Neighborhoods and Squares

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

Assembly on the Mystic 2nd Annual Holiday Drive

Sat. Dec. 19, All Day

Assembly Square Marketplace
Somerville MA (map)

Flier (PDF)

To benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition, marked containers will be located this coming Saturday outside each store in the Assembly Square Marketplace so…

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…

This Sunday, Dec 13th, many of my Davis Square neighbors and I will be unable to get in or out of our neighborhood by car between the hours of 9am and 1pm due to the 3rd Annual Jingle Bell Run.  This 4-hour restriction will be my birthday present from the City of Somerville, a headache I didn’t ask for nor was ever consulted about it.…

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…

Our neighbors are being evicted and our community destabilized by the foreclosure crisis. …

Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. Dec. 1, 5:00 PM

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

This meeting of the Urban Ring Citizens Advisory Committee provides citizens an opportunity to hear MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan discuss Urban Ring planning in…

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…

From SOMERVILLE, MA City website: There will be a joint public hearing by the Board of Alderman Land Use Committee and the Somerville Planning Board regarding proposed amendments to the Somerville Zoning Ordinance to define senior housing types, add design guidelines, establish Senior Housing Zoning and Dimensional Requirements and incorporate relevant parking requirements. WHEN: Thursday, December 3rd at 7:00 pm

From Ward 6 Ald. Gewirtz’s Winter ‘09 newsletter :
There is a proposal being made by the owners of the Citizens Bank building on Elm Street on the corner or Bowers Ave. to bring a Staples to that space. I have been very concerned about large chain stores coming into the square. I’m…

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 next meeting of the Davis Square Task Force will be on Tuesday December 1st, 7-9 pm at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.  The agenda items are below.  Please let Rebekah Gewirtz (rebekah@rcn.com) know if there are additional items you would like to see added.

Agenda for Davis Sq Task Force Meeting
Tuesday December 1, 2009, 7-9pm…

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…

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…

Davis Square retailers welcome all for special sales, snacks, drinks, and entertainment until the clock strikes midnight.

Somerville Voices will sponsor a public forum on Sunday, Nov 15th, 7-9:30 pm about our city’s changing parking regulations and how they will affect residents, visitors, businesses, and the city budget. …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

Somerville Traffic Commission Meeting

Thurs. Oct. 15, 6:00 PM

Somerville Traffic and Parking
133 Holland St.
Somerville MA (map)

This is the regular meeting of the Traffic Commission to discuss parking and traffic issues throughout Somerville, including resident parking, meter rates, and time periods.

For background and…

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…

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…

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…

BOA Committee on Public Health and Public Safety Meeting

Wed. Sep. 30 6:30 PM

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

Agenda (PDF)

This is the regular meeting of the Somerville Aldermen’s Committee on Public Health and Public Safety…

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…

Q:  Why Didn’t the Rolling Somerville Pedestrian Cross the Road at the Crosswalk?

A:  Because the City of Somerville Deciders have been playing chicken with standards.

This photo essay will show 30 lost opportunities to create a safer community on Mayor Curtatone’s watch.…

We need places for groups of all sizes–singles, doubles, triples, quadruples, and yes, even those places where 25 spirited horn players can rest their weary heads. Most groups will not be arriving by car this year, so proximity to Davis Square and/or the Red Line is a priority.

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…

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. …

Assembly Square Public Advisory Committee Meeting

Tues. Sep. 8, 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.

For background and matters of interest, see…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

Thursday’s event at City Hall was a far cry from the tense, emotion-high fracas that went down at the Traffic Commission meeting two weeks ago. The stately Aldermanic chamber was likewise filled with concerned Somerville citizens, but this time, the city’s controversial May 21 vote was the agenda.…

Traffic Board Meeting and Hearing

Thurs. Aug. 13, 6 PM

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

Agenda (PDF)

This is a special meeting of the Traffic Board. It includes a public hearing on petitions challenging the decision to extend parking…

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

MBTA Fare Increases and Service Cuts: Somerville Workshop

Thurs. Aug. 13, 5:30 PM

Auditorium
Somerville High School
81 Highland Ave.
Somerville MA (map)

This is one of a series of public workshops on the coming MBTA fare increases and service cuts. The…

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.

