Announcements

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…

The Boston bellydance community is shakin’ it all back together! Join us for a glamorous afternoon of compassion in motion.

Somerville Childrens Network
3rd Casino Night

Read More.>>

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.

Thinking about which school is right for your child? Or just interested in learning more about Somerville’s public schools?…

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 http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/events.NEws…

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-…

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.

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.…

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 …

This Monday, November 23rd, Transition Somerville will screen “The First Millimeter: Healing the Earth” at the College Ave Methodist Church at 7 p.m.

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. Students will work with their…

Come to a community screening & discussion of…

RETHINK AFGHANISTAN – A Film

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…

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).…

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

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…

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 at 7:00…

“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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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…

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.

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

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.…

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!

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

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.

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…

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…

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 think the mayor would make this proclamation?…

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 extra money will be spent?…

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. …

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

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.

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.…

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 your help. …

Celebrating at:

The Center for Arts at the Armory

191 Highland Ave, Somerville

Visit the Somerville Community Corporation online at SomervilleCDC.org

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 academic quad at Tufts’ Medford and Somerville campus and is cosponsored by the two cities.…

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 anyone to authenticate him or herself and then display a “badge” on blogs to prove their identity.…

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? We will analyze the ticket data to see who is paying or not and for which types of tickets.…

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…

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

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!

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 see the recent articles on Somerville Voices/Journal/News.…

‘Nuff talkin’. DRAW! Live comics creation, artistic head-to-head showdowns, live music, and PRIZES to benefit Boston Comics Roundtable.

Pig out and enjoy a cool drink and cooler music to benefit SHC!

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.…

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.…

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!…

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!

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…

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!…

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.…

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…

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.…

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.

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!

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

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…

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.

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 credit is added to your account. …

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.…

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.…

Please join us to support the Somerville Commission for Women at El Potro in Union Square… Appetizers and Live Music will be provided.

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.…

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.

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.…

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.”…

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 $10. Please RSVP to Candy at D2DCommunications@gmail.com

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.…

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…

…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   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…

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…

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…

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.

As announced in the Somerville Journal : What should happen with the former Powder House Community School?

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 …

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

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 Director.…

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…

~ Come energize your spring + summer at the…

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!…

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…

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.

‘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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

‘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!…

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!  …

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 All and H.R. 676 and to join with so many other labor organizations that support it.”…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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)

SomerVision City Planning Open House

Saturday, April 25th from 11 am to 2 pm

Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street

The intent of the

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…

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…

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.…

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

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…

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…

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.

The short

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.

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.

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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 by the Department.…

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.…

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:…

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…

posted on behalf of Debra Wise and the Underground Railway Theater

Dear Friends,

I want to invite you to an ASL-interpreted production of Marx in Soho this Saturday March 7, 2009 at 4PM.

This delightful play is masterfully acted by Max Wright – winner 2008 Best Actor Elliott Norton award…

Answer President Barack Obama’s call to action and get involved in your community by preparing for the next election cycle! You are invited to our training to learn the basics of how to run and win a local campaign. Topics will include fundraising, crafting a message, field operations/Get Out The Vote, and media and communication…

Answer President Barack Obama’s call to action and get involved in your community by preparing for the next election cycle! You are invited to our training to learn the basics of how to run and win a local campaign.

Perhaps a SomervilleVoices.org blogger can be the next Elizabeth Neuffer Fellow?

The International Women’s Media Foundation announces the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship for  full-time, part time or freelance journalists working (for at least 3 years) on human rights or social justice issues.  This fellowship will allow recipients to spend 9 months in a research program…

My progressive, arts-loving church started talking a lot about race and racism, after the Jeremiah Wright kerfuffle in the press last spring (Jeremiah Wright is UCC, like us). We haven’t stopped talking about it yet, and this winter and spring are running a multifaceted “Sacred Conversation on Race,” both for our own community’s learning, and the wider Somerville community.

