The View From Prospect Hill
This past week, there was a lot of controversy surrounding Lenny Gentile, long time Ward 4 Alderman in Newton and his snide, dismissive remarks about Newton being compared to Somerville. Some took it to be elitist, others took it to display how out of touch the Alderman is, even others took it to be a prime example of getting rid of the "old guard" for newer, more supposedly "progressive" elected officials.
One thing is for certain, based on his (emailed) response to a constituent's email the week before - that "a discussion is something that takes place either on the phone or in person. I don't blog and I don't communicate through a listserve" - that he is 100% out of touch with reality.
Welcome to the 21st Century, Lenny - welcome to planet Earth. Hey, maybe he loves Newton and was born and raised there and never left and yes, is part of an "old school" political entrenchment that hearkens back to the days when local government meetings weren't televised and elected officials made compromise by either a hand to the throat in the hallway or a handshake and a Jameson after the meetings.
Lord knows we have a few politicians in this city that have been around for years and years and years. But so what? What the Hell is so wrong with that? There's a little group that runs around this city chanting for transparency and term limits and claims that all the old school politicians who have been around for years are crooks. Hey, not to rain on anyone's parade, but Senator Jehlen has held elected office longer than anyone in Somerville - oh, but wait, she's ok...she's the exception.
Right. Gotta love that "stare you in the face" double standard.
At the other end of the spectrum, there are those out there, and admittedly not very many of them in this particular instance, that think Lenny might be misinformed somewhat, but not completely out of line disparaging Somerville the way he did. After all, this city has had it's share of mishaps and miscreants over the years...after all, Newton is Newton - and well, Somerville is Somerville.
We will take Somerville any day over Newton - and any jackass that is that far gone should be voted right the Hell out of office - especially you, Lenny Gentile - especially you.
Posted at 06:02 AM in The View From Prospect Hill | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cartoon of the week for May 20
Posted at 06:02 AM in Cartoons | Permalink | Comments (0)
Newstalk for May 20
The senseless shooting in Cambridge on Monday at Harvard took the life of young Justin Cosby, the son of Denise Cosby - who works here in Somerville at ERA Norton. Denise was so devoted to her Justin, it's a sad time and our prayers are with her and her family, we hope that the Cambridge Police find his killers and bring them to justice. Our deepest sympathy to Denise and her family.
Appears the PDSers have found a willing PDSers who has taken out papers to run against incumbent Jamie Norton for Ward 4 School Committee seat. We hear she's been calling various people around the city, stating she is a candidate for the Progressives and she's made it clear to more than one person that the only way to win is to run a negative campaign - in fact, we heard it was the SC member from Ward 5 - Mr. Neidergang who told her to do that. We're not surprised. We also here he's been having meetings at his home to get other PDSers to run against those that would criticize them. You might remember its on record and recorded that Mr. Neidergang made a comment that Good Friday and other various holidays be done away with here in Somerville, even referring to Bunker Hill Day as an "annoying" holiday. She is said to be a friend, maybe she wants to do away with Good Friday as well? This the PDSers agenda - taking over and having no sense of purpose other then to tear down everything that isn't to their liking. Hmmmm, sounds like? Looks like? You decide!
We also heard that Rebekah from Ward 6 is blaming The News for her opponent this year, as usual Rebekah you're wrong again - other then a "hello" and "how do you do" - no one at The News knows this guy - we asked and we can assure you no one here at The News put anyone in any race at any time. We know you might find it hard to believe, since the PDSers consider anyone that is born, raised and grew up here as crooks. Again not all PDSers - but most - appear to love negative campaigning because they can't face the real issues! By the way, it's nice to see their monthly meeting this month has a place, date and time and imagine that you don't have to email them to see if it's secret meeting - maybe they are becoming more transparent, you think?
What's this from Newton? Seems like Alderman Gentile from Newton resents being compared to us here in Somerville, actually he's insulted that now the city administration of Newton has made reference to our city and that we're doing good, that doesn't wash with Alderman Gentile we think - maybe he thinks it's still "Slumerville," not Somerville?
Should someone post a "Help Wanted Ad" in the paper? According to sources telling us that the Somerville police department's vehicle maintenance garage is short handed. Apparently the department has only one full time overwhelmed mechanic on duty to service the fifty-one police vehicles in the department's fleet. We are also hearing that the same situation exists with the Somerville Fire Department as well. One mechanic to service the entire fleet.
We heard through reliable sources that Ames Envelope Company has given a few employees the heads up that if things don't work out and get better withing three weeks that the envelope giant may begin to close there doors forever. Let's hope that they pull through these difficult times and begin to prosper once again, as well other employers here in the city and area.
Condolences go out to the family of Roseanne Donato, Roseanne was the wife of the Medford Representative Paul Donato, she was a nice lady and very well liked in Medford and here in Somerville by many people.
Congratulations to the new owners of "Pizza Palace" in Somerville on their grand opening this past week! It's nice to see new businesses opening considering the shape of the economy in general. We hear that Cindy from the former "Ocean Reef Restaurant" is one of the new owners so we know that the food will be delicious! Best wishes!
We hear that Dick Brescia, Somerville's Chief City Assessor, is not doing well after suffering a serious heart attack. We hope he gets well soon - he is a very hard working, dedicated and well-respected City Hall staple.
Well apparently Congressman Mike Capuano made a big hit at the BU commencement ceremonies this past weekend, he was his old self we hear, the students, who by the way originally weren't excited about him coming, ended up giving him high praise. We knew he could do it...maybe he managed to get Obama's speech writer, or did he?
We hear from a couple of Sales Representatives over at the Farm Team papers that their office in Concord was drastically cutting back there and they're going to make some serious cuts locally. We noticed and we're sure others have noticed that the boxes - in a few spots around the city didn't even get any papers delivered last week. We have a secret squirrel out there tracking this down - meanwhile, we added two more spots in Ward 2 over the last week - now we are up to 165 locations and counting. If you know of a store or location you'd like to see The News at, let the circulation department know and we will put it on the list.
Resting at his daughters house is well known local favorite (always can be seen at DD in Magoun Square) Eddie Abate, he was in the hospital from a bad fall - he says he'll be back real soon in the Ball and Magoun Square areas.
Posted at 06:01 AM in News Talk | Permalink | Comments (0)
Living Green Festival Unites and Educates Somerville Community
Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster made an appearance at Somerville High School, Saturday in support of the Living Green Festival. ~Photo by Sarah Amico
By Elizabeth Sayer
Approximately 200 Somerville residents from all walks of life and of all ages attended the Living Green Festival on Saturday afternoon. The Festival, which was held in the cafeteria and parking lot of Somerville High School, had a community-based and energized atmosphere that buzzed with discussion about local food, the reduction of our collective carbon footprint, building raised gardens and supporting environmental political initiatives. Somerville Climate Action, the organization that put together the festival, aimed to highlight the various ways in which Somerville residents can live healthier lifestyles and save money while supporting the environment and saving energy.
