Because the 4th of July is on a Saturday this
year, most people (especially the the 'ville) will probably take off
for the weekend right after the fireworks. Leaving Thursday night
instead of Friday is probably the smarter thing to do, considering just
about everyone in the country will have the day off and will likely be
traveling to their Independence Day celebratory location of choice.

Around
here it will be a ghost town for a few days – many of the regular, more
visible people will head off to the Cape or up North to Hampton Beach
or Lake Winnipesaukee. You are more likely to run into a 'villen at the
Dunkin' Donuts in Falmouth on Sunday morning than you would at the
Dunkin' Donuts in Magoun Square – that's just par for the course.

Enjoy
the weekend – spent time with family, friends, a good book or a movie.
Play some golf, take a boat ride, just go for a walk – whatever suits
your fancy. This is the perfect time to wind down from the school year,
budget woes and anything else that might be on your mind lately.

Believe
it or not, in no time, it will be blazing hot, then summer will be
gone, the kids will be back to school and the election bump and grind
will be in full effect. Of course, then Thanksgiving, Christmas and New
Years will be right after that. Yes, time is flying by – so enjoy it
while you can.

When you pause to remember what this holiday
means to us as a nation, keep in mind that we are lucky to live in a
country with many more freedoms than most other nations – that we are
lucky to have evolved into the nation we are. There are well over 100
nations in the world that celebrate an Independence Day of their own –
but none have made such a global impact or have been as historic as
ours.

Keep that in mind this weekend, when you're lighting up
the grill or throwing back a few beers – enjoying the family and
friends and not thinking about work and life's stress all that much.
And remember not to drink and drive – this is one of the most dangerous
weekends when it comes to motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol and
drugs. Don't be a statistic.

Anna
Lavanga, former vice president of the John F. Kennedy School
Parent-Teacher Association, is running for Niedergang's seat. Among her
chief concerns, she said, was a lack of accountability for school
officials.

"The school system needs to be held responsible for
what it does," Lavanga said. "The open door policy is non-existent.
Parents are not getting their problems addressed. We need to protect
the children from the school system."

Lavanga, who grew up in
Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1987, began
what she said was one of the first after school language programs for
elementary students, teaching Italian. She said she would like to see
more of such programs provided to students.

"I'm just going to state what I believe in and (Niedergang) will state his record, and we'll let people choose," Lavanga said.

In
response to Lavanga's concerns about school accountability, Niedergang,
the committee vice chairperson, said school staff members work hard to
address parents' concerns but that the committee is always looking at
ways to help the system improve.

"We don't do enough parent
outreach, especially to low income parents and immigrant parents,"
Niedergang said. "In order to get parents to participate in their
child's education, the district needs to go to them. I've advocated for
staff knocking on doors and trying to get parents involved."

Christine
Rafal, who describes herself as a curriculum writer and classroom
researcher, said that she decided to run for Norton's seat to give
voters a choice – adding that she has worked extensively with him in
the past.

"I obviously want to try to win, but I certainly
respect (Norton) as an opponent," Rafal said. "I really want to offer
the ward a choice because I think we both have good strengths."

Rafal
almost ran for the Ward 4 seat in 2007, when incumbent Charlene Harris
failed to turn in her election paperwork and was forced to run as a
write-in candidate, but said she changed her mind after taking out
nomination papers. Two years later, Rafal said she's ready for the
campaign, adding that while it's difficult to run against an incumbent
she wants to give Ward 4 voters a choice

"People are reluctant to put up a challenge," Rafal said. "It's a lot easier to wait for a seat to open up."

James
Norton, editor of The Somerville News and co-owner of real estate
company ERA The Norton Group, has held the Ward 4 seat since winning a
sticker race against Harris in 2007. He previously served in the
position from 1994-95 after an unsuccessful run in 1989.

Norton
said he is confident that his record will stand out in the election,
and that Rafal has yet to explain how she would be a better committee
member.

"She has no reason to run other than getting her name
out there," Norton said. "If she comes up with reasons after the fact,
she's grasping at straws."

"I'm happy to stand on the issues facing the Somerville public schools today, tomorrow and the next day," Norton added.

Both
Niedergang and Norton said they look forward to running a campaign to
share the committee's accomplishments with their constituents.

