Announcements

We’re excited about getting back to school at the beginning of next month!
Please share the following back to school dates and resources with your colleagues, members and constituents. The 2010-2011 school year calendar is available online in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/calendar. All of these dates are also [...]

[ September 11, 2010; 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] 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!

Click to purchase tickets today!

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When: September 11th, 5pm – 10pm (rain date of Sunday, September 12th)

Where: The Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal [...]

[ July 30, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. July 31, 2010; 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. August 1, 2010; 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] Kids, Clowns, Talent, Crazy Fun.

OPENAIR Circus presents its 25th season Big Top performance

July 30 & 31, and August 1, 2010

Families from Greater Somerville will be amazing and amusing audiences under the big tent at Nunziato Field, at the corner of Vinal Ave. and Summer Street near Union Square.

Founded in 1986 by Somerville parents, [...]

Somerville Youth Hockey is seeking energetic men & women (ages 25 +)  to be good teachers and be willing to develop, mentor and administer our growing program for our Mites, Squirts, Pee Wee, Bantams & Midgets. Coaches are unlimited, but hockey coaches who are truly professional, passionate, and can effectively communicate their knowledge are rare.
SYHA [...]

[ July 26, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. July 28, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. July 29, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Welcome to the 2010-2011 SYHA Season. We are very excited about the upcoming season and look forward to the opening of our new rink. Somerville Youth Hockey is always looking for more players. If you want to play youth hockey in a brand NEW rink, send an email to webmaster@somervilleyouthhockey.org. If you are interested in [...]

Somerville student work is on display in the Department of Education’s virtual art galleryhttp://www.doe.mass.edu/resources/kidart.aspx?page=51! See samples of youth art made in schools. Are you there? Is your child or teen’s work there?
For more information about the Visual Arts Department of the Somerville Public Schools please visit our website, www.somerville.k12.ma.us/arts.

[ July 26, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] The entire public, and particularly the neighbors and members of the East Somerville Community School community are invited to the next public meeting to discuss/learn about the progress of the renovation of the East Somerville Community School following the 2007 fire that devastated the building.

The meeting is on:
Monday, July 26, 2010
Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 [...]

Enter your guess online at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/contest. The person who comes closest to guessing the total amount by Thursday, 7/15 at 5:00 will win a Borders Gift Card.
You can also tweet your guess to www.twitter.com/svilleschools or enter your guess on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SomervillePublicSchools.
It has been a good year for our graduates. Can you guess how good?
Winners [...]

[ July 7, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] The public is invited to this hearing as part of the selection process for the next Chief of Police in Somerville. Community members are also invited to submit questions and comments in advance of the hearing by e-mailing chiefsearch@somervillema.gov. Attendees at the hearing will also have an opportunity to submit questions.

The finalists are…
Acting [...]

[ July 14, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Come to CSfC’s 2010 Election Campaign Kickoff on Wednesday, July 14, at 7pm and learn about how you can help us re-elect the governor, help Mac D’Alessandro win the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District, and defeat the states Sales Tax Reduction initiative.

[ June 24, 2010; 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. ] At this discussion we will review the DRAFT bullying plan, data that points to strategies for improving the implementation of the District’s award-winning Wellness Policy, and the plan for improving the implementation of the District’s Safe and Drug Free Schools Plan.

[ June 22, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] I would like to let people in Somerville and anywhere else know about a rally against the mayor and his wrong budget choices.

WHEN:  June 22, 2010 6 pm

WHERE:  City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143

The school custodians did everything but give a kidney to him and that was not good enough. The custodians are [...]

FREE MEALS ALL SUMMER FOR ALL YOUTH STARTING JUNE 28TH.

FREE Breakfast for ALL Somerville youth on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning on June 29th in Albion Park and Grimmons Park. FREE breakfast available between 9:45 -10:00 AM at Kidstop in Powderhouse Park beginning on July 6th.

FREE lunches are dropped off for for ALL Somerville Youth [...]

The OPENAIR Circus opens its doors for the 25th time this summer.  Each year, over a hundred children ages 3-15 learn self confidence and an appreciation for community and the arts through a great variety of circus skills, from juggling to stilting to stage combat, from hip hop to hula hoops.  [...]

The Mayor of Somerville has yet again stolen another idea from Cambridge: road races. He should be spending time and energy to help get us out of this financial crush.

[ June 17, 2010; 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. ] After a year of many successes and some direction setting work, we are excited to end one year and begin another!

Dear Friends of Somerville Schools,
I want to update you on the school budget process and to alert you to slight change of dates.
The Superintendent presented his proposed budget to the School Committee at the Public Hearing on June 10. Several members of the audience commented on the budget and its priorities.  Documents relevant to the [...]

FY11 Budget Update, School calendar, Bullying prevention, Summer reading, Summer activities, SPS on Twitter…

[ June 13, 2010; 12:00 pm to 3:45 pm. ] SOMERVILLE YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE

TRAVEL TEAM REGISTRATION INFORMATION – FALL 2010

FIELD EVALUATIONS – SUNDAY JUNE 13

All players who attend evaluations will be placed on a team.

Field evaluations are for all players born between Aug 1, 1998, and July 31, 2002 in order to form teams as players move up in the travel league. All [...]

[ July 7, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 8, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 14, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 15, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 21, 2010 10:00 am to July 22, 2010 12:00 pm. July 22, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 28, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. July 29, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. ] Somerville Community Access Television’s Next Generation Producer’s youth media program is offering an eight-session workshop in July for Somerville students ages 11 to 14. The workshop will be fun, educational, and creative.

The students will learn to use state-of-the-art media technology, including digital video equipment, digital still cameras, Photoshop, and Final Cut editing software. They will [...]

[ June 30, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] From www.Mass.gov/GreenLineExtension :
A public meeting on the FEIR will be held on Wednesday, June 30th at 6PM at the Somerville High School Auditorium.  The FEIR will be available on June 16 on the project website.  Comments are due to the MEPA Office by Jule 23, 2010.

Fellow Somervillans… I am proud to, once again, be the bearer of great news. Your community access television station has been selected as number one for nationwide excellence by the Alliance for Community Media… SCATV has been awarded this singular honor for the fifth time in the past six years.

Registration is now OPEN for the TOPSOCCER SUMMER PROGRAM!
Saturday June 19th – July 31st
10:00am – 11:00am
Capuano Field – 150 Glen Street, Somerville, MA
Open to special needs children of all ages & abilities.  TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by [...]

[ June 8, 2010; 6:30 pm; ] As a member of the Democratic City Committee, I received the following meeting announcement today:

Where : VNA, 259 Lowell St.

Agenda includes:

Election of a new Female Vice Chair
Reports from the State Democratic Convention
Presentation by the Tufts Employee Association by Will Erikson

[ June 6, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. ] The Paul Duhamel Education Initiative, in its 14th year, will be holding its 5th annual “Walk to Keep Kids in School,” walking for 2.5 miles along the Somerville Bike Path starting at Davis Square on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at 10 a.m. It will be held rain or shine and is sure to be a [...]

