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Puglia reacts to new parking fee increases

Posted by a 11:28 am on June 30, 2011

City government should not misrepresent its hostile revenue-boosting scheme as a policy to improve parking conditions. For many residents it imposes greater hardship.

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Posted in Announcements, City Finances, Politics, Press Release, Traffic & Parking | 5 Comments »

IKEA Object of Social Justice Action

Posted by a 8:15 am on

The following email was sent to me as a subscriber to Change.org. I have forwarded the body of the notice, and you will find the link to the online petition in the text of the story. It brings to mind the maxim that if it sounds too good to be true (as with the detente reached by parties to  Assembly Sq. development/IKEA), it probably is.…

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Posted in Announcements, Assembly Square, Civic Action, Development and Zoning, Economy & Poverty, Neighborhoods and Squares, Politics, Workers' Rights | 1 Comment »

Parts and Crafts Summer Camp starts this week!

Posted by a 10:44 am on June 27, 2011

A whole summer of invention and creation!   We’ll have our art / electronics workbench, a bunch of hand-tools, building supplies, scrap materials, air pumps, hot glue, duct tape, etc. Things will be attached to wheels…

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Posted in Arts and Culture, Schools and Youth | No Comments »

6/27/11 Planning Board Meeting

Posted by a 7:33 pm on June 26, 2011

The agenda includes a (continued) public hearing for final approval of the PUD for Assembly Square Block 10 and a hearing for constructing a restaurant on the site. The 378-390 Somerville Avenue hearing is being continued to July 14.

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Posted in Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares, Orange Line, Ward 1 | No Comments »

JOIN THE CIRCUS NEXT WEEK

Posted by a 11:50 am on June 24, 2011

OPENAIR CIRCUS CLASSES START NEXT WEEK!

This is a great summer program for kids as young as three through teens and adults.  Tumbling for two is for parent/child teams.  It’s local, affordable, and fun. …

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Posted in Arts and Culture, Schools and Youth | No Comments »

R.I.P. Joe Medeiros

Posted by a 7:39 pm on June 23, 2011

Joe Medeiros, man about town, disability rights activist, and wry humorist, died June 14.  He would have turned 91 on June 21, 2011.

 

The Somerville Home held a lovely Memorial Service for…

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Posted in Announcements, Civil and Human Rights, Seniors | 1 Comment »

Ward 6 Community Meeting/ResiStat Mon. June 27

Posted by a 10:58 am on June 22, 2011

Greetings all. Just a reminder about next week’s community meeting: On Monday, June 27, 6:30-8 p.m., please join Mayor Curtatone, Alderman Gewirtz, at-large aldermen, City officials…

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Posted in Announcements, Ball Square, City Finances, Davis Square, Events, Politics, Ward 6 | No Comments »

Johnny D’s/Loose Change Band End Homelessness Bash, June 29th!

Posted by a 3:05 pm on June 21, 2011

Somerville residents interested in a night of social action and rock and roll are invited to come out Wed., June 29th, for a mid-week benefit titled “Johnny D’s End Homelessness Bash”. The benefit will be…

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Posted in All Ages, Davis Square, Economy & Poverty, Events, Press Release | No Comments »

6/20/11 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee

Posted by a 7:17 pm on June 19, 2011

The agenda includes annotating city maps with possible locations of transformational districts, neighborhood infill districts, and other land use categories.

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Posted in All Ages, Beat Reporter, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares, Orange Line | No Comments »

Mystic Market Starts tomorrow at 11am!

Posted by a 11:53 am on June 17, 2011

Come check out the new mobile market that is opening tomorrow at the Mystic Housing Development. You can find details on our Facebook page…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mystic-Market/112095808882083…

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Magic For Smart People – Bob The Magic Guy

Posted by a 10:00 pm on June 16, 2011

Somerville Theater, Saturday, June 25
2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, 1 hr 15 min
Appropriate for age 8 & up. Limited seating.
Reservations call 617-661-8021 not the theater. Last shows sold out.
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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Culture | No Comments »

Joe’s Repetitive, Discriminatory Jazz

Posted by a 11:54 am on June 14, 2011

Mayor Joe Curtatone of Somerville has made plans to discriminate yet again, during the 2011 Joe’s Jazz and Blues Fest, curated by the Somerville Arts Council.