"I
take my hat off to Ms. Lavanga; I admire her for running," Niedergang
said. "I think it's lamentable that there are so few people running for
office this year. It gives me a chance to run on my record."

Norton said he will be knocking on every door in Ward 4 while the committee is in recess during July and August.

In a city in which over 29% of the population was born
outside of the country, its diversity is to be heralded. Since the
city's foundation, immigrants have been a cornerstone of Somerville's
economy and of its character. Angelo Fedele, a 5th-grader whose family
is of European descent, astutely said that the wide range of cultures
represented at his school "helps you know what other cultures do.
Diversity means a lot of people having fun," he added–an assertion
hard to refute amidst the salsa dancing and plates filled with
delicious food from every continent imaginable.

As
I look at the 5-day forecast for Somerville online, it says scattered
thunderstorms and showers. Don't the powers that be know that
Somerville's Fourth of July celebration featuring the debut of the
Sunsetters along with a lot of other great entertainment is slated for
Thursday night? Don't they know about the shopping cart vendors with
all those lighted swords and spin around toys and illuminated teeth
grilles? And what about all that fried dough? What have we done to
deserve such crappy weather? What do I tell my anxious Sunsetters who
are eager to perform as many numbers as Frank Senesi will allow us?
Obviously we won't be able to have any electrical equipment outdoors if
there is a threat of rain. I am asking every citizen of Somerville to
pray for sun! Mayor Joe has confidence that things will brighten up and
the show will go on. I hope he is right.

As you read this, I am assembling the sound system and we will rehearse with it tonight in preparation for our debut.

And
what about all of us working folk who are eagerly waiting our annual
Fourth of July getaways? I don't know about you, but I am a worry-wart
and I am getting antsy.

I want my steak tips, brewskies, buns,
burgers and weenies. And the rain isn't going to stop me. But
geez…would a little sun be asking for too much?

I might as
well use this space to talk about another summer program that is
experiencing very low enrollment. Somerville Recreation is offering
Project Star 2009 – a 6-week, 4 day a week theatre camp. The Cost is
$25 per week, which includes lunch and a couple of field trips to see
some local theatre presentations. Somerville teacher, star of Joey and
Maria's Wedding and theater aficionado extraordinaire Sophia Carafotes
will be running the camp, along with myself. Venues will include the
Winter Hill Community School, Somerville High School and other venues.
It is our profound objective to bring theatre and music back to the
youth of Somerville. If we get enough kids signed up, we will produce
the original mini-musical "Back in the 'Ville." If we only get a few
kids, we will still have a blast and perform a smaller show. We want to
build on the Project Star idea in a time when funds are at an all time
low. We cannot let the arts suffer at the hands of fiscal chaos. My
Klass Klownz group had 10 kids and that show will be on city cable
shortly. Next seasons lineup should be bigger and better.

So
tell all the kids you know who are in grades 6 to 12 that a wonderful
theatrical and music experience is waiting for them. Interested people
can call Danielle at recreation at 617-625-6600 extension 2980, or
e-mail me at jimmydel@rcn.com.

Meanwhile back to this weather –
is the Lord punishing us? I've been good, for the most part. I almost
threw my back out installing 4 air conditioners the other day and we
have only had to use them twice. I know the real summer weather is
coming, but I am running out of patience. Thank God the kids couldn't
care less about the weather. The computers, PS3s, PSPs and all that
other crap are indoors. All I know is that I will be heading up to my
little trailer on the pond Friday morning. I don't care if its raining
or snowing or if locusts are invading – Moosie the Wonder dog and I are
out of here. And mom's going away too, so the boys have to come with me
.We will take a day trip up to Old Orchard to check out the Palace
Playland. Oh yeah, I forgot those two dirty words: "weather
permitting."

The city has a lot of wonderful activities planned for the summer. There is only one thing missing. Summer.

So
lets all do those superstitious dances, rub the rabbit's feet and do
whatever else you have to do to try to appease Mother Nature. Maybe
Father Time and Mother Nature can work out a deal. In the meantime, get
out the galoshes, umbrellas and lets have as much fun as humanly
possible! No Rain! No Rain! No Rain! You can email jimmy direct at
jimmydel@rcn.com.