Approximately 40 local and state organizations and vendors, including MIT Electric Vehicle Team, Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Gardening Club and NSTAR, provided information, displays and workshops that discussed green initiatives to support the surrounding community.
Workshops, taught by volunteers and organizers, were held in classrooms throughout the day and featured a variety of subjects. The owner of the recently opened and aptly named bike shop Open, Joshua Kampa provided instruction on how to tune and perform basic maintenance on bicycles. Jen Capuano and Dave Madan demonstrated how to let worms break down food scraps into rich compost and discussed the various uses of compost. Eric Becker, one of the festivals organizers, discussed the implementation of solar power, the possibility of attaining government rebates for doing so and how to make solar Somerville a reality. There were also workshops that dealt with shopping for and cooking locally and sustainably grown foods, properly insulating homes and vastly reducing our reliance on non-renewable energies.
Brad Arndt, Coordinator of Somerville's Urban Forest Initiative, was present to discuss the efforts that are underway in order to increase the number trees in Somerville's public space. "The Urban Forest Initiative is a plan that is a direct result from Mayor Curtatone's inaugural address," Arndt stated, "Mayor Curtatone discussed the importance of trees and greenery in a city as densely populated as Somerville." According to Arndt, The Urban Forest Initiative plans to increase the amount of trees and green space in Somerville by 20 percent over the next four to five years.
The Mayor, along with Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster, and State Representative Denise Provost all made appearances in support of the Living Green Festival.
Checklists were given to attendees offering ways in which they could begin to live a more green lifestyle, which included simple solutions such as making sure to turn off lights and appliances when they are not being directly used and closing curtains in order to reduce the amount of heat lost in the winter months. Instruction on the weatherization of homes was another popular topic of discussion. Weatherization is the process of installing proper insulation in homes and sealing air leaks to prevent the loss of heat and air conditioning, which is not only beneficial for the environment, but is also economically efficient.
Raffle tickets were sold for attendees with prizes that included a pair of Boston Red Sox tickets, Gift cards from Wheel Works, O2 Yoga, Pemberton Farms, A BBC Planet Earth Box set, among a other prizes. Proceeds from the raffle went to support further initiatives of the Somerville Climate Action group.
According to both Eric Becker and Vanessa Rule, another of the festivals organizers, the festival was a great success and they anticipate that it will become an annual event.
The Somerville Climate Action group, which started in 2001, holds public meetings on the third Tuesday of every month. The next meeting will be held at the Community Growing Center on May 19th.
Posted at 06:00 AM in News | Permalink | Comments (0)
Aldermen push bike initiatives
By Tom Nash
Somerville may soon follow a Parisian model in trying to get commuters and city employees out of their cars and onto bicycles.
A resolution passed at the May 11th Board of Aldermen meeting suggested the city implement a "white bike" system modeled on both Portland, Maine and Paris-style programs where people can either rent or borrow bikes at points throughout the cities.
"Somerville is four square miles. It's time to make the city a model for bicycle use," Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan said at the meeting.
Aldermen also voted for a resolution asking the Mayor's office to let city employees use bikes while on business.
Sullivan suggested costs could be kept down by letting employees choose from among the city's abandoned and lost bikes.
Alderman at Large Jack Connolly passed around a Boston Globe magazine article citing the Paris program and the progress Boston has made with the idea.
If implemented, Connolly said locked bike racks could be placed every 300-400 yards throughout Somerville. The T stations within the city would serve as hubs for the system.
"We're in a particularly dense urban area that would be tailor-made for this bike sharing concept," Connolly said. "I don't think we want to wait for Boston."
Three Somerville Officers Honored for Heroism at National Police Week Ceremony in Washington D.C.
Three Somerville Police Officers were among nineteen officers honored for acts of heroism in a ceremony held in Washington D.C. during National Police Week. Officers Alex Capobianco, Derrick Dottin and Steve St. Hilaire were named Officers of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) for their actions as first responders to a Somerville house fire on December 6, 2007. Chief Anthony Holloway was on hand to offer his personal congratulations to the officers. Each officer was presented with the NLEOMF award, which displays a lion as a symbol of courage. They were selected from hundreds of nominations from across the country to be a part of the Officer of the Month program.
The three Somerville officers played a crucial role in a rescue operation in December, 2006. Shortly after 11:00 p.m. on December 6th, emergency 911 dispatchers reported a fire at a century-old home on Harvard Street. Although the first responders arrived within minutes, the wood-frame structure was totally engulfed in flames.
Officer Derrick Dottin, who was among the first to arrive, was told that two people were trapped inside the blazing home. Without hesitation, he ran along the right side of the house amidst searing flames and burning debris, as Officer Alex Capobianco and Steve St. Hilaire entered through an adjoining yard. At the rear of the home, all three officers heard a faint groan from inside the house. Officers Capobianco and St. Hilaire broke windows as Officer Dottin kicked in the rear door. More smoke and flames reduced visibility to near zero. After several attempts to enter the building, Officers Dottin and Capobianco made their way in, but the intense smoke limited the time they could remain in the structure.
After repeated trips into what had become a full-blown inferno, Officer Dottin finally caught a glimpse of a woman's foot. He tried to pull the victim toward him, but debris had trapped her, and she was unable to move. Pushing even further into the disintegrating structure - and with the assistance of Officer Capobianco, who has joined him, Officer Dottin was able to lift the unconscious woman over his shoulder and carry her to a rear yard. Finding her unresponsive, Officer St. Hilaire began CPR, working feverishly until he detected a faint pulse.
Although out of the building, the officers and the victim continued to be showered with flaming debris. Officers Dottin and Capobianco again carried the victim out of harm's way. Simultaneously, firefighters arrived and were able to rescue a second victim who was still inside the burning home. Although the home was totally destroyed, both victims survived their injuries.
The NLEOMF, a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to honor the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. Presently, the names of more than 18,000 officers who were killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
Fake US Marshal arrested
John Baldasaro had allegedly been impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal.
~Photos courtesy of the U.S. Marshal Service
By Steven Stafford
In the morning of May 14, Somerville native John Baldasaro was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on a number of outstanding warrants in four states. He had allegedly been impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal.
Baldasaro was a federal fugitive last known to be residing in the Roxbury area.
U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier stated that "this was an attack on the reputation of the U.S. Marshals, and not something that is taken lightly; the quick and successful arrest of Baldasaro by the U.S. Marshals is evidence of that!"
Baldasaro is currently being charged by the New York City Police Department as a Fugitive From Justice based on the following outstanding warrants, but additional charges are currently being investigated. Known allegations include Robbery and Kidnapping (Chesterfield, NH and Cambridge, MA), Impersonating a Police Officer (Cambridge, MA), Vehicle Theft (Lincoln County, ME) and a Parole violation in Vermont.
The U.S. Marshals ask the public's assistance in identifying any additional people that may have been victimized by someone impersonating a law enforcement officer. If you were a victim of a similar crime, please contact your local police department and report the offense.
As for right now, Baldasaro will go on trial in each of the above states for each individual charge, and there is still the possibility that he will be tried on much more serious federal charges of impersonating a U.S. Marshal.