Nose-to-tail no-waste butcher needs a bit of help before June 14 to bring sustainable local meat to Somerville at affordable prices.

The Architectural Access Board will hold a Hearing on 18 Architectural Access Code Violations for Arts at the Armory facility on Monday, May 24, at 1 p.m.

back story: On February 8, Building Inspector Eddie Nuzzo provided sworn testimony to the Architectural Access Board (AAB) at a Variance Hearing to support the owner Joseph Sater’s request [...]

[ May 19, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] We’ll be holding the third meeting of the Somerville Coffee Party this Wednesday, May 19 at 7:00PM. It’s a great chance to talk about your vision for engaged, functional democracy, and particular steps we can take at the local level to make it happen. The meeting is at 14 Herbert Street (right behind Redbones). Join [...]

[ June 10, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] The time/location of this meeting is still to be determined. Please visit the “events” page of the Somerville Public Schools’ website, http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/events, or the “School Committee” page of the site, http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/school_committee, for additional details.

You can also follow the Somerville Public Schools on Twitter, @svilleschools monitor updates on the District’s Facebook Fan Page for event [...]

[ June 1, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] The time/location of this meeting is still to be determined. Please visit the “events” page of the Somerville Public Schools’ website, http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/events, or the “School Committee” page of the site, http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/school_committee, for additional details.

You can also follow the Somerville Public Schools on Twitter, @svilleschools monitor updates on the District’s Facebook Fan Page for event [...]

An all-present and accounted-for Gubernatorial Candidates Forum will be held May 18, 2010 from 1 p.m. – 3:30p.m. at the Perkins School in Watertown. WBUR’s Bob Oakes will be the Moderator.

[ May 12, 2010; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Join your neighbors to learn how the City is moving forward with its plans for the disposition of the Powder House Community School property. Discuss how we can keep our concerns about the reuse of this property at the forefront of the decision making process.

[ May 16, 2010; 1:30 pm; ] The 7th annual Save Our Homes Walk will be held on Sunday, May 16 at 2:00pm with registration beginning at 1:30pm.  The Walk begins and ends at Somerville High School’s Atrium and all are welcome and encouraged to join in our efforts to end homelessness in our City. 

Organized by the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC), [...]

[ May 8, 2010; ] Somerville, MA May 3rd 2010 – Somerville “mompreneur” Kerri Friedlander and husband Lucas today announced their intention to hold a Grand Opening sale at the Upland Road location of “TwinkleStar Boutique” in Porter Square on May 8th, 2010.

The couple originally established retail presence in Ball Square Somerville but took a chance to co-locate with a [...]

[ May 3, 2010; ] The Somerville Public Schools are OPEN all day tomorrow, May 3rd – and expect to be open throughout the water emergency. Students and staff are asked, if able, to bring their own safe, packaged beverages. Food service will be offering breakfast, lunch and snacks; the menu may be limited by the availability of [...]

[ May 8, 2010; 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Amethyst Center is again hosting a fundraiser for the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Saturday May 8, 1:00-5:00. “Nourish Your Well Being” will offer short treatments from its practitioners in exchange for a suggested $10 donation. This is the 13th benefit in 6 years that Amethyst has hosted for the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Amethyst’s practitioners include specialists [...]

[ May 2, 2010; 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. ] Come share your ideas for our community blog.

Sunday, May 2, 6 to 7:30 pm at the Somerville Visiting Nurses assisted living facility, 259 Lowell Street.

[ May 1, 2010; 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] Come join other parents to talk about the kind of education we want at the Healey School and the future of the Choice and Neighborhood programs. Parent’s input will be collected and presented to the School Committee.

[ May 17, 2010; 6:45 pm to 7:30 pm. ] The Somerville Public Schools will conduct a public hearing to determine participation in the school choice program for the 2010-2011 school year. *This is NOT a public hearing about the Choice program at the Healey School.*

PARTICIPATE IN POWDER HOUSE COMMUNITY SCHOOL REUSE FOCUS GROUP: The City of Somerville is seeking community volunteers to participate in a Powder House/Teele Square Focus Group. The Group will be led by City staff to gather community consensus on a vision for the future and identify steps to make that vision a reality. [...]

[ April 27, 2010; 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. ] Training for Healey parents that want to participate in online discussions about the future of the Healey school.

[ April 22, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] We’re going to get together and find strategies to fix our democracy, and then we’re going to put them into action. Bring your ideas and your energy. Join us.

The AGO, through its Division of Open Government is requesting public comment on proposed alternatives to the notice posting requirement in the Open Meeting Law. Comment should be submitted by April 23, 2010.

[ April 24, 2010; 6:00 pm; ] The Somerville Homeless Coalition will hold its annual dinner April 24th at the Center for the Arts at the Armory in Somerville beginning at 6:00 pm.  The dinner will recognize three people important to the work of the Coalition, have a Redbones dinner, a silent auction, and dancing to The Four Piece Suit.

We would love [...]

[ April 19, 2010; ] Save Our Somerville is running a soccer tournament on Patriots’ Day Monday, April 19th (pending permit approval, rain or shine). Even if you don’t play soccer, please come out and learn more about SOS events and spread the word.

[ June 8, 2010; 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Plan to Attend Taste of Somerville on June 8

Enjoy samples from 30 of the area’s favorite restaurants on June 8, from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Somerville Holiday Inn. This festive welcome to summer is presented by title sponsor, Triumvirate Environmental, and Door2Door Transportation by SCM, whose work providing community-based transportation is supported by the event. Tickets at www.tasteofsomerville.org. Follow restaurant additions on twitter @TasteofSomervil

The 2010 Somerville Open Studios is coming up soon!  This Friday, April 16, is the opening reception for the Artists’ Choice Exhibit at the Somerville Museum, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Approximately 200 artists will have work in this year’s show.

Are you a parent/guardian of a grade PK-8 student in the Somerville Public Schools? Look for your complimentary copy of the first edition of Chop Chop, a new healthy cooking magazine for families, in your child’s backpack next week.
Special thanks to the Office of Mayor Curtatone for making it possible to distribute this magazine [...]

[ April 30, 2010; 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City.

April 30, 2010. 6-10 pm. Arts at the Armory.

Tickets $40.

Features food from an eclectic mix of local Somerville immigrant-run restaurants: Mexican, Tibetan, Mediterranean, Brazilian, Portuguese, Thai, Haitian, Italian, Ethiopian, Indian, Peruvian (Full list of YUM Restaurants here). Music by Yarina (check it out). Dance performances. A benefit [...]

[ April 8, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] We’ll be joined by Acting Somerville Police Chief Michael Cabral for a discussion to include the following topics: * the 2008 Romelus Police Beating Case * Private security contractors in Somerville * DHS Surveillance Cameras * The idea of creating a public oversight board for the SPD

Have you downloaded your copy of the amended 2009-2010 school year calendar?
If you haven’t please be aware that Wednesday, April 7th is now a 1/2 day for all students. The last day of school is currently scheduled for June 22nd.
Visit the website of the Somerville Public Schools to get a copy of the new [...]

