Environment and Open Space

Regional Transportation Advisory Council Meeting

Wed. Feb. 10 3:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rm. 4
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

Jan. 28, 2010 MPO Amendment to Public Comment Period. (PDF)

Feb 2. 2010 TCAC Letter to MPO (PDF)

This…

Comment Period on Amendment to MPO Public Participation Plan

Starts: Mon. Feb. 8
Ends: Thurs. Mar. 25

Amendment (PDF)

This is the beginning of the 45-day comment period on the MPO Public Participation Plan to shorten or waive the public comment period on certification documents.

Ordinarily…

Mystic River Watershed Association Committee Meetings

Tues. Feb. 2 7:00 PM

East Hall, Room 015
Tufts University
Medford MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the MyRWA Committee on Water Quality (CoWQ), the Outreach Committee, and the Policy Committee. At this meeting MyRWA will introduce a new…

Smart Growth/Transit Oriented Development – What is working or not?

Thurs. Feb. 4 11:30 AM

Radisson Hotel
200 Stuart St.
Boston MA (map)

This presentation by the City of Somerville OSPCD Director Monical Lamboy, developer Ted Tye, and MassDOT Transit Development Director Mark Boy will address how…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Planning Meeting

Tues., Feb. 16, 6:30 PM

Upper Hall
Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the rescheduling of the Feb. 9 Phase 3 planning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will begin specifying…

MetroBoston DataCommon Training Event

Thurs. Feb. 4 1:00 PM

MAPC Offices
60 Temple Place
Boston MA (map)

This is one of the monthly training sessions in using the Boston DataCommon to:

• Access statistics about a city or town
• Analyze social and economic data
• Generate

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Meeting

Mon. Jan. 25 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Somerville Public Health and Public Safety Committee. The agenda includes…

Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting

Mon. Jan. 25 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Somerville Housing and Community Development Committee. The agenda includes discussing the…

Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership Meeting

Mon. Jan. 25 7:00 PM

3rd Floor Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the STEP monthly meeting. at which will be discussed current developments on the Green Line Extension and the Assembly Square T-Stop.

This…

Your Walkable Community in Winter: Somerville

Sat. Jan. 30 2:30 PM

Somerville Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a workshop on walkability in Somerville during the winter. It includes information about snow clearance and ways to make your neighborhood more walkable.

This workshop…

MAPC Mystic River DataCommon Training Event

Wed. Feb. 3 9:30 AM

MAPC Offices
60 Temple Place
Boston MA (map)

RSVP: Patrick Herron, PhD
Water Quality Monitoring Director
Mystic River Watershed Association

This is a training session on using the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission DataCommon Mystic River Map, sponsored…

Somerville Home Energy Efficiency Team (SHEET)

Invites you to roll up your sleeves and join a weatherization party

Sunday, January 31st — Noon-3:30pm

SHEET and Somerville Climate Action are taking action. Join in!

¨    Help to weatherize the parsonage of a Somerville church

¨    Learn skills you can take…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Visioning Meeting

Tues., Jan. 26, 6:30 PM

Upper Hall
Greek Orthodox Church
29 Central St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the last Visioning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will finish the vision statement.

The goal of…

Mystic River Watershed Association Lower Mystic Initiative Presentation

Wed., Jan. 27, 6:30 PM

Chelsea City Public Library
500 Broadway
Chelsea MA (map)

Flier (PDF)

This presentation will describe MyWRA’s ongoing program of water sampling from the Mystic River and Chelsea Creek.

This presentation…

Why Commissions Can Improve Our Community

Sat. Jan. 30 1:30 PM

Somerville Library
79 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a workshop from the “How to” Series for Civic Engagement by the Office of Somerville Commissions. It discusses how commissions, such as the Human Rights Commission…

MPO Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Meeting

Wed. Jan. 21 10:00 AM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rm. 4
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Transportation Planning and Programming Committee. This group makes decisions to support or not support new transportation…

MPO Open House with Clean Air and Mobility Program Briefing

Tues. Jan. 20
Afternoon: 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Evening: 5:00 – 7:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf. Rm. Suite 2150
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

This is a special open house for the Metropolitan Planning Organization. There…

On Tuesday, January 26 at 7pm at the Central Square Library, Councillor Henrietta Davis will discuss her experience as a delegate to the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen. Hosted by Cambridge-Somerville for Change’s Energy and Climate Committee and Green Decade Cambridge.