The ramifications are even more serious because Baldasaro was convicted of impersonating a Deputy U.S. Marshal in 1993. No doubt this will be used against him on trial in establishing his character. Furthermore, this could effect sentencing if he is convicted again.
Annually, investigations carried out by the U.S. Marshals result in the apprehension of approximately 36,000 federal fugitives. More federal fugitives are arrested by Marshals than all other federal agencies combined. Last year, U.S. Marshals task forces arrested more than 73,000 state and local fugitives on felony charges.
And as U.S. Marshal Jeffrey White said, "Mr. Baldasaro chose the wrong agency to impersonate."
Time to come out and play!
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.)
I love when the weather allows us to return to the streets, squares, bike trails and our favorite meeting spots. We were cooped up all winter, and when we did go out, we got wet, froze and caught colds. I was on my way to the ATM in Teele Square Saturday to get money to pay for the pizza at Angelina's. Across from Angie's is a bar with one of those open window-fronts so everyone can see you hanging around in a barroom. The bus or a car goes by and you hear. "Hey Mommy...there's Daddy! Hi Daddy!"
Anyway, there is a huge German shepherd and I say to my son Jimmy, "what a beautiful dog." Next thing I hear is: "I recognize that voice - is that Jimmy?" It was my old pal and excellent former drummer, Billy. He had a headband on and a sleeveless vest, sunglasses and a few new tattoos, so I couldn't tell it was him right off the bat. It was great seeing him. We chatted a bit and exchanged cell phone numbers.
The weather is getting nicer and people are coming out of their winter burrows. I was happy to see a few of my older friends emerge from their hibernations. I breathed a sigh of relief when they finally started walking places again and I actually saw them in the flesh. I have to do a quick inventory because we are all getting up there and I have to check to see who may not have made it through the cruel winter. Thankfully, most of them are coming back out, one by one.
I thought I had gone back in time last week when I was up the park with my dog. Was it a mirage or was one of my childhood friends sitting on a park bench with a brown paper bag with a six-pack of Budweisers? "Jimmy!!!" Yes, it was my old pal. He was actually waiting for another of my old friends to join him. He said: "So and so should be walking up over the hill from Mallet Street any minute." Sure enough, there he was! Some things never change I guess - and old habits are hard to break. These two guys have been carrying on their ritual for the last 40 years. It was like deja-brew! We talked about other old friends like Bolo and Boogna among other things.
I saw another old friend last Tuesday and somehow the topic of the Bal-A-Rue roller skating rink on Mystic Avenue came up. I know it's in Meffa and this is a Somerville article, but so what.
When the weather got nice in the old days we use be dropped off at the Bal-A-Rue and cap the day with some burgers from Kemps. Don't ask me how we crossed Mystic Avenue and lived. And remember - no skating backwards! Eventually going to Kemps would be replaced by going to the Golden Egg after the bars closed. The Golden Egg was Medford's answer to Kay and Chips. The Century Bank is now on the site of the old Bal-A-Rue.
I remember one spring evening when my band members and me were on our way back from a gig on Revere Beach. We approached an MDC Police checkpoint near Kappy's Liquors in our band van. The MDC cop shined a flashlight in the drivers face and asked where we were going. The driver replied that we were coming home from work. The cop said, oh, what do you do? The driver said: "We're magicians." Of course he was trying to say "musicians," but the late hour and fatigue from a long evening of performing in a smoky lounge (Sammy's Patio) made it come out differently. When the cop heard him say magicians, instead of asking him to pull a rabbit out of his hat, he asked him to pull his license and registration out of his wallet. Happily, we all went safely on our way.
Nice weather has a way of bringing back memories too. The smell of lilacs still reminds me of when we lived downstairs in Lenny Scott's house on Pearson Avenue from 1955 to 1960. I still ride by there every so often. Next time I ride by I hope to drop in and visit Louise. I have so many great photos and memories of her family and mine from an innocent time - long, long ago. We spent a few very happy springs there, as well as other seasons.
Spring is graduations too. Because I was a rabble-rouser in high school, one of the administrators or building masters or another one of my nemeses decided to place my diploma at the very end of the pile. So with my entire family in the stands at Dilboy, they called the A's, the B's, the C's and the D's - and started the E's. I swear I heard my poor mother gasp and say: "I knew he wasn't going to graduate, Fred!" Finally after they called John Zagami or someone else at the end, they called James Del Ponte. I stomped up to the podium and ripped my diploma out of the presenters hand, and gave him the dirtiest look I could come up with. They got the last laugh (until I returned as a substitute teacher). That's my graduation memory.
So come out, wont you? Come out and walk your dog, ride bikes with your kids on the bike trail or go smell some lilacs. Enjoy every second of this transformation from shivering to shimmering
And just a quick note to you absentee landlords. It's time to clean up your nest eggs. Some of your yards are so overgrown with freakish looking weeds, that it looks like something from Jurassic Park. If you need someone to clean it up, e-mail me, I could use some extra cash. You can email Jimmy directly at jimmydel@rcn.com.
Posted at 06:00 AM in On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte | Permalink | Comments (0)
On the Fiscal Crisis, Somerville Leads by Example
By Joseph A. Curtatone
As the governor and the legislature grapple with what has become, in dollar terms, the largest fiscal crisis in Massachusetts history, one of the hottest questions is whether the state can cut its way to solvency, or whether some new and additional revenues are necessary. My position on this question has been loud, clear and public. I believe that:
·	Some cuts are inevitable, but you can't cut your way to success;
·	Fundamental reform can lead to significant savings;
·	We should approach this challenge not by shifting the blame, but by sharing the burden;
·	No matter how many cuts and reforms we impose, we cannot maintain core services without some new revenue; and
· As part of a comprehensive rebalancing of the fiscal relationship between the state and its municipalities, cities and towns should be given more freedom and authority to diversify revenue and to manage costs - especially the soaring cost of health care
I hope that is the approach that ultimately carries on the day on Beacon Hill. Here in Somerville, we will do our best to lead by example.
On cost management, we are taking the lead by collaborating with our police unions on new contracts that not only include zero percent pay increases, but also call for pay furloughs in which employees give back one week's salary without reducing their hours. Our patrolmen's union courageously led the way on this approach by agreeing to these provisions in a one-year contract signed in March; our police superior officers' union signed on to the same austerity measures in a new three-year agreement signed on May 1st.
I am deeply grateful for the community spirit represented by these contracts, which set an example for other municipal unions here in Somerville and across the state.
This week, I took the next logical step by telling our non-union workforce (including all elected officials), that they, too, would be looking at a continued wage freeze in FY2010 - and that they, too, would be receiving one-week furloughs. Taken together, the non-union and police furloughs represent a cut in the FY2010 budget of well over $300,000.
That's a significant amount of money - but it is even more significant as an indication of the fact that we are all in this together. The employees covered by these furlough policies are making a genuine sacrifice to preserve core city services at a time of fiscal crisis.