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

Today at 2 pm, a bunch of kids and grownups laughed, danced, clapped, sang, screamed with laughter and marvelled in unison. The OpenAir Circus is again in Somerville- and you’ve got one more day to catch it! (with pics)

It seems as if the Somerville Traffic Commission has a sticky situation on it’s hands. I attended the regularly scheduled Somerville Traffic Commission meeting at the Tufts Administration building this evening, and from what was printed on the agenda, I expected a fairly run-of-the-mill session. But the 75-odd residents who packed the TAB cafeteria had a different agenda in mind…

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…

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.

The Globe has a story today about the evolution of Davis Square and my son Nick’s project of finding out what happened to the kids who made the beautiful T station tiles when they were in elementary school…

DAVIS SQUARE TASK FORCE MEETING, will be held on Monday, June 22, 7 p.m., at the TAB Building, 167 Holland Street.  Open to all.

Agenda meeting:  Wednesday, June 17, Au Bon Pain, 5:30-6:00

To propose an agenda item, drop in on the meeting on June 17, or contact any one of…

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…

Here’s a link to a map that shows 99 foreclosed properties in our city. Are we surprised that they are concentrated in the east and northeast?

Here’s a link to a somewhat shorter list without a map.

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

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…

HONK! Neighborhood meeting, May 28th, 2009 7-8:30 PM at the West Branch Library in Davis Square, 40 College Ave. The HONK festival returns October 9-11th in and around Davis Square. This community meeting will be about how you can get involved in helping to make HONK happen again. Check out www.honkfest.org for more…

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

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

Thanks to Jessica, a senior in the Tufts class entitled “Experimenting with Philanthropy,” CAAS will receive $1,800 to hire youth interpreters to help the residents of Clarendon Hill build a stronger tenants’ association.

The City of Somerville, as an Entitlement Community, receives millions of Federal dollars from HUD each year from the Community Development Block Grant, Emergency Shelter Grant, and HOME programs.  These monies must be spent on activities that primarily benefit low and moderate income Somerville residents in three areas:  

Provide decent affordable housing…

Based on the success of our first attempt at this, DARBI will be hosting another Networking Lunch at Green Tomato on Elm Street on Tuesday May 5th from 11:30 -1 (or as long as people want to hang out!). $8 for DARBI members/$10 for nonmembers. The buffet-style lunch will include a variety of sandwiches and…

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!

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…

The Community Corridor Planning Project invites you to attend a meeting on April 29th to learn about and talk with your neighbors about changes that will come about in Somerville and in your neighborhood with the Green Line extensions.…

Somerville’s future – what’s in the works? Come find out.

SomerVision City Planning Open House

Saturday, April 25th from 11 am to 2 pm

Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street

The intent of the

Thanks to the interdependence of everything, Barry Rafkind’s post Keep Big Brother ouf of Somerville has morphed into a discussion about whether or not traffic cameras can induce more folks to obey traffic laws (see comments starting from # 7). I’m saying that, with regards to the specific pedestrian safety issues that Steve Roix has worked gallently to solve, this speaks to a deeper need to create a signal timing plan…

Dear Chairperson Bill White and distinguished aldermen, I strongly object to the installation of surveillance cameras in public spaces around our city and urge you to request their immediate removal. I believe this surveillance program, which was roundly rejected in Cambridge, MA, violates American ideals of freedom and liberty and the Constitutional right to privacy…

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…

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.

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.

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…

[Posted for Union Square Neighbors] Union Square Neighbors (USN) is a group of area residents who are concerned with the future of Union Square. We believe that careful planning and a cohesive community vision are critical to the future of the square.

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.

Sent by Adam Rich to Somerville-4-Schools yahoo group:

If families continue to leave Somerville, our public schools will suffer. 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…

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)

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

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.

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
Somerville’s Winter Hill
and Hinckley / Magoun Neighborhoods

2:00 P.M.
Tour Leader: Edward W. Gordon, President, VSA/NE

Tour meets at the Winter Hill Congregational Church, 404 Broadway, at
the corner of Central Street.

