(Part 3) 61 Medford Street. Liquid Nitrogen tank at Biogen, safety concerns, approved. 13A Beacon. Expand windows, replace other windows. Approved. 26 Wheatland St. Condo construction without permit, halt order. Triple permit fee charged. 24 Fairmount. Permit to rectify a basement apartment, never legal. Accepted staff recommendation. 162 Highland. Vote to reaffirm previous rate.

This is the regular meeting of the MBTA Rider Oversight Committee, which provides recommendations to the MBTA to improve service quality. Somerville’s use of public transit, already high, will increase as the Green Line Extension and Assembly Square Orange Line stop come in.

(Part 2) Public hearing on Ocean State Job Lot at 299 Broadway. Four in favor, twelve against. One report of possible grocery store. Written testimony accepted until noon Friday, August 27. Discussion to resume Thursday, Sept. 2, at 6 PM.

(Part 1) The Planning Board voted 5-0 to DENY the special permit to subdivide One Benton Road to add a second condo development for the reason that no conditions could assuage the issues of public safety, devaluation of neighbors’ property, previous character of the site, and scale. [COMMENT: The city evidently expects litigation as a result of this decision.]

The combined talents of Somerville writer and Artistic Director Carl Danielson, composer and Musical Director Andy Hicks; and a savvy, funny cast and crew called “Unreliable Narrator Theater Group” benefit Equality Now!

This year’s tournament will be held at the Wayland Country Club in Wayland, Mass, September 10th. … All proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization and the programs and services it provides to the homeless and near-homeless in Somerville and the Greater Boston area.

Seven new Green Line train stations are planned to open in 2015, impacting existing Somerville residents and housing in many ways. Community Corridor Planning (CCP) is a grassroots coalition made up of people who want to preserve and expand diversity and affordable housing in Somerville.…

We’re excited about getting back to school at the beginning of next month! …

Second community meeting. Mixed response from neighborhood. Some felt something was better than nothing, others thought we should stick to the new zoning plan. Key point: minimum 10 year lease, could be as long as 25 years. City expects change in neighborhood in 10 years, after Green Line comes in.

This is the regular monthly meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The Strategic Planning staff is drafting the Comprehensive Plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

This is the regular meeting of the Somerville Planning Board. This meeting will deal with an ongoing and sometimes controversial Somerville development, Ocean State Job Lot at 299 Broadway. The Planning Board holds public hearings and grants permits for special districts, such as Planned Unit Developments.

This forum features Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation to the Obama Administration. Accessibility is an important requirement for the new Green Line Extension and Orange Line T-Stops.

This is the regular meeting of the Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA, which provides input to the MBTA on issues of handicapped access to public transit. The MBTA is under court order to improve handicapped access to MBTA facilities. Somerville’s need for accessible public transit is bound to increase as the Green Line Extension and Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop come in.

Local Roots Food and Music Festival tickets available online at Brown Paper Tickets!

Hey folks!

You can now purchase tickets for the Local Roots Food and Music Festival online at Brown Paper Tickets!…

Somerville Community Access Television is starting a 12-session Next Generation Producers afterschool media club for Somerville middle school students.  The club will meet on Wednesdays, beginning on September 21, from 3:30 to 5:30 at 90…

Here are John, Thomas, Michael and Danny stretching out for day 4 of their Trek for the Somerville Homeless Coalition (somervillehomelesscoalition.org) yesterday.  They are blogging a little as they go.  (Can you believe they have WiFi at campgrounds these days?) Read their comments on their website at https://sites.google.com/site/crossmass/home .…

This is a rescheduled meeting of the Somerville Planning Board. The original meeting was scheduled 8/19. This meeting deals with ongoing and sometimes controversial Somerville developments: One Benton Road and Ocean State Job Lots at 299 Broadway.

This meeting was called by Ocean State Job Lot to reintroduce themselves as a potential tenant at 299 Broadway, the former Star Market site. The previous meeting did not elicit public support. This meeting is worth attending because this use is inconsistent with the new Winter Hill zoning, could tie up the site for a long time, and could affect local property values.

Three years after the Somerville Avenue Reconstruction Project began, Union Square businesses are still hindered by lack of thoughtful pedestrian planning during construction; and Union Square residents, visitors and workers are still unable to walk these streets with confidence and comfort.

Currently the Steering Committee is working on policies and actions to implement the plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan.

This meeting was devoted entirely to passing the proposed modifications to the Preliminary Master Plan for Assembly Square. The Planning Staff had asked Federal Realty to generalize the use mix from Office and R&D because Somerville zoning has a very narrow definition of Office use. Federal Realty widened the definition to include all Somerville uses under special permit. The Planning Board stated that in the absence of any opposition, they would waive the reading of the 70 conditions and voted to approve the changes to the PUD. Some citizens present had expected to have a period for written comment before the vote.

The first annual Great Somerville Campout is fast approaching! Please
spread the word…

Weather permitting, the Campout will be held from 4:00 p.m. Saturday,
Aug. 7th until Sunday, Aug. 8th. Join us by the…

“little critters”
A group show of pet inspired art

The Nave Gallery
Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church
155 Powderhouse Blvd
Somerville, MA 02144
www.navegallery.org

EXHIBIT DATES
August 6-29, 2010
Opening Reception Friday August 6…

For the seventh consecutive year, Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) will partner with the City of Somerville and the Somerville Police Department to host the local celebration of the National Night Out Against Crime and…

Starting this Friday (August 6), four rising seniors from Somerville High’s Track and Cross Country teams will “trek” from a spot near the Quabbin Reservoir to the Aquarium Wharf (approximately 80 miles) to raise funds to support the Somerville Homeless Coalition.…

Project STAR , Summer Theatre Arts Recreation, sponsored by the mayors’s office,the recreation Commission and the communications department presents Project STAR. A 6 week music and theater camp for kids ages 11 to 18. Last…

Kids, Clowns, Talent, Crazy Fun.

This is the third in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

This is the second in the 8-part Free Webinar Series on Designing for Pedestrian Safety being given by the Federal Highway Administration and the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. Pedestrian and bicycle safety is essential to the success of the new Assembly Square roadways and Orange Line T-Stop and around the new Green Line stops.

At this meeting we will discuss the progress of the infrastructure improvements, Ch 91 licenses, and a proposed amendment to the Assembly Square Master Plan. This meeting is important because it provides a last chance to weigh into the development process at Assembly Square.