Even though it would completely unfair to ask city workers to bear the entire burden on their own, I wish I could say that their sacrifice would, by itself, be sufficient to meet our ongoing budget shortfall. The truth, of course, is that it will take far more, both in terms of cost savings and enhanced revenues.
To help us find the best menu of budget options, I turned in January to a group of outside fiscal experts from both the private and the non-profit sectors. I asked them to advise the city on a full range of potential costs savings and revenue items - both short-term and long-term - that could help us get past the current crisis without reducing core services.
This week, the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) submitted its recommendations. (You can download a copy from the "FY-2009-2010 Budget Development" page on the city's website. There's a link to the budget page from our homepage at www.somervillema.gov.)
It's an impressive, thoughtful and provocative list. I am grateful for all of the committee's hard work, and I will carefully review its suggestions. Some of them are entirely within the City's choice and control, including such options as: exploring opportunities for competitive sourcing between city employees and private vendors; establishing higher license fees and violation fines; or moving the entire city to residential permit parking.
It's already clear, however, that the City of Somerville cannot implement several of the FAC's most important recommendations unless the state gives us the tools to do so - and/or our municipal unions lend their assent. Nowhere are these restrictions more evident than in the area of health care cost management.
We have been working steadily over the past five years - and with some success - to bring employee and retiree health insurance contributions more in line with standard practice in the private sector (and, indeed with many other cities and towns). I am also ready now to embrace the FAC's suggestion that we "determine and quantify the potential benefits and costs-savings of joining the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Commission (GIC)."
But there are millions more in savings (with no loss in access or quality of services) that can be had from other changes on the health care front. Here are a few of the key FAC recommendations on health care that require authorization or endorsement at the state level:
·	"Encourage a move away from an Indemnity Plan while ensuring comparable coverage through other cost-effective options
·	"Issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) for a sole health insurance provider
· "Pursue a broad range of plan design changes with the potential of reducing costs while maintaining coverage and quality of care
· "Support legislative authorization for cities and towns to have the same administrative authority to change plan design as exercised by the Commonwealth since 1955 (plan design encompasses changes in deductibles and co-pays)"
This week, along with our legislative delegation and city officials from across the state, I will be helping lead the fight on Beacon Hill for the authority we need to implement these changes, as well as gaining more ability to diversify local revenues.
Will we succeed? It's by no means a certainty. But here's one thing I know for sure: Whatever the outcome, Somerville will be leading by example. We will gather the best analysis, look at the big picture, and take on the shared sacrifices and the hard choices - squarely and fairly.
That's all we can do - and that's all we're asking for.
Posted at 06:01 AM in Commentaries | Permalink | Comments (0)
21st Century Learning opening up new avenues for two local schools
If the grant is approved, up to $500,000 will go directly to the Winter Hill and Healey schools.
By Martin Levenson
Teachers, counselors and parents convened for an informal discussion on the future of Somerville schools last Thursday. Somerville Public Schools are in the process of submitting a proposal for new grant money from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant will be submitted in the next two and half weeks to the Massachusetts State House. If the grant is approved, up to $500,000 will go directly to the Winter Hill and Healey schools, which have consistently underperformed in state-wide MCAS testing. The Arthur D. Healey and Winter Hill Community Schools are below the state average for MCAS scores in all grades and subjects. "Winter Hill is looking like it needs help," says Trish Murphy, a teacher at Somerville High School.
Both Winter Hill and Healey have been under this grant before, but not since June of 2008. "We are allowed to apply for new funding for any school that's been off funding for at least a year," says Gretchen Kinder, organizer of this meeting and Coordinator of Research and Development in the Somerville Public School system. This particular grant lasts five years. "Six years ago Winter Hill and Healey were awarded this five year grant from the Department of Education. And it ended in 08; so those two schools have been without money the last year," Kinder tells us. So in order to help these two Somerville schools and the hundreds of children who learn in them, Kinder held this hour-long discussion where anyone with an attachment to Somerville education was welcomed to join. She was quick to say parents were most welcome in this small meeting, saying oftentimes they know more about the children than those in the school system.
To make the grant proposal appealing for those in the State House there have been some changes since the last time it was applied for. Instead of having one focus, this proposal will try to address two types of learning in the educational system: social and academic. On a large paper board, Kinder wrote down several possible desired outcomes for both academic and social development within the schools. Some of the academic ones written down were math reasoning skills, social studies and homework ability. Some of the social ones were public speaking, being able to work well with others, and improvements of the after-school program. "After-school programs should not be considered as separate from the school day; it complements the school day," Kinder says, addressing the small assembly. In a small interactive part of the assembly, Kinder asked all those present to put stickers by the outcomes they see as most desirable for their students and children. In social outcomes, most chose communication skills, relationship with adults and peers and improvements in after-school. In academic outcomes, most chose homework ability, science and reading skills; no one chose social studies.
Tony Pierantozzi, Superintendent of Somerville Public Schools had to leave this meeting early but before doing so, he instructed those present that academic success was his main concern. Pierantozzi sees the benefit of social development; however he was determined to fix Somerville's academic problems above all else, saying "We are primarily interested in direct improvement of our academic achievement." He continued, "I'm not talking about MCAS; I'm talking about their [a student's] ability to express themselves through their academics.
Car accident Saturday night involves a Somerville Police cruiser
~Photos by William Tauro
Somerville Police cruiser 187 was involved in a car accident with a white Honda (shown below) Saturday night at the intersection of Broadway and North Street.
At the time of the accident, car 187 was driven by officer Stephen Jones. Jones and the other driver were both a bit bruised and banged up, they were transported to an area hospital where they were both treated and released. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Posted at 03:30 PM in News | Permalink | Comments (5)
As of Tuesday afternoon, the only non-incumbent to pull papers at City Hall was well known local TV show host and long time Somerville resident Jimmy Campano of Ward 6. Jimmy is well known by a lot of the elderly and we hear he's got a lot of various supporters, encouraging him to run. Hope he doesn't get harassed by those PDSers out there - like Rebekah's last challenger did.
Popular Ward 1 School Committee member and Chairwoman - Maureen Bastardi will be having a fundraiser this coming Tuesday night from 6 pm to 8:30 pm at Bread & Company, located at 394 Broadway in Winter Hill. Maureen does a great job for the residents and students throughout the ward down in East Somerville as well as the rest of the city.
Speaking of the Bread & Company in Winter Hill, if you haven't been there at all you should go, the food is fantastic and everyone there is super friendly. Our favorite is the breads they make, and this week while some of us where there for lunch, bought their Carrot Bread (Brazilian style) one word describes it as "fantastic" - if nothing else, check out the breads and in particular Carrot Bread (Brazilian style) - and mention The Somerville News.
Guess some BU students don't think their graduation speaker, our own Congressman Mike Capuano, has enough "sizzle" - they want someone else. Judging by way he grilled the largest bank presidents on their bonuses, these students might be in for a surprise. Then again if Mike wanted to teach them what sizzle was all about, he could use his influence and borrow President Obama's chief speech writer, North Reading's own Jon Favreau. Give 'em hell Mike - make them sizzle!
