You’ll see a lot of “best of” lists this week. At The Welcome Project, we”ve compiled our own list. Times remain tough for immigrant families, but with support from the community, we accomplished a lot in 2010. We have chosen 5 highlights from our work this year.

That’s a pretty bold statement made by Phantom Gourmet on facebook.

A firestorm was ignited when a recent front page Boston Globe story reported that Upper Crust Pizza, a rapidly-growing local chain, hired and exploited illegal immigrant workers from Brazil.

The groups fighting for the inclusion of local residents and union jobs on the proposed MaxPac development petitioned the Board of Aldermen on December 22 to hold a hearing on the Covenant language for union jobs that KSS Realty signed with the City of Somerville.

Property owners need to keep snow and ice from accumulating on their walkways. But what is the City’s responsibility?

…

Somerville is home to many interesting and accomplished comic artists. Today’s posting features the art of Tim Finn and Raul Gonzalez.
(Part 5 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

Boston Free Radio offers a unique opportunity for aspiring DJs and radio producers in Massachusetts. The new Internet radio station, streaming from BostonFreeRadio.com and based in Somerville, is open to the participation of any Massachusetts…

On November 29, 2010, the state Architectural Access Board voted to accept the Armory architect’s Plan 1.1b, dated October 17, 2010, which will provide for an accessible entrance ramp for this much-used Somerville facility.

A friend of mine is organizing a winter solstice flashmob. Her message: “The Winter Solstice is Tuesday, 12/21 (same date, forwards and back!) at 6:38 pm.  Come to the Prospect Hill Tower at 6:30 and bring light & music makers—flashlights, cell phones, sparklers, drums, kazoos, trumpets, fiddles …. …

Come enjoy and appreciate the hard work and talents of the student performers from Somerville High School and Somerville’s elementary schools as they put on their annual production. This year they will be presenting “Willy…

Tonight on Greater Somerville, host KyAnn Anderson speaks with Founding Executive Director of Somerville Local First, Joe Grafton, and Executive Director of the Somerville Arts Council, Gregory Jenkins, about shopping locally, the Illuminations Holiday Tour…

Drought, climate change, and even war are all directly related to the way we are treating dirt. State Representative Denise Provost and Somerville Climate Action present: DIRT! THE MOVIE, followed by a discussion

Cases include revision to a special permit for 199 residential units at 56-61 Clyde Street and review of six ZBA cases.

The following programs are available at the Veterans Memorial Rink in Somerville.

As reported by Andy Metzger in the SJ and Tom Nash on Post Somerville, the Mayor has commissioned a report exposing problems in the City’s Inspectional Services Division (ISD). Below is the full report, as posted by Post Somerville.…

On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, December 10 is celebrated around the world as Human Rights Day.

This year’s theme is:  SPEAK UP STOP DISCRIMINATION.…

As promised, here’s the lineup of family films that we’ll be showing at the Central Library one Saturday afternoon per month at 2:00 p.m.

January 15th:
Muppets from Space

February 12th:

[Posted for Paul Bockelman] Local celebrity Tom Champion, known as “the Voice of Somerville,” will make a special guest appearance Saturday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. when the Somerville Community Chorus closes its 25th anniversary…

Somerville, Boston and Cambridge Human rights activists encouraged the BOA Public Health and Safety Committee to allow economic integration, safety, inclusion and accessibility to trump aesthetics at a recent Meeting.

Please join the Somerville Bicycle Committee on Saturday evening, Dec 18, to celebrate the coming of winter and year round cycling. We will enjoy a casual bike tour to see some of the city’s…

A lot of Somervillians care about inclusion. Here are 10 examples of easily removable barriers with easy-to-implement solutions!

A few weeks ago I posted a question: what would draw you to a free film at the Library?  I got a small amount of feedback through the Library’s blog, Facebook, and by talking with…

We will be prioritizing our action list this meeting. We are looking for new members to help us with our mission of extending the Community Path (along part of the future Green Line route) to the Charles River.
Meeting is at the VNA, 259 Lowell Street.

The agenda includes the MBTA Green Line Maintenance Facility, including air rights and a possible stadium, and impacts of the Green Line track layout around Brickbottom.

Putting the Grand Junction in use will increase rail traffic next to Brickbottom, which already lives with existing Commuter Rail service and shortly will live with the Green Line extension.

This is the true story of how the City of Somerville stonewalled my request for public records and then went out of its way to satisfy a very similar request by BU’s New England Center for Investigative Reporting (NECIR).…

See case summaries and read my update in Help discover the relationship between ICE and Somerville police

Come share ideas for improving our community blog!

Sunday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Visiting Nurses assisted living community, 259 Lowell Street…

I love getting thoughtful emails from readers with questions, feedback, suggestions and stories. I received the following email a few days ago, and it raises an interesting question.

I read your blog all the

On December 6 at 6 pm, Alderman White and the Public Safety Committee will hold a Special Hearing to understand the justification for using brick paver materials in the recently constructed Somerville Avenue crosswalks. The vibrations from such materials hurts wheelchair drivers, and causes additional discomfort for people with visual and balance impairments.

Somerville is home to many interesting and accomplished comic artists. Today’s posting features the art of Pat Davidson and B. Douglas De Rocher.
(Part 4 of a multipart article on comic art in Somerville, first published in Somerville Scout, Fall 2010.)

On Saturday, December 4th, Somerville comes alive with a bounty of holiday shopping.  An array craft markets and retail events all taking place this day makes Somerville the place to find something for everyone on…

As someone who does not own a car, I am already accustomed to the life of a pedestrian living around the edges of a world designed for cars. But I was completely unprepared for how dramatically marginalized I would feel trying to navigate the streets by wheelchair.

Following Alderman White’s assurance that the Board was only voting for the DIF and not on the actual bonds to fund the DIF, the Somerville Board of Aldermen voted 9-1 (Alderman Gewirtz dissented; Alderman Trane recused himself) to move the proposed Assembly Square DIF to the full Board for a vote at the Special Meeting scheduled for this Thursday.  …

If implemented as planned, this DIF will very likely result in developments that only cover debt service on the DIF bonds themselves. The rest of Somerville will pay for the city services required by those developments.

If implemented incorrectly, self-storage in Assembly Square could discourage higher-value uses, which we need more than ever now that infrastructure and Orange Line funding have gone away.

This Thursday, December 2nd, come to Davis Square and experience Midnight Madness! This event is put on by DARBI (Davis Area Resident/Business Initiative) every year to help support local retailers.

Special shopping hours are…

Residents of Somerville concerned about the development of the old MaxPak paper factory where 199 units of new housing are being built will picket and rally for jobs at the entrance to the site (56-61 Clyde Street) in Somerville, MA on Thursday, Dec 2 from 6:00 to 9:00 AM.…

Press Release                                       Contact:  Meridith Levy

Somerville Community Corporation

617 776 5931×242

Somerville, MA—participants of Community Corridor Planning (CCP) will be presenting a Community Action Agenda on December 2nd, 2010 at the Capuano…

This new film by SCATV Executive Director Wendy Blom looks at the science behind climate change and how Somerville organizations, government, and residents are working to adapt to the changes that are predicted for the area. …

At this meeting, the group will review the draft Comprehensive Plan. Somerville’s citywide development for the next twenty years will be shaped by the comprehensive plan. This is a public meeting; any citizen is entitled to observe.

The Capacity to Live a Full & Creative Life: this is what we want for our children, our youth, and ourselves! Come to a community-created art exhibit featuring art created by Somerville artists ages 8 to 88.