The Somerville News Blog

Saturday: Spring Clean Up, Family Fun Day, Somerstreets, Joe's Jazz & Blues

The City's second SomerStreets event will be held on Saturday, June 19th in conjunction with Joe's Jazz and Blues Fest, the annual Family Fun Day, and the rescheduled Citywide Spring Cleanup. "The first SomerStreets event along Shore Drive in May was a tremendous success, and with a variety of upcoming summer events, this is another great opportunity to celebrate the Somerville community through arts and music," Mayor Curtatone said. "With community-oriented, family-friendly activities throughout the day, I hope this will serve not only as another celebration, but also a way to meet residents and community members from all of our neighborhoods and squares, and from all ethnic backgrounds."

State: Somerville ambulance workers not certified

Cataldo ambulance employees implicated in bribe scheme Ard Ardalan Several unnamed Somerville emergency medical technicians were falsely re-certified through bribes without completing the training required by the Commonwealth. Over 200 Boston-area ambulance workers were suspended on Thursday after a Department of Public Health probe into possible falsification of training records. Cataldo Ambulance Services , one of the many providers implicated, has a 911 contract with the city.

On Father's Day, Take Dad out and help end poverty in Somerville

Bring Dad to a Somerville restaurant on Father's Day and the restaurant will make a donation in his honor to the Community Action Agency of Somerville.

CAAS is Somerville's anti-poverty agency. By treating Dad on Father's Day, you'll be helping other dads and moms to keep a roof over their family's head, to get the child care they need so they can earn a living and to move toward being able to support their families on their own.

Immigrant Somerville teens open photo exhibit in State House

Dimas Avila stands in front of his art work, part of an exhibition at the State House by the teenage artists of Centro Presente, an immigrant advocacy group in Somerville. ~Photos by George P. Hassett By George P. Hassett Two weeks after Massachusetts senators passed a far-reaching crackdown on illegal immigrants, a group of Somerville immigrant teenagers opened their photography exhibit at the State House. The teens, working with the immigrant advocacy group Centro Presente, took pictures of their everyday life in Somerville - lower Broadway barber shops, stores, landmarks, Mr. Quintanilla, "one of the few Latino teachers at Somerville High" - to add a face to the simmering immigration debate. The exhibit is on display through Friday. "We want to show people that we can contribute to the future of Massachusetts," said Dimas Avila, who graduated from Somerville High School last week. The photo exhibit is the latest pro-immigrant measure to come out of Somerville, where 30 percent of residents were born in a different country and ethnic restaurants are a staple of the local economy. "[Immigrants] don't get harassed in Somerville," said Juan Carlos Acosta, an eighth grader at Winter Hill Community School with a photo in the State House exhibit.

Police investigate double stabbing in Somerville

By William Tauro Somerville Police are investigating today's double stabbing at 60 Washington St. Two males were transported to an area hospital and are in stable condition, police said. Somerville police are investigating the incident.

Somerville Police break up Davis Square fight

~Photo by Donald Norton By William Tauro Somerville Police responded to a call at Statue Park in Davis Square to break up a fight between two males. Later Officer Jack Leuchter placed one of the alleged combatants under arrest for disorderly person. Acting Somerville Police Chief Michael Cabral was also on location and assisted Officer Jack  Leuchter in the arrest.

'Pain is here' for laid off Somerville workers

School custodian jobs outsourced By Tom Nash As Mayor Joseph Curtatone prepared to present the city's proposed FY11 budget on Tuesday, he stressed jobs would not be spared if services can be maintained in other ways. The $8.1 million budget gap faced by the city, due mostly to aid reduction from Beacon Hill, means another year of layoffs. Eighteen city positions and 49 school custodian positions have been cut. City officials said they would outsource.

Housing inspector arrested on OC charges

George Duffney James Chiodo Drug investigation leads to City Hall worker By George P. Hassett A Somerville housing inspector arrested for selling oxycontin on Friday, allegedly met drug customers as he conducted lead inspections for the city, court records show. George Duffney, 53, of Norwell, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to violate a drug law, possession to distribute a class B drug and drug violation near a school or park. He told drug unit investigators he met James Chiodo, 60, of 11 Dresden Circle, when he did a lead inspection in his home. Police said this week the two men conspired to sell oxycontin. Chiodo was also arrested with two ounces of marijuana. Duffney was hired by the City in October, 2008. He worked as a lead inspector inside the city's Housing and Community Development office.

Somerville Aldermen approve Shaw's strike resolution

By Tom Nash Faced with an audience of striking Shaw's supermarket workers, the Board of Aldermen approved a resolution last Thursday asking for the grocery chain to get back to the bargaining table. Around 300 warehouse workers went on strike in March after the final contract presented by Supervalu, the parent company of Shaw's, included steep benefit cuts. Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero had earlier tabled the resolution, sponsored by Alderman-at-Large Dennis Sullivan and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, saying it was not the board's place to get involved.

Brutality optional, go for the enchilada

Suzanne Bremer (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.) "In budget-cutting season, politics can be brutal," wrote the author of a recent View from Prospect Hill column. With an $8.1 million budget gap, it is imperative that the city cut costs. However, the current, shortsighted approach will sow the seeds of discord for years to come.