BOA Committee on Parks and Open Space

Tues. Jan. 12, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is an official replacement for the Jan. 6 meeting, which began after 7:30 PM, too late to go on the record. Instead…

Paul Mackey, the Deputy Director of the Somerville Housing Authority, stands with Clarendon Hill Garden Committee members Cliff Pitts, Jocelyn Scott, and Bing Wei, on the land designated for the resident community garden…

This is a public hearing on updates to the Sullivan Square Orange Line T-Stop and the surrounding area, including the Rutherford Avenue overpass. This meeting is important because the area of Somerville near Sullivan Square uses the T-Stop and is inconvenienced by the overpass.

This is the first 2010 meeting of the Somerville Bicycle Committee. They may be discussing the contamination issue on the bike path.

This is the second Visioning meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. At this meeting, the group will review the citizen inputs from the earlier SomerVision meetings and pull them together into the beginning of a vision statement.

Mystic River Watershed Association “DoughRaiser” Event

Thurs. Jan. 21, All Day

Porter Square Pizzeria Uno
820 Somerville Avenue
Cambridge MA (map)

Print and Bring Coupons (PDF)

This event is a fundraiser for the Mystic River Watershed Association. Upon presentation of a coupon, up to 20%…

BOA Committee on Finance

Wed. Jan. 13, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the first 2010 meeting of the Finance Committee.

Finance Committee meetings are always important, because this is where decisions are made about city…

Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing

Wed. Jan. 6, 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

This is a regular hearing of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Among other business, the Board will hear the case of…

MassDOT Public Hearing for Somerville’s Washington Street Project

Thurs. Jan. 7, 7:00 PM

Ralph and Jenny Senior Center
9 New Washington St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a public hearing on road improvements to Washington Street from New Washington Street to the Boston city line. These improvements are…

EPA Mystic River Water Quality Science Subcommittee Meeting

Thurs. Jan. 7, 9:00 AM

R15-006 Conf Room.
15th Fl. Court of Appeals
5 Post Office Square
Boston MA (map)

Draft Agenda (PDF)

This is a meeting of the EPA-convened subcommittee on water quality in the Mystic…

End of Comment Period on Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on Green Line Extension

Comments End: 1/8/10

Submit written comments at the project’s Share Your Opinion e-mail site.

The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has posted the Draft EIR on the Green Line Extension into Somerville and…

Assembly Square Public Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. Jan. 5, 6:00 PM

Federal Realty Investment Trust
5 Middlesex Ave. Suite 401
Somerville MA (map)

This important event is sponsored by Federal Realty, the chief developer of the new Assembly Square mixed use development.

These meetings are important because they provide…

BOA Committee on Parks and Open Space

Wed. Jan. 6, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is the first 2010 meeting of the new Committee on Parks and Open Space. On the…

BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development

Wed. Jan 6, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the first meeting of the new Committee on Housing and Community Development. Among other business, this meeting will deal with the…

By way of Abby Yanow of Somerville/Medford United for Justice with Peace:

These events come to us by way of Transition Somerville and Somerville Climate Action.  SMUJP is exploring ways to support other progressive group’s activities

——————–

Please join us on Monday January 11
for the FIRST-EVER SOMERVILLE FARM…

Assembly Square Orange Line Station 30% Progress Design Meeting

Tues. Jan. 12 7:00 PM

Cafeteria
Capuano Early Childhood Center
150 Glen St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the progress report meeting by the MBTA on the design for the Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop. Present from the MBTA…

MBTA Rider Oversight Committee Meeting

Mon. Dec 21 5:00 PM

State Transportation Building
Conf Rms 1-3
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the MBTA Rider Oversight Committee meeting established as part of the T’s fare policy commitments. This meeting includes a report…

We need your help and ideas to help to get CSfC’s energy and climate effort going. So please come to our meeting on January 12th, at 7pm, at 154 Auburn Street in Cambridge. We will be planning our kick-off action forum, currently set for February.

And if you have any questions or…

MPO Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Meeting

Thurs. Dec. 17, 10:00 AM

State Transportation Building
Conf Rm 4
10 Park Plaza
Boston MA (map)

Meeting Documents (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Boston MPO. At this meeting, technical assistance work programs for 2010-2011…

Public Meeting on Mystic River Reservation Recreational Path Extension (Wellington Undercarriage)

Thurs. Dec. 17 6:30 PM

Mystic Activity Center
535 Mystic Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting is a forum for discussing the planned boardwalk connecting the recreational path under Route 28 to link Ten Hills and Assembly…

Ward 1 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Dec. 7, 7:30 PM

Cafeteria
Capuano Early Childhood Center
150 Glen St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Roche, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 1. Similar meetings are held in all other…

Ward 4 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 8, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
Arthur D. Healey School
5 Meacham St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 4 Alderman Pero, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 4. Similar meetings are held in all other…

Public Meeting on Green Line Extension Maintenance Facility Alternatives

Wed. Dec. 16 6:00 PM

Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center
41 2nd St.
Cambridge MA (map)

Submit written comments at the Green Line Extension project’s Share Your Opinion e-mail site.

