy. Now there won't be anybody competing with ERA! :)
Posted by: Somerville n00b | September 11, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Carl doesn't know where Teele square is. All of his efforts have been to support his special interest groups (GLT), and PDS buddies.
A vote for Carl is a vote for more progressive wasted money.
Posted by: Imux | September 11, 2008 at 06:39 PM
I went to the state web site and took a look at both candidates fiance reports. First thing is that so called clerk from the state house that gave Trane money actually lives in the district.
Carls report is very interesting. He took in a huge amount of money from all over the state and country. Some of the names I recall from my days working on the hill. All of them worked for various special interests groups.
One name on Carls list that I googled brought up a man that is a porn producer. Now thats my kind of donor. I hope he a few hot dvd's tossed in with the loot.
Posted by: somervilleguy | September 12, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I used to be involved with PDS and let me tell you this, they import people from all over the country. Take me for example, I am from Colombus Ohio and specifically came to Mass to help out progressive campaigns. I eventually got out of that movement because it became apparent these people hated working class people with a passion. All they care about are trendy hipster types, and they do more for their pet causes then they do anything else.
Posted by: Lars Homoheimer | September 13, 2008 at 01:12 PM
Somerguy - the clerk resides in Donato's district.
He's not listed as a clerk on Trane's report, but if you search by contributor for the clerk's name, the $250 he gave to Buonomo back in May clearly lists his occupation as "Mail Clerk - House of Reps."
Posted by: Tricky | September 14, 2008 at 01:31 PM