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Posted in Accessibility, Civil and Human Rights | No Comments »

6/23/11 Planning Board Meeting

Posted by a 2:09 pm on June 12, 2011

The agenda includes a (continued) public hearing for final approval of the PUD for Assembly Square Block 10 and also a hearing for constructing a restaurant in Assembly Square.

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Posted in All Ages, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Housing, Orange Line | 1 Comment »

6/22/11 Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

Posted by a 2:05 pm on

Among other business, the agenda includes converting an auto parts warehouse business to personal trainer and artist studios.

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Posted in All Ages, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Housing, Neighborhoods and Squares, Special, Transportation | No Comments »

6/13/11 Design Review Committee Meeting

Posted by a 1:56 pm on

Among other business, the agenda includes reviewing the PUD for Assembly Square Block 10 and a proposed restaurant in Assembly Square.

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Posted in All Ages, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Orange Line | No Comments »

Notes on Surviving a Graduation at Dilboy

Posted by a 9:43 pm on June 9, 2011

These notes are partly for myself, since I’ll have another child graduating from Somerville High in a few years…

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Posted in Schools and Youth, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Class Day was Friday/Graduation Tonight!

Posted by a 3:18 pm on June 6, 2011


The auditorium was unusually sparkly for Class Day. Each senior stood for applause as their achievements were named. Up…

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Posted in Schools and Youth | No Comments »

Oppose the draft state regs on teacher evaluation

Posted by a 10:12 pm on June 5, 2011

If you think there’s already too much focus on test scores in our schools, you should know it’s about to get worse.…

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Posted in Schools and Youth | 7 Comments »

6/25/11 Inner Belt Brickbottom Plan Public Meeting and Walkshop

Posted by a 12:14 pm on June 4, 2011

The Inner Belt, soon to have a new Green Line T-Stop, is one of the few locations in Somerville still available for transformation into an economic powerhouse for Somerville.

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Posted in All Ages, Beat Reporter, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Green Line, Transportation Projects, Ward 1 | No Comments »

Artist Karen Aqua, 1954- 2011

Posted by a 7:34 pm on June 3, 2011

Karen Aqua passed away May 30, 2011.  She was a warm, funny, incredible human being and a brilliant artist and animator, and she shared her extraordinary work and process with great candor and kindness in…

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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Culture | 2 Comments »

When will Somerville get a PLAN?

Posted by a 1:18 pm on June 2, 2011

FCC Chair Genachowski says that, by next April, cities across the country will have access to a new technology just launched in New York City-to send critical emergency alerts to residents’ mobile phones when public safety is threatened. This new technology and service is called the Personal Localized Alerting Network, a.k.a., PLAN. Would it benefit Somerville?

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Posted in Accessibility, Health Care, Public Health & Safety, Seniors | 1 Comment »

Home Modification Loan Program

Posted by a 4:43 pm on June 1, 2011

The MRC recently redesigned their brochure for the Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP). This is a well-funded state low-interest loan program for projects to allow elders, adults with disAbilities, and families with children with disAbilities to keep living independently. Information for Somerville residents included in this post.

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Posted in Accessibility, Civil and Human Rights, Housing, Seniors | No Comments »

First Annual Somerville Public Schools Choral Festival

Posted by a 12:26 pm on

Wednesday, June 8th from 1:00-3:00 PM at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue)

The First Annual Somerville Public Schools Choral Festival featuring the Grammy award winning Swingle Singers from London, The Spivey Hall Childrens…

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Posted in Arts and Culture, Events, Schools and Youth | No Comments »

6/9/11 Planning Board Meeting

Posted by a 7:09 pm on May 30, 2011

The agenda includes a public hearing for final approval of the PUD for Assembly Square Block 10 and also a hearing for constructing a restaurant in Assembly Square.

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Posted in All Ages, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Orange Line | No Comments »

6/8/11 Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting

Posted by a 7:06 pm on

Among other business, the agenda includes establishing a bus and taxi rental, storage and servicing use on 21 Third Avenue in the Inner Belt. (Somerville could want to use the Inner Belt for a higher use at this point.)