This is a Public Meeting…

BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development

Mon. Dec. 14, 6:30 PM

2nd Fl. Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a special meeting of the BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development to hear a presentation by the Office of Strategic…

Ward 7 ResiStat Meeting

Thurs. Dec. 10, 5:30 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Trane, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 7. Similar meetings are held in all other wards…

Deckerman and Morse-Kelley Playground Renovations

Wed. Dec. 9 7:00 PM

Library
John F. Kennedy School
5 Cherry St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a public community meeting to discuss the renovations of the Dickerman and Morse-Kelley Playgrounds on Craigie Street, close to Wards 3, 2, 5, and 6…

Community ratifies set of 11 principles for land use planning along the Green Line extension.

Planning Board and Land Use Committee Meetings

Thurs. Dec. 3
6:00 PM – Planning Board
7:00 PM – Joint Meeting

3rd Floor Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the joint meeting of the Somerville Planning Board with the Land Use Committee…

It looks like the climate crisis is taking a back seat to the economic crisis as Mayor Curtatone and the Somerville Arts Council promote the annual Illuminations Holiday Tour,  “the annual trolley tour of holiday light displays” around the city.  Certainly, keeping the holiday lights off is the least we could do to help reduce our carbon footprint.…

Ward 5 ResiStat Meeting

Tues. Dec. 1, 7:00 PM

Cafeterium
John F. Kennedy School
5 Cherry St.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 5 Alderman O’Donovan, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 5. Similar meetings are held in all other…

Ward 2 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Nov. 30, 7:30 PM

Argenziano School
290 Washington Street
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 2 Alderman Heuston, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 2. Similar meetings are held in all other wards of the…

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 …

Ward 6 ResiStat Meeting

Mon. Nov. 23, 7:30 PM

Ciampa Manor
27 College Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting, sponsored by Mayor Curtatone and Ward 6 Alderman Gewirtz, deals with statistical data and issues relating to Ward 6, particularly the Davis Square area. Similar meetings are held in…

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

Comprehensive Plan Visioning Meeting

Tues. Nov. 17, 6:30 PM

Argenziano School
290 Washington Street
Somerville MA (map)

This is the November meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The Visioning Discussion begins with this meeting and will continue with four public input meetings in December. The Steering Committee…

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

A new documentary by Wendy Blom, SCAT Executive Director, looks at how Somerville residents take advantage of Massachusetts farms and backyard gardens…

StreetTalk: Design Advocacy – Designing for How We Move Through Space

Thurs. Nov 12, 7:00 PM

Livable Streets
100 Sidney St.
Cambridge MA (map)

This presentation gives examples of landscape architecture and public art projects where pedestrian movement and design determined the space. It is important because we…

BOA Committee on Finance

Mon. Nov. 9, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (PDF)

This is a rescheduling of the Nov. 4 meeting of the Finance Committee, which was cancelled on November 2. It is…

STEP Green Line DEIR Community Meeting

Sat. Nov. 7, 9:30 AM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This coming Saturday, the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership is sponsoring a community meeting on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Green Line Extension. This important, very…

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…

Broadway Rezoning: Winter Hill to Sullivan Square

Thurs. Nov. 5, 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This meeting is a rescheduling of the joint October 8 meeting between the Land Use Committee and the Planning Board. It is important because…

BOA Committee on Housing and Community Development

Thurs. Nov. 5, 7:00 PM

2nd Floor Conference Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is meeting of the Aldermanic Committee on Housing and Community Development is important because the Committee will discuss the proposed MBTA maintenance…

BOA Committee on Finance

Wed. Nov. 4, 6:00 PM

2nd Floor Comm. Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the Finance Committee. It is important because it addresses the final requirements of the iCubed program just approved by the…

State Representative Denise Provost and Somerville Climate Action & Transition Somerville present

THE END OF SUBURBIA: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream

Monday Dec 7, 2009

7:00pm to 9:00pm

There will be an open screening and discussion of the 45-minute documentary, “Eating Local in Somerville” on Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30pm in the studio of Somerville Community Access Television, 90 Union Square, Somerville.

