The Somerville News Blog

Our Endorsements

A Sad State of Affairs

For the first time in 100 years or so there was no need for an election primary in this city. The question has arisen - are people satisfied or complacent? Or maybe are they simply afraid of taking on those already in power? More than likely, the answer is all three.

We couldn't be more bored. With one exception, the challengers in this election are either not viable or being propped up by a wanna-be political machine that shouts buzzwords but is only interested in throwing out one group for their own. It's disappointing given the empowerment so many people supposedly felt after last year's presidential election.

The following endorsements are to be read keeping in mind that the choices are few. The question comes to does one support the sole challenger simply because he or she is new or do you go with the devil you know? This year, we're sticking with the tried and true.

Mayor

While we wish that in a city with as vibrant a community as ours there are multiple choices for elective office, we've been more than pleased with Joe Curtatone's performance as Mayor during his last two terms. Certainly winning the All-America City award had a lot to do with his leadership, and it was a moment that all of Somerville shared.

Ultimately, however, that award means little compared to the actual improvement we've seen in this city. We could not have a more fiercely determined advocate for progress on the Green Line. The final pieces of the police department reorganization are coming together. He certainly hasn't been afraid to make tough decisions, especially during our ongoing budget crisis. He dove headfirst into citywide permit parking, a divisive issue that we're hoping he would have pursued even if he weren't guaranteed a new term.

To keep things interesting, it would be interesting to see a viable challenger discussing the issues with him during the next election cycle - assuming he's not on Capitol Hill by then - but for now we have no problem telling you to vote for the one choice you have. We could do a lot worse.

Ward 6 Alderman

This is tough. The Progressive Democrats of Somerville is perhaps the most secretive pseudo-government body in Somerville (besides the Traffic Commission), and Rebekah Gewirtz is without question the center of the group. On the other hand, we would like to support Campano, but his NIMBY attitude really isn't an antidote to Gewirtz's faux-transparency. We're holding out hope that Ward 6 will someday have an alderman more concerned about the well being of constituents than politics.

Maybe next time we'll have a chance to enthusiastically root for one of Gewirtz's challengers. This year, vote blank.

Alderman-at-Large

Here again we run into the same issue: PDS. Luis Morales, their candidate, is a religious leader, which is clearly at odds with much of their agenda (see Ward 5 endorsement below). That means one thing to us: the PDS believes that since this guy is Latino he automatically deserves a seat on the Board.

We don't necessarily disagree that the Board is sorely lacking in diversity, but at the end of the day, the BOA is about effectiveness, and the current crop of aldermen-at-large have been some of the most effective on the Board in a long, long time.

At the risk of seeming like hypocrites for decrying the lack of challengers and then endorsing all the incumbents, we see no reason to vote anyone out in favor of Morales. Maybe if he had run on his own initiative it would be different, but for now we're happy to endorse Jack Connolly, Bruce Desmond, Dennis Sullivan and Bill White.

Each of them brings a unique point of view to the Board. Desmond brings his school committee experience and determination to not let issues get swept under the rug - the Max Pac site is just one example. Sullivan, who will host his 100th office hour on Saturday, is possibly the most accessible member. Connolly brings his experience as a long-time advocate for Davis Square from the days when cafes and all the marks of a beautiful neighborhood were still unknown.

White is easily the most intelligent voice on the Board, and has kept the mayor's office in check more times in the past six months than we can keep count. Out of all of them, White is perhaps the most important voice on the Board. And hey, remember when he was a Republican? Here's proof we agree with a PDS endorsement every once in a while.

Ward 4 School Committee

We're pleased to endorse News Editor-in-Chief Jamie Norton, who has served effectively and passionately since being elected two years ago. Students at the Arthur D. Healey and Winter Hill Community School have benefited from his advocacy. A far cry from his PDS-created opponent, who appears to make things up as she goes along, Jamie has a quiet, yet informed, and very efficient manner about him - and he gets things done.

Norton has been a voice of reason on a committee that often finds itself bogged down in issues beyond its control. For the past two years, he has been a level-headed and hardworking voice for the ward he has lived in his entire life.



Ward 5 School Committee

Mark Niedergang, a so-called Progressive Democrat, has really managed to put his foot in his mouth this year. He came out against religion and patriotism as worthwhile reasons for school holidays, then spent much more time "going negative" (and advising others to go negative) than even our own infamous Newstalkers.

Anna Lavanga, a long-time PTA member, is more than qualified to take his place and we're pleased to endorse her, a non-PDS aligned challenger, who is running for the right reason: our children. Mark Niedergang is only looking out for himself, period.