The Somerville Youth Soccer web team has been working on a new site for the league. It is up and running and we hope you will find it useful. Log onto www.somervillesoccer.us
To improve communication between the league and parents, we have setup a service whereby anyone can sign up to have league announcements emailed to [...]

[ March 22, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. March 23, 2010; 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. March 24, 2010; 9:00 am to 11:00 am. March 25, 2010; 9:00 am to 11:00 am. March 31, 2010; 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. April 6, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. April 8, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. April 13, 2010; 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. April 14, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY HEARD…
• Somerville High School’s drop-out rate continues to be on the decline. Get details in the press release issued by the Office of the Superintendent on Tuesday, March 16th, online at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/news
• Due to snow closures, the last day of school is NOW June 22nd. Get the new 2009-2010 school [...]

[ March 31, 2010; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] What’s Next For the Powder House Community School?

WHY :       The City is moving ahead with plans to rezone and sell the Powder House School property.

WHAT :    Join your neighbors to learn about the City’s planning process, discuss how redevelopment might impact the neighborhood, and find out how we can ensure [...]

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick spoke in the inaccessible Somerville High School auditorium this past Monday March 8, 2010, celebrating the fact that Somerville, MA was named one of the 10 All America Cities, 2009, by the National League of Cities.
A week later, the Somerville Arts Council- which enjoys American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding, [...]

[ April 5, 2010; ] The Somerville Public Schools invites you to tell your stories about learning and teaching in Somerville in our Spring 2010 Digital Photography contest. Complete submissions received by April 5th will have the chance to win a $50 gift card from Tufts University and the opportunity to have their photos printed in the Somerville News [...]

[ February 26, 2010; 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. ] As Franklin Delambert, Executive Director of the Haitian Coalition, says, it will be an evening of solidarity.

[ February 24, 2010; 7:00 pm; ] Davis Square Task Force Meeting

Wed. Feb. 24, 7:00 PM

Tufts Administration Building (TAB)
169 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the Davis Square Task Force, one of the longest running activist groups in Somerville. It came into existence around the extension of the Red Line to Davis Square.

This group is important [...]

[ February 24, 2010; 1:00 pm; ] MPO Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA Meeting

Wed. Feb. 24 1:00 PM

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

Agenda (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Access Advisory Committee. This committee was created to improve transit access and services for people with disabilities.

This meeting is [...]

[ February 22, 2010; 6:00 pm; 7:00 pm; February 23, 2010; 6:00 pm; 7:00 pm; February 24, 2010; 6:00 pm; 7:00 pm; February 25, 2010; 6:00 pm; 7:00 pm; ] The Somerville Youth Hockey Association is holding tryouts on Saturday Feb 20th offering it’s 10 and under girls-only try out!

This is for our first time players age 10 and under (birth year 2000 or after) in order to create an all-girls team for the Stoneham “buzzer” league for the 2010-2011 season.

Try outs start at 9:45 and [...]

[ February 28, 2010; 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm. ] The Boston bellydance community is shakin’ it all back together! Join us for a glamorous afternoon of compassion in motion.

[ March 6, 2010; 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. ] Las Vegas comes to Somerville – Get out your shark skin suit and your sequins –  come and gamble for a good cause at Davis Square’s swinging VFW!!
Somerville Childrens Network
3rd Casino Night
Have fun, build community, and support a great cause!
Somerville Childrens Network (SCN) is a 501c3 non-profit created to support diverse, family-friendly, community-building initiatives.
Funds [...]

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has reached an agreement with five Somerville waste disposal companies, collectively known as Russell, and its corporate officers… to pay $70,000 to 352 current and former employees as well as a $20,000 penalty to the Commonwealth to resolve allegations that the company violated the Massachusetts Wage and Hour Laws. In addition, Russell has agreed to a two-year monitoring and compliance plan.

[ January 20, 2010; 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. January 21, 2010; 8:30 am; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. January 22, 2010; 8:30 am; ] Thinking about which school is right for your child? Or just interested in learning more about Somerville’s public schools?

This week, all Somerville elementary schools are open for tours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (January 20-22) from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary; just stop by the schools that interest you.

In my view, [...]

[ January 18, 2010; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. ] Ceremony to Honor Local Individual, Organization for Community Service; Program Begins at 10am at SHS

The Somerville Haitian Coalition, in an effort to mobilize care and support for the Haitian community, will hold a community-wide meeting on Friday January 15 at 6:00 at the Healey School, located at 2 Meacham St.

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 [...]

[ January 13, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. February 11, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. March 10, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. April 14, 2010; 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] OFFERED BY THE SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SOMERVILLE PTA
For
SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAMILIES and COMMUNITY MEMBERS

• Youth Alcohol and Drug Use/Social Host Liability*
Wednesday, January 13th – 6:30p.m. – 8:00 PM in the Healey School Cafetorium, 5 Meacham Street
Featuring experts from Middlesex Partnerships for Youth
• Grant Writing 101
Thursday, February 11th- 6:30-8:30 PM in the SPS Central Offices, 181 [...]

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 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 [...]

[ January 7, 2010; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] The Somerville Green Roof Forum has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 7th 2010.   It will take place at the Visiting Nurses’ Association, 259 Lowell Street, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Please Join Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Somerville Climate Action and Transition Somerville for a
Forum on Green Roofs:  Installing green roofs in Somerville

Thursday, January 7, 2009
7:00pm to [...]

[ November 23, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] This Monday, November 23rd, Transition Somerville will screen “The First Millimeter: Healing the Earth” at the College Ave Methodist Church at 7 p.m.
The documentary profiles farmers and ranchers who are using holistic management to heal the soil and sequester carbon.

Come for the movie, stay for the conversation!
November 23rd
7 p.m.
14 Chapel St.
Somerville

NEWS STORY:
• The Christmas trees are coming! The Christmas trees are coming! Students at Somerville’s Full Circle/Next Wave Alternative School are gearing up for their annual Christmas tree and wreath fundraiser. 300 Nova Scotia Balsam Firs get dropped off at the Foss Park tree lot on Tuesday, December 1st. [...]

[ November 23, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Come to a community screening & discussion of…

RETHINK AFGHANISTAN – A Film

Come watch award-winning Robert Greenwald’s newest film about the war in Afghanistan – and find out what you can do to save lives and stop the war.

Somerville Public Library
Central Branch- 79 Highland Avenue
November 23, 7 [...]

Kicking off on Wednesday, December 9 from 3:30-5:30, SCAT’s Next Generation Producers After-School Film Production Club offers students the opportunity to create their own video projects, learn state-of-the-art television production skills, and work alongside other youth with similar interests. The teens will receive one-on-one attention from SCAT staff as they create the film and video [...]

[ November 21, 2009; 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Dear Friends,

Please join us for an informal gathering for parents and guardians interested in discussing the kindergarten and early-childhood opportunities available in the Somerville Public Schools. We will be meeting next Saturday, November 21, from 3:00-5:00 pm at Bread & Company at 349 Broadway (located near the top of Winter Hill).

As you probably know, [...]

