The Somerville News Blog

Somerville fund raising concert to benefit disabled artists

The Outsider Art installation at 310 Mass Ave in Central Square Cambridge. This is a collaborative project between artists from Outside the Lines Studio and Walnut Street Center on display until August 2010. “Hippocampus battles the Giant Squid” Members of the Creative Union at It’s a Gift gallery. (clockwise from left) Anyah Lee, WSC Art Program Director; Bobby Spezzaferro, WSC resident artist; David Melvin, WSC resident artist; Allison Stroh, OTL Staff; James Finnerty, OTL resident artist; Alice Mikaelian, OTL resident artist; Diana Rice-Sheahan, OTL Staff; Denise Poor, WSC resident artist; Janice McCullough, WSC resident artist; Francis Baxter, WSC resident artist. By Julia Fairclough Somerville Open Studios is not just about art, it's also a good opportunity to check out some local bands and contribute to unique "outsider" art created by those with emotional and physical disabilities. The "It's a Gift" store in Union Square will be holding a fund raising concert from 1 to 8 p.m. on both May 1 and May 2 of open studios weekend. Local bands will play acoustic music, and people can have their shirts silk screened for a fee of $10, with an image of their choice, whether it be their favorite band's logo or image of outsider art. There will be a rack of clothing on hand for those who don't bring in a shirt to be silk screened. There will be a $5 entry fee. "It's a Gift" is an art gallery that has been run by the Walnut Street Center for the past few years. Most recently, the gallery partnered with Outside the Lines in Medford to become "Creative Union." The Walnut Street Center serves the developmentally delayed community by offering numerous support services, including those centered on creating art, which is shown and sold at the It's a Gift store. Outside the Lines is an arts-based alternative day program, collectively run by artists and for those with developmental and physical disabilities. One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the fund raiser is the response from the Somerville music community, said Allison Stroh, an art therapist and art promotion chairperson for Outside the Lines. A friend of Stroh's put out a call for musicians for the fundraiser in her online magazine, The Deli, and within a week over 20 bands expressed interest in donating their talent and time for our cause, Stroh said.

Somerville police officer arrested on assault charge

~Photo by George P. Hassett By George P. Hassett A Somerville police officer was arrested today on charges that he hit a woman with an object in a domestic dispute. Christopher Gomes, a patrol officer for less than two years in Somerville, was arraigned in court today and placed on a paid leave of absence pending the investigation. Gomes pleaded not guilty in court today.

22-story East Cambridge Middlesex Courthouse for sale

~Photo by William Tauro By William Tauro The Middlesex County Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse located at 40 Thorndike St. in East Cambridge is up for sale. Built in 1971 the building is outdated and in desperate need of costly repairs that involve a major undertaking of asbestos removal as well other well needed costly repairs and updates throughout the building. It has been almost two years since the Middlesex Superior Court was forced to relocate from the ill building to it's new temporary home at Cummings Properties in Woburn as well as for the Cambridge District Court that also occupied the high rise, was forced to relocate it's court rooms to Medford.

Somerville Police: Drug dealer arrested, but phone keeps ringing with orders

By George P. Hassett A Malden man and a Somerville woman were arrested Thursday, April 22 in East Somerville in a stolen car with cocaine, police said. Briana Barnoski, 20, of 30 River Rd., and Barry Jean-Baptiste, 23, of Malden, were arrested and charged with drug violation near a school or park, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, conspiracy to violate a drug law and possession to distribute a class B drug after drug unit detectives saw them meet a person known to investigators, police said.

MIT panel discusses Somerville focus on local business

One of the series of T-shirt designed by Raul Gonzalez, a local business owner, and printed by SLF member Hemlock Ink. Lauren C. Ostberg Whether it comes in the form of The Somerville Theater's window dressing, a "think global, act local" bumper sticker, or Whole Foods' latest sales' pitch, the term "local" has currency. Somerville Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz and Joe Grafton, Executive Director of Somerville Local First along with Cambridge Naturals proprietor Michael Kanter, were featured panelists at MIT's Sustainability Conference on Friday. During a breakout session, they discussed the "pro-local" culture of Cambridge and Somerville and answered audience questions about the movement.

Somerville Police: Weekend crime spree included homemade crack pipe, loaf of bread

By George P. Hassett A Somerville man was arrested twice in two days this week. Michael Barnett, 29, of 500 Mystic Ave., went on a two day crime-spree, with a homemade crack pipe in his possession, breaking into a home and shoplifting from Shaw's Supermarket, police said. On Saturday, a woman entered her apartment to find Barnett "flipping out" and stealing a loaf of bread, an X-Box 360 game device, 20 X-Box games, a Nintendo and two pairs of girls sneakers, police said.

Beacon Hill Roll Call Special report on sales tax

Massachusetts House kills GOP proposals to reduce the income tax and eliminate the liquor tax State House, Boston, April 28, 2010 - Speaker Robert DeLeo and his Democratic leadership team in the Massachusetts House Tuesday killed Republican efforts to reduce the state's sales tax and meals tax from 6.25 percent back to five percent and to eliminate the 6.25 percent sales tax on liquor, wine and beer purchased at package stores.

Newstalk for April 28

Don't forget that this afternoon, Wednesday, Mayor Joe Curtatone will continue what has now become an annual event here, the Business Town Meeting. Mayor Joe will address the business community across the city, and take questions. If you have any questions for the Mayor this is a good time, it will be at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square starting at 4:30 p.m. and is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.