Eating local is a national movement that has been embraced enthusiastically in Somerville. A new documentary produced by SCAT Executive…

Mystic View Task Force Annual Meeting

Sat. Nov. 7, 2:00 PM

Third Life Studio
33 Union Square
Somerville MA (map)

This is the annual meeting of the Mystic View Task Force. This meeting is important for MVTF members and supporters because at this meeting the organization will elect Board members…

Mystic River Watershed Association Annual Meeting

Thurs. Oct 29, 6:00 PM

BNY Mellon Building
135 Santilli Hwy.
Everett MA (map)

This is the annual meeting of the Mystic River Watershed Association. The guest speaker, Kathy Abbott, Executive Vice President, The Trustees of Reservations, will speak on Environmental Advocacy…

Community Corridor Planning Steering Committee Visioning Meeting

Wed. Oct. 28, 6:00 PM

Argenziano School
290 Washington Street
Somerville MA (map)

This visioning meeting is sponsored by the Community Corridor Planning Steering Committee to develop ideas for Somerville’s response to the Green Line Extension.

For background and…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting

Tues. Oct. 27, 6:30 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the second October meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The subcommittees will meet and the committee as a whole will review the Land Use…

Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership Meeting

Mon. Oct. 26, 7:00 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

The monthly meeting of STEP provides an opportunity for citizens to get informed and involved in transportation developments around Somerville. This meeting is particularly important because the…

Massachusetts State Representative Denise Provost and Somerville Climate Action present:

THE GREENING OF SOUTHIE

A documentary on

What happens when you’re asked to build

The City of Tomorrow …Today?…

Saturday October 24, 3:00-5:50 PM Somerville Climate Action has joined with 350.org, Greenpeace, Mass Council of Churches and others to create the Boston Under Water Festival. The bicyclists among us may participate in Somerville’s contingent of the ‘350 Bike Ride’ organized by Somerville Climate Action, one of 60 local chapters of Massachusetts Climate Action Network…

RIDE YOUR BIKE OR THE T TO THE BOSTON UNDER WATER CLIMATE FESTIVAL!!!   (co-organized by Somerville Climate Action)…

The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) has posted the Draft EIR on the Green Line Extension into Somerville and Medford. It is important that all citizens of Somerville and Medford evaluate this document and give their feedback, because this is one of the final steps before the project begins implementation. Citizens should particularly look at the proposed mitigation of effects of this development on the surrounding neighborhoods.

Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square Project Design Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 8, 6:30 PM

Schrafft’s Center Cafe
529 Main St.
Charlestown MA (map) ‎

Public meeting to discuss the Rutherford Ave./Sullivan Square Design.

For background and issue to monitor, see Rutherford Avenue / Sullivan Square Redesign Project …

BOA Finance Committee Meeting and Hearing

Wed. Oct. 14 6:30 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is a continuation of the Sep. 16 public hearing on the iCubed funding proposal before the Board of Aldermen, which would provide $50 million in…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting

Tues. Oct. 13, 6:30 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the first October meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The subcommittees will meet and the committee as a whole will review the Housing Trends…

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.

BOA Committee on Land Use Meeting and Public Hearing

Thurs. Oct. 8, 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (MS DOC)

This meeting includes a public hearing on an amendment to the Somerville Zoning Ordinance regarding the Corridor…

Riverfest 2009

Starts 4:00 PM
(fireworks at 8:00 PM)

Assembly Square (map)

This is the second annual Mystic River Festival, featuring food, music, games, and fireworks. This event is sponsored by Federal Realty Investment Trust; Mayor Joseph Curtatone, City of Somerville; the City of Malden; and the…

Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 1, 10:00 AM

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

This is the regular meeting of the Boston MPO, at which the status of the 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) will be discussed. This…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting

Tues. Sep. 29, 6:30 PM

3rd Floor Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the second September meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. The subcommittees will meet and the committee as a whole will review the…

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.

Somerville Climate Action
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, September 15, 2009  6:00-8:00pm
at the Somerville Community Growing Center , 22 Vinal Avenue, Somerville, MA
Rain or Shine

Come learn how you can participate in the October 24th 350 day of International Climate Action

Ride your bike over with a picnic dinner!…

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting

Tues. Sep. 15, 6:30 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the kickoff meeting for the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee. This committee is intended to provide input to a comprehensive plan for developing the city. The…

Boston MPO Public Workshop on Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) 2010-2013

Wed. Sep. 16, 5:00 PM

Central Library
700 Boylston Street
Boston, MA (map)

Flier (PDF)

This important meeting provides an opportunity to express support for the Green Line Extension to Somerville and the Orange Line…

BOA Finance Committee Meeting and Hearing

Wed. Sep. 16 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (MS Word)

This important meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Finance will include a Public Hearing on the State I-Cube program…

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.…

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

My long-lived friends keep telling me stories about pedestrian accidents in Davis Square.  Fractured a jaw.  Twisted knees.  Fractured elbow, shoulder, wrists.  Slipped and broke an ankle, on crutches for 5 months, still don’t feel safe walking.  Couldn’t even drive for 5 months.  Davis Square bricks.