We are hosting an arts and entertainment evening as a centerpiece of the project, and are soliciting participants. Will you be one of them? See the invitation below.…

What is going on with our economy? How is the economic crisis affecting local issues? What can we do? This Sunday, February 22 at 7pm, come to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in the heart of Union Square (in the old police building above Precinct 116) to participate in a discussion about the…

What is going on with our economy? How is the economic crisis affecting local issues? What can we do? This Sunday, February 22 at 7pm, come to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) in the heart of Union Square (in the old police building above Precinct 116) to participate in a discussion about the economic crisis and how it is affecting affordable housing. …

Hey PDSers…

Its time for another great PDS meeting. Come out and see what exciting things PDS is up to this month. Our agenda includes:

• Update on our March Candidate and Campaign Training
• Dialogue on “Somerville’s Response to the Fiscal Crisis” campaign
• PDS’ action on the condo conversion ordinance

Will your child be 3 by August 31, 2009? Are you interested in having your child be a typically developing peer in the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP?)…

Temple B’nai Brith Spring Open House: March 29th, 11am-1pm

Looking for a vibrant, egalitarian, and welcoming Jewish community?
Temple B’nai Brith is an independent Jewish congregation serving
Somerville and surrounding communities for over 100 years. We offer
regular Shabbat and alternative worship services, High Holiday
services, and other Jewish holiday services; non-members are welcome!…

Do any of these issues concern you?

Bullying?  Child predators on the internet?  Use of violence to solve problems?

The Jesus fish kissing the Darwin fish? Why not? Our church is celebrating the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of The Origin of Species this weekend with a special worship service. John Olson, a…

$80 for four days of fun! Breakfast and pizza included.

$65 for spay/neuter and a rabies shot! Phone/email for details and to reserve a space for your cat.

According to “Latest News” on the website of the Somerville Democratic City Committee www.SomDems.org :
The Ward Caucuses to elect delegates to the 2009 State Convention in Springfield will be held on Thursday, February 5th at 7pm with the exception of Ward Five which will be at 8:00 p.m. at the same…

The days are lengthening and the sap will soon begin flowing. That’s right, it’s Maple Syrup Time! The Somerville Maple Syrup Project will be kicking off the 2009 season this Saturday, January 31st at 12pm!

We’ll be tapping the trees on Tufts Campus. Meet at the corner of College Ave and Professor’s Row on…

I want to share with you a call I received this week from an 80-year-old Somerville woman. Olga is a retired math teacher who is recovering from hip replacement surgery. After hearing President Obama’s Inaugural Address and his call to service, she picked up the phone, saying she was moved to “give back any way I can.” Olga will be tutoring math at Somerville High School three hours a week. I know that there are many more Olgas in Somerville and beyond who are searching for meaningful ways to connect with and give back to their community.

Dear colleagues and neighbors,

At least three times a week I get email from members of our community offering advice on ways the website of the Somerville Public Schools can be reorganized to better meet their information needs.…

Somerville Adult Evening School Winter 2009 Classes start the week of February 3.

Whether you long to learn to ice a cake like a pro, play an African drum, speak Portuguese, deliver CPR, design a web page, do your own home improvements, or simply cut your home energy costs, Somerville Adult Evening School has an affordable course for you. Weekly classes are held at Somerville High School and cover everything from mastering pastry dough to learning to create architectural plans with AutoCAD.…

The young people from Centro Presente’s Pintamos Nuestro Mundo, and The Welcome Project’s Youth Program would like to cordially invite you to: “A Dialogue with Youth on Welcoming Massachusetts” .
Tuesday, January 27th from 4:30 to 6:30pm
Cross Street Senior Center, 165 Broadway, Somerville

For more about this event, read A Dialogue

This event is an opportunity for Somerville youth and community partners to meet in person, build community, and discuss how Somerville can become a safer and welcoming place for everyone. At the event, our youth members will present personal stories, and sit in small dialogue groups with adults.

Click “Read more” to learn about:

- College Goal Sunday on January 25th
- Kindergarten registration paperwork help, January 26-29
- Bye Bye Birdie at Somerville High School February 6-8
- Student art on exhibit at the Nave Gallery
- Somerville Special Olympics Swim team

The Food Services Department is starting a Student Advisory Board in February to give students the opportunity to voice their thoughts about school meals.  Students will meet with the Food Service Director and Nutrition Outreach Coordinator on a monthly basis to advise on the school breakfast and lunch program through the rest of the school year.  All interested students should contact Charlotte Stephenson, Nutrition Outreach Coordinator, at (617) 625-6600 x6095 or cstephenson(at)k12.somerville.ma.us.

[Note, I am the Endorsements Chair of PDS - Barry]

Come out to the first meeting of the new year!