Harrington and Lane have each
worked for the Recreation Department for over twenty years, working
with multiple generations of Somerville kids in a variety of
after-school programs including girls athletics. Several former
students came back to Somerville to help support the pair. "I grew up
in Somerville–she was always a part of my life," said Vicky Palmacci
speaking of Karen Harrington. "She got me playing basketball, got me
coaching basketball, and, as I got older, helped me get a job, helped
me start my life, and helped me direct myself toward college. In
another situation, that wouldn't have happened."

After entering
the Aldermen's Committee Room, the present and former Somerville
students in attendance had to patiently wait for their opportunity to
state their case. Sitting through the latter half of next year's school
budget meeting and the potential cutbacks in that arena set a difficult
stage for 12 year old Jennifer Leone and her friends as they delivered
their speeches to the Aldermen. Leone reminded the group that the
impending layoffs would effect more than the two people directly
involved. "When you people were looking to layoff," said Leone, "I
don't think you people were looking at how many little kids, preteens,
and teenagers you were cutting programs for. What would you rather see
kids do, paint, play sports, or be in their house or maybe even getting
into trouble outside? These programs are very important and people love
to go because of Karen and Carol. Everyone would hate to see them go.
They are a part of Somerville."

Some parents and students admit
that they understand the need for cuts, but are confused on the why
Karen Harrington and Carol Lane were the ones to be layed off. "I
understand that there are cuts and layoffs," said one resident before
the march, "but there are other people that are [in that department]
that make more money that haven't been there as long. If you are going
to do it by money, then do it by money. If you are going to do it by
seniority, then do it by seniority. We just want it to be fair."
Organizers of the march passed out pamphlets that showed the years of
service and the 2008 salary information of all Recreation employees
making over $50,000 a year.

The Board of Aldermen seemed
genuinely moved by the show of support and were equally inspired by the
youth of Somerville participating so actively in the democratic
process. Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz and Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane
were among those commending the kids and supporting their cause. "There
are a lot of programs that they run that the kids just love," said
Alderman Trane in a separate interview. "I think that it is very
important to have a staff on hand, and, to me, Karen is a critical part
of that mission."

The impending difficulty for those who support
Harrington and Lane is that the Board of Aldermen does not have the
power to reverse a budgetary decision. "Some people think we can
restore funding," said Alderman Trane. "Unfortunately we can't If we
cut money out, we can make a recommendation of what we think we can do
with that money, but that is the Mayor's decision. It goes back to the
Mayor."

As speeches were cut short on Thursday, supporters of
Harrington and Lane returned on Monday during the Board of Aldermen's
public forum to continue their fight. As of yet, no budgetary decisions
have been made pertaining to the Recreation Department.

Unless
there are problems, most people take transportation for granted. When
it works we do not think about the importance of being able to move
from place to place for our personal and work lives as well as our
economy. Today, news about transportation in Somerville reflects both
the best of times and the worst of times. It is the best of times
because after over 20 years of increasing traffic on local streets and
highways, and no improvements in transit services Somerville is on the
brink of securing greatly improved public transportation with the
extension of the Green Line that will connect East and West Somerville
and a new Orange Line station at Assembly Square.

In 2013
Somervillians will be able to get out of their cars and hop on the
Green Line to get to places within the city and in the metro area.
Among the changes that will come about will be high school students
taking the Green Line to school; reducing the traffic jams around the
high school and make transferring from buses to the Green Line at
Lechmere a thing of the past. When completed, these projects will mean
that 85% of Somerville residents will be within ¬Ω mile of the Red,
Green or Orange Line.

A series of neighborhood station area
meetings are getting underway for people living near the proposed Green
Line station. The meetings are being held to enable Somerville
residents to talk about their vision of how the Green Line can and will
change their use of public transportation, green space and open space
and the station design and amenities. There will be opportunities to
talk about making sure that the Green Line is accessible for people of
all ages and levels of mobility. The meetings are being sponsored by
the Community Corridor Planning Project, a collaborative effort by
Groundwork Somerville, the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership
(STEP), the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) and the Somerville
Health Agenda (SHA). [ See table below or http://www.somervillecdc.org/GetInvolved/takeaction.html or www.somervillestep.org for the schedule and meeting locations].