Yep, reported it, tried to.  Told the Aldermen. …

MPO Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Meeting

Thurs. Sep. 3, 10:00 AM

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

This is the regular meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization transportation planning committee. This meeting includes review of the draft 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Program document, which…

Comment Period for Status of Public Transit Projects Required by State Implementation Plan

Ends Tues. Sep. 15, 5 PM

MassDEP Main Office
Washington Street Conference
One Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108 (directions)

Status letter (PDF)

On July 1, the Executive Office of Transportation submitted…

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.

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. …

30-Day Comment Period on MPO Transportation Improvement Plan

Starts Mon. Aug. 24
Ends Wed. Sep. 23

The draft Transportation Improvement Plan 2010-2013 (TIP) and Regional Transportation Plan 2010-2030 (RFP) are available from the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) as of Monday, August 24, 2009, for a 30-day comment period.

Everyone who…

Somerville Committee on Public Health and Public Safety

Wed. Aug. 26, 7:30 PM

2nd Floor Committee Room
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (MS DOC)

This is the regular meeting of the Aldermanic Committee on Public Health and Public Safety…

Housing Trends in Somerville

Tues. Aug. 25, 6:30 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This important meeting, sponsored by the City of Somerville, provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about and give their views on housing issues in Somerville.

For background and…

Our friend reports that her son (22 months) fell while walking on bricks at the Walnut Street Park, fractured his right femur, and is in a cast for four weeks.  She says that bricks at the park were loose and the city attempted to repair them cheaply- and that they were also slick…

As Wig Zamore and others explain, adding a second entrance to the future T Stop at Assembly Square would expand public transportation ridership there and improve air quality in East Somerville, an environmental justice neighborhood.…

Somerville Planning Board and Land Use Committee Joint Meeting

Thurs. Aug. 20, 6:00 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

Agenda (MS DOC)

This is a joint meeting of the Housing and Community Development and Land Use Committees. On…

MPO Transportation Planning and Programming Committee Meeting

Thurs. Aug. 20, 9 AM

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 transportation planning committee. This meeting includes review of the draft 2010-2013…

Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership Meeting

Mon. Aug. 17, 7 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

The monthly meeting of STEP provides an opportunity for citizens to get informed and involved in transportation developments around Somerville.

For background and issues to monitor…

Get some bike tune-up help and tips with Ace Wheelworks

and learn how to get involved in the International Day of Climate Action on October 24th

with Somerville Climate Action!

Bike on Over with a Picnic

The Growing Center, Vinal Avenue…

Broadway Rezoning Community Meeting

Wed. Aug 12, 6:30 PM

Cross Street Senior Center
165 Broadway
Somerville MA (map)

This is the last of a series of community meetings on rezoning Broadway in East Somerville to introduce a transit-oriented development district.

For background and issues to monitor, see…

Many Somerville residents are not aware that the City manages 46 parks, playgrounds and ball fields for residents. With this astonishing number comes certain responsibilities on the part of the city, such as upkeep and accessibility.

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…

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.…

Comment Period for Mass Highway Improvements around Assembly Square

Ends Mon., Aug. 3, 2009.

The comment period for the proposed highway changes around Assembly Square ends Mon., Aug. 3, 2009. The existing proposals emphasize automobile access.

For background and issues to monitor, see Assembly Square Mixed-Use Development Project.

Comment Period for Transportation Improvement Plan 2007-2010 and Unified Planning Work Program 2010 (Correction)

Ends Tues., Aug. 4, 2009, 5 PM

The comment period for the Federal Transportation Improvement Plan 2007-2010 and Unified Planning Work Program 2010 is ending. The Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop and the Green Line Extension aren’t…

Public Hearing: Proposed Amendments to Mass Air Quality Standards

Tues. Aug. 4 10 AM

MA Department of Environmental Protection
2nd Fl. Atlantic Conf. Rm.
One Winter St.
Boston MA (map)

This important hearing is to discuss amending the state ambient air quality standards to align them with…

Special Meeting, Somerville Board of Aldermen

Tues. Aug. 4 6:30 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This special meeting of the Board of Aldermen is being held to discuss economic proposals for the Assembly Square development project, and other financial issues…

Transportation and Infrastructure Trends in Somerville

Tues. Aug. 4, 6:30 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This important meeting, sponsored by the City of Somerville, provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about and give their views on the transportation options in…