Reporting from the Public Health Front

By Joseph A. Curtatone (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.) As I hope everybody knows by now, President Obama has declared the H1N1 flu outbreak a national emergency. (There's more about President - and former Somerville resident - Obama at the end of this column.) That's an important step for public health planners and administrators around the country -and an upgrade from the "public health emergency" declaration back in April. As a practical matter, it gives hospital officials more authority to separate flu patients from other patients, to set up special emergency areas aimed solely at treating flu, to fast-track the purchase of supplies, and to reduce bureaucratic restrictions on local actions. According to federal officials, the declaration was "preemptive:" most states don't need it yet, but now it's there if they do. Late last week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) also acknowledged that H1N1 is now "widespread" in the Commonwealth. Here in Somerville, we've already had a few cases of flu (both H1N1 and seasonal), although we're a long way from emergency mode. But all of the media attention has got everybody on edge - and it hasn't helped that vaccines for both H1N1 and seasonal flu have been in far shorter supply than the federal government originally predicted. That's forced Somerville and quite a few other communities to cancel previously scheduled vaccination clinics - and it's forced us to delay rescheduling until we have more reliable information about when shipments of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine will arrive. Our City Health Department receives regular updates on the vaccine supply chain from MADPH and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will reschedule clinics as soon as we have the supplies we need. (For the latest updates, call 311 or visit www.somervillema.gov.) We expect that we will eventually have enough vaccine of both types to handle the demand, though those of us not in the priority groups will need to be patient while those most at risk to develop the serious complications associated with each of these types of flu are vaccinated as soon as possible. Here are a few crucial facts to keep in mind: • Most people recover from the flu (both kinds) with no after effects. • The cases leading to serious complications are almost always in patients that already have underlying health problems that make them more susceptible. • Since the large majority of those who suffer from H1N1 influenza are recovering without incident, MADPH is no longer trying to do routine "confirmatory" testing of everyone who gets the flu. They are continuing to watch for cases that end up requiring hospital care, but • Very few cases require hospitalization. • Once vaccine is available, you should get vaccinated. Seasonal and H1N1 influenza season will be with us for many months to come. • Private sources for vaccines tend to be slightly better equipped right now. If you can get a shot from your doctor, from a clinic at CVS, Wal-Mart, Stop and Shop or from other provider - and you're willing and able to pay - go ahead. (Just another reminder of how our current health care system fails us: private insurance systems ration access to vaccine not on the basis of comparative risk or vulnerability - which would also help keep flu from spreading ¬- but on the basis of who can afford to pay.) It's also important to remember that, even if you have to wait for your vaccination, there are several very effective prevention measures that you can take immediately to protect yourself and your family: • Wash your hands often and thoroughly - and use hand sanitizer if you don't have access to soap and water. • Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. • Cover your cough, but use your elbow instead of your hands. And finally, the best thing you can do if you have flu-like symptoms is to isolate yourself to prevent further spread of the flu: Stay home from work or school or other activities where you'll be interacting with lots of people until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of fever reducing medications like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol). You can visit the City of Somerville website and click on the "influenza update" alert to find out more - and if you haven't already done so, please also go to the website or call 311 to find out how to pick up your free City of Somerville prescription drug discount card. Somerville is the first Massachusetts community to offer this discount card program, which was developed by the National League of Cities and has already been a huge success. And now, to close on a completely different note, I want to report that President Obama had very kind words to say about Somerville when I saw him last Friday during his one-day trip to Boston. I hadn't met the President before, so this was my chance to give him his Somerville 2009 All America City Pin and tell him how proud we are that he lived here during his years at Harvard Law School. His reply was, "Mayor, I want you to know that your city treated me very well during my time there." His good memories of Somerville are a tribute to our community spirit - and a reminder that courtesy and neighborliness make a lasting impression. It's just great to have a President who knows firsthand that Somerville Rocks!

Pedestrian hit on Washington Street

By Tom Nash A 73-year-old man is in critical but stable condition after being struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Washington Street and McGrath Highway last night. The victim, a Cambridge resident, was transported to an area hospital with "multiple trauma," Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton said. The driver has not been charged. The accident is under investigation by the Somerville Police Crash Reconstruction Unit. Witnesses are asked to call the Traffic Unit at (617) 625-1212.