Have you noticed that the Farm Team paper has lost its size and page content? We aren't the only ones that have noticed; their boxes don't even have their papers until sometimes on Friday and lots of papers left over at the end of the following week. Now an article by Dan Kennedy who is the Assistant Professor at NU School of Journalism, did a story on the outlook of Gatehouse and that they will be announcing major cutbacks and downsizing very soon, Gatehouse owns the Farm Team. To bad the tradition of the Dole Family ownership fades as the days go by.
Meanwhile The Somerville News is growing every month - since January of this year we have gone from 150 locations in Somerville to now 163 locations. We are even considering printing more papers and by the end of the year we will easily be up to 175 locations. The Somerville News and all "real" locally own and operated papers throughout the Boston area are in better shape then the big out of towners.
Looks like the cone of silence is down around the DPW yard - or is that the code of silence? Either way we heard from a reliable source that apparently there was an accident one day last week, involving one DPW worker that ran another DPW worker over in the city yard with a city truck that was pulling a city trailer. But nobody is saying anything, or are they? Stay tuned!
We want to welcome Isabella Hoske Vieira to the 'Ville. Isabella is a foreign exchange student from Belo Horizonte, Brazil that has been studying in Kansas since September but wants to now come visit Somerville before her long journey back home to Brazil in June. Welcome to Somerville!
At one of the Board of Aldermen subcommittee meetings last week they were discussing the possibility of raising the fine for public smoking of weed, from $100.00 to $300.00. When one of the Aldermen asked how was it going to be enforced if the police saw a minor smoking the weed. The city treasurer Ms. Elizabeth Craveiro was heard to say that she would have a lien placed on the parent's home to enforce. Well that might be one way of doing it - she was then asked what if they were tenants, and Ms. Craveiro was heard to say, same thing, place a lien on the landlords house! Now we're not lawyers here at Newstalk, but we can't believe that it's legal to do that, is it?
For the idiot over on the Farm Team, get your facts straight, Vinny Piro went through 3 trials - first two no verdict and last one he was acquitted, and by the way that was 25 years ago. He did more for the City of Somerville in state aide and assistance then the current legislators combined - get your facts straight. You probably didn't even live here in 1985 - just another PDS, off the wall wacko who heard from one person who heard it for another from his cousin who used to live here! To some of us here at Newstalk, Vinny was a nice man who did a lot for the everyday person here in the city. And we can say that because some of us actually know him, personally!
Somerville Climate Action will be hosting the first-ever Living Green Festival this Saturday, May 16th at Somerville High School from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission will be free. The festival will showcase a wide variety of sustainable living options, through hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Highlights will include a sustainable cooking demonstration by Nadine Nelson of Discerning Taste, a mock-wall insulation demonstration by Tony Shirley of Energy All Stars, and free basic bike adjustments by Joshua Kampa of Open Bicycle. For more information, call Dave Madan at 617-461-9393 or email him at livinggreenfestival@gmail.com.
Joe Squillante, a graduate of the SHS Class of 1986, died suddenly this past week. Our condolences go out to the family, especially his wife and their young child. He will be waked at Dello Russo's in Medford on Wednesday night. He will be missed.
The Somerville Sunsetters for 2009 are looking for eager and excited local students to participate, along with a number of returning members - to get that final group of 20 performers fleshed out. They're looking for student between the ages of 12 and 18, who will be auditioning for and then selected by our own Jimmy Del Ponte - check out Jimmy's column this week for details.
The 2009 All City Elementary Spring Concert will be Thursday, May 14th at 7 pm in the Somerville High Auditorium (81 Highland Ave). This is always a terrific show and we encourage everyone to try and make it - tickets will be available at the door.
The Executive Office of Transportation, the City of Cambridge and City Councilor and State Representative Tim Toomey are sponsoring a community meeting to discuss the relocation of Lechmere Station and the Green Line Extension Project. The meeting will feature presentations on the overall Green Line Extension as well as specifics about the new Lechmere Station and associated roadway changes including multiple new pedestrian crossings of McGrath/O'Brien Highway. The meeting will be held on, Wednesday May 20th from 6 - 8 PM at the Kennedy-Longfellow School Auditorium, 158 Spring Street Cambridge.
The Annual Mystic River Herring Run (5K) and Paddle will be Sunday, May 17th at 9am at the DCR Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, Somerville, MA. $20 for run or paddle race, $30 for both. T-shirt included if pre-registered. Run, walk and/or paddle with the fish! Race along a flat and fast (USATF certified) course on the Medford/Somerville Mystic River bike path, dashing past thousands of herring returning from the ocean back to the Mystic River. Or hop in your canoe or kayak and paddle up the river following the herring up toward the Mystic Lakes following a 3 mile or 12 mile course. Compete in both races & be eligible for the coveted Iron Herring award for the male and female with the fastest overall time in the 5K & the 12 mile paddle. This is a great opportunity for all ages to enjoy the Mystic in one of its urban jewel settings. Register at mysticriver.org or for more information, contact: Kim Provo of the Mystic River Watershed Association - www.mysticriver.org - 781-316-3438
It amuses us that there are some people in this city who actually think we are a bunch of conservatives, and as a result, decide to lump us in with the whole "oh this city is full of crooked people" schtick they sell to new people who move here. Fact is, there are some of us who have played instrumental parts in forming the most liberal and progressive organizations in this city's history.
But don't tell them that - oh no.
And who the Hell says it is too early to start railing on politicians, political wannabes and pod people? Nomination papers are available since this Monday, so now it will be time to separate the herd and see what's what and who has the intestinal fortitude to step up and put their name on a ballot - to put their rhetoric to the test and actually do something about it, if it's really that bad here. There is at least one person willing to go up against an incumbent this year, and from what we hear, there will be a few more jumping into the fray.
There is a lot of talk about who will be running for office this year, but until those papers are pulled - and then actually handed back in and certified - talk means nothing in this city. There will be some candidates who will have a terrific chance to unseat an incumbent or two - we hope - and there will be a candidate or two that will most likely be crushed so bad, they will never ever run for office again - we hope.
One thing is for sure, it will be a fun political season for us - there is never a shortage of entertainment value candidates and supporters in the 'Ville.
"Day on the Hill" 2009--Education and the Economy
Mary Jo Rossetti,a MASC member and the Somerville School Committee Representative for Ward 7.
By Beecher Tuttle
On May 7th, the Massachusetts Association of School Committees held its annual "Day on the Hill" event at the State House in downtown Boston. The event brings together local school board/committee members from across the state, giving them an opportunity to hear from and meet with Massachusetts' legislators in regards to educational concerns. This years conference could not have come at a more interesting time, as Governor Deval Patrick was finally forced to make statewide school budget cuts on the eve of the event. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will cut $412 million from education in 2009's fiscal year, ending the administration's long and arduous campaign to keep school budgets untouched.
The news is not all bad for the MASC and other advocates of educational support though. School funding for fiscal year '09 will not see a lull, as the state has made the decision to allocate monies from the federal stimulus package to cover the net loss from the aforementioned state budget cuts. Even with severely weakening revenue streams, the state of Massachusetts will be able to avoid a significant lapse in the monetary funds that it allots to its public schools--at least for this year.