What: PDS January Meeting

When: Tuesday, January 27th – 6:45pm to 8:45pm

Where: Visiting Nurses Association, Community Room, 259 Lowell Street, Somerville

Agenda includes…

Read more for details…

The period after the December break is always a time of high activity in the schools.  What follows is a list of events and activities which might be of interest to all residents, business owners and others across the city:

Read More.>>

The Early Childhood Festival celebrates young children and families, and provides families with the opportunity to learn more about early childhood education programs and resources in Somerville. Hosted by the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), an award-winning collaboration between the Somerville Public Schools and all of the city’s early childhood programs…

ECIP is an integrated early childhood program with a mix of standard and special education children ages three and four. Classes meet four days per week for 5.25 hours per day. There is one teacher and one paraprofessional in each class for a maximum of 15 children.…

Students who will be 5 by August 31, 2009 are eligible for free, full-day kindergarten in the Somerville Public Schools. Kindergarten registration begins in January! Registration materials will be mailed home to the parents/guardians of every age eligible child born in Somerville.

10 A.M. – Noon, Monday, January 19, 2009

Somerville High School auditorium, 81 Highland Ave

• Keynote address
• 2009 MLK awards
• Musical Performances

This event is free and open to the public

Free Refreshments generously provided by the Somerville Public Schools

Co-sponsored by the Somerville Public Schools…

Somerville Climate Action fights global warming by helping Somerville residents, businesses, and the municipality to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We promote energy-conservation, energy-efficiency and the adoption of renewable sources of power through education, advocacy, and coalition building. We believe that this process will result in Somerville’s greater economic, social, and environmental sustainability, building on…

Pleasant Auto School and Somerville Adult Evening School have teamed up to provide a 5 week driver’s education course for any teens or adults with a learner’s permit. Students receive 30 hours of classroom instruction, twelve hours of Road Lessons, six hours of observation time.

The following message was sent by Stephanie Hirsch to some ResiStat groups today. This is the park bounded by Holland Street, Simpson St., and Paulina St..

Hello ResiStat groups –

Please see below for an announcement of a planning meeting regarding Hodgkins Park:

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Robert…

A focus group of Civil and DisAbilities Rights advocates will join with the longest-running TV Access producers group in the country during Civil Rights Week in MA to tackle the challenges of designing equal opportunity communities.

Julia’s drawing entitled Red Sails at Sunset by Julia J won third prize in Crayola’s “Art of Childhood” online exhibit!

More than 35 student actors, musicians, stage and costume designers, and production engineers are working on the 2009 Somerville High School production of Bye Bye Birdie. Scheduled to launch its three day run on Friday, February 6th, Bye Bye Birdie tells the story of Conrad Birdie…

Please join the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC) and Save Our Somerville (SOS) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for the hearing of the Union Square Zoning Ordinance at City Hall. We are very concerned that the proposed Union Square zoning does little to protect affordability in the area.

The District is rich in activity throughout the early part of December. Highlights include…

“Klass Klownz” auditions are open to any Somerville resident in Grades 7 through 9, and will be held Wednesday, December 10th at 6:00 p.m. in West Somerville Neighborhood School at 177 Powderhouse Boulevard. Performers should prepare a one-minute skit that can take the form of a funny song, an impression, or a parody of a TV ad or character. A CD player will be provided for those auditioners that have their own music.

The tree is gone. Several of us confronted the arborist. Ellie and Kirsten went to court in Woburn where Joe Benoit mysteriously turned up and successfully challenged their request for a temporary restraining order. (with video)

Here is an opportunity to view the work of local artisans, purchase some
holiday decorations and gifts, and help support many student athletes at
SHS!

Each year Somerville attracts over 120 artisan and crafters from
throughout New England to this Holiday Crafts Fair at a very central
location, Somerville High School-Brune Field House at…

A new exhibition, cosponsored by the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and the Chinese Historical Society of New England features material from the Chinese American Women Oral History Project. Exhibited are transcripts, audio, and video clips, artifacts, correspondence, and books that document the experiences of several women who…

And now, a meeting announcement from the Chair of the Progressive Democrats of Somerville…
HEY PDSers…

Come to our November meeting at the VNA at 259 Lowell Street on Tuesday, November 25th from 6:30 to 8:30.

Topics include:

• Celebrating the election of BARACK OBAMA!!!!
• Union Square Zoning Update
• Condo Conversion

Spread Christmas cheer and support alternative education by buying a Christmas tree or wreath from Next Wave and Full Circle Alternative Schools, which provide high quality instruction in a therapeutic setting for up to 104 Somerville youth in Grades 6-12.

