Somerville news blog city forum massachusetts journal newspaper MA

Subscribe to Melissa McWhinney's feed Subscribe to this author's feed

“Somerville Reads” Together

Posted by at 9:59 pm on March 5, 2010

This spring, Somerville is launching its first “one city, one book” campaign, a community reading project in which people all over the City will be encouraged to read and discuss the same book.

The…

Read More..>>

Posted in Accessibility, All Ages, Arts and Culture, Civil and Human Rights, Events, Pedestrians | 10 Comments »

Haitian Coalition fundraiser for Haiti in Somerville!

Posted by at 2:47 pm on February 24, 2010

As Franklin Delambert, Executive Director of the Haitian Coalition, says, it will be an evening of solidarity.

Read More..>>

Posted in Announcements, Economy & Poverty, Events | No Comments »

Trainings on how to complete TPS forms (Temporary Protected Status) for Haitians

Posted by at 9:11 pm on February 16, 2010

Here are several immediate local opportunities to become trained in how to assist Haitians in completing TPS (Temporary Protected Status) applications and fee waivers. Trainings are being provided by Nancy Kelly, an immigration attorney at…

Read More..>>

Posted in Civil and Human Rights, Events, Immigration, Special | No Comments »

Meeting Friday night 1/22 about Haitian TPS status

Posted by at 10:17 pm on January 21, 2010

The goal of this meeting is to provide accurate information about Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which was granted last Friday to Haitians living in the United States in response to last week’s earthquake.

Read More..>>

Posted in Civil and Human Rights, Economy & Poverty, Events, Immigration, Public Health & Safety | No Comments »

Harvest the Wind Festival, in Medford

Posted by at 8:00 pm on September 11, 2009

I’m a fan of wind energy (excuse the pun.)  I remember when the powers-that-be in Somerville decided that there wasn’t enough wind power at Assembly Square to make a turbine worthwhile, but somehow Medford has enough wind a mile or so up the river.  Maybe we just have hot air!  In any case, every single time I’ve gone past Medford’s turbine, it’s spinning.…

Read More..>>

Posted in Announcements, Environment and Open Space, Events | 4 Comments »

Freedom of Information (furthering investigative journalism)

Posted by at 8:31 am on June 12, 2009

These are my notes from the great Freedom of Information conference, held at the Boston Globe, 5/1/09 (Bill Shelton was there and had taken part in the planning of it as a member of the sponsoring New England First Amendment Coalition) As an aside, I will say I’ve already used www.pipl.com a bunch of times since the conference and the information that comes up is frequently quite interesting!…

Read More..>>

Posted in Public Records / FOIA Requests | 1 Comment »

Ridiculous bill to sterilize wind instruments

Posted by at 8:30 am on

The message below was sent by Richard Saunders, Director of Music for the Somerville Public Schools. He is rightfully outraged by a bill currently being considered by the House of Representatives, (Bill H111)which would require school music department to sterilize instruments. Here’s a Globe article about it. …

Read More..>>

Posted in City Finances, Schools and Youth, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Walk to Save Our Homes in Somerville

Posted by at 11:02 pm on April 10, 2009

I’m inviting you to please either become involved, or send a pledge to me, to support the 6th annual Walk to Save Our Homes.  This is an effort to raise money that will be used to keep Somerville families and individuals from homelessness.  This 5K walk is on Sunday April 26, registration at 1:30 in front of the Somerville High School Atrium, with the walk itself starting at 2:00. You can support this effort in any one of four ways.…

Read More..>>

Posted in Announcements, Housing | No Comments »

How to get the real dirt!

Posted by at 10:34 pm on

Apropos of Barry’s belief that Somerville needs more and better investigative reporting, you can learn to do it yourself!  Northeastern University School of Journalism and the New England First Amendment Center are offering a May…

Read More..>>

Posted in Announcements, Media, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Surveillance Camera Public Hearing

Posted by at 3:12 pm on March 31, 2009

Reminder:  Tonight at 7:00 at City Hall is the hearing on surveillance cameras.  Below is an op-ed that appeared in last week’s Somerville Journal.  Please come and give your opinion tonight!  Thanks,

Melissa…

Read More..>>

Posted in Civil and Human Rights, Events, Public Health & Safety | No Comments »

Surveillance camera hearing tonight!

Posted by at 3:09 pm on

Reminder:  Tonight at 7:00 at City Hall is the hearing on surveillance cameras.  Below is an op-ed that appeared in last week’s Somerville Journal.  Please come and give your opinion tonight!  Thanks,

Melissa…

Read More..>>

Posted in Civil and Human Rights, Public Health & Safety | 3 Comments »

College Goal Sunday

Posted by at 10:41 pm on January 18, 2009

Read more information here

Read More..>>

Posted in Events, Schools and Youth | No Comments »

College Goal Sunday, 2pm Jan 25, SHS

Posted by at 10:38 pm on

I’m helping the School Department with publicity for College Goal Sunday, on January 25 at 2:00, in the Somerville High School cafeteria. Please pass this information on to students who could use some help completing the FAFSA financial aid form.

Read More..>>

Posted in Schools and Youth | No Comments »