Newstalk – August 17

On August 17, 2016, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

This week, Dilboy Stadium on the Alewife is once again hosting the 5th Annual Fight Night at Dilboy, Friday evening, August 19. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. First bout at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at the Somerville Boxing Club, 11 Otis Street, or at the door the night of the event. Rain date August 20.

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The 16th Annual Golf Tournament for the John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund will be held this year once again at the Falmouth Country Club in Falmouth, MA. Saturday, September 10. Tee time is 8:30 a.m. If you’d like to play or sponsor go online to www.johns-team.org for all the information regarding this excellent fundraiser for a worthy cause.

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It seems as though Dr. No Permits Needed, the developer dentist from Davis Square, is at it again and still outsmarting Inspectional Services. This smalltime developer has been mentioned in this paper awhile back for illegal, non-permitted work on his Davis Square Somerville property. Cambridge has also had numerous problems with this same guy. Now he’s outsmarted Inspectional Services again in the Magoun Square neighborhood. With a triple-decker on Henderson Street that he illegally rehabbed from a six bedroom to eleven bedrooms and illegal ongoing work on the old Piro printing building on Medford Street, with no valid permits, Inspectional Services seems to have their hands full with this guy. Stop work orders were issued, then taken off the buildings, replaced, taken off again, unsafe building notices posted and removed just as quickly. Now we hear from the Henderson Street residents that the guy has leased the apartments and has lawyered up to try and keep the city at bay. One would think that between all the ace attorneys we have at City Hall, someone would figure out a way to stop this guy from endangering the tenants and surrounding neighbor’s properties. We also hear from one very prominent Henderson Street resident that if the city cannot do their jobs and prevent this type of reckless behavior, then someone at the state level may be able to assist the neighbors. More to follow next week. Stay tuned.

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Remember reading here a couple of weeks ago about the Mayor’s Picnic and how the Council on Aging might have kept it a secret? We received a letter from an elderly person this week regarding the announcement, or should we say the lack of. Apparently, according to the letter, a mailing did go out but we guess the staff was busy and didn’t get it out and delivered to people until the day of the picnic, and the writer tells us it might have been deliberate. That sure explains the huge difference in the crowd attendance doesn’t it? And with all the staff and extra staff at the Council you’d think they would want to get that mailed out at least a week to ten days before the event, wouldn’t you? On another note, the food – or should we say sandwiches – were less than what they received in the past, so we hear. We’re sure the COA has heard the same.

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The Condominium Review Board held a public hearing on the issue of the ordnance, whether it should be enhanced or just enforced the way the regulations look today. A crowd of about 100 showed up at the VNA on Lowell Street for the hearing. We have one complaint – or maybe two – why is a city board, in particular the Somerville Condominium Review Board, holding a public meeting at the VNA on Lowell Street? It seems, according to a city employee standing at the head of the driveway, that no one was allowed to park on the property. It appears as though all the people who showed up for the hearing were trying to find parking spaces in the neighborhood. We asked the person at the driveway who he worked for and he said the city. We then asked the receptionist why no one could park in the parking lot, and she mentioned that since the group (board) meeting was to expect more than 20 cars, they were told there was no parking allowed. The other reason for not having a public hearing is that the temperature was in the 90’s and the central a/c was turned on but it was still very hot in the room. The meeting ended, hopefully to be resumed sometime in September and at a place where parking should not be a problem and the a/c is on if needed. The staff of the CRB should have seen this coming (yes, they have a staff). We believe all pubic City of Somerville board meetings should be in a public building with parking. We suggest the staff might want to look into reserving a room in one of the many city facilities (including schools) next time.

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Coming up shortly, in September on the 13th, DISCOVER … East Somerville’s best-kept culinary secrets at 15+ restaurants. From 14 Broadway to 192, join the 2016 Participants: Maya Sol, Casey’s, Connexion, Fasika, Rincon Mexicano, Taco Loco, Los Paisanos, East End Grille, Vinny’s, Ola Cafe, La Brasa, Tapatio, Gauchao, Blanca’s, Deano’s Pasta, Joe’s Liquors, Amigos Market, and more!