The View From Prospect Hill for April 28

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is hosting the Business Town Meeting today, Wednesday, at The Somerville Theater. It is what it sounds like: the business community has the opportunity to listen to the chief executive of the city's plans for the future and then ask questions. Kudos to Curtatone and the Chamber of Commerce for opening a dialogue with business leaders, who sometimes feel like their voices are drowned out by the concerns of residents. It's a delicate balance, running a city effectively, and the mayor has to listen to business owners if the local economy is to thrive.

Cartoon of the week for April 28

 

Save our Somerville soccer tournament and community activism

Save Our Somerville's second annual soccer tournament. ~Photo by David Lombino David Lombino Can soccer and community activism make a difference? The organizers of Save Our Somerville's second annual soccer tournament hope so. Teams of local players showed up at Glen Park to compete for trophies and the top spot as local champions April 19. Adam Rich, a 23-year-old Somerville native, has been active with SOS since 2008. "SOS spoke to who I am," he says of his initial involvement. "I was very passionate about the city and the direction I saw it going in," but saw that the direction wasn't in tune with the way he wanted. He felt relieved to find people who shared his community-oriented opinions. "I didn't know anyone like that existed."

Villen brand stuck to city

Matt Haley of Somerville High School displays his Villen Sticker with pride. Steve Morris, the creator of beavillen.com ~Photos by Andrew Firestone New shirts, stickers show city pride Andrew Firestone A new style is sweeping the streets of Somerville. It's on the shirts of local teenagers, and the stickers on their cellphones. Villens, it seems, are everywhere in the city. Before you say, "there goes the neighborhood," Steve Morris, the main force behind the Villen clothing line, has a different idea for his street-level movement. "It's not a clothing line for people who mug people on the bike path," Morris said. "We just try to take our experiences from growing up and turn them into something people want to wear and that people are affected by." The label, which has grown steadily since Morris began selling T-shirts out of his car trunk six months ago, was inspired by the drug abuse and violence claimed a string of young people in Somerville since the beginning of the decade. The brand has been described as a cultural milestone. "When we were coming up there was a pretty significant amount of drug use among Somerville youth," said Morris. "You have the more lower class of Somerville experience drugs and violence, kind of what the city used to be," said Mark McLaughlin, who works with Morris selling music on the clothing line's site, BeAVillen.com. "Then you have the more affluent people who are not necessarily facing those issues and aren't even necessarily aware of them. Two people that were neighbors, living in completely different worlds."

Somerville Aldermen propose environmental task force

By Tom Nash Two aldermen celebrated Earth Day last week by asking the Curtatone administration to create a task force dedicated to making Somerville more "green." Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz submitted a resolution at the board's April 22 meeting asking for the creation of the Green Community and Open Space Initiative, which would consist of aldermen and an appointed panel of experts who would determine how the city can be more environmentally friendly.

Former Somerville mayor candidate at center of safety dispute

Scirocco's 10 Howe St. property. By George P. Hassett City officials have filed a complaint against a former candidate for mayor after he allegedly turned his backyard into a neighborhood safety hazard, including building a concrete wall on his property. Richard J. Scirocco challenged Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in 2007, losing in the primary. He received 464 votes. In March, the city's Inspectional Services Department issued a stop work order at Scirocco's 10 Howe St. property, according to city records. It was the latest of several dating back five years, said city spokeswoman Jackie Rossetti.

AG fines Somerville inspection station

208 cases of fraud alleged at Hillside Service station By George P. Hassett A Somerville inspection station that allegedly performed 208 fraudulent emissions inspections will pay a $75,000 fine under a settlement reached with the Attorney General's office. Robert Boudreau, owner of Hillside Service Center on Mystic Avenue, will have his inspection license revoked after he fraudulently conducted six inspections. Another inspector at the station, Robert J. Greenwood, allegedly conducted 202 fraudulent inspections since December 2006.

A lot of class

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.) Somerville has always had some of the best educators possible. My first teachers were Ms. Colbert and Mrs. Chiulli in Kindergarten at the Brown School. They began a tradition of superb Somerville teachers that touched my life and helped shape my future.

Call Today to join The Somerville Lions Club

Serving your local community needs!

 

GET INVOLVED!

If you are interested in joining the Somerville Lions Club  please contact  club President Bill Tauro at: [email protected] to get started!

 

 

GET INVOLVED!

If you are interested in joining the Somerville Lions Club  please contact  club President Bill Tauro at: [email protected] to get started!

 

Serving your local community needs!

 

GET INVOLVED!

If you are interested in joining the Somerville Lions Club  please contact  club President Bill Tauro at: [email protected] to get started!

 

Machete and brick used in bike robbery in Somerville

By George P. Hassett A Somerville man on his way to play soccer at Glen Park was knocked down and threatened with a large machete and brick before his bike was stolen on April 19, police said. Paul Yandle, 19, of 30 River Rd., and Joseph Szulewski, 20, of Everett, were two of the four attackers who stole the bike, police said. They were arrested and charged with armed robbery, conspiracy and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

'Model citizen' files federal lawsuit against Somerville cop

By George P. Hassett A 47-year-old Somerville woman is claiming she was pepper sprayed and falsely arrested by a Somerville police officer in a federal lawsuit. The woman, Maria Medeiros, has no criminal record and was a "model citizen" who lived in Somerville for 35 years before her run-in with Officer Michael Silva on August 19, 2008, according to the lawsuit.

Somerville arrest log for the week of April 19-April 25

Monday, April 19

William Cruz, 20, of 124 Walnut St., 12:55 a.m., arrested and charged with witness intimidation and assault and battery.

Paul Yandle, 19, of 30 River Rd., 3:40 p.m., arrested and charged with armed robbery, conspiracy and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.