Mary Jo Rossetti, an MASC member and the Somerville School Committee Representative for Ward 7, knows that there is much work still to be done to ensure the long-term vitality of Somerville's public school system. One pertinent issue that Rossetti points out is that the money that will now be allocated to Somerville and other local communities is now channeled through the federal government "We were excited when we all heard that education was getting X amount of dollars, it was wonderful news," says Rossetti. "I will tell you though, that since this memo came out that this was going to happen, every other week there was a memo from the [federal] government saying, oops we didn't think about this, or oops we didn't think about that. So they are directing our superintendents, and our mayors, and our governor on how that money should be expended....our hands are tied as to how we can spend the money."
The other issue, still to be worked out, is how these funds are to be obtained by local municipalities. Due to federal guidelines, cities might have to apply for money through grants and will be forced to wait and see when and if they receive full economic support. This can make it quite difficult to forecast a local budget for FY10, something that Somerville is currently in the process of doing. "I am exuberant that we are getting this money," says Rossetti, "but it is difficult because one of our [budget] lines is assuming that we are going to get some stimulus money, and we are crossing ours fingers and toes that that is going to be real."
Assuming Somerville obtains full grants dollars from the federal stimulus package, the key for 2009 will be moderation. As Mitchell Chester, commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, said at the "Day on the Hill" event, "it is going to be a very funky ride for the next couple of years. The challenge is that we are expending stimulus funds now; i.e. fewer funds will be left to expend in FY10 and FY11...you need to be thinking not simply one year at a time this time, but for the next two years."
School boards are looking to be more creative with current school budgeting in an effort to weather the storm for FY11 and beyond. Some ideas include regionalization, the pooling together of resources from separate school systems to save money, and in increase in sales tax, which is supported by Somerville's Mayoral administration and could bring much needed revenue to public schools and the city as a whole.
In terms of specific cuts for the upcoming year, it is still too early to tell how Somerville schools will be affected. One thing that Somerville residents can hang their hat on though, is the experience and competency of the people running our schools and the administration that works behind the scenes. "You are not going to get a better education than you will in the Somerville Public Schools," says Mary Jo Rossetti. "The schools are superb, the staff is extremely dedicated." Rossetti, who will be running for re-election this year, knows that there is hard work to be done and difficult decisions to be made, but is certainly up for the challenge. "I want to be a part of this team because it makes me feel proud to see the outcome of all of these students and what Somerville public schools have done for each of them. No matter what the unfunded regulations are, we don't quit"
There are crucial decisions to be made in the upcoming months in regards to education and the impending financial concerns, and the MASC encourages everyone to participate in the decision making process. "We need you to work with us-and with your legislators! The governor's recently released budget is closely tied to federal monies through the stimulus package. How these funds will be distributed is unclear at the moment, but your voice and outreach is critical in reminding elected officials that public schools are our nation's most vital piece of infrastructure."
Scholarship snagged by Kyler Evitt
Pictured from left to right: Eugene C. Brune, Brandon Wilson Evitt, Evitt's mother, Kyler Evitt, recipient of this year's Brune Scholarship, and Secretary of State William Galvin. ~Photo courtesy of Brandon Wilson Evitt
By Cathleen Twardzik
For an estimated 25 years, the Eugene C. Brune Scholarship, which is part of the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation, has been awarded to an outstanding student, according to Register of Deeds, Eugene C. Brune, who is the former Mayor of Somerville. Kyler Evitt was the winner this year.
However, The Brune Scholarship "is not the only [one] we give. We're going to give about 45 this year," said Noreen Santucci, Corresponding Secretary of the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation.
There are copious reasons for Evitt's truly deserving this scholarship. In 2008, the Dartmouth Book Award came his way. Holding a class rank of 3rd in his class and maintaining a G.P.A. of 4.48, the senior at Somerville High School will commence his collegiate experience, as an engineering major. "I am currently wait listed at the school of my choice, Brown University. If I am unable to gain admittance there, I will be attending Harvard University in the fall," he said. In addition, he was accepted to Duke and the University of Pennsylvania.
Because Evitt excels in Mathematics, he earned the honor of SHS Top Scorer in the New England Math League Competition.
"I believe my active involvement in my community made me an ideal candidate for Mr. Brune's scholarship," he said. From a tender age, he possessed a keen interest in fundraising for local organizations. "I perceived [that endeavor], as particularly worthwhile, which included Project Bread and the Somerville Mathematics Fund. I have raised over $2,500, specifically for these organizations."
His community service extends even farther, for he has been very active in "Dollars for Scholars." For years, he raised over $200, annually, giving his time in the Walk for Hunger. For eight years on a biannual basis, Evitt participated in Community Outreach Events for the Historic Preservation Commission.
After having completed his degree, he envisions helping others in the classroom. "With hopes of pursuing a career in teaching, I have been a member of Somerville High School's Future Teachers of America club for the past two years."
Over the years, Evitt has accumulated numerous awards, both academically and athletically. This year, he is serving, as President of the National Honor Society. He received the Coaches Award and the Captains' Award, as well as his being chosen as a GBL All-Star in indoor track in 2008.
"Undoubtedly my favorite activity is running on the school's cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams," said Evitt, for which he was chosen as Captain. Therefore,"Track has been an invaluable part of my high school career, affording me confidence, [as well as] a strong network of close friends."
One local non-profit organization, to which he still gives his time, is the Somerville Mathematics Fund. "They routinely organize community "Math Nights" at neighborhood elementary schools, award grants to deserving math teachers, and sponsor generous scholarships for high school seniors, interested in pursuing math in college," he said.
How does Brune select the next lucky winner of his scholarship? On an annual basis, the Somerville High School Scholarship Committee provides Brune with a list of eight or nine deserving students, from whom to select the winner of that year's scholarship.
However, to be considered, students must meet certain requirements. "The criteria is just being a Somerville High School student and showing that they're very active in the community, active in school. Their marks don't have to be top marks, but they need to qualify for college, or a training school, and that they are of good moral character," said Brune.
Such volunteer work could include "a road race for cancer or being a volunteer at the library or the hospital --- helping others."
Although Brune believes that personality traits are difficult to glean from a simple application, "You can determine, on paper, just what [students] have done in life. It kind of shows their personality --- getting along with their peers, possibly being a member of the National Honor Society, possibly being a captain on one of the sport teams --- things that show that they can get along with their peers."
Additionally, the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation's annual drawing was an enormous success this year, despite the wavering economy. This year, 242 of the 250 available tickets, were purchased for the 2009 raffle. Each cost $100 apiece.
However, "The scholarship raffle has nothing to do with the Eugene C. Brune Scholarship, expect that I give it through that organization. I'm a chairman of the $10,000 [annual] drawing that we have." Every bit of the money, which that organization gathers, is allocated for prizes or augments the Scholarship Foundation's funds.
"The Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation was founded in 1990 by then Headmaster Anthony V. Fedele," according to the organization's website.
