2010-2011 School Calendar: It’s official! September 8, 2010 is the first day of school for students after the 2010 summer vacation. Download the 2010-2011 school calendar online at http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/calendar. The calendar is available online in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. All dates have also been added to the online, searchable calendar at [...]

To have an effective democratically-elected Government, the People must trust that their elected officials are acting as good stewards of public resources. This trust is hindered when people can not verify the integrity of candidates and office-holders.
In Somerville, all elected officials must file ethics / campaign finance reports which are presumably vetted by the Secretary [...]

[ December 24, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] You are cordially invited to our Christmas Eve service tonight at First Church Somerville. The service begins at 7. Our children will be with us in the service. Your children are entirely welcome. Your moms and dads, your partner, your brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles, all are welcome.

Our building is accessible.

Rev. Laura Ruth Jarrett
Minister [...]

[ December 21, 2009; 5:00 pm; ] MBTA Rider Oversight Committee Meeting

Mon. Dec 21 5:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf Rms 1-3
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the MBTA Rider Oversight Committee meeting established as part of the T’s fare policy commitments. This meeting includes a report by the Project Manager of the Southcoast Rail Project.

This committee is important [...]

[ December 21, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Come discuss what we can do in Cambridge and Somerville to help progressives win the 2010 elections, starting with the special senate election on January 19!

Critical state and national races are on tap in 2010, from Mass. governor to senate seats in neighboring states. Let’s decide where we want to focus our energy next year, [...]

Are you concerned about your opioid drug use, or that of a loved one? The holiday season is often a time of strain and stress, especially for individuals who are struggling with addiction. Yet, the advent of a new year is a time when many people make efforts toward change. The Opioid Addiction and Family Project may be able to help.

[ December 20, 2009; 10:00 am; ] First Church Somerville is presenting its Christmas Cantata in the morning at 10, regardless of the snow. The music will be wonderful – great voices, drums, good spirits.

After the Cantata is a festive brunch – strata, salad, fruit.

Our sidewalks will be shoveled and our hearts will be open. We’d love to see you and feed [...]

[ December 17, 2009; 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] At the Medical Reserve Corps meeting this evening we learned that tomorrow there will be a vaccination clinic for both seasonal and/or H1N1 at the City Hall Annex.  It isn’t on the city web site yet because approval to open up vaccination beyond risk groups just happened too late today.

Summary: Flu vaccination clinic

Thursday Dec 17

4-7 [...]

SOMERVILLE WINS AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP ON SCHOOL SAFETY: Martin T. Meehan Educational Leadership Award presented to Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi on 12/10/09. A copy of the press release is available in the News Section of our website, www.somerville.k12.ma.us/news.
LOCAL NEWS FLASHES – we invite you to announce the following as part of [...]

[ December 16, 2009; ] PLEASE JOIN students and families from the John F. Kennedy School in visiting the Porter Square Pizzeria Uno on Wednesday, December 16th to help students raise $5,000 to build a library at their Ethiopian Sister School, the Gordama School, and fill it with books. Students have already raised over $450 that was used to buy [...]

[ December 19, 2009; ] Assembly on the Mystic 2nd Annual Holiday Drive

Sat. Dec. 19, All Day

Assembly Square Marketplace
Somerville MA (map)

Flier (PDF)

To benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition, marked containers will be located this coming Saturday outside each store in the Assembly Square Marketplace so that shoppers can donate toiletries and canned goods . All donations are welcomed, but [...]

[ December 17, 2009; 10:00 am; ] MPO Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Meeting

Thurs. Dec. 17, 10:00 AM

State Transportation Building
Conf Rm 4
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

Meeting Documents (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Boston MPO. At this meeting, technical assistance work programs for 2010-2011 will be discussed.

This is important because it describes work plans for Logan Airport, including air quality. It [...]

[ December 17, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] Public Meeting on Mystic River Reservation Recreational Path Extension (Wellington Undercarriage)

Thurs. Dec. 17 6:30 PM

Mystic Activity Center
535 Mystic Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting is a forum for discussing the planned boardwalk connecting the recreational path under Route 28 to link Ten Hills and Assembly Square at the Mystic River. This meeting was sponsored by Mayor [...]

About 450 laundry workers at Angelica Textile in Somerville went out on strike Thursday… negotiations have been focused on obtaining quality affordable healthcare, well-funded pension benefits, and living wages. Come support these hard working employees as they stand up for a fair contract!

[ December 13, 2009; 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. ] This Sunday, Dec 13th, many of my Davis Square neighbors and I will be unable to get in or out of our neighborhood by car between the hours of 9am and 1pm due to the 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Run.  This 4-hour restriction will be my birthday present from the City of Somerville, a headache [...]

Click To Play
A new video on SCAT: Host Janet Cormier and guest De Ama Battle discuss the history and traditions of Kwanzaa.
When did it start?
What’s it for?
Why does it have two a’s?
Find out.