Veteran, former Somerville alderman honored with square

~Photos by Andrew Firestone Andrew Firestone Somerville honored one of its most dedicated citizens on Sunday June 14, when Vito Vaccaro, 86, former alderman and School Committee member was given his own square outside his family home. Vito Vaccaro Square was christened with a little help from current aldermen Dennis Sullivan, William White and Jack Connelly, as well as a few words from Mayor Joseph Curtatone. Vaccaro settled in Somerville after leaving the Navy in 1947, working for General Electric. Over the years, he dedicated himself to the community, eventually becoming an alderman in 1978. He has spent the last three decades sitting upon the licensing commission of Somerville. The event was attended by friends and well-wishers, including Vaccaro's four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Boys & Girls Club to close in Somerville

The Washington Street Boys & Girls Club, a fixture in Union Square for 37 years, will no longer offer programming after August. ~Photo by Tom Nash By Tom Nash Children who have grown up with the Washington Street Boys & Girls Club will be spending their last summer there, following a decision by Boys & Girls club directors to sell the building. The club, in operation for 37 years, cited changing needs and low enrollment as the reason for ending its programing in August. But the immediate reason became more clear last Thursday after its tenant, the Somerville Public Schools administration, received approval to move into a new building. "[The club] has been considered a second home for kids," Executive Director Chile Eng said. "We are like one big family, so it's very emotional."

A truck load of trees in Somerville

~Photo by William Tauro By William Tauro Crews unload a truck load of trees that are being planted on Washington Street. Freshly planted trees line the street and giving Washington Street a new fresh look.

Governor pledges art support in Somerville

~Photos by Ard Ardalan Ard Ardalan As the race for governor heats up, Governor Deval Patrick made a stop in Somerville to address concerns of the arts community. In a campaign stop at Q Division Recording Studios on Highland Avenue Friday, Patrick also announced plans to host an international music festival in Boston as part of an to revitalize the arts economy in Massachusetts. In addressing a packed room of musicians, graphic designers and producers, Patrick immediately mentioned his father, Laurdine "Pat" Patrick, a saxophone player for the Jazz musician Sun Ra for nearly 30 years. Though he said he doesn't have his father's talent, he said he was "one of us, a member of the arts community." "The kind of stuff I go to, the diversity would blow your mind." He recounted sitting in on a 4th grade rendition of Don Quixote in Richmond, and attending events "in folk's basements." Patrick said unlike many other politicians, he doesn't "think of the arts as something nice on the side, but as something that completes us." Artists pressed Patrick on concerns that new casinos in Massachusetts may compete with existing local arts venues and stifle initiatives. In his speech, Patrick emphasized the economic woes of the arts community during the recent economic downturn and the subsequent actions of the state government. He highlighted the problems that the creative community faced as sources of funding dwindle and donors are harder to come by.

Good Times killer sentenced to five years

Ferdinand Saintville was killed outside Good Times Emporium in April 2007.  Three witnesses indicted for no-show By George P. Hassett Seconds after Ferdinand Saintville was murdered outside Good Times in April 2007, the killer and his friends immediately began a plot to evade authorities and hide the crime, according to prosecutors. In January, their plot may have worked when the confessed killer was sentenced to just five years in prison.

City asks Somerville residents to weigh in on budget

By Tom Nash As Mayor Joseph Curtatone confronts an estimated $8.1 million budget gap, the city is seeking input from residents about their priorities as his administration eyes how to cut costs. A survey has been put online asking residents to choose from nine budget priorities, and also seeks opinions on how services can be improved without increasing costs.

Somerville Retirement Board to appeal Buonomo decision

(from the city of Somerville) The Somerville Retirement Board met today in special session to discuss the decision of Associate Justice James H. McGuiness to reverse the Board's action taken on January 22, 2010 to revoke the public pension retirement allowance of former Middlesex County Register of Probate, John Buonomo, pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 32, Section 15(3) (theft of governmental funds) and 15(4) (violation of the laws applicable to his office).

Man accused of MBTA hate crime ordered to stay away from Somerville man

By George P. Hassett

A man who allegedly assaulted a Somerville man working as an MBTA inspector at Copley station has been ordered to stay off the Green Line.

Daniel Jourdet, of Lynn, allegedly threatened the Somerville man and screamed racist profanities in an April altercation.

Mourner 'outraged' at Somerville alderman's 'antics'

By George P. Hassett

A mourning friend of a deceased Somerville woman is calling an alderman "cold and uncaring" after a funeral procession dust-up outside St. Ann's Church on May 26.

In a letter to the Somerville News, Robert Sodi said Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero "was ranting and raving" about the parking procedures outside a particularly busy funeral for Keri McCarthy, a Somerville woman who died in May at age 35.

East Somerville Community School plans begin

The East Somerville Community School will be back, promise city officials. By Ashley Taylor As the end of the school year approaches, students look forward to summer vacation, but for those involved in renovating the East Somerville Community School, the work is just beginning. Sixty parents and community members met with architects and elected officials at the Capuano Early Childhood Center on Glen Street Tuesday night to discuss ideas for the renovation of the East Somerville Community School. The school has been closed since it was ravaged by an over night electrical fire in December 2007.