Please Join Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, Somerville Climate Action and Transition Somerville for a Forum on Green Roofs: Installing green roofs in Somerville Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:00pm to 9:00pm Visiting Nurses’ Association Community Room, 259 Lowell Street One hour presentation followed by one hour discussion

[ November 18, 2009; 12:00 pm; ] DARBI (Davis Area Residents and Business Initiative) is pleased to announce that they will be holding monthly networking lunches again, (the 3rd Wed. each month) with the first one scheduled for Wednesday, Novemeber 18th at noon at Johnny Ds. It will be an opportunity for Davis area residents who run home-based businesses, do freelance work, [...]

[ 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 [...]

“Ismael is a pillar in Somerville’s non-profit community and particularly in its immigrant community,” said CAAS Executive Director Kimberly Smith-Cofield. “He is a rare and wonderful gift to Somerville, and we are so lucky to have him.”

Groundwork Somerville is holding its first “Doughraiser” at Pizzeria Uno’s in Porter Square on Friday November 6th.  Uno’s will donate 20% of the check to Groundwork, if you write “Groundwork” on your check!
Groundwork Somerville works to improve the environment through community-based partnerships which empower people, businesses and organizations.  They can be reached at (617) 628-9988.  [...]

[ October 17, 2009; 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. October 18, 2009; 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] North Cambridge Family Opera is holding auditions this coming weekend, Oct. 17 and 18, for its Spring 2010 production of Springtime for Haman. North Cambridge Family Opera specializes in fully sung theater productions for singers of all ages and encourages families to participate.

[ October 29, 2009; 8:00 pm; October 30, 2009; 8:00 pm; October 31, 2009; 2:00 pm; 8:00 pm; ] The Post-Meridian Radio
Players (PMRP) are pleased to announce the launch of the Web site and
ticket sales for “The Big Broadcast of October 30th, 1938″ – the
latest iteration of their annual Halloween tribute to the Golden Age
of Radio.

[ October 3, 2009; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. ] Three Somerville Climate Action members are opening their homes to show what they have done to reduce their carbon footprint, create green jobs, make their homes more comfortable, and save money.

[ October 9, 2009; 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] On Friday, October 9 at 51 Winthrop Street, Amy Goodman, host of the award-winning “Democracy Now!” and David Goodman, prominent investigative journalist, will have a lively discussion about the problems and promise of media to bring about social change.

[ October 17, 2009; 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. ] Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee for our 17th annual fall Tour de Somerville. This year’s theme is “Somerville: City of Seven (Or More) Hills”.

We’ll meet on Saturday, October 17 at 10 am at Seven Hills Park (behind the Holland Street T entrance in Davis Square), leaving promptly at 10:15.

Our ride will be approximately 11 miles, [...]

PDS is proud to endorse incumbents Bill White and Dennis Sullivan for reelection, and challenger Luis Morales. Each candidate brings something different to this race and the PDS membership voted to support those perspectives.

Somerville Cares About Prevention is seeking middle school students interested in community substance abuse prevention for its new Somerville Positive Forces Junior (SPF, Jr.) program.  Participants will be paid $100 for 2-4 hours per month from October until June.  For more information, contact Lovelee Heller at lheller@somervillema.gov.

[ October 3, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] 2 degrees of warming. 350 parts per million. Does it seem as though we are on track to achieve these? Are you concerned about the chance of passing a meaningful global climate treaty in Copenhagen? Do you want to have a say in the future of our planet? Come to our Climate Action Party! [October 3rd, 7 p.m.] We will broaden our local network of activists, strategize how to make our voices heard, and plan for the days between now and December.

Buy gently used household goods, furniture, sporting equipment, bikes, and clothing at 600 Mystic Valley Parkway.

[ September 15, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Here is the agenda for our meeting this coming Tuesday.

Somerville Human Rights Commission
Tuesday, Sep 15th Monthly Public Meeting
6:30pm-8:30pm
Super Stop & Shop
2nd Floor Conference Room
775 McGrath Hwy, Somerville

Agenda:

Recent Complaints to the HRC and On-going Investigations (new and updated)
Special guest Eileen Feldman, accessibility advocate, with a report on civil rights in Somerville
Recruitment

Evaluate events since last meeting : [...]

[ October 3, 2009; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] 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 [...]

[ September 19, 2009; 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. ] We are happy to announce that C.A.R.E.’s having an adoption day! We hope to find homes for at least four cats, and it’s also a great chance to get to know our cause! We need people to adopt our wonderful cats, and volunteers to help out at the event! Please come to show your support!

[ September 14, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] The main focus of this meeting will be coming up to speed on climate change science and how to talk about it — we’ll get to practice! Everyone is welcome — please bring friends, family, neighbors, colleagues… Hope to see you there! Emily and Vanessa

[ October 23, 2009; 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. October 24, 2009; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. October 25, 2009; 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. ]
Friday, October 23, 2009 2-4pm
Saturday, October 24, 2009 10am-4pm
Sunday, October 25 1:30-3:30pm
Central Library on Highland Ave.
For more information, please contact Linda Bohan with Friends of the Somerville Public Library at lbohan(at)bellatlantic.net .  All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Public Library.

[ September 13, 2009; 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Attention Future Somerville Hockey Stars! Visit Conway Park’s outdoor hockey rink on Sunday Sept. 13 from 3-5pm to learn about the game of hockey, how to measure for equipment and try your hand with a stick against members of the BU Terriers Men’s and Women’s 2009-1010 Hockey teams.

[ September 24, 2009; 7:30 am to 8:00 am. ] The Somerville Public Schools is celebrating local farms and farmers on Thursday, September 24th with fresh corn on the cob served at lunchtime.

Volunteers are sought to visit elementary schools between 7:30 and 8:00 AM morning of September 24th to shuck hundreds of ears of locally grown corn in the morning.

Please contact Charlotte Stephenson (cstephenson@k12.somerville.ma.us) in [...]

[ September 10, 2009; 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm. ] Please join the Mayor of Somerville, the Honorable Joseph A. Curatone, the Superintendent of Schools, Tony Pierantozzi, and representatives from the Board of Aldermen and Somerville School Committee for the dedication of the Brian Higgins Tot Lot at the Kennedy School (5 Cherry Street near Porter Square)

Thursday, September 10, 2009
5:30-6:00 PM: Remarks and unveiling
6:00 [...]

[ September 28, 2009; ] From item # 79. of the Aug 27th BOA mtg agenda (pdf) :
Mayor’s Comm.
Proclaiming Monday, September 28, 2009, as Family Day, a day to eat dinner with your children.
Our baby daughter is usually in bed by the time we eat dinner, so I hope that’s ok.

How often does your family eat dinner together?

Why do you [...]

On Aug 27th, the Board of Aldermen raised taxes on meals by 0.75% and on hotels by 2% effective Oct 1st, according to Danielle Dreilinger’s report today on Boston.com. These taxes will generate an estimated $620,715 in revenue. One wonders why this item did not appear on the meeting agenda (pdf) and also how the [...]

[ August 31, 2009; 6:45 pm; ] On Monday, August 31, 2009 beginning at 6:45 p.m., the Somerville School Committee will conduct a public hearing on the issue of participating in the inter-district-choice program for the 2009-2010 school year.