Directions: Take the No. 89 bus from Sullivan Square Station in
Charlestown to the Broadway…

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.

This year’s third annual HONK! Festival from Oct. 10 – 12 was an exuberant street party!

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…

I’m new to Somerville and am looking for a food cooperative or buyers club near Davis Square. The only thing that I’ve heard of so far is Harvest Coop, which is great, but I’d like to find something closer to Davis that focuses on local produce and building community.

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…

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…

Below is a letter I submitted to the City of Somerville License Commission in favor of the above petitioner and his application to obtain a conditioned liquor license for Churassco (now Pampas) Buffet and Grill Beer at 505 Medford Street in Magoun Square.

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.…

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.…

Note: We’re planning to run a range of views on the rezoning of Union Square.
This one is from Matt McLaughlin, president of Save Our Somerville.

The Green Line is coming through, which is a great step forward for Somerville. I look forward to jumping on the Green Line and going into Boston. But where am I going to live? ……

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.…

East Somerville residents deserve the dream of a better community. Let’s talk together about what costs and benefits the new development will bring to our community and to East Somerville residents.

From the ArtBeat Festival webpage:

“During the heat of summer (held on the third weekend in July), artists and festival goers converge on Davis Square, transforming it into one of the area’s largest and most innovative arts festivals. ArtBeat includes music, performance art, craft vendors, dance, theater, food, and a whole more…

If a municipality’s Bus stops are unreachable and inaccessible, due to badly built street facilities, then its residents are restricted from accessing public transportation systems, etc..For some individuals, the challenges created by these issues cause them to be nearly or fully housebound.
Do you think such quality of life issues should continue to be put off until “tomorrow?” …

On Monday, I went to the Union Square rezoning meeting held at Somerville High. I took my laptop with me and took the following “live blog” notes. The slides and maps are available on the city website.

Another of the city’s popular family events, Family Fun Day includes a variety of activities for residents of all ages. Obstacle courses, games, watermelon eating contests, dancing, and a dunk tank are only a few examples of the day’s events! Dunk the Mayor! Dunk your Alderman! Eat your weight in watermelon! Bring your children, your parents, and your friends.

Today, 2 residents from the Community Access Project of Somerville (CAPS) took their digital levels and measuring tapes and perambulated down Holland Street. We checked both sides of the sidewalk, from Winter Street to the Traffic and Parking Building (133 Holland St.) and then went back to Davis Square via the other side

So, you are a blind pedestrian at Weston and Broadway and you need to cross after getting off the bus. Because there is no curbcut on the bus stop side of Weston to cross to Dickson, you cross Weston to the corner pictured below. You rely on the tactile strips to guide you straight into the crosswalk and to the curbcut exactly opposite. Now, here: how many steps will it take before you’re a smashed pumpkin at rush hour?

The Pedestrian Signal post at the raised island mid-crossing in Union Square, at Somerville and Washington Street is inaccessible to wheelchair-mobile pedestrians. The pedestrian-activated button is at least seven feet – 84 inches- away from the wheelchair pedestrian’s hand!

The Milk Row Cemetery is a Historic Preservation Commission project, and its improvements triggered sidewalk accessibility improvements by 2005. Below is the copy of the complaint I submitted today. This is at least the third time this issue has been brought to the attention of the City ADA Coordinator in the past year.

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.

On Friday, June 6, 2008, the Union Square Citizen’s Bank began breaking up the large platform front step that has been dividing this Bank and its services from people with mobility restrictions. Barack Obama won the nomination in 16 months. This access project for just one public accommodation has taken over 18 months already…

In the ordinary course of business, one notices accessible route problems throughout Union Square’s Somerville Reconstruction Project area. During construction, it is very important for the City to maintain continuous, unobstructed, level and safe sidewalks, as well as safe curbcuts and walkways for everyone.

This Saturday, May 31, I’m co-leading a bicycle tour of historical sights around Somerville, on behalf of the Somerville Bicycle Committee and the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission. The ride will focus on the many commuter rail stations that Somerville once had, and on the Green Line stations that will soon take their place.

The ride starts at 10 am at Somerville City Hall …

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.

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