End of Comment Period Urban Ring Phase 2 EEA #12565

End of comment period:
Aug. 7, 2009

The Executive Office of Transportation has filed a Notice of Project Change that modifies the Urban Ring plan to bypass Assembly Square with the main loop, providing only a spur with bus service. The…

Gilman Square T-Stop Community Corridor Planning Meeting

Wed. Aug. 5, 6 PM

Community Room
Pearl Street Park
238 Pearl St.
Somerville MA (map)

This important event is sponsored by the Somerville Community Corporation as an opportunity for citizens to have input into the Green Line Extension to…

Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. July 28, 4 PM

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

Notice of Project Change
(LARGE PDF)

This meeting of the Urban Ring CAC provides citizens an opportunity to discuss the…

Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership Meeting

Mon. July 27, 7 PM

Community Room
Visiting Nurses Association
259 Lowell St.
Somerville MA (map)

The monthly meeting of STEP provides an opportunity for citizens to get informed and involved in transportation developments around Somerville. Matters of interest:

• Orange Line

Somerville Traffic Commission Meeting

Thurs. July 30, 5 PM

Tufts Admin. Building (TAB)
167 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

Report of Parking Solutions Task Force, June 2009 (PDF)

This is a regular meeting of the Traffic Commission. Note time change. Matters of interest:

Somerville Housing and Land Use Joint Committee Meeting

Wed. July 29, 7 PM

Aldermanic Chamber
Somerville City Hall
93 Highland Ave.
Somerville  MA (map)

Agenda (MS DOC)

This is a joint meeting of the Housing and Community Development and Land Use Committees. On the…

Citizen Scientist Training Workshop

Sat. Aug 1 PM – 4 PM

Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH)
143 Border St.
East Boston MA (map)

This workshop sponsored by the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) is intended to train volunteers to join MyRWA’s water quality monitoring program. This important program…

Inner Belt / Brickbottom T-Stop Community Corridor Planning Meeting

Wed. July 29, 6 PM

Holiday Inn
30 Washington St.
Somerville MA (map)

List of Meetings (PDF)

This important event is sponsored by the Somerville Community Corporation as an opportunity for citizens to have input…

This important press conference will be held Monday morning at Assembly Square with Governor Patrick, Senator Kerry and Congressman Capuano. The event will focus on I-Cubed funding, GDI funding and stimulus funding for the Assembly on the Mystic project. Issues of interest: * Assembly Square long term vision * Assembly Square Orange Line T-Stop funding

Union Square T-Stop Community Corridor Planning Meeting

Sat. July 25, 10 AM

Boys and Girls Club
181 Washington St.
Somerville MA (map)

List of Meetings (PDF)

This important event is sponsored by the Somerville Community Corporation as an opportunity for citizens to have input…

Assembly Square Access Improvement Public Hearing

Thurs. July 23, 7 PM

Cross Street Senior Center
165 Broadway
Somerville MA (map)

Hearing Notice (PDF)

This is a public hearing to be held by the MassHighway regarding the Assembly Square Access Improvement Project. This provides an…

Boston MPO Open House

Wed. July 22, in two sessions
12 PM (#1) and 5:30 PM (#2)

MPO Conference Room
Suite 2150, State Transportation Building
10 Park Plaza
Boston (map)

Flyer (PDF)
Presentation Schedule (PDF)

This two-session open house describes Metropolitan Planning…

Transportation and Infrastructure Trends in Somerville

Tues. July 21, 6:30 PM

Cafeteria
Capuano Early Childhood Center
150 Glen St.
Somerville MA (map)

This important meeting, sponsored by the City of Somerville, provides an opportunity for citizens to learn about and give their views on the transportation options in…

Assembly Square Public Advisory Committee Meeting

Mon. July 20, 6:00 PM

Federal Realty Investment Trust
5 Middlesex Ave. Suite 401
Somerville MA (map)

This important event is sponsored by Federal Realty, the chief developer of the new Assembly Square mixed use development. Matters of interest:

• Urban design and

sponsored by the Somerville Community Corporation as an opportunity for citizens to have input into the Green Line Extension to Somerville and Medford. Matters of interest: * Status of Green Line Extension to Lowell Street * Implications for economic development * Implications for environmental improvement.