You’re invited to a Legislative Workshop I’ll be holding on Thursday, November 20 from 7PM to 8:30PM at the Somerville Public Library, at 79 Highland Ave, Somerville.

Two days ago, the City of Somerville announced it would start enforcing regulations prohibiting the use of bicycles on sidewalks with fines between $20 and $50… Given the city’s budget problems, I wonder whether this policy change is motivated more by a need to find new sources of revenue rather than by public safety concerns.

The Mystic View Task Force is holding its annual meeting on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. The focus of this year’s meeting will be reports on air pollution research. Taeko Minegishi, a scientist at Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc., will report on the results of measurements of

[Posted on behalf of Alisa Wind]

Dear friends at Somerville Voices,

We would like you to join us at a special “What’s Next?” event with Noam Chomsky next Wednesday, Nov 19th. We would also like to encourage your organization to advertise in our program book to share your work with hundreds of viewers…

The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) and the Medford Green Line Neighborhood Alliance (MGNA) are jointly hosting a community meeting to discuss the proposed extension of the Green Line service to the Medford/Somerville line at Mystic Valley Parkway.

The meeting, will be at 7 p.m. on

Nearly a third of Somerville residents were born outside of the United States. Who are we in this immigrant city? What dreams and aspirations brought us here? How did we cope in a new community and in a new country? What brings us together – what pulls us apart – across generations of immigrants?

Saturday, November 22 at the Cambridge Senior Center in Central Square, United for Justice with Peace is holding a post-election conference to discuss how best to move the agenda for peace and justice forward in the Greater Boston area

This announcement appeared on the smujp(at)yahoogroups.com list on Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30-9:30 PM

at the Middle School

FROM WALL STREET TO MAIN STREET – Watertown: A Community Speak-Out on the Economic Meltdown

The following message was sent by Jackie Rossetti to the ResiStatYoungSomerville Google group on Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Hi All,

If you live in the Grimmons Park area, you may be interested in the
following community meeting, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 20th:

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone…

I just received this invitation in the mail from the Somerville Community Corporation:

The Somerville Community Corporation

Cordially invites you to attend our

39th Annual Dinner and Meeting

“PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS”

Wed, Dec 3, 2008, 6-8:30pm

Holiday Inn Boston – Somerville

30 Washington St., Somerville

Please join…

No school on November 4th; Vocational Fair on November 8th; School Improvement Council Training on November 10th; Parent/Guardian Focus Group on Middle Grades Learning on November 13th; District-wide open house and information session on November 18th

The following is quoted from the City of Somerville Website PR of October 27, 2008:

The City of Somerville’s Charter Advisory Committee (CAC) will hold a public hearing to discuss the City’s municipal charter and the work of the CAC…

Hi Gang, for those of you yearning for alternative media coverage of the big day November 4th … keep reading, we have the answer

Hi Gang, for those of you yearning for alternative media coverage of the big day November 4th …. keep reading, we have the answer.

Click here for the article with details.

SMUJP (Somerville-Medford United for Justice with Peace) invites you to a post-election dialogue: thoughts on the election results and implications for the Somerville and Medford progressive community. We hope to define three key areas to focus on going forward, relating to peace, economic justice and local issues. This open, nonpartisan conversation will start with brief presentations and move to lots of discussion. We hope you can join us!

As cold autumn weather approaches, Davis Square’s Amethyst Center announced today that it is hosting a “Get Healthy for the Holidays” open house offering refreshments and holistic health treatments. The short treatments—available in exchange for a suggested $10 donation to the Somerville Homeless Coalition—include: acupuncture; shiatsu; massage; craniosacral therapy; naturopathy consultations; reiki and other energy balancing sessions. Participants are also encouraged to bring gently-used or new blankets to donate to the Coalition.

Somerville Youth Hockey Association provides an instructional level program for youth from ages 3-8 years old at Somerville’s DCR Rink on Saturday mornings for the entire season. This is a great opportunity to put on a pair of skates and learn skating and hockey basics. There is no pressure to join a team, but children…

Join the Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey Team as they host a FREE hockey clinic for girls 8th
Grade and under (because of NCAA rules, they can not be in high school yet)

Read the main article March for Haiti on Sunday–Hurricane Relief for more details…

Save Our Somerville’s always reliable, Leon David, has been hard at work organizing a disaster relief march for Haiti. Haiti has been devastated by something like four hurricanes this year. Leon has asked that this message be shared with the SOS network to help all of Somerville become aware of this issue that has sent shockwaves through our Haitian community. On Sunday, let’s show that all of Somerville stands in solidarity with Haiti and her expatriates here in our city.