Project Beautification kicks off with some eye-catching ideas for Union Square

Project Beautification members want to make this stretch of cobblestones more user friendly. ~Photo by Julia Fairclough By Julia Fairclough While people may not directly acknowledge the sewer system upgrade along Somerville Avenue, they will appreciate the aesthetic upgrades that are more more visible to the eye. The sewer project that has riddled Somerville Avenue for the past few years is drawing to a close, and slated to be finished this spring. The next question is how to decorate the square? There will be new asphalt, brick trimmed sidewalks and street lamps (which are already installed). Now all the square needs is some tender loving care. Thus, Union Square Main Streets (USMS) just created Project Beautification, to bat around ideas that people would like to see in place. The group of about ten residents will meet once a month to see what possibilities would work in Union Square. USMS Executive Director Mimi Graney told the group on Tuesday that there isn't any money in the budget at this point for more flowers and trees, but the group can formulate a design plan to bring to the city. Project Beautification plans will focus on Union Square, but may migrate a bit up Somerville Avenue towards Porter Square. Currently, USMS conducts a spring and fall clean-up, and created an adopt-a-planter program last Spring. Project Beautification may be able to incorporate any ideas into the other two programs, Graney said. The residents, many of who liked to garden, and two of whom are designers, liked the idea of adding planters and more flowers to the square. They talked about the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, which features thematic designs. They batted around ideas for shapes of planters, or adding planters that are attached to benches. Whatever the group decides to do, it has to work with the dynamics of Union Square. Graney threw in the idea to have some kind of identification for Union Square, similar to how Porter Square features the kinetic sculpture. Examples of this are awnings, banners, or a logo motif (e.g., Davis Square has the rotary logo). A resident said it would be nice to involve the schools in the square, by having students create mosaics, for example. People agreed that Union Square needs more maps, as the roads are often not marked and confusing. They also talked about the "dead zones" in the square, such as the cobbled space by the Somerville Community Access Television building. That area features sidewalks that make pedestrians feel as if they will fall over into the frenzied traffic. How do we soften that feeling by adding lights, a bench, a bike rack, or a semi-circular sitting area? they pondered. That area would also be nice for regularly-scheduled public art, to be rotated on a routine basis. The group closed its first meeting by assigning various people to research planters, traffic island ideas, benches, and examples from other cities to help narrow down ideas. For more information or to get involved, you can contact Graney at [email protected].

Newstalk for October 28

Election Day is next Tuesday, polls open from 7am to 8pm - the only contested races in the city outside of Alderman at Large are in Ward 4, Ward 5 and Ward 6. The negative farm team and their PDSer associates will be out blasting and saying all sorts of lies just to get their candidatures elected. The farm team has a new staff / new editor - only there three months - and rely heavily on their PDSer friends. Progressive Democrat endorsements on candidates are self-serving - this year alone this group has held secretive meetings under their present leadership and they haven't gathered more then 17 people at any one meeting. It's an extremely small and negative group that wants to raise your taxes and ban everything they think is good for you. This year it will be a small election turnout - and they're counting on low turnout, so their candidates have a shot at winning...don't let them fool you. *************** Congratulations to Rose Nolan of Sillari Realty again for her award from the Somerville Homeless Coalition this coming Friday 11:30 at the Highland Kitchen. Rose, a lifelong resident, certainly deserves this, their first, "Tina Delellis Award." *************** The Annual Meeting of CAAS will be this Thursday night at the Somerville City Club at 6:30. The agency does a lot of good work for the low income here in Somerville and has been doing a great job now for about 20 odd years or so. *************** Somerville Rotary Club's 2009 Charity Event will be at Giggles Comedy Club in Saugus on Route 1 - this Thursday, the 29th - President Tony Pierantozzi is planning this along with Eugene Brune and Gilda Nogueira - for information and tickets, call 617-679-6310. *************** We congratulate the Little Sister's of the Poor for all their hard work they have done here in Somerville for many years. Recently the Pope canonized Mother Foundress Saint Jeanne Juggan in Rome. *************** Public Hearing coming up in November on the 18th at Somerville High School on the Green Line Extension Project - to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Assessment. *************** Get well to Paul Carroll of Carroll Roofers who is recovering from hip surgery in the hospital, Paul is a great guy and we wish him well. *************** Also get well to Fran Owens our own Miss Senior Massachusetts who was down in New Jersey and in competition when she fell and had to be taken to the hospital and had emergency operation on some fractures. Good news is she's back in Mass and recuperating and doing much better, our best wishes for a speedy recovery. *************** Popular Ward 2 Alderwoman Maryann Heuston is having a fundraiser this Thursday the 29th at the LaHacienda - at 56 Medford Street - as usual, we are sure she will be packing the house again this year - our best to a great Alderwoman. ***************

Cartoon of the week for October 28

Alderman candidates quizzed on East Somerville issues

Aldermen-at-Large Jack Connolly, Bruce Desmond and challenger Luis Morales at the candidates’ forum held at the East Somerville Senior Center Oct. 21. ~Photo by Tom Nash By Tom Nash Several groups dedicated to keeping East Somerville affordable hosted the candidates for contested Board of Aldermen seats last Wednesday, giving them a chance to share their ideas for a neighborhood grappling with gentrification and a sinking economy simultaneously. Representatives from East Somerville Neighbors for Change, the Affordable Housing Commission, Save Our Somerville and the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership asked all five alderman-at-large candidates, Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Ward 6 challenger James Campano and Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche questions on the Green Line, progress on the rebuilding of the East Somerville Community School and job creation. All of the candidates' answers are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese at www.somervillecdc.org

Prospect of Brown School closure reappears(updated)