This is the regular meeting of the Federal EPA committee on the Mystic River. Matters of interest: * Mystic River environmental status * Status of Combined Sewer Overflow mitigation

sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to provide information on what planning information is provided by the Commonwealth and how to access it. * Data sources for public health effects of VOCs in I-93 and McGrath corridors. * Data sources for economic development along Green Line.* Data sources for transportation development impact equity.

sponsored by the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) as an opportunity for citizens to have input into the Green Line Extension to Somerville and Medford. Matters of interest: * Status of Green Line Extension to Ball Square * Implications for economic development * Implications for environmental improvement.

This is a public meeting on the Green Line Extension to Union Square hosted by the City of Somerville at which you can monitor the following: * Status of Green Line Extension to Union Square * Implications for economic development * Implications for environmental improvement.

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

~ Come energize your spring + summer at the…

With summer just around the corner and tens of thousands of young people entering the workforce in Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has proclaimed May “Safe Jobs for Youth Month” to focus attention on preventing workplace injuries and deaths.…

Mayor Curtatone and Ward 7 Alderman Trane invite all interested individuals to attend Somerville’s Arbor Day celebration on Friday, May 1st at 10:00 a.m., at the West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powderhouse Boulevard. The event will include two tree plantings in front of the school grounds, as well as a brief ceremony acknowledging the renewal…

Last night, I attended a presentation about Transition Towns, a grassroots movement to catalyze community visioning processes with an aim towards local, sustainable, and environmentally friendly economies.  The presenters admitted this was not meant as a panacea for the impending triangle emergency of peak oil, global climate change, and our economic crisis, but it was at least something concrete that people can do together with their neighbors.…

An all-ages fair of forward-thinking fun. Get your spirits up and your footprint down!

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…

This was just sent to me by a Garden Club member: A Tree Preservation Ordinance has been proposed in the Board of Aldermen to protect healthy street trees throughout Somerville. The Tree Preservation Ordinance will be taken up before the Board of Aldermen’s Legislative Matters Committee on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 7pm at City…

Over the last couple of months I witnessed Somerville government inability to deal with simple city issues which could potentially have dire consequences.

After purchasing a home in Somerville in 2008 I have began using the community path (from Cedar St) to commute daily to Davis Square where I catch the Red Line. Since then I’ve noticed that the community path, especially between Morrison and Cedar streets have become a free-for-all doggy park, where owners turn their dogs loose.…

Last night at a meeting of the Somerville Garden Club, an audience of about forty club members got a progress report from Brad Arndt, the Coordinator for the Somerville Urban Forest Initiative.

Following up on the Mayor’s pledge in his last inaugural address to increase the number of trees in Somerville by twenty percent…

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!

For more details read It’s Time to

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…

Aldermen Gewirtz and Desmond, and simultaneously Aldermen White and Sullivan, have introduced measures to stem the flow of unwanted phone books (text below the cut). If you have an opinion about unwanted phone books, the My Somerville page is a good way to find out who your aldermen are and let them know.…

Madeleine Masters, Planning Director with the Somerville Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development emailed an announcement about the upcoming meeting on the Union Square Open Space and Recreation Plan, which will be held on Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall.

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…

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…

If you buy your electrical power from NStar and can afford an additional 1.389 cents per kilowatt hour, you can sign up for the “NStar Green” program,  which promotes the development of wind energy as an alternative power source.…

A few significant things to report from today: (1) At 3 today, Deborah Henson-Conant and 70 of her friends from the Arlington HS choir sang to the Belinda-Bertha-Tim tree. It was fantastic. Picture attached. A video is promised on YouTube soon. Check out the Bertha song in the link below. It would fit right in at Honk!:

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

Friends, neighbors, tenants, and people passing by were aghast to see four massive trucks from Cambridge Landscape setting up to take down one of Somerville’s grandest trees. Tenants complained that the landlords representative had told them only that “tree work” would be done, not that a tree which affects the entire neighborhood would come down.

Hi Gang… lot going on since my last post. Later this week I will have a massive update, but, in the meantime I wanted to share the latest episode of the Progressive Voices TV program here at SCAT. Fred Berman and Bill Bumpus have as their guest: Harris Gruman to talk about Question one on the upcoming November Ballot. See the video below.

There is a simple state law that limits motor vehicle idling to 5 minutes max. Reefer trucks are an exception. This law is clearly ignored by both private citizens and public officials. Way too many cars idle. Way too many city cars idle. How can we stop this? It is a waste of gas and a pollutant.

Either that or I am getting behind…not sure which. Fred Berman and Bill Bumpus have three more programs of interest to S’Villans. First: Disabilities with guest Eileen Feldman, 2′nd: The History and Community Importance of Community Television with guest Wendy Blom. Exec. Dir. of SCAT and 3′rd: All about Green Jobs with guests Mary Jo Connelly and Laurie Leyshon. Check out their Video Blog to watch these and other Progressive Voices Programs. Progressive Voices… Mondays at 6pm on Somerville Community Access Television. Ch.3 on both the Comcast and RCN cable systems in Somerville.