From a phone message received today, October 8:

Hello, this is an important message from the National Institutes of Health.

On October 14 we’ll be holding a meeting of the NIH Blue Ribbon Panel for the risk assessment of the national emerging infectious diseases laboratories at Boston University Medical Center.

The purpose…

Stand Up for Peace in the Middle East
BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
Visit our website: http://oct11boston.org

Music at 11, Rally at noon, March at 2 pm
Boston Common Parade Grounds (Entrance on Beacon and Charles St.)

Join thousands of New England anti-war activists on Oct. 11th 2008 at noon on Boston Common…

Join Union Square Main Streets for our monthly ‘Second Wednesdays in Union Square’ community celebration.  October features a tour of Union Square’s drinking holes, complete with drink specials and new friends.

When: This Wednesday, October 8 from 6pm until whenever you want to leave.

Where: We will begin the night at 6pm at…

Charles River Alleycats is hosting a Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic for Cats on Saturday, October 25th. The clinic will be held at the Somerville Department of Public Works city yard at 1 Franey Rd, Somerville.

Over the years and from various corners there’s been discussion about the need for a community foundation for Somerville. Some people have gone so far as to do research towards the idea of a foundation but nothing concrete has yet emerged. Since the needs that inspire the idea of Community Foundation continue to emerge a group of people gathered this past summer to articulate those needs and what a Somerville Foundation might be.

Join the Somerville Bicycle Committee for the 16th Annual Tour de Somerville on Saturday, October 18th.   We’ll meet at 10 am at Seven Hills Park, behind the Holland Street T entrance in Davis Square.    From there, we’ll trace the entire boundary of our city, from leafy Alewife Brook and Tufts University to gritty…

Food, music, and raffle, rain or shine – everyone is invited!

201 Central Street, Somerville (near the corner of Broadway). Services continue Tuesday and Wednesday: see full schedule at www.templebnaibrith.org. All welcome.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Youth Soccer League invite all to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new James McCarthy Field located at the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center on 150 Glenn Street / Wednesday September 24th from 3:30-4:30pm.

The ceremony will include a brief speaking agenda, ribbon cutting, and special…

From the homepage of the Somerville Democratic City Committee www.SomDems.org :
Our first annual Somerville Democratic City Committee Picnic has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 4th, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street. All Somerville Democrats are welcome…

Come to Union Square September 28 27 to celebrate Somerville’s own sweet, gooey, and utterly unique contribution to American cuisine, Marshmallow Fluff!  From 4 to 7 PM (rain date Sunday September 28) come participate in the Fluff cooking contest, find out about Somerville superhero Fluff Boy, and hear the dulcet tones of the…

There are several noteworthy events happening in the Somerville Public Schools in the upcoming weeks.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am part of a group of Somerville and Cambridge residents organizing the third Honk! Festival of activist street bands, and I wanted to extend an invitation to all of you to take part in the Honk Parade from Davis Square to Harvard Square on Sunday, October 12…

Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Urban Country Fair

sponsored by Truth Serum, Somerville Arts Council and ArtsUnion
(raindate: September 21)
3-7pm FREE and open to the public
Union Square, Somerville in the square!

Truth Serum’s Urban Country Fair will combine Exhibitors, Craft and…

Somerville Plant Sale 2008
Perennial and House Plant Sale

The annual SGC Perennial and House Plant Sale is planned for Saturday, September 20th, 2008 from 9:00am-1:00pm in Davis Square (rain or shine), in the park at the intersection of College Ave and Holland St (across from the Somerville Theater).

This is…

Committee Urges Residents to Submit Comments on City Charter Beginning September 1st through September 8th; Comments Accepted Via Email, Mail and Voicemail

Looking for a vibrant, egalitarian, and welcoming Jewish community? Temple B’nai Brith is an independent Jewish congregation serving Somerville and surrounding communities for over 100 years. We offer regular Shabbat and alternative worship services, High Holiday services, and other Jewish holiday services; non-members are welcome!

The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) is seeking an Executive Director to start January 1, 2009. Please refer to our website for more information: www.caasomerville.org.