By Tom Nash After causing a stir during the city's budget review process in June by asking for a cost analysis of closing the Benjamin G. Brown School, Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche reminded the school system last Thursday that he's still waiting for the report. "In these tough economic times, I think we have to make hard decisions and look at where we can save money," Roche said at the Oct. 22 Board of Aldermen meeting. "We've got to move forward with the facts and know what we're dealing with." Roche submitted an order asking Superintendent Anthony Pierantozzi for an update, pointing out that the building has no auditorium or cafeteria and is not accessible to persons with disabilities. "We can't be cutting services and laying people off when we have a school building that possibly shouldn't be there," he added. Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz was quick to defend the school as the most cost-effective in the city and a "hub" for the surrounding community. "I don't think we should be targeting individual schools," Gewirtz said. "I frankly don't think it's the role of the Board of Alderman." Alderman-at-Large Bruce Desmond, Dennis Sullivan and Bill White joined Gewirtz in voting against the order, which passed 7-4. (in error, we reported Dennis Sullivan voted in favor of the order) "I knew this wasn't going to be a popular resolution -- I didn't expect it to be," Roche said, adding that he wouldn't mind if other members wanted to look at schools in Ward 1. "I think people shouldn't be afraid of the study, and let the results be what they are." Before the vote, Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero urged Brown School parents to keep their kids out of the debate. As the board's School Committee representative, he said he was frustrated that parents put their children in front of the committee to lobby against cutting the sixth grade from the school earlier this year. "It changes the analysis from being objective," Pero said. "As adults, it makes it really difficult to say no to the kids." "I'm sure (the parents) will be forming their lobbying plans tomorrow," he added. The meeting was barely over before Brown School parent Paula Woolley sent an e-mail to other parents warning that the possibility of the Brown School closing was back on the table. Woolley told the parents to wait until the Nov. 4 School Committee meeting before worrying too much about Roche's request, however. Woolley added later she hopes the board will trust the judgment of the school system and the School Committee. "Every year that there's a budget crisis, (the School Committee members) really have been thoughtful with what they've been doing," she said. "I'm not becoming alarmed by this news because I feel they made it clear they didn't want to cut educational programs. I think the BOA needs to respect that they have a job to do and they do it well."

Halloweens gone by

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.) The worst part about trick or treating was trying to fit that flimsy costume over your bulky winter coat if it was cold out - but it didn't stop us from having a blast. I can't begin to tell you how much my son's mask and accessories set me back this year. It's shameful. My justification was how excited he got when he put on the get-up and wore it to a classmates costume party. The old Ben Cooper costumes came in that small box with the cellophane covered opening so you could see the mask. The mask was the thinnest possible plastic available at the time. It had the skinny elastic held in place by putting the little metal ends through the holes in the mask. I often ended up breaking the elastic. Sometimes the holes in the mask would split and spread open. Dad would have to make a new hole or tape the hell out it. I'm pretty sure the wool hat Mom made me wear under the mask helped break the elastics. That combined with the fact that I had a pretty big head to begin with. Those costumes were okay except for the fact that the masks only covered the front of your face. Your hair, ears, head and neck were exposed. For us kids, those costumes were great. Woolworths and WT Grants were our Halloween Costume headquarters. I'll never forget those houses where you would get a handful of loose, unwrapped popcorn dropped into your sack. Sometimes it would be a few pennies scattered over the Milky Ways and Three Musketeers bars. Here are some of my friend's recollections of Somerville Halloweens of yesterday:  Those were the days. There were so many houses to go to, and your parents didn't have to worry about any houses to stay away from. And the candy bars were BIG. We used to fill up our bags, go home and dump them out, then head out again for more. I had so much candy one year, I still had some left in January.  The Healey School Parades - all the kids in the school would dress in costumes and walk some of the streets. The kids loved seeing some of the teachers in costumes and all the parents would stand on the sidewalks cheering and taking pictures. Did anyone else carry noisemakers such as metal clickers or spinners?  It was a tradition to go to Nana & Nonno's house on Westwood Road so they could give us an apple with a quarter inside! Hey, what can I say, it was the 50's.  When it rained we still went out - as "fishermen" with yellow slickers and those wide yellow hats. We finished our small block and then went out to Cedar Street to the triple deckers - 3 times the candy in one house!  I actually don't have any memories, but I do know that the late Bobby "Boris" Pickett who wrote and recorded "Monster Mash" was from Somerville. He grew up watching horror movies at his father's movie theater and got the idea to imitate Boris Karloff, which inspired him to write Monster Mash.  My mom dated Bobby "Boris" Pickett when she was younger.  My favorite Halloween memory was that apartment building on the corner of Park and College next to the library. It was all elderly people and they used to come down into the lobby where they had a table set up. They gave us doughnuts and real apple cider. Sometimes if you had a really good costume-they would ask you to go upstairs to show someone who could not make it down to the lobby - can you image anything like that today? We also used the "go home, dump and run policy" to re-fill our bags. The Woodbridge Inn (formerly on College Ave where Ciampa manor is now) also gave donuts and cider.  There was an elderly couple somewhere in our neighborhood (Francesca and College Ave area), they made the taffy themselves and when they ran out they would apologize and offer you either some homemade cookies or a quarter.  You guys lived in the rich neighborhood. We only got pennies.  The old days are alive and well in my neighborhood (Lexington Ave)...we have so many Trick or Treaters we can barely keep up with them. We've counted as many as 200! I agree with everyone's memories above about hitting as many streets as you could and filling pillow cases with candy. We always had home-made costumes, none of these plastic things with a big picture on the front of the box of who you were supposed to be! In my neighborhood, all of the kids visited the drugstore on Summer between Belmont and Lowell (I'll get back to you with the name I'm drawing a blank). The owner gave out candy, but also took a picture of every group of kids who came in. Then after Halloween, he hung all of the pictures in the store. It was so much fun to go up and look at all of the pictures and find yourself in one of them!  One grown up trick or treater recalled: "Some of the things we did on Halloween (as kids) could still get us jail time today! Thank God we could run fast in those days!"  Halloween back then was GREAT! My Dad would dress us up in his clothes. Sometimes we would be hobos and my brother was even a bride one year! We would fill up our pillow cases a few times. We would go to every house and every street we could think of, and when we got to the houses you would have to wait on the sidewalk because there were so many kids packed on the porches. We would go home, where my parents would check and make sure the candy was okay, then my sister and brothers would trade candy! My mother would put the candy in our empty costume boxes write our names on them and we'd have candy for months! I miss those days! Thanks to all my Somerville friends for sharing their Halloween memories. Now hit the streets, and remember to be careful. There are always those idiots who drive too fast on Halloween. A word to the wise: Slow down. I may have a pocketful of grade A's! Don't forget to check out the Post Meridian Radio Players presentation of The Big Broadcast of 1938 - a Halloween spectacular at the Somerville Theatre. The production will feature a comedy: "The Frank Cyrano Byfar Hour" that's billed as "a lost classic from Boston radio history." There will also be a presentation of the Orson Welles classic, "The War of the Worlds," rewritten so the action is set in Boston. Watch for my small role as Massachusetts Governor Hurley. The performances, with live orchestra and awesome sound effects, will run October 29-31 at 8:00pm with a special 2:00pm matinée on the 31st. Tickets are available online at http://bb1938.com/tickets_info.html. You can email Jimmy directly at [email protected].