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Posted in All Ages, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Events, Green Line, Neighborhoods and Squares, Transportation, Transportation Projects, Ward 1 | No Comments »

6/11 Green Line Station Design Public Workshops

Posted by a 7:00 pm on

MassDOT and the MBTA are hosting a series of Green Line station design workshops, one for each proposed stop. It is important to integrate the new Green Line stations with the community and with the proposed Community Path. Your participation can help with this process.

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Posted in All Ages, Ball Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, East Somerville, Events, Green Line, Transportation Projects, Union Square | 2 Comments »

350 Actions Challenge Kick-Off

Posted by a 12:19 pm on May 26, 2011

Join us for an evening of festivities, fun and film as we kick off our new campaign
to get 350 NEW actions to make Somerville a cleaner, greener, healthier place to live

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Posted in All Ages, Announcements, Civic Action, Environment and Open Space, Events, Media, Neighborhoods and Squares, Press Release, Public Health & Safety, Schools and Youth, Union Square | No Comments »

A2Empowerment benefit featuring The Mood Swings

Posted by a 10:25 pm on May 24, 2011

A2Empowerment will hold a phenomenally fun benefit event featuring Boston’s fantastic, one-and-only all-women swing orchestra, The Mood Swings.  Join us June 18th, 2011 at the George Dilboy VFW Post in Davis Square, Somerville, from 7-11…

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Posted in Arts and Culture, Davis Square, Events, Press Release, Schools and Youth | No Comments »

Ward 6 ResiStat Community Meeting Date Change

Posted by a 1:11 pm on May 18, 2011

Please note that the Ward 6 ResiStat Community Meeting has been rescheduled. Originally planned for Tuesday, May 24, the meeting will now be held Monday, June 27, 6:30-8 p.m. at Ciampa Manor, 27 College Ave., Davis…

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Posted in Announcements, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares, Ward 6 | No Comments »

5/9/11 – 6/9/11 Ch. 91 Tideways Comment Period on Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop (Ref: #W11-3326)

Posted by a 12:55 pm on May 15, 2011

This is one of the final hurdles for the long-awaited Orange Line T-Stop at Assembly Square. Please support this development. A T-Stop at Assembly Square will unlock the potential of the site and make possible what Somerville has wanted for more than a decade.

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Posted in All Ages, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, City Finances, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Orange Line, Special, Transportation Projects | 1 Comment »

5/9/11 – 6/9/11 Ch. 91 Tideways Comment Period on Wellington Bridge (Rt. 28) Boardwalk (Ref: #W11-3316)

Posted by a 7:31 pm on May 8, 2011

This is one of the final hurdles for the boardwalk under the Wellington Bridge where Rt. 28 passes over the Mystic River at Assembly Square. Please support this development. Lack of a safe, convenient path under Rt. 28 has severed 10 Hills from Assembly Square for a long time.

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Posted in Accessibility, Assembly Square, Beat Reporter, Development and Zoning, Environment and Open Space, Events, Special | No Comments »

Spring ResiStat Meetings Start Monday, May 9, 6:30 p.m.

Posted by a 10:42 am on May 3, 2011

Neighborhood Meetings in Each of the City’s Seven Wards Start May 9

Meet with the Mayor, your ward and at-large aldermen, City officials, Somerville Police representatives, and your neighbors to get updates on City and Ward news and discuss the issues important to you. Each meeting will include a presentation as well as an open Q&A from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. where you can bring up your concerns and ideas. A Meet & Greet with light refreshments from 7:30 to 8 p.m. will follow and conversations can continue there. All locations are wheelchair accessible.…

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Posted in Announcements, Civic Action, Events, Neighborhoods and Squares, Politics, Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 6, Ward 7 | No Comments »

2011 Saturday Afternoon Family Films at the Library

Posted by a 1:05 am on December 10, 2010

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:

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Posted in All Ages, Announcements, Arts and Culture, Events, Special | No Comments »

Library announces film series lineup for 2011

Posted by a 12:15 pm on December 6, 2010

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…

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Posted in Announcements, Arts and Culture, Events | No Comments »