Well the new Police Chief is working out well, so well that apparently the Mayor is submitting an order to remove the two Deputy Chiefs positions from civil service. We hear that the Mayor has submitted this request to the Board of Alderman for a vote this week. Two questions here – who were the last two to occupy those positions and who are the next two to occupy them?

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A moratorium on the former Winter Hill Star Market property is being proposed by the administration so that any proposal to tear it down and erect a huge condo complex might be difficult in the future. The Winter Hill property probably represents a desirable spot for developers, since right down the other end of Marshall Street might be the new Green Line station, making that entire section of Winter Hill very attractive to developers.

Board orders businesses to accept plastic bags for recycling

By Jack Nicas

The Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance on Thursday evening ordering all businesses of 5,000 square feet or more to facilitate the recycling of plastic bags within their stores. The ordinance requires those businesses to display a visible sign encouraging plastic bag reuse and recycling and a visible bin to recycle the bags.

Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah L. Gerwitz proposed the ordinance in February to the Legislative Matters committee. She said plastic bags are a problem, and even though “plastic bag recycling isn’t going to solve the problem, it will help to raise awareness… let people know that it is a problem, and… tell businesses that they need to step up and provide this service on site so that people can recycle their plastic bags.”

Parents can bring toys and jewelry, to the Somerville Public Library on Aug. 2 to determine, using the latest  technology, if they are ‚Äúlead-safe.‚Äù

‚ÄúWe are fortunate to be able to provide such an important service.  Free clinics like the toy screening clinic extend our ability to better serve members of our community.  I encourage all parents to attend, and ensure the safety of their children and other members of the household,‚Äù said Natalie Mindrum, Lead Hazard Abatement Program Manager.

The YMCA Summer Camp at 101 Highland Avenue has 140 campers this summer, ranging from 5 to 8 years old (the juniors) and 9 to 14 years old (the seniors). Jackie Rivera, the Summer Day Care Director, said the campers have a wide array of activities to choose from, including swimming, basketball, soccer, kickball, movies, and arts and crafts.

She said the groups split their time between the YMCA’s gymnasium, game room and pool, as well as Conway Park, where the campers receive instruction from the Mass Youth Soccer Association. The children also enjoy two to three all-day field trips per week, she said, including outings to state parks, museums, beaches and sporting events.

The camp employs 20 counselors for the campers and runs from June 23 to August 22.

Domesticated dogs and absent advocates

By William C. Shelton

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Mayor Joe Curtatone has demonstrably achieved the opposite of his claim to lead an administration that is more open, accountable, and participatory than its predecessors. But he is not some amoral cartoon villain who lusts after power for its own sake. In person he is warm and cordial. He does want what is best for the city. He wants to expand the scope of his authority because he sincerely believes that he knows what is best, and is the most able in achieving it.

Off The Shelf by Doug Holder

Longtime Somerville resident Dale Patterson is a soft- spoken and modest man, but don’t be fooled by that. He is a well-respected grant writer, a Manager of Development Communications for the Boston Public Library Foundation, a former president of the board of Somerville Community Access TV, a lecturer at Simmons College in Boston, and a runner-up for the 2007 Ibbetson Street Press Poetry Award. I interviewed Patterson on my Somerville Community Access TV Show: “Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.”

Bluntly Speaking by Robert J.L. Publicover

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

It was quite a wonderful trip for a kid when his mother decided to take him along on her weekly shopping trip, usually on a Saturday afternoon. There were four big grocery stores full of fresh foods of every kind. Not much frozen food was around back then, except for a few vegetables.  She used to let him go down to the Star Market (where Central Bank’s loan office and an Accountant are now located) by himself when she need a few items in a hurry but he couldn’t cross the ‘big street‚Äù just yet.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

As in all of my recollections, this timeline is as close to reality as my memory allows me to be. I actually spent two days at two different libraries with my kids last week – we went to pick out some required books from their summer reading list.

Not to anyone’s surprise, we wholeheartedly support smart development along the various economic corridors in this city – more mixed-use, transient-use and low to middle income housing is a vital aspect of Somerville’s future economic growth – the other two equally important aspects being Assembly Square and the Green Line Extension, of course.

With all that this city has done to improve the quality of life in general for its residents by taking a solid, long-term approach to development, there are still areas that show our weaknesses to mid-level developers and the general public alike.

Revitalizing certain areas of the city strengthen the various localized economic corridors, it is true, but completely ignoring certain neighborhoods doesn’t do anyone any favors, regardless of how many parks you plan to makeover.

By George P. Hassett

Somerville’s state delegation last week unanimously supported Gov. Deval Patrick’s bill closing corporate tax loopholes, reducing the corporate tax rate, and clarifying the corporate tax code. The bill was passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives.

The bill originated to close loopholes that large corporations have used in the past to avoid paying state income taxes. These loopholes included allowing corporations to shift profits out-of-state and to define the corporation differently on state and federal tax forms.

In a statement, Patrick said the bill will help Massachusetts businesses retain their competitive edge, while generating hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue to sustain vital government services over the next few years.