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We’re told that at the next Board of Alderman meeting on Thursday, August 25, the Water Department is scheduled to be on the agenda, hopefully to explain what the new tax (sorry, we meant fee) of $60 per bill is all about. That’s right, $60 per bill, per water meter. We get three bills a year. Again, do the math: $180 extra tax (again, sorry, we meant fee) with an estimated 11K meters that is going to be an “Add on Charge” by the Water Department. So, either be present at the BOA meeting or make sure you watch to find out why they decided to do this without a public hearing.

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The 2.5 proposition override will be on the ballot this coming November. It will be interesting to see how that will go. Some of these new people coming in to the city already pay high taxes, this will be more added to the bill.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Happy birthday to one of Somerville’s good guys, a distinguished gentleman, Mr. Sal Ferro of East Somerville. Everyone in East knows the Ferro family. Great people. We hope Sal has a great day. Another great guy, Paul McGlashing, is celebrating this week He’s a fantastic barber at Alibrandi on Holland. Stop in and say “happy birthday” to Paul. He’s a nice guy from a great family. Big time happy birthday to former Ward Five Alderman Courtney O’Keefe, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a great day for herself. Happy birthday to Maureen Hart-Maguire, wishing her a great day as well.

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Primary Day is Thursday, September 8. Normally it’s on a Tuesday, but it’s on a Thursday again this year. Mark it on you calendar. We will be doing an endorsement next week in the paper for the senate seat and for the state representative seat presently held by Tim Toomey. Meantime, the debate for both offices is being aired on local SCATV several times. All four candidates did very well and we will have a surprise next week in our endorsement.

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Last week, Annemarie Carey-Browne had some emergency surgery and we hope she’s doing much better and on the road to speedy recovery. She’s a great lady and, of course, married to Mike Browne, one of the hardest working and dedicated city employees that we have here in Somerville. We wish Annemarie the very best and a speedy recovery, and that Mike makes dinner while she’s recuperating.

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There’s a new website in town. Check it out at www.somervillema.com. The Somerville Times is on the site. Also check out www.medfordma.com. Someone asked online why we keep these two websites in Newstalk. We guess it’s because we like them.

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For those that might be interested in obtaining certification for firearms should look up the Lawrence Rod & Gun Club. They provide an extensive program at the end of which you receive certification for Massachusetts/NRA Certified Firearm Safety Classes. They run a class once a month, which is limited to 10 people and we hear that this is the place to go to learn safety when handling guns. Email gunclub@earthlink.net for more information and or go to their website at www.lawrencerodandgunclub.org and read up about the course. We’ve been told that the course has seen a major increase in people applying for it, especially women. We can tell you first hand here that it’s a great course and quite thorough. The same goes for this in Newstalk. The club has informed us that many residents of Somerville have called or gone to the club to find out about certification.

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Sally O’Brien’s on Somerville Avenue is a great place to stop in and visit with some friends and have a bite to eat and enjoy the variety of entertainment that Liam, the owner, brings in every night. Wednesday is poker night, with lots of fun. Come and enjoy. Say “Hi” to Liam, Zack and Rob.

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Congratulations to Zack Zasloff on his first meeting of the Condominium Review Board. We bet he’s having a blast. He’s a nice guy with a bright future here in the city.

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We wonder how the nationwide search is going for a new City Treasurer since one of the nicest guys around and more-than-competent Peter Forcellese resigned last week. We wish him the very best and know that he will go on to bigger and better things. You know what they say: “When one door closes another opens.” Best of luck, Peter.

 

1 Response » to “Newstalk – August 17”

  1. Courtney O'Keefe says:

    Thank you for the Birthday mention! I hope you’re having a wonderful summer.