All members of the public are invited to attend on Monday, August 31, 2009 beginning at 6:45 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers [...]

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi provides advice to families as they prepare for the new school year on Wednesday, September 2nd (Grades 1-12) or Tuesday, September 8th (Grades PK-K).
Read it online at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/administration

[ August 29, 2009; 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] Sign a 350-ft. banner for a national climate change project – first stop Somerville! Send a message to the Obama administration
for strong global climate policy.

[ September 13, 2009; 3:00 pm; ] Join the Progressive Dems at the kick off of one of their endorsed candidates for School Committee!

Christine Rafal will be kicking off her campaign for School Committee on Sunday, September 13th from 3pm to 5pm at the Paddock Rest at 249 Pearl Street in Somerville. Suggested donation is $50.

Christine is a hard working community voice for [...]

As many of you may be aware, STEP and Tufts University have come together in a community partnership to form CAFEH (the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure). We have just begun a year long study to learn whether living very near major highways poses health concerns for residents’ health. I am writing to ask for [...]

[ November 13, 2009; ] Celebrating at:

The Center for Arts at the Armory

191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Visit the Somerville Community Corporation online at SomervilleCDC.org

[ September 27, 2009; 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] From the Tufts website:
All are invited to a day of education, art, and family entertainment. All activities, including lunch, are free of charge.

Residents, neighbors and friends are invited to celebrate the seventh annual Community day at Tufts University from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. The event will take place on the [...]

How do you know that I, Barry Rafkind, am a real person who is authoring this blog post? Maybe this name is just a pseudonym for somebody else? Until now, you’ve had to trust that I am who I say I am. But, now there is a brand new online service called Validize which allows [...]

Although parking tickets are meant to punish violators and provide maximum street access to those who live, work, or visit here, the city depends on this revenue to shore up its budget. We intend to find out whether all residential neighborhoods and business districts pay an equitable share of parking fines. If not, why? [...]

Today, Somerville became the 4th community in the “North of Boston” region to have its own Your Town portal on Boston.com. Your Town websites are local hubs for real estate, events, sports, news, schools, and discussions.
The Your Town sites are grouped by region (North of Boston, Metro West, and South Shore). Somerville joins Malden, Melrose, [...]

[ August 11, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] 2nd Floor Conference Room
Super Stop & Shop
775 Mcgrath Hwy

Agenda:

Director’s Report

Immigrant Police Dialogues
Snow Removal Committee
Other activities

Recruitment

Evaluate events since last meeting : Art Beat, Commission’s Cookout, and National Night Out
Next recruitment steps

Recent Complaints to the HRC
The Romelus case
Investigation Process
Other business

This is a public meeting and everyone is welcome. This is a wheel-chair accessible venue.

See the original meeting [...]

[ August 10, 2009; 5:00 pm; ] Rite Aid warehouse workers in Lancaster, California need our support. Before workers voted to form a union in 2008, Rite Aid committed dozens of unfair labor practices. And since then, in an effort to prevent them from achieving a first contract, the warehouse workers have faced continuing anti-union terror.

Bill Bumpus and regular Somerville Voices contributor Fred Berman are the co-hosts of a live, (roughly) biweekly show on Somerville Cable Access Television (SCAT, Channel 3) titled “Progressive Voices”. If you or your organization are working to make a difference on a local, state, national or world level, we’d like to interview you!

[ August 13, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] This public hearing will be convened by the Traffic Board in the Aldemanic Chamber at City Hall. I initially noticed this in Deb Filcman’s Aug 7 SJ blog post.  For background about the parking changes, visit the SPARC blog , check out the just-posted video of the 7/27 interview on SCAT’s Progressive Voices of SPARC-co-founder Courtney Koslow,  or [...]

[ August 20, 2009; 9:00 pm; ] ‘Nuff talkin’. DRAW! Live comics creation, artistic head-to-head showdowns, live music, and PRIZES to benefit Boston Comics Roundtable.

[ August 10, 2009; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Pig out and enjoy a cool drink and cooler music to benefit SHC!

[ August 15, 2009; 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Take action on climate change, learn skills, and build community! · Help to weatherize a Somerville house · Learn skills you can take back to your own home · Decrease carbon-emissions · Make new friends. … Here’s your chance to make a difference and learn something in the process…

For the latest clinics, programs and events related to Somerville youth sports and organizations – please log on to the ‘NEW” Somerville Youth Recreation Google Groups page.
Get email updates for the latest youth recreation programs in the City of Somerville and surrounding areas.
Note: Privacy Statement for members – members who choose to sign up will be informed of [...]

[ September 13, 2009; October 25, 2009; ] TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a FREE community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, age 7-18, who have a mental or physical disability.

Our goal is [...]

Thanks to the Socialite plugin, you can now follow Somerville Voices on Facebook as well as Twitter. Befriend the blog and help spread the word to all your friends!

[ July 28, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Come out to our first endorsement meeting of the year! We will be making endorsements in the contested ward races which include the Ward 6 Alderman’s Race, the Ward 5 School Committee Race and the Ward 4 School Committee Race. This will be a great chance to learn about the candidates running, ask some important questions and put our PDS support to work!

[ July 29, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] All are invited to our next semi-biweekly blog meeting where we will discuss story ideas for our new journalism initiative, fundraising campaigns, and anything else related to the Somerville Voices blog.

Where : VNA 1st Floor Private Dining Room, 259 Lowell Street, Somerville (an accessible facility)

When : Wednesday, July 29th, 6:30-8:30pm

Please RSVP to: info (at)  SomervilleVoices.org [...]

Do you have any used or unwanted gadgets at home that you’d like to recycle? Would you also like to help support a great cause at the same time?! We at Somerville Voices are hosting an online gadget recycling drive through Gazelle to raise money for the blog and would love your support!Why?
We need your [...]

Thanks to the TwitterBot plugin, you can now follow Somerville Voices blog posts on our Twitter account @SomervilleVox. Followers will receive short Tweets with the blog title and a link back to the post. This will help connect us with readers wherever they are using their mobile devices.
Tweets are just one more way for SV [...]

Somerville High School Freshman Barbeques
*  Tuesday, August 25 from 5:00-7:00 PM: Students and families in Beacon House (students whose last names start with the letters A-DOQ) and Elm House (students whose last names start with the letters DOR-LE)
* Wednesday, August 26 from 5:00-7:00 PM: Students and families in Highland House (students whose last names [...]

Somerville Parking Advocacy and Reform Coalition (SPARC), a group of business groups, neighborhood associations and concerned residents advocating for a more thoughtful and comprehensive approach to parking regulation in Somerville, has formed to addresses the recent citywide parking changes.
SPARC is concerned about that impact that these changes will have on the economic vitality of Somerville [...]

[ July 19, 2009; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. July 26, 2009; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. August 2, 2009; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] We will look at what makes a radical organizing method by examining winnability, strategy/tactics, coalitions, spirituality, building a majority movement, role of political education, and the effectiveness of well known organizing methods such as 1-1’s, story-telling, relationship-building. The format will be group discussion.