House Bill No. 1747  at the State Legislature plans to give “housing rights” to alleged victims of domestic violence, would endanger the neighboring tenants and  place huge burdens on small landlords. The bill would block eviction, failure of renewal of any self-claimed victim of domestic violence, stop rent increases, allow non-victims to easily abuse the [...]

[ December 15, 2009; 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] SCAT is hosting Santa Claus in the TV studio on Tuesday, December 15 from 6:00 to 7:00pm. This event is free. Children may come up to tell Santa what they want for Christmas in person, or watching the live TV show from home on Channel 3, they may call in to him at 617-628-9876. The [...]

[ December 7, 2009; 7:30 pm; ] Ward 1 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Dec. 7, 7:30 PM

Cafeteria
Capuano Early Childhood Center
150 Glen St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Roche, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 1. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

[ December 8, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Ward 4 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 8, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
Arthur D. Healey School
5 Meacham St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 4 Alderman Pero, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 4. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

[ December 9, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] BOA Committee on Finance

Wed. Dec. 9, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Finance to discuss retiree health coverage under Medicare and municipal Medicare insurance plans, along with other business. All the Aldermen will be present, meeting as a [...]

[ December 16, 2009; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Public Meeting on Green Line Extension Maintenance Facility Alternatives

Wed. Dec. 16 6:00 PM

Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
41 2nd St.
Cambridge MA (map)

Submit written comments at the Green Line Extension project’s Share Your Opinion e-mail site.

This is a Public Meeting on the Green Line Extension Maintenance Facility Alternatives, part of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) [...]

[ December 14, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development

Mon. Dec. 14, 6:30 PM

2nd Fl. Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a special meeting of the BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development to hear a presentation by the Office of Strategic Planning about plans for a [...]

[ December 10, 2009; 5:30 pm; ] Ward 7 ResiStat Meeting

Thurs. Dec. 10, 5:30 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Trane, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 7. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

[ December 9, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Deckerman and Morse-Kelley Playground Renovations

Wed. Dec. 9 7:00 PM

Library
John F. Kennedy School
5 Cherry St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a public community meeting to discuss the renovations of the Dickerman and Morse-Kelley Playgrounds on Craigie Street, close to Wards 3, 2, 5, and 6. It will include the presentation of schematic park designs by CBA Landscape Architects.

This [...]

[ December 8, 2009; 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. ] Tuesday December 8th 5:30 – 7:00 @ the VNA 259 Lowell St. – Understanding Loss

Light dinner will be provided – Workshops are FREE but registration is required – to register call 617-625-6600 ext 4325 or email pcontente@somervillema.gov

Thanks Patty

Patty Contente, LICSW
Clinical Youth Specialist
City of Somerville
Health Department

Judging by the fumbles on Election Day, 11/3/09, we can’t assume that Somerville will provide Accessible Voting on Primary Day, December 8. Despite the fact that the Secretary of State’s Office ordered structural accessibility changes at 7 Somerville polling sites after an audit in July, a spot-check of 9 Somerville Polling sites on Election Day 2009 proved that the current Mayor’s heart is still not in the game.

1.  The Disability Policy Consortium hoped to be able to offer some guidance to its constituency on the candidate most likely to fill the late Senator’s big shoes on disability issues. In mid-November, DPC sent briefing materials to each campaign along with a simple questionnaire. (The 3 page document can be found at:   www.dpcma.org [...]

Somerville’s Women Elected Officials Support Mike Capuano for U.S. Senate

[ December 5, 2009; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. December 6, 2009; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. ] If you want to help Mike Capuano become our next senator, join us in a Somerville lit drop this weekend, Saturday, Dec 5th & Sunday, Dec 6th between 9am and 4pm. We will be dropping GOTV literature in Somerville to remind our neighbors to get out there and vote for Congressman Capuano.

Come on out and [...]

NEWS STORIES:
•Students at Somerville’s John F. Kennedy School are raising $5,000 to build a library at their Ethiopian Sister School, the Gordama School, and fill it with books. Students have already raised over $450 that was used to buy new desks and chairs for the Ethiopian K-8 school of over 1,800 students. The [...]

[ December 6, 2009; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Come talk about our blog:

What’s good?

What’s not?

What’s next?

At the Visiting Nurses assisted living facility small dining room, 259 Lowell Street.

[ December 14, 2009; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Come to Cambridge-Somerville for Change’s Winter ’09 General Meeting on Monday, December 14th at 7pm at the Central Square YMCA in Cambridge. We’ll hear an update on each of our current issue campaigns, including Health Care, Energy and Environment, and Immigration and In-State Tuition. And we will ask for your feedback as we start to work on upcoming elections.

Sitting in my Inbox right now is an e-mail from a woman who works with the Somerville/Medford branch of United for Justice with Peace (UJP), an organization officially dedicated to “peace and justice” in the world.
I’m all for peace and justice and I wanted to know more about the war in Afghanistan, so last week [...]