Somerville suits up for climate change

About 40 Somerville riders and volunteers gathered at Prospect Hill. The group rode their bikes together to downtown Boston, where they joined hundreds of others to raise climate change awareness for International Climate Day. ~Photo by Meghan Frederico By Meghan Frederico Roughly 40 Somervillians gathered at the top of Prospect Hill on Saturday, dressed more appropriately for a day at the beach than a drizzly October afternoon. Wearing wetsuits and snorkels, the group rode their bikes together to downtown Boston, where they joined hundreds of others at an underwater-themed festival, playing off the prospect of rising sea levels in order to raise climate change awareness for International Climate Day. International Climate Day was founded by 350.org, a grassroots organization whose name and mission reflect the scientific claim that the safe limit for atmospheric C02 is 350 parts per million. According to their website, the earth is currently at 387. The worldwide event was created as a way to raise awareness about climate change and C02 levels, and strategically falls less than 2 months ahead of the 2009 U.N. Climate talks in Copenhagen. 350.org is pushing for a more ambitious version of the climate treaty, one that they hope will make carbon emissions costly enough to bring CO2 levels under 350, but without stifling the progress of developing countries. "The vision behind 350 was that instead of a single march on Washington, every community can do something useful to raise awareness" Vanessa Rule, an organizer from the Somerville Climate Action (SCA), said of the approach. Somerville was one of the many communities in 181 reported countries that participated in International Climate Day. Maureen Barnillo, the SCA volunteer who organized the ride, spoke to the participants before their departure from Prospect Hill about the appropriateness of the historic site. "We'll follow the path of freedom fighters before us, starting here at Prospect Hill," she said, "we now need our own revolutionaries who will stand up and fight against our dependence on fossil fuels." Barnillo just got rid of her own car, replacing it with more frequent bike rides and a Zip Car membership. "But safety and comfort is an issue," she said of her reluctance to bike on snow and ice. Since biking is not always a viable option for everyone, she hopes that the city will come up with other green alternatives to encourage people to put down their car keys. "We're an 'All-American City', we need to be coming up with our own innovations" she said. Last year at ArtBeat's "Future of Somerville" contest, Barnillo submitted an idea for a trolley that went around the Somerville loop and charged less than the T, encouraging residents to take public transportation for shorter trips, where they might see driving as more practical. Anyone who has handed over $1.50 for a two mile bus trip from, say, Union Square to Davis Square, might see the appeal of such an alternative. "The ride went really well," said Barnillo afterward, "we just had one flat tire." The group included recreational bikers, bike commuters, and even one former competitive cyclist, Constantine Psimopoulos, who was there with his wife Calliopi Dourou-Psimopoulos. Barnillo and Ron Newman of the Somerville Bicycle Committee led the way way from Union Square to Christopher Columbus Park on Boston Harbor, passing through freedom trail sites including Bunker Hill, Copp's Hill Burying Ground, and the U.S.S. Constitution. At the Harbor, the Somerville riders joined a crowd of about 500 people, by the SCA's estimation, as they acted out preparations for a flood, donning life preservers and building a sandbag barrier to stave off the imaginary flooding. At the "life saving station", Rule said that participants managed to fill the voicemail boxes of both Senator Kerry and White House, urging them to consider their message as world leaders prepare for the U.N. Climate Talks in December.