[ July 14, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] The Somerville’s Human Rights Commission invites the public to its monthly meeting to discuss: * Recruitment (we currently only have 4 serving commissioners out of a possible 12) * Director’s Update
* Complaints before the commission * Any other business

Bill Bumpus and regular Somerville Voices contributor Fred Berman are the co-hosts of a live, (roughly) biweekly show on Somerville Cable Access Television (SCAT, Channel 3) titled “Progressive Voices”.

If you or your organization are working to make a difference on a local, state, national or world level, we’d like to interview you!

[ August 8, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] The Somerville Youth Soccer League is putting together a Somerville Youth Soccer Fundraiser Night! … On Behalf of myself and the Somerville Youth Soccer League – we thank you for your support! Best, John Teves – Somerville Youth/Recreation Commissioner

[ July 8, 2009; 6:15 pm; July 14, 2009; 6:15 pm; July 16, 2009; 6:15 pm; July 25, 2009; 10:00 am; July 29, 2009; 6:15 pm; August 5, 2009; 6:15 pm; ] Interested in better public transportation? Open spaces? Affordability? Healthy communities? … The Community Corridor Planning Project will host station-based meetings throughout summer 2009 to engage the community in conversations about how the Green Line will affect their neighborhood. Our goals include…

[ July 12, 2009; 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Omar was a famed cartoonist, in the 70′s for the Phoenix and the TAB (you may remember his White Rabbit), recently for the Somerville Journal. He was also a well-known painter, and was active in the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee.

[ July 15, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Save Money! – Learn New Things! – Get Help Without Paying! – Meet New Friends!

Have you ever noticed that people are good at different things? The Time Trade Circle lets us share our own skills and get help from others who offer things we need. When you spend an hour helping another member, one hour [...]

This new partnership will enable SV to collect and use tax-deductible donations from you so we can focus on producing high quality local stories that matter to you while SCAT (Somerville Community Access TV) gets to handle our filings to the IRS and also take a small cut for their help.
Q: Why is this important [...]

[ June 22, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] Hello my name is Clivia Camara I am a youth member of the Welcome Project.  As a supporter of the Welcoming  Massachusetts Campaign I’m forwarding this information hoping to see you at this such important meeting as part of your support to the Welcoming Massachusetts Compaign and the immigrant  youth of Somerville.

Dear friends,

As you know, [...]

[ June 27, 2009; 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. ] Please join us to support the Somerville Commission for Women at El Potro in Union Square… Appetizers and Live Music will be provided.

[ June 19, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Please join us for a team meeting this Friday, June 19th, 6:30-8:30pm to discuss the blog and plans for community-funded reporting.

We’ll meet in the 1st floor private dining room at the VNA, 259 Lowell St., Somerville. This location is wheel-chair accessible.

Please RSVP to info(at)SomervilleVoices.org to let us know you’re coming.

[ June 17, 2009; 7:30 pm; ] Please join us for a meeting of the Educational Programs Subcommittee on Wednedsay, June 17 at 7:30 pm in the School Department Central Office, 181 Washington Street. The main agenda item will be a discussion of the District’s Middle Grades Initiative, which the School Committee has identified as one of its top priorities.

[ June 22, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] We campaigned, we won and now we want to hear from YOU about changes you want to see in our community. Please join us on Mon. June 22nd at 6:30pm for a Cambridge-Somerville for Change community meeting

The Acting Director of the Office of Somerville Commissions and the Somerville Health Department have announced their plans for the celebration of National PRIDE week.
While the Pride flag will be flying all week on the City Hall Concourse the local LGBT community has expressed a preference for the City to, in lieu of a flag [...]

[ June 12, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Join us for an Interfaith Pride service on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at Havurat Shalom Congregation, 113 College Ave., Somerville, MA. The service, in English and Hebrew, will celebrate the theme of this year’s Boston Pride, “Trans-forming our Communities.” Services at Havurat Shalom are egalitarian, lay-led and usually involve a lot of singing! [...]

Join us for an Interfaith Pride service on Friday, June 12 at 7:00 pm at Havurat Shalom Congregation, 113 College Ave., Somerville, MA. The service, in English and Hebrew, will celebrate the theme of this year’s Boston Pride, “Trans-forming our Communities.” Services at Havurat Shalom are egalitarian, lay-led and usually involve a lot of singing! [...]

Unfortunately, the Green Tomato 2 has closed and the DARBI lunch and presentation planned for Wednesday 6/10 has been postponed until we can find another suitable location. We were holding our board meetings and luncheons there in an effort to help them promote themselves, but alas, it didn’t work.

DARBI will be hosting our third networking lunch on Weds, 6/10 at Noon. Lunch will include a variety of delicious, freshly prepared salads and sandwiches, (with many veggie offerings), coffee, and beverage. There is also a toddler/preschool play area in eye and ear shot of our eating area. Open to all – members $8 non-members [...]

[ June 22, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] According to a recent report (pdf) by the city of Somerville, health care costs currently account for about 15% of the municipal budget and are out-pacing growth in revenues. A single payer plan would lift this burden, allowing cities like Somerville to maintain threatened services such as education, police, fire and libraries.

On Monday, June 22, [...]

[ June 7, 2009; 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] From a flyer of The Welcome Project:

Join us at the Welcome Project for our Graduation Celebration!

Show your support for our Youth Interpreters and Adult English Language Learners!

The event will be held on June 7th from 4-7pm

Mystic Activity Center

530 Mystic Ave, Somerville, MA

RSVP by email to Warren Goldstein-Gelb at WarrenGG(at)gmail.com

Link to the Liaison Interpreter Program of [...]

…about the proposed FY10 budget of the Somerville Public Schools? …about art and music instruction in the public schools? …about efforts by the schools to prepare students to succeed when they finish high school? These are the next three topics of discussion on the Superintendent’s cable access television show, Our Schools – Our City, broadcast regularly on local cable channel 15.

[ June 6, 2009; 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] June 6   Disability Reframed: A Community Film Series -

Come to a FREE matinee screening, as we kickoff our new film series. We will be showing Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands” at MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar St., Room 32-124

June 6, from 2 pm to 5 pm.  

The film will be followed by a moderated discussion about [...]

[ May 31, 2009; 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission for a bike tour featuring Somerville’s many historic houses of worship.

We’ll meet at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, at 2 pm on Sunday, May 31. We’ll take about three hours to ride about nine miles, stopping along the way to see various churches [...]

[ June 3, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] You are invited to attend a public budget hearing on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:00 PM in the Somerville High School Library (81 Highland Avenue) to discuss the proposed FY10 budget for the Somerville Public Schools.

Information about the budget development process is on the Public Schools website. Please visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us. Click on “About [...]

the Somerville Public Schools would be grateful for a letter of endorsement from you to include with our application to become an approved Supplemental Education Services provider with the Commonwealth. If we are successful in this application the district could potentially recoup up to $100,000 in elementary academic tutoring funds now distributed to outside vendors.

[ May 19, 2009; 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. ] As announced in the Somerville Journal : What should happen with the former Powder House Community School?