The goal of the foundation is to enable the greatest number of students to be financially able to attend institutions of "higher learning." Although Brune did not found it, he was on the committee, which was responsible for so doing.
The 25th Annual Eugene Brune Breakfast happened on Sunday, May 3 at Anthony's Restaurant in Malden. Donations from that event cushion the funds for Brune's annual scholarship. This year, Evitt's uplifting remarks during his scholarship acceptance speech, brought the crowd to a standing ovation.
Before and Beyond Bono
Before the recent arrival of Bono and U2 to play at the Somerville Theater, there was another monumental ground breaking concert held in the city. It was the summer of 1978 and the concert was held at Powder House Park.
1978 was the year after I graduated from college, but there were more notable happenings back then. Grease, Animal House and Superman were at the movies. The Bee Gees controlled the radio waves with music from Saturday Night Fever. The President was Jimmy Carter (great year for Jimmy's). Unfortunately the Yankees beat the Red Sox for the American League Championship. We were hopeful that the Viet Nam War would stay ended, and committed to taking care of our wounded heroes. We were also nursing the heartache of losing sons, brothers, husbands, wives and friends in that horrible war. We were trying to find happy things to do and one August day we got very happy.
I'm pretty sure that the great summer concert of 1978 was sponsored by Somerfest.
You remember Somerfest don't you? A crew of youth workers would show up with a truck and block off a street. People would set up lawn chairs or sit on their porches and listen to a concert. When my band showed up it was a rock concert that could be heard for blocks. We played on my aunt's street, the bass player's street, my street, the lead guitar player's street and even in front of my grandmother's house. When we played on my street, we used my house as the "dressing room" and backstage area. Big Sal was in charge of setting up the stage and blocking off the street. He is still my friend to this day.
So this concert at Powder House Park was a mega concert. Three bands! Bands that I mentioned in my April Fools article - only this show was for real. The Tools (formerly Shadowfax), Dillinger and Zenophon were the featured groups.
It was a perfect hot summer Saturday and the crowds began to form early. The Tools set up at the bottom of the park near the corner of Liberty and Broadway. Dillinger was set up on the back of a flatbed truck a little way up the hill. Zenophon, featuring David Stefanelli, was at the very top near the tower. We started the concert with a brand new song that we had never played in public before. It went on to be, along with "Love My Money," a 45 rpm record that we released later that year. It actually was in the jukeboxes at Harold's Luncheonette and The Embassy Lounge. The song that began that day long music festival was called "Spark 'Em Up." As soon as we played the last note of the last song of our set, Dillinger blasted the first resounding riffs of their set. And to continue the seamless afternoon of rock, Zenophon started just as Dillinger strummed their last chord. I can still hear Stef's awesome voice echoing through the trees and filling the park with righteous rock! 3 bands supplying hours of continuous rock to a swarm of happy, well behaved rockers. It was heaven! What a day! What a concert! What a memory (LOL). Lots of Led (Zeppelin)!
So Bono, we love you man, but you ain't got nothing on us! We played Powder House Park on a day that a lot of us will never forget, long before you graced the Somerville Theater stage. By the way, please come back soon, you rule.
Move it up 30 years or so and the tradition continues. "Somerville Student Rocks" will be a concert featuring local talented musicians on Thursday May 28th at the Somerville High School Auditorium at 7 pm - and it's free! Interested musicians, singers, song writers, bands, etc. in grades 6 through 12 should show up at auditions on Friday May 15th from 2:45 pm to 6 pm at the Somerville High School Auditorium. No back tracks or karaoke please - live - not Memorex! Somerville's new comedy troupe "Klass Klownz" will open the show with some funny songs and bits.
Continuing the long tradition of supplying fine entertainment for our great city, the office of Mayor Joe Curtatone announced a meeting for local teens interested in this years Sunsetters. We will be rehearsing 4 nights a week in June and performing 4 nights a week for seven weeks during the summer. Performances include the fireworks celebration on July 2nd, Artbeat and the Mayor's Annual Senior Picnic. Those chosen will receive a stipend of $500.00 for the summer. Interested teens willing to work hard and be part of an elite group with a n historic reputation for excellence should come to the Tab Building at 167 Holland St. Thursday May 21st at 6:30 pm. Who knows, we may have the next Bono, or Cher Bono, or a huge rock star who eats Bon Bons.
Somerville has always produced a lot of talent, and this year because we have so much going on, it promises to be a great summer with lots of excitement.
So you see, it was nice to have a mega group like Bono and U2 come to Somerville, but we are a very special city that is packed with our own talent. The great rock concert of 1978 at Powder House Park was the closest Somerville ever got to Woodstock. If you were there, you know what I mean.
You can email Jimmy direct at jimmydel@rcn.com.
Hundreds volunteer for Somerville spring cleanup
Hundreds of Somerville residents of all ages volunteered their time Saturday to help clean up neighborhoods across the city.
Partcicpants gathered for an afternnon barbecue after the clean up. ~Photos by Meghan Frederico
By Meghan Frederico
On Saturday morning, hundreds of Somerville residents, fittingly donning green t-shirts, picked up rakes and garbage bags and headed out to do some spring cleaning for their neighborhoods.
This year, the Somerville Spring Cleanup was organized at seven volunteer sites across the city, focusing on the city's parks, community gardens, schoolyards and major squares, according to the press release from Mayor Curtatone. This year, new locations included Broadway from Winter Hill to East Somerville, and the city estimated that there were a similar number of participants as in recent years, perhaps as many as 400 though no official count was available.
After dropping their garbage bags off, volunteers headed over to Nunziato Field for a barbecue, and to the neighboring Community Growing Center for the SomerGreen Festival, an eco-fair that convened organizations and community groups that promote green living.
Those who missed Saturday's clean up but still want to take advantage of Somerville's green programs may want to consider picking up a city-subsidized composter. The 10-gallon Earth Machine, which is essentially a three-foot high plastic cylinder with adjustable vents, is a good option for people looking to reduce their kitchen and yard waste, and can produce enough soil for a small garden. With a $40 check and proof of residency, people can pick one up from the Somerville Department of Public Works, located at 1 Franey Road on the corner of Cedar Street and Broadway behind Trum Field, Monday-Saturday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
For those without the space or motivation to mind their own compost pile, Groundwork Somerville will pick it up, as those stopping by the SomerGreen fest may have found out. Groundwork Somerville's new fee-based SoilCycle program will provide weekly compost pick-ups by bicycle, and is advertised as "youth-run" and "sustainably-powered" - which basically means that its users can feel good about supporting local youth jobs as well as the environment.
In Somerville, an environmental awakening
A packed B2Green expo showed it is evident that the environment is not a fleeting concern. ~Photo by William Tauro
By James Reddick
Packed into the conference room at the Holiday Inn on Washington Street this past Thursday, as many as 28 businesses and organizations participated in the B2Green expo, a showcase of the green movement within Somerville's business community. On display was the intricate network that has been growing in recent years between businesses interested in developing environmentally and financially sustainable practices and those organizations available to facilitate the process.