Alderman decries lax safety measures at supermarket

By Tom Nash In the wake of an armed robbery at a popular Somerville Avenue supermarket, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston wants the company's management to explain why it can't keep the store's parking lot under control. On Oct. 11, a man robbed a woman at knifepoint and assaulted her in the Market Basket parking lot. While a police officer on duty was on the scene within moments of the attack, Heuston said the lack of security cameras in the parking lot and crowding are a public safety issue. Police are still searching for the assailant. At the Oct. 22 Board of Aldermen meeting, Heuston passed a resolution asking for the company's management to explain itself to the board. "They are an enormously successful enterprise, and I think that the fact that they can't manage that parking lot is unconscionable," she said. "If anyone had a heart attack in that parking lot they would be dead, because you can't get an ambulance in there." Heuston added that the constantly busy parking detracts from the long-awaited completion of infrastructure improvements along Somerville Avenue. "(After a) $25 million Somerville Avenue project, we've still got Market Basket wreaking havoc at that location," Heuston said. The resolution passed unanimously.

Books of Hope holds reading at Somerville library

Jasen Sousa, founder of J-Rock Publishing, read several poems from his newest book, Humming Eternity at a Book of Hope reading on Oct. 15. Sousa, who grew up in Somerville, started writing as a way to bring news to his friends in jails and mental hospitals and has published seven volumes of poetry for young adults. ~Photos by Ashley Taylor By Ashley Taylor "I want to be heard," Maishka Antoine began reading. "I-want-to-be-heard," she continued, emphasizing each word. Antoine, 15, has written two books as the youngest member of Books of Hope, a youth writing and publishing program in Somerville. Antoine and six of her peers in Books of Hope were recently heard at the Somerville Central Library, where the authors read their work for a small but enthusiastic audience on Oct. 15. Author and publisher Jasen Sousa, a graduate student interning with Books of Hope, also took the stage to read his poetry. The poems and subsequent discussion touched on racism, poverty and violence, but the mood in the air was more warm than dismal. The young authors clapped and cheered their own loudly and participated readily in call-and-response poems. Most of the authors coupled their poems of injustice and struggle with poems of pride, dreams and hope. Books of Hope began in 1999, and since then, its participants have published more than 100 books. Poet and non-fiction author Laura "Soul" Brown has directed the program since 2005. Books of Hope authors gather with Brown and other writers on Monday nights at the Mystic Learning Center, on the grounds of the Mystic housing projects. This year, Books of Hope has 13 participants (their capacity is 15) and runs from October through June. There is no charge for the program, and participants earn money from sales of their work. The Mystic projects consist of two low-income housing developments on Mystic Avenue -- the state-run Mystic River Development and federal housing development Mystic View. According to the Mystic Learning Center's website, 84 percent of families in the Mystic Projects are headed by single mothers. Books of Hope author Jessica Masse describes the Mystic Projects as "known for violence," adding that both organizations hope to help young people overcome the hardships faced there. The challenges they face -- poverty, racism, abuse of women, struggles in education -- are the material for many of the poems read last Thursday. Antoine's poem, "For My People: Remix," contains most of these topics. The poem takes the structure and themes of Margaret Walker's 1942 poem "For My People," and adds her own perspective. Walker's poem begins with slave "dirges" -- Antoine's begins with boogie boogie. Walker's poem describes the menial, thankless work of her people over the years. Antoine describes the aspirations of her generation to become people of influence. Walker describes her playmates growing up in Alabama. Antoine describes hers in the Somerville housing projects "who jump the doubles of/double-dutch singing made up rhymes, who play with/the red rubber ball and the metal stars of jaxs," and "who swim at the public pool, and go/to summer school just for food." Walker describes school, where people learned they were "black and poor and small and different." Antoine describes school where people "learn that a race we/look down on did more than we think." Antoine speaks of hardship, hunger, cold, and abandonment. She closes with a stanza about the civil rights movement, "For my people who fought back the court cases with lawyers that sucked and still won." In 1942, years before the Civil Rights Movement, Margaret Walker wrote, "Let the martial songs be written, let the dirges disappear. Let a race of men now rise and take control." Antoine, writing in 2009, ends, "For my people, for our future, which will always be strong." Many of the poems grapple with race and racism. Of the students from Books of Hope at the reading, eight were black, one was Latino, and one was white. They seemed united in their passion for civil rights. Leo Galindo, a first-generation American whose parents are Honduran, read "Walk On, Think On," about the Freedom Trail, slavery and civil rights. "Race isn't that big of an issue to me," Galindo said after the reading, "because I've always grown up in diverse neighborhoods, so there's always been a lot of different cultures that I grew up around, and that [was what] I was exposed to, and so I think that there's bigger issues than race. I think there's poverty, and there's teenage violence, and there's not a lot of opportunities for youth like myself, you know?" Anthony Cimea, originally from Haiti, read a poem called "Screaming For MLK," in which he and his peers chanted: "MLK: Your life is my dream, and your dream is my life: Incomplete." Many of the young authors read poems about ambition and optimism in the face of racism and poverty. In "My Life," Zanterius Broadus states, "My life is just like usual/Just another black man trying/to make it out of the ghetto." By "make it," Broadus adds, "I want to be a black man/who makes more money than Bill Gates" and "the one that went through the struggle/but still made it to the top." In a poem titled, "YBF," Keisha Jean-Louis details her own ambitions as a Young Black Female who "walk[s] the projects of Somerville/The Mystic with bigger dreams/Than you can imagine." Jessica Masse's poem, "Generation To Generation: Changing the Future's Nation," describes life on the streets, with impressive rhyme and call and response, ultimately asking her peers to "wake up and see what's true" to change the world. It's a sentiment Galindo agrees with, saying, "Books of Hope is one of the few rare gifts that youth like myself are given where we have the chance to express ourselves, and in doing so have a positive influence on everyone around us."

Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveiria recognized for the Boston Bruin's Community Award

Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveiria was named the first "community captain" of the season by the Bruins last week. He was nominated by the Massachusetts Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, a group Oliveiria works with to help the survivors of fallen police officers.

Student stabbed at Somerville High School (updated)

By Tom Nash Police have arrested two men on charges relating to the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy outside of Somerville High School on Monday. An officer assisting with school dismissal was reportedly on the scene moments after a fight broke out next to City Hall around 2:45 p.m., where the officer found the 16-year-old stabbed in the chest. The victim, a Somerville High School student, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to statement from the Somerville Public Schools. Niall Vallega, 19, was arrested on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and armed assault with intent to murder. Alieu Joof, 19, was arrested on a charge of being an accessory after the fact. Both are Somerville residents although neither is a students at the high school. Deputy Chief Paul Upton said in a statement that the victim and alleged assailant knew each other and that the altercation "was the result of a personal issue." Vallega and Joof were arraigned Tuesday. A third suspect is still being sought. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call (617) 625-1212.

Three students injured in Capuano School crash (updated)

~Photos by William Tauro By Tom Nash Three children at the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center were hospitalized "out of an abundance of caution" Monday after a 32-year-old woman crashed through a fence onto the playground around 1:45 p.m, Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton said. The children, between the ages of 3 and 4, were on the playground when a car driver by Juna Maharjan jumped the curb and ploughed through a fence, striking the bench one of the children was sitting on, Upton said. "One child had a scrape, which I think was from falling from the bench," Upton said. Maharjan has been cited for negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Upton said a court date is pending.

Somerville receives Met grant money to renovate Blessing of the Bay Boathouse

(press release) Alderman at Large Bill White accepted a grant from the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) on behalf of the City of Somerville on Friday, October 23rd during a press conference along the banks of the Mystic River in Medford. The MET presented five grants, totaling $505,500, to Mystic River Watershed communities and organizations, including the cities of Everett, Somerville, and Medford, the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Mystic Valley Development Commission. Somerville's grant award totals $201,000, for renovations to the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse - for ADA renovations and reconstruction of the dock - as well as to fund the construction of the Blue Heron River Route Project. Accepting the grant, Alderman White noted, "Through this grant funding, we will be able to make the Mystic River waterfront - at all its access points in Somerville - a true neighborhood destination, and a highly visible community gathering spot that can be shared with the entire region. In the last several years, we've drawn more attention to this area, with the Assembly on the Mystic development project and celebrations such as Riverfest, and this grant award will serve to strengthen the character and increase the visibility of this great community resource."

Medford Street house fire

~Photos by Donald Norton By Tom Nash A fire damaged a two family house at 376 Medford St. around 7:30 a.m. Monday. According to Deputy Chief Peter St.Clair, the occupants of the upper unit had discovered the fire and safely evacuated themselves and their downstairs neighbors before calling 911. There were no injuries reported. The fire was confined to the room of origin on the third floor and but there was heat and smoke damage throughout the third floor and water damage to the lower floors. The American Red Cross responded to the scene and assisted the displaced victims in obtaining food, clothing and temporary shelter. Two adults and a child on the first floor and a family of five in the upper unit were displaced. The cause of the fire appeared to be electrical, officials said.