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane invite all interested community members to a public meeting to discuss the Powder House Community School site at 1060 Broadway.

The meeting will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 [...]

[ May 19, 2009; 6:30 pm; ] According to the Somerville Journal:
Somerville Democrats will meet Tuesday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the community room at the Visiting Nurses Association at 259 Lowell St.

Mayor Joe Curtatone will speak on “The Economic Challenges Facing Somerville.”
Note : this location is wheelchair accessible

[ May 14, 2009; 6:00 pm; ] Forum on Gentrification and Displacement!
Thursday, May 14th, 6 PM
Elizabeth Peabody House
277 Broadway (at Broadway & Grant Street) Somerville, MA 02145

Gentrification and Displacement: What do they mean?  What can we do about them in Somerville?
Please join us to watch the film “BOOM: the Sound of Eviction” about gentrification and efforts to prevent displacement, then hear [...]

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), the designated anti-poverty agency for the City of Somerville, MA, is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration. This position is responsible for managing financial, administrative, human resources and other operational systems and practices and is a key member of the senior management team. Reports to the Executive [...]

[ May 27, 2009; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Please join us!
Spring Reception to Support

Rebekah Gewirtz
Ward 6 Alderman

Where: Sagra Restaurant, 400 Highland Ave Davis Square

When: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Light appetizers will be served.
Suggested Donation is: $35, $75, $150
..but if you’re unable to make a contribution please come as Rebekah’s guest anyway.
$500 is the maximum contribution allowed by [...]

[ May 16, 2009; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] ~ Come energize your spring + summer at the…

Living Green Festival
Saturday May 16th – 10AM to 2PM
Somerville High School – 81 Highland Ave
Presented by Somerville Climate Action
FREE Admission!

Step up your sustainability through amazing hands-on workshops and demonstrations…
• Attend great sessions on healthy cooking, bike repair, home gardening, insulation, and more
• [...]

Based on the success of our first attempt at this, DARBI will be hosting another Networking Lunch… The goal of these events is for freelancers, consultants, artists, and others who work from home to expand their personal and professional network…..in other words: to meet people!

Somerville Public Schools wants to hear from you!
Please join community advisory groups on Strategic Communications or After-school programming
Call 617-625-6600 x6013 or Email gkinder(at)k12.somerville.ma.us.
Opportunities for virtual feedback provided for Advisory Group members who cannot attend meetings.
Everyone welcome!
Strategic Communication Community Advisory Group meetings
Every other month on Fridays at 1:00 PM
May 29th
July 30th
September 25th
November 20th
All meetings are at [...]

[ April 28, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] The following was posted by Ward 5 School Committee member Mark Niedergang to the list of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) on Apr 24th.

How do you think Somerville should respond to the budget cuts?

-Barry

————————————–

Dear friends at PDS,

The Board of Aldermen and School Committee together will be holding a public forum on the FY 2010 [...]

From Mark Niedergang… The Board of Aldermen and School Committee together will be holding a public forum on the FY 2010 budget this Tuesday, April 28th, at 7 PM in the Aldermen’s Chambers in City Hall. This is an opportunity to get an update from the Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools on the City and School budgets for next year and to share your concerns, ideas, and suggestions about priorities and ways to make the FY 2010 budget stretch further.

[ April 30, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] ‘Villens, as one of the culminating events of our church’s “Sacred Conversations on Race” justice project, we are hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, April 30. The presenters are all fantastic, and should stimulate excellent, truth-telling conversation about racism as its persists in Somerville and surrounding communities. We hope you can come!

First Church Somerville UCC [...]

[ May 27, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Wednesday, May 27th, Cross Street Elderly Center. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This is a great opportunity to explain [...]

[ May 26, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Tuesday, May 26th, 7:00 p.m., VNA Community Room, 259 Lowell Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This is a [...]

[ May 20, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Wednesday, May 20th, 7:00 p.m., First Congregational Church of Somerville, 89 College Avenue . From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. [...]

[ May 12, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Tuesday, May 12th, 7:00 p.m., Senior Center, TAB building, 167 Holland Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This is [...]

[ May 11, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Monday, May 11th, 7:00 p.m., Central Library Meeting Room, 79 Highland Avenue. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This is [...]

[ May 5, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] Tuesday, May 5th, 7:00 p.m., Healey School, 5 Meacham Street. From Dave Ficociello’s post on the Somerville Parking Problems group:
Regarding parking and other city policies, I encourage you all to
attend Somerville’s spring “ResiStat” meetings. The Mayor, the head
of Traffic and Parking, and your Ward Aldermen will be at all of the
meetings. This is a great [...]

‘Villens, as one of the culminating events of our church’s “Sacred Conversations on Race” justice project, we are hosting a panel discussion on Thursday, April 30. The presenters are all fantastic, and should stimulate excellent, truth-telling conversation about racism as its persists in Somerville and surrounding communities. We hope you can come!
First Church Somerville UCC [...]

Bill Bumpus and regular Somerville Voices contributor Fred Berman are the co-hosts of a live, (roughly) biweekly show on Somerville Cable Access Television (SCAT, Channel 3) titled “Progressive Voices”.
If you or your organization are working to make a difference on a local, state, national or world level, we’d like to interview you!  Our show airs [...]

The Board of Directors of the Somerville Teachers Association (STA) voted to endorse HR 676 at its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 7.
“Health care reform is finally on the national agenda,” said Linda Vitiello, President of the Somerville Teachers Association. “We are excited to be part of a national grassroots movement for Medicare for [...]

[ April 29, 2009 to May 1, 2009. ] The Somerville High School Art Fair starts on Wednesday, April 29th and runs through Friday, May 1st. Special opening reception will be start at 6:30 PM on the 29th. Student work is on display throughout the Atrium of the High School.

[ April 27, 2009; 7:00 pm to 8:31 pm. ] Autism and Special Education Law is the title of the Monday night workshop being hosted by the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council and Massachusetts Advocates for Children. This event, hosted at the Kennedy School (5 Cherry Street), begins at 7:00 and is free and open to the public.

Somerville Open Studios will get a boost on May 2 and 3 with the addition of participants from of Somerville High School students in the PAL Program who will be displaying and selling hand-crafted jewelry and note cards from their booth at the Center for Arts at the Armory. Proceeds from the sale of [...]

There are new bloggers on the block and they’ve joined me at a 21st Century Club after school program at the Kennedy School.   Students are writing about things that they find interesting, including the MCAS, sports, and Haiti.  You can link to it here under Somerville Blogs in the right-hand column, or go to SomervilleKidsVoices.org.  [...]

[ April 21, 2009; 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. ] DARBI (Davis Area Resident/Business Initiative) will host a wine and cheese reception open to the public at Dave’s Fresh Pasta from 7:30-9:00 PM on Tuesday, April 21st.  Local residents, both new and old, can take this opportunity to meet and mingle in an informal setting with great food and drink.  Admission is $10 for DARBI [...]