Folks,

Just a reminder about this meeting about a proposed bio-lab in Cambridge.  As residents of Somerville, we can speak to the danger of the materials going through our city to get to Cambridge.

You may not have heard, but a developer is planning a Level Three biotech lab in Cambridge , to test toxic gases and other intriguing Cantabridgian products. What’s particularly interesting and notable to Somerville is that such items cannot be legally transported through tunnels, so, if they come from the airport, they come through Somerville . Nobody in Somerville seems to have noticed, but such a lab could kill your kids. Level Three labs are legitimate alternate testing sites for Level Four substances on occasion, and lack only the security conditions for that higher status.

Isn’t it odd that there has been no discussion in Somerville at all about the Cambridge Biolab 3, pending in East Cambridge?? The requirements for transporting its contents mandate “no tunnels” so everything that goes to Logan goes through Somerville. And everything is virtually all that’s in the Biolab 4 except fissionable materials!

There’s an interesting story in the Sunday Globe’s City Edition about Somerville residents (several of whom are part of the Somerville Voices group), who have taken down fences and built stronger ties with their neighbors.…

Please support our Somerville High School Soccer Team! Somerville Recreation Department is offering the following Soccer Clinics for the week of August 11th – August 15th @ Dilboy Stadium

At a fundraiser for his reelection campaign at Sabur Restaurant this evening, Representative Carl Sciortino got some strongly worded support from Governor Deval Patrick, and announced that an upcoming environmental bond bill would include two million dollars for improvements to Somerville’s largest open space, Foss Park.…

Just passing this along:
The city will be holding a meeting about Albion Park Monday, July 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the VNA Building, 259 Lowell Street.

SOS members will be at the event to support keeping activities for young adults and teenagers. There have been several parks such as Perry Park and the Kemp Nuts site…

Come to the Somerville/Cambridge General Election Kick Off Event at Precinct in Union Square this coming Wednesday, July 16th! Have fun, get plugged in and learn how we’re going to win!

I’m passing on a message from Welcome Project at the Mystic Housing Development. They’re asking for volunteers to help rebuild the community garden over there. They’ve already put in two days of work, and the next is this Saturday, July 12, 9 to 3. After that, Wednesday, July 23, 5 to 8.…

Sustainable Somerville — a nascent network of community organizations working to make/keep Somerville a great place to live, work, and play — is sponsoring a Sustainability Scavenger Hunt at ArtBeat (Saturday, July 19th in Davis Square), to show how the common thread of sustainability connects the work of the

This community meeting on the Mystic River Reservation Master Plan will include a presentation of the Draft Master Plan, followed by smaller group discussions on specific topics, including: Open Space and Recreation Programming, Conservation Plans, Pathways, and River and Riverfront Access.

For those of you who may not know, Governor Patrick filed the environmental bond bill (H.4446) this past December. Open space for outdoor recreation (as we all know) is extremely limited in Somerville. These funds can be used to develop Foss Park into the Urban Oasis we so desperately need in Somerville. There is tremendous potential to significantly upgrade the park for all who utilize the area. We must maximize this critical moment by taking advantage of these opportunities.

If you listen to a local NPR radio station like me, you’ve probably heard segments of Living on Earth with Steve Curwood, a program on the environment and environmental policy. After listening to this week’s show, I picked up on the fact that they broadcast from a studio in Davis Square, right down the hall from the office of the Somerville Journal, at 20 Holland Street Suite 408 to be exact.

You can’t walk down the street nowadays without someone measuring your carbon footprint. But Somerville residents (who don’t drive much anyway) may be thinking that there isn’t much they’ll be able to do about it, assuming they’ve already screwed in all those compact fluorescents.…

It seems that a good deal of energy and money could be saved if these lights were turned off during off-hours. Particularly the one on Spring Hill at Summer St. Lots of these lights blink, even in the Summer. Small and simple, but helpful…

Warren Goldstein-Gelb, director of the Welcome Project, has asked for help in getting the word out about the need for volunteers this Saturday (May 3) in rebuilding the community garden at Mystic Housing, which was a casualty of the Somerville Housing Authority’s need for space for a maintenance shed.

New England Ford is sponsoring the festival and drove an SUV into the middle of the plaza in Davis. Thanks…

April 14, is the last day the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will accept public comments on how to improve the proposed Assembly Square IKEA, and lessen its impact on the public’s right to freely travel to and enjoy our Mystic River waterfront.