Newstalk for October 21

The All-America City party at the Armory was awesome, with the place filled to capacity and many new and old friends there. Our own Jimmy DelPonte was at his best at the microphone. Nice to have such recognition for our city twice in less then 40 years. *************** Popular Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston was very upset over the recent Market Basket supermarket incident where a patron was attacked in broad daylight recently. Seems there are no surveillance cameras in the lot, the good alderman wants the supermarket to install working cameras soon and is shocked they were not there in the first place. Have you tried to maneuver in and out of that parking lot? It's a wild scene any time of day or night. *************** This past Monday President of the Board of Alderman Walter Pero had a first in five years fundraiser at one of the newest restaurants in Someville, the Bread & Co on Winter Hill. The food that was served was unbelievable; if you haven't been lately, give it a try. It might become one of the more popular places in Somerville. *************** Speaking of fundraisers, Mary Ann Heuston is having hers at LaHacienda located at 46 Medford St., Thursday the 29th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. By the way, Maryann just celebrated her birthday this past week. Happy birthday to her from us here at the News. *************** Middlesex County Registrar of Probate Tara DeCristofano is having a fundraiser at the Tavern on the Water in Charlestown this Sunday at 1 p.m. Tara's family is wonderful --her's is from Medford and her husband's is from Somerville. They're a nice couple and of course Tara is doing a great job. *************** The Pizza Palace restaurant on Somerville Avenue was burglarized last week. According to our sources, thieves broke in but nothing was missing. We are trying to figure out what they were after; maybe they needed some garlic or wanted a pizza, and didn't want to wait for delivery? What's more surprising is the Pizza Palace is located behind the police station and we hear that the owner's husband is a high-ranking police officer, wonder if they dusted flour bend for prints? *************** Someone checked the voting record of Alderman-at-Large challenger Luis Morales and found that he hasn't voted in a while, not even the recent Presidential election. Nothing wrong in that, but interesting. We bet he's going to vote this year, though. *************** What's with everyone moving to the Ten Hills...some of us have lived here and knew the secret that it's out of the way, separated by 1-93, but the Mayor a year or so ago, now Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan and his new bride Melissa, also Ward Four School Committeeman James Norton. Lets not forget one of Somerville's finest, Mike Holland and his wife and baby just moved there.... We think it's the view. Where in Somerville can you live and be on the water? *************** A lot of controversy and rumors surrounding Somerville Police Chief Holloway, who is up for a job at his former place down in Clearwater, Fla. The Somerville News broke the story locally that he was on a short list of people they were looking at...We think he's done a great job here in Somerville. He's also a nice guy, either way we wish him well. By the way, we hear he has his personal car parked in the garage under the station off to the side with his Florida plates still on it. Hopefully not for a quick get away! *************** This Sunday morning on the CBS Morning show our own Mayor Joe Curtatone will be interviewed talking about Somerville and all the changes that have happened. It's nice having Somerville on the map for good deeds and we are fortunate to have a very popular mayor. *************** A lot of locals are hard working for our own Congressman Mike Caupano who is seeking the open senate seat. He's out there working hard, and a lot of Somerville residents are working hard for him. Wouldn't it be nice to have a senator from Somerville and to boot a popular guy himself.... We wish Mike the best. If you want to help, simply call all your friends and relatives throughout Massachusetts and get them to vote for Mike and tell them he was a good mayor and a good congressman. *************** We heard this and couldn't believe it.... from a couple of sources, that a week or so back that former Mayor Dot Gay had a quiet reunion of sorts with some if not all of her former department heads down in Union Square. When it was getting late and she wasn't there someone called her and asked where she was... We heard that she informed them that she wasn't coming and that she was on her way to New York to visit family. We heard that everyone there was shocked, but that a few weren't surprised to hear she said that.... now we can't confirm it, but we know how rumors start here in Somerville, don't we?

Cartoon of the week for October 21

Somerville celebrates All-America achievement

An entire evening was dedicated to celebrating Somerville's All-America City Award, Saturday at the Center for the Arts at the Armory. ~Photo by Donald Norton By Elizabeth Sayer Residents, business owners and elected officials from past and present joined in a community celebration on Saturday dedicated to celebrating one thing: Somerville. The city-organized event, at the Center for the Arts at the Armory Oct. 17, dedicated an entire evening to celebrating Somerville's All-America City Award, which the city received from the National Civic League in June after competing in Florida. Comedians Lenny Clark and Tony V. performed, along with local Disco-funk band Booty Vortex and Blackout, Tufts University's Step team Blackout. Local restaurants provided a buffet for the estimated 360 attendees while Somerville Youth Projects held a silent auction with Patriots tickets and autographed sports memorabilia. Mayor Joseph Curtatone spoke about his lifelong love and passion for Somerville, and what the award meant to him. 'I am proud of Somerville and all that we are aiming to accomplish,' Curtatone told the audience. 'I'm proud of the [future] Green Line Expansion. I am proud of the business districts and the growth they are going to see over the next ten years. I am proud of the investments in basic infrastructure that will build a stronger city," "In 25 or 50 years from now, residents of Somerville will look back with gratitude at the hard work of the people of this city,' he added. Former Mayors Dorothy Kelly-Gay and Eugene Brune also spoke. Kelly-Gay recalled her first experiences in Somerville after emigrating from Ireland in 1968. 'We chose to stay in Somerville, despite it's reputation at the time, because of the people,' she said. 'Our neighbors are the best in the world, and the only way I will leave is when I'm taken out of my house toe-up."