Somerville Voices
An independent, open forum for reports and opinions about life in our city.
MBTA bag inspections at Davis Station
by Barry Rafkind on January 2, 2009
On my way down to the train at Davis Station around 8:30am this morning, I was about to pass through the gate when a transit officer asked me to submit to a bag inspection. There was a group of about 4 or 5 officers wearing yellow and black jackets standing next to a small folding table with a machine on top.
Early Childhood Integrated Program (ECIP) Application Process
by Gretchen Kinder on January 2, 2009
ECIP is an integrated early childhood program with a mix of standard and special education children ages three and four. Classes meet four days per week for 5.25 hours per day. There is one teacher and one paraprofessional in each class for a maximum of 15 children.…
Kindergarten registration begins on January 24th
by Gretchen Kinder on January 2, 2009
Students who will be 5 by August 31, 2009 are eligible for free, full-day kindergarten in the Somerville Public Schools. Kindergarten registration begins in January! Registration materials will be mailed home to the parents/guardians of every age eligible child born in Somerville.
Union Sq.: Jan. 6 mtg. on open space plan, Jan. 2 deadline for re-zoning testimony
by fberman on December 29, 2008
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.
Drivers Education to be offered at Somerville Adult Evening School
by Gretchen Kinder on December 16, 2008
Pleasant Auto School and Somerville Adult Evening School have teamed up to provide a 5 week driver’s education course for any teens or adults with a learner’s permit. Students receive 30 hours of classroom instruction, twelve hours of Road Lessons, six hours of observation time.
Artist Alert
by Jonathan Rich on December 16, 2008
Registration has opened for the 2009 Somerville Open Studios. This year the event will be on May 2 and 3 from noon to 6:00pm. Registration for participating artists is only open until January 30. You can register here: http://2009.somervilleopenstudios.org/membership/
Gift raffle at Somerville High School concert next week!
by Gretchen Kinder on December 12, 2008
Congratulations to Laxmi Spearing, Charlie LoBrutto, Sofia Carafotes and Lynn Soyring - all of whom won a gift in the raffle held at the All-City Elementary Winter Concert last night, 12/11, at Somerville High School. Raffle prizes were donated by Porter Square Books, Performance Music Center, and Target.
NStar program supports wind power
by Jonathan Rich on December 7, 2008
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.…
Dec. 9: Civil rights advocates ramp it up for accessible communities
by eila on December 5, 2008
A focus group of Civil and DisAbilities Rights advocates will join with the longest-running TV Access producers group in the country during Civil Rights Week in MA to tackle the challenges of designing equal opportunity communities.
Congratulations to Julia J. at the Kennedy School
by Gretchen Kinder on December 5, 2008
Julia’s drawing entitled Red Sails at Sunset by Julia J won third prize in Crayola’s “Art of Childhood” online exhibit!
Keep Union Square Livable
by Alain Jehlen on December 4, 2008
[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.
From A Concerned Property Owner
by lei qin on December 2, 2008
Over the last five years, the city has seemed to be augmenting its revenue by issuing me one trash citation after another, often for no cause… It has become clear to me that this city government is rife with nepotism and cronies who are willing to lie in order to protect each other’s misconduct and dishonesty.
Open Letter
by Bill Shelton on December 1, 2008
To the Charter Review Committee, I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to give testimony at your November 10th public hearing. I hope you are not discouraged that, from mildly to passionately, all but one person who spoke was critical of your preliminary recommendations.
My Testimony to Charter Advisory Committee
by fberman on December 1, 2008
If you’ve been waiting to submit your written testimony to the Charter Advisory Committee, now’s the time. If you haven’t reviewed the Committee’s preliminary recommendations, check them out here. Here are my thoughts:
Benoit Kills Willow, Despite Community Outpouring
by Greg Nadeau on November 28, 2008
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)
Somerville Cracks Down on Sidewalk Cyclists
by Barry Rafkind on November 15, 2008
Two days ago, the City of Somerville announced it would start enforcing regulations prohibiting the use of bicycles on sidewalks with fines between $20 and $50… Given the city’s budget problems, I wonder whether this policy change is motivated more by a need to find new sources of revenue rather than by public safety concerns.
Youth Voices: What it feels like to play soccer
by pnm on November 14, 2008
When I play, I feel concentrated and sometimes nervous. I get motivated by my team mates. When I step on the field, I feel like everything around me is like a perfect dream. I can hear my heart beat.…
Testimony at the Charter Reform Hearing
by fberman on November 13, 2008
This past Monday, the Charter Advisory Committee held a public hearing … Perhaps the most frequent themes of testimony were · Opposition to the appointment (instead of election) of School Committee members · Filling Vacancies on the BOA / Instant Runoff Voting as the means of
JOE THE MAYOR’S IRRESOLUTE PLEDGE
by eila on November 12, 2008
On Martin Luther King day, January 15, 2006, during his introduction to invited speaker (then-candidate) MA Governor Deval Patrick in front of a full house at the East Somerville Community School, Mayor Joe Curtatone pledged to search far and wide in order to hire the very best possible staff leadership to implement the civil rights of constituents with disAbilities in Somerville… But meaningful change and independent choice still seems out of reach for some voters here in the ‘Ville.
Youth Voices: Why I love music video games
by Brian Renderos on November 7, 2008
I like to play video games that have to do with music or creating music. Like DDR (Dance Dance Revolution): you play with a mat that has 4 arrows, one pointing up, down, left and right. On the screen, you press the arrows with your feet by dancing along with the music that you’re hearing on the game. That is one music game that I love to play. …