[ April 16, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Public meeting of the Somerville Human Rights Commission
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
6:30pm-8:30pm
2nd Floor social hall, Tufts Administration Bldg, 167 Holland St., Somerville

Agenda:

Introductions (10 min)
Director’s Report (10 min)
Update on the hiring process for Human Rights investigators (20 min)
Immigrant-Police Dialogs (10 min)
Immigrant Support Network (5 min)
Police Surveillance Cameras (30 min)
Advisory Committee (25 min)
Snow Removal Committee (5 min)
HRC [...]

[ April 25, 2009; 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] SomerVision City Planning Open House

Saturday, April 25th from 11 am to 2 pm

Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street

The intent of the open house is to provide information to people interested in learning more about what Somerville is doing in terms of planning for the future and ongoing development.  There will be 16 tables of information [...]

The newly expanded Dave’s Fresh Pasta will be holding a Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday from 5 to 9 – and 10% of the day’s revenue will be donated to Local First and the Somerville Homeless Coalition.  It’s so nice to see a local business doing well in these tough economic time – and giving [...]

UPCOMING EVENTS
April 16th is the date of the Somerville High School Spring Concert, hosted beginning at 7:00 PM at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue). Student musicians will be showing off their accomplishments in ensemble performances led by the high school Music staff including Richard Saunders, Rick Romanoff, Rosemary Sears and Donna Daley.
Don’t [...]

[ April 23, 2009; 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] From the Somerville Journal web-announcement Capuano staffer visits Somerville April 23
A member of Eighth District Rep. Mike Capuano’s staff will hold office hours Thursday, April 23, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Aldermen’s Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Constituents are encouraged to stop by with questions or concerns.

“If you have an issue [...]

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 [...]

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 1 workshop on investigative reporting and freedom of information.   http://www.neu.edu/firstamendment/news_and_announcements/workshop_registration

[ April 12, 2009; 6:00 am; ] Why on earth would you get up pre-dawn on a Sunday and stand outside in the elements, when the high for the day is only predicted to be a chill 40 degrees?

Because it’s Easter sunrise service, one of the most mystical and touching Christian worship services of the year.

Six Davis Square-area churches are coming together [...]

[ April 14, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Home Energy Savings for Renters to learn hands-on ways you can reduce home energy use and expenses. Refreshments provided.

April 14, 2009
6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
Alderman’s Chambers, Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Cost: FREE

For more information, contact: David Lutes, 617-625-6600 ext. 2106, dlutes(at)somervillema.gov , Office of Sustainability and Environment

Link to city’s press release

Notes:

Venue is wheel-chair [...]

[ April 21, 2009; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Come out to the Progressive Democrats of Somerville (PDS) Annual Meeting. See what exciting things are happening with PDS as it celebrates the start of its 6th year.

When: Tuesday, April 21 – 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Independent Restaurant – Union Square
The short program will include elections for new officers, a review of where PDS has been and [...]

What if the energy supplies, food systems and other foundations of our modern economy and lifestyle suddenly changed? How would Somerville cope? We invite you to join us in exploring how Somerville can respond to theses challenges and move toward a healthy future for all, including how we can seize the coming changes as an opportunity to transform racial and class inequities rather than deepen them.

[ April 22, 2009; 7:00 pm; ] What if the energy supplies, food systems and other foundations of our modern economy and lifestyle suddenly changed?  How would Somerville cope?  It’s a notion more of us have been thinking about during the past year. We saw gasoline spike to $4 a gallon last summer, then watched our consumption-driven economy slide into a deep [...]

Rite Aid has been abusing the rights of employees – and provides a “textbook example” of why Congress should pass the “Employee Free Choice Act,” reform legislation that would better protect employees who want to form unions by limiting employer interference in the process.

[ April 20, 2009; 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. ] Save Our Somerville is running a soccer tournament on Patriots’ Day Monday, April 20th (pending permit approval, rain date of Tuesday, April 21st). The tournament will be held at Glen Park (Glen St. next to the Capuano School). Sign-ins for Middle School Teams will be at 8:30 AM. Sign-ins for High School and Adult Teams will be at 11:00 [...]

This past January, when my wife was 31 weeks pregnant with our baby, she slipped on an icy patch of sidewalk in Somerville, did a belly-flop, and ended up in the hospital with pre-term contractions as a result.  A group of residents is organizing to advocate for more effective snow removal policies and stronger enforcement.
Fortunately, [...]

[ March 20, 2009; 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. ] Maria Landaverde says:

yes, the meeting is from 5 to 6:30 pm our organization is The Welcome Project and it is located at 530 Mystic Ave Somerville, MA you can invite other youth too…other students from SHS are also coming…you can also e-mail me at maria(at)welcomeproject. org . This is our first meeting and it would [...]

[ April 1, 2009; 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] No Fooling: Budget Forum April 1

Every day we learn of more cuts in services and proposed tax increases. Why are we in this situation? What can we do to protect the basics we expect in a commonwealth?

On April 1, 7 – 9 pm, you can learn about the state’s fiscal crisis, its causes and consequences, [...]

No Fooling: Budget Forum April 1
Every day we learn of more cuts in services and proposed tax increases. Why are we in this situation? What can we do to protect the basics we expect in a commonwealth?
On April 1, 7 – 9 pm, you can learn about the state’s fiscal crisis, its causes [...]

Help the Department of Education assess the quality of district programs! Sign up to be interviewed as part of the District’s Coordinated Program Review taking place the week of April 27th. Call 617-625-6600 x6028 before April 3rd and ask to be put on the list of members of the public to be interviewed [...]

[ March 14, 2009; 10:30 am; ] The next Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace meeting will be on Saturday, March 14, 10:30 AM at 77 Walnut St., Somerville.  On the agenda: a brief presentation and discussion of Single Payer health insurance, updates on UJP efforts on Iraq, Afghanistan and other issues, upcoming events and actions.

The next Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace meeting will be on Saturday, March 14, 10:30 AM at 77 Walnut St., Somerville.  On the agenda: a brief presentation and discussion of Single Payer health insurance, updates on UJP efforts on Iraq, Afghanistan and other issues, upcoming events and actions.

Nutrition and Your Child @ Winter Hill Community School Library, 3/16, 6-8pm
preparing for the college admissions process @ SHS Auditorium, 3/23, 7-8:30pm
impact of family violence on learning workshop @ Kennedy School, 3/31, 7-8:30pm

Students in the Class of 2009 at Somerville High School are invited to apply for any one of many college and technical school scholarships available through local scholarship funds. Visit the Guidance and Testing page of the SPS website to learn more. Hyperlink not working? Go to www.somerville.k12.ma.us, click on “About us” then [...]

[ March 30, 2009; 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. ] Meet and Greet Kim Smith-Cofield, March 30!

My neighbor, Dave, got so fed up with the unfairness of Somerville’s parking regulations, he started an online discussion group to collect stories of similarly aggrieved residents.
So far the stories touch upon a variety of issues, including:

48 hour rule
The high cost of the tickets as compared to other cities
Traffic & Parking’s (T&P) lack of evidence [...]

I’m pleased to announce http://www.somervillefoodscene.com, biweekly anonymous reviews for Somerville residents. When you have a few moments, please do stop by and enjoy.