Vanessa Rule, of Go Green Somerville, one of the organizers of the event, described the support mechanisms for such businesses. By providing consulting services focused on maximizing environmental efficiency, she said, "hopefully we can make the process easy for those businesses who might worry that they either don't have time or that it will cost too much."
Two examples of business leaders who have made the transition are Jennifer Park and Tucker Lewis, co-owners of the Diesel Café and Bloc 11. With the help of Save that Stuff, a company that collects organic waste and distributes it for re-use, the two cafés have effectively reduced their waste as well as the costs associated with its removal. "It's easy if you're committed to doing it," Park said. "We said that, regardless of the costs, we were going to do this." As it turns out, the financial toll of reducing waste was far from a problem, as Park predicts that they have saved about $5,000 in the first year alone.
Another Davis Square landmark, Johnny D's, is an example of how the environmental movement has evolved from a fringe issue to one that is inherently linked with successful business practices. Since the venue underwent renovations designed to increase its energy efficiency, Carla Dilois predicts they've cut about 10% in related costs.
The sustainable drive has not been led simply by shrewd business owners and concerned non-profit groups like Groundwork Somerville, but also by local governance. In a nod to the importance of green thinking, especially in one of the most densely populated cities in the country, Mayor Joseph Curtatone created the Department of Sustainability and the Environment in 2006. In nearly every facet of urban planning, environmental concerns now come into play, from the Green Line Extension project to Shape Up Somerville's program to curtail obesity in the city. Alongside Groundwork Somerville, a local non-profit environmental organization, the program has built gardens in nearly every school in the city--a boon to physical health as well as to storm water runoff prevention. The Department of Sustainability is slated to receive up to a half a million dollars in stimulus funding, said Program Manager David Lutes, though the use of the money is yet to be determined.
As events such like the B2Green expo show, it is evident that the environment is not a fleeting concern. "Green is definitely the new thing," said Jennifer Lawrence, Executive Director of Groundwork Somerville. "Especially with the city caring so much about sustainability, Somerville is mirroring a national trend in awareness." For longtime activists within the community, the rising tide of environmentalism, which Rule and Lawrence agree coincided with Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" and the spike in oil prices, is a welcome change. "My sense from talking to people who have been doing this for a long time was that it used to be very hard to get anyone to listen to you," Rule said. "Now, people have seen the limits of consumerism."
Interested in learning ways to reduce your carbon footprint? Come out to the Somerville Living Green festival at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue from 10:00 am-2:00 p.m. Learn how to tune your bike, save on energy bills, cook healthily, and improve your gardening skills, along with much more.
Alderman Dennis Sullivan Kicks off Spring Office Hours, Saturday, May 16
Alderman Dennis Sullivan Kicks off Spring Office Hours, Saturday, May 16. Office Hours Continue on May 23 and May 30. Sullivan will Blog on the Road via Facebook.
Dennis Sullivan, Alderman-at-Large, is kicking off his spring office hours on Saturday, May 16. Starting at 10 a.m, Sullivan will be at the East Somerville Police Sub Station, followed by an 11 a.m. stop at the Dunkin Donuts in Union Square.
Sullivan will continue the mobile neighborhood office hours on May 23 with stops at (10 a.m.) the Highland Ave. Dunkin Donuts and then (11a.m.) at the Winter Hill Post Office. On May 30, Sullivan will set up shop (10a.m.) in Ball Square, followed by (11a.m. the Somerville Theatre and then (12p.m.) the West Somerville Police Sub Station.
"The office hours are my favorite part of being Alderman," said Sullivan. "It's a chance to connect on the grassroots level and talk to the people who make this city prosper and succeed."
"For each round of office hours, we try to introduce another element," Sullivan continued. "We've had interpreters join us, brought the office inside, offered voter registration and have tried to highlight different neighborhoods throughout the more than 90 office hours. This time I will be posting live updates from each stop." To follow Sullivan's mobile office or submit a question, friend him at facebook.com.
Sullivan began the mobile office as another way to connect with residents shortly after being elected as an Alderman-at-Large in 2004. He's done more than 90 stops and will conduct the 100th stop sometime this fall. The office hours - which consist of the original table he used five years ago and a banner - are weather permitting.
Financial Advisory Committee delivers recommendations on actions needed to ensure Somerville's long-term financial sustainability
Five member panel composed of local business, academic and policy professionals; committee recommends multiple measures to promote efficiency, cost-savings and enhance revenues.
SOMERVILLE - Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone announced today that the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) convened in January has issued a series of recommendations designed to ensure the City's long-term financial sustainability. The FAC, made up of five representatives from the business, nonprofit and financial sectors, made its recommendations after a series of meetings with City officials and an extensive review of information about the Somerville's finances and municipal operations. The FAC's key recommendations span the areas of health care; fees and fines; competitive sourcing; regionalization of services; cost recovery; wages and salaries; capital assets; programs and policies such as Pay-As-You-Throw trash disposal and the rezoning of business districts.
"All of us were honored to assist the Mayor and people of Somerville in responding to this historic challenge," said Samuel Tyler, President of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau. "Our report is based on a wide-ranging review of Somerville's operations, structure and policies. We were impressed by the expertise of the current administration as well as its grasp of the city's fiscal challenges and their potential solutions. These recommendations underscore our belief that this crisis demands more than incremental change. To preserve core public services, municipal leaders will require, and should receive, greater flexibility so that they can take decisive action in both the design and management of city operations."
"I sincerely thank all of the members of the FAC for volunteering their time and effort on this critical task," said Mayor Curtatone. "I have been impressed by both the breadth and thoughtfulness of the committee's discussions throughout this process and I look forward to reviewing their recommendations. Given the fiscal realities facing municipalities across the Commonwealth, we have already begun working internally to identify opportunities for cost-savings, increased efficiencies and new revenue options. This committee has given us the opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience on these issues that exists in Somerville and our surrounding communities.
I am eager to get to work on analyzing their suggested actions and implementing them wherever appropriate and feasible."
Mayor Curtatone convened the FAC to provide expert financial advice designed to help the City maintain its ability to provide core services while facing both severe cuts in state and a deepening economic recession. The FAC included Ronald Bonney, Jr., President of Bonney Automotive and Executive Committee Member of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce; Geoffrey Hargadon, Sr.Vice President for Investments, UBS Financial Services; Professor Daniel Richards of the Tufts University Economics Department Barry R. Sloane, President and Co-CEO of Century Bancorp; and Samuel Tyler, President of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau.
Additionally, Mayor Curtatone and City Finance staff presented to the Board of Aldermen and the School Committee at a special meeting on Monday, May 4th, on the latest state and local factors affecting the City's Fiscal Year 2010 budget. Curtatone presented a number of cost-savings and revenue generating options and urged the Board of Aldermen to take immediate and decisive action in order to bridge the budget gap.
The recommendations will be reviewed internally and, where deemed appropriate, implemented. For the complete recommendations and accompanying report, as well as additional information on the City's budget please visit: http://www.somervillema.gov/spotlight.cfm?id=73.