[ December 6, 2009; 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. ] Our neighbors are being evicted and our community destabilized by the foreclosure crisis.
The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in collaboration with Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services (CASLS) has initiated a post-foreclosure outreach and organizing campaign in Somerville.
We are asking YOU to join us as we go door-to-door to foreclosed properties in Somerville to talk [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 5:00 pm; ] Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. Dec. 1, 5:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf Rms 2-3
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

This meeting of the Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee provides citizens an opportunity to hear MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan discuss Urban Ring planning in the context of the State’s fiscal situation and the MBTA maintenance requirements.

This is [...]

Community ratifies set of 11 principles for land use planning along the Green Line extension.

[ December 3, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] Planning Board and Land Use Committee Meetings

Thurs. Dec. 3
6:00 PM – Planning Board
7:00 PM – Joint Meeting

3rd Floor Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the joint meeting of the Somerville Planning Board with the Land Use Committee. It is preceded at 6:00 PM by a Planning Board Meeting.

Note [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] BOA Committee on Finance

Tues. Dec. 1, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Finance to discuss retiree health coverage under Medicare and municipal Medicare insurance plans, along with other business. All the Aldermen will be present, meeting as a [...]

[ December 3, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] From SOMERVILLE, MA City website: There will be a joint public hearing by the Board of Alderman Land Use Committee and the Somerville Planning Board regarding proposed amendments to the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to define senior housing types, add design guidelines, establish Senior Housing Zoning and Dimensional Requirements and incorporate relevant parking requirements. WHEN: Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 pm

[ December 4, 2009; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. December 5, 2009; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] PSA: The following message was sent to the City’s Parents ResiStat email list [link to original message]

———————————————–

Mayor Curtatone and the City of Somerville Health Department are pleased to offer a free family flu clinic for Somerville residents at the Immigrant Health Fair at the Edgerly School, 8 Bonair Street, on Friday December 4th from 5-7 [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Ward 5 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 1, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
John F. Kennedy School
5 Cherry St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 5 Alderman O’Donovan, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 5. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the city. Citizen input from these meetings are compiled into yearly [...]

[ December 4, 2009; 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] [from Somerville Arts Council Yahoo group]

Posted by: “laurenpazzaneze” lauren@junkyardarts.com   laurenpazzaneze
Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:48 am (PST)

Junkyard Arts is psyched to be back for another amazing show at the Somerville Theatre! Big news about our event is coming out as the date approaches!

The Good The Bad & The Junkyard II
December 4th, 6-10pm
Somerville Theatre, Museum of Bad [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] The next meeting of the Davis Square Task Force will be on Tuesday December 1st, 7-9 pm at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.  The agenda items are below.  Please let Rebekah Gewirtz (rebekah@rcn.com) know if there are additional items you would like to see added.

Agenda for Davis Sq Task Force Meeting
Tuesday December 1, 2009, 7-9pm

7-7:10- Introductions

7:10-7:20 – Community Updates

7:20-8:30 [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] The Somerville Democratic City Committee is hosting a Debate Watch Party. What: Candidates for US Senate televised debate. Where: The Precinct Bar in Union Square. When: 6:30 pm Tues December 1st

[ December 3, 2009; 6:00 pm to 11:59 pm. ] Davis Square retailers welcome all for special sales, snacks, drinks, and entertainment until the clock strikes midnight.

[ December 10, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. December 17, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. ] Celebrating the spirit of winter and winter holidays are the themes of the winter concerts in the Somerville Public Schools. Elementary students will perform on Thursday, December 10th, and high school musicians and singers will take the stage on Thursday December 17th. Both FREE concerts featuring student singers, musicians and other performers start [...]

[ December 5, 2009; 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Free film – Dec 5 – “Emmanuel’s Gift,” part of “Disability Reframed” series.

[ December 1, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. December 9, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. December 16, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. January 5, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ]
We need to hear from you to help develop a Vision for the future of Somerville. Please join your friends and neighbors at one of four World Café sessions – structured, facilitated conversations aimed at creating greater community connection and drawing out the best ideas from a broad range of community members who care [...]

[ December 1, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] The Somerville Health Department, Institute of Community Health, and the Somerville Community Health Agenda is going to be hosting a Presentation on the Health of Somerville Adults and Youth. It will be held Tuesday December 1st from 630PM – 830PM. The Presentation will be held at 259 Lowell Street, Somerville MA 02143 (Visiting Nurses Association).

This [...]

[ December 7, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] State Representative Denise Provost and Somerville Climate Action & Transition Somerville present
THE END OF SUBURBIA: Oil Depletion and the [...]

[ October 16, 2009; November 18, 2009; December 9, 2009; ] The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has posted the Draft EIR on the Green Line Extension into Somerville and Medford. It is important that all citizens of Somerville and Medford evaluate this document and give their feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. Citizens should particularly look at the proposed mitigation of effects of this development on the surrounding neighborhoods.