For
most of the proposed Green Line stations the character of the
neighborhoods will not change. However, for Inner Belt, Brickbottom and
Boynton Yards, the Union Square and Lowell Line Green Line extensions
will provide the city with opportunities for economic development that
could improve the local economy, bring jobs to the city, increase the
city's commercial tax revenue and reduce the city's dependence on
property taxes and local aid from the state.

It takes many years
and the involvement of community residents working with the city to
plan and construct transit improvements as the people who lived through
the construction of the Davis Square T station can attest. Their
involvement throughout the process was critical in making the project a
success. The Davis Square experience of greater than expected use of
the Community Path for West Somerville and Cambridge residents to get
to the T has made the extension of the community path a high priority
in planning the Green Line extensions.

The Somerville Bicycle
Committee, the Friends of the Community Path, STEP and the City have
collaborated to secure the commitment from the Executive Office of
Transportation to include the engineering design of the extension of
the Community Path from Lowell Street all the way into Boston alongside
the Green Line because we know in Somerville that the large numbers of
people will use the community path to access Green Line stations. While
all this is in the planning phase, work is underway to extend the path
from Cedar Street to Lowell St.

All of these upcoming
improvements are important and exciting developments for the city but
reflecting the worst of times they are dependent on the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts coming up with a reliable revenue stream to fund
infrastructure maintenance and finance the transit improvements
promised to the city. Our own legislative delegation has been fighting
to ensure that the state addresses these revenue needs for transit
improvements and infrastructure maintenance, but their efforts have not
been supported by fellow legislators. Everyone complains about the
lousy roads, potholes, and slow MBTA service but paying to make
improvements is very unpopular. If this situation is not resolved by
the end of September the state stands to lose its federal share (80%)
of funding for transportation improvements unless it finds the funding
to pay for the 20% state share for project costs.

Despite the
lack of willingness to pay for it there is strong demand for Investing
in maintaining and improving transportation infrastructure in
Massachusetts, as well as across the country. New light rail systems
are opening in Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Los Angeles, and
Charlotte – all late in embracing investment in public transportation.
These communities are moving ahead strategically, investing in
transportation that will serve their residents for the next 100 years
by building light rail systems to support a strategy of transit
oriented development.

We in metro Boston region have been
fortunate to have an extensive network of public transportation that
has served the region well for many years. Yet, with the exception of
expanding commuter rail to suburban and ex-urban communities, there
have been very limited improvements made to the MBTA system since the
opening of the Red Line station in Davis Square in the 1980's.

Somerville
stands to benefit substantially when the state finally meets its 1991
legal obligation under the federal Clean Air Act to extend the Green
Line through the city and build Orange Line station at Assembly Square.
This is a decisive time for our city and involvement in planning for
these improvements and supporting transportation financing critically
needed.

Sonja
Darai, Director of the Commission, is very excited to have the new
co-chairs as part of the SWC. "I've enjoyed working with both Nancy and
Correen. We have an energetic group of commissioners who are setting a
very active schedule of activities and programming. Its quite
exciting."

Guests of the family owned restaurant, were treated
to live music by the Knuckledusters and were also able to meet the
Women's Commission members. "I've been involved with SWC for less than
a year, but I'm very excited, and I think we're going to bring a lot of
energy, ideas and really help get the SWC more exposure to the
community" said Correen Demers.

The mixer also raised money for
the SWC programs including TADA, Teens Against Dating Abuse, at
Somerville High School. A youth inspired program, TADA has just
finished its sixth year. "The goal is to take an often silent problem,
and give it a powerful voice in the high school. Students can join and
learn about what dating violence is, what to do, and how to help
others. Funding is important, with more money we can grow this program
so we can have assemblies and educate more students," said Sonja. TADA
has a very flexible approach to educating students by always trying
different methods to reach students. Peer-to-peer teaching is an
important aspect of the program as students can present the information
they learned in TADA during health classes.

The Somerville
Women's Commission is a citizen group, dedicated to enriching women's
lives by advocating for equality in all facets including education,
health and politics working closely with local agencies and law
enforcement. Comprised entirely of volunteers, the Commissioners are
appointed by the mayor for three-year terms. To become involved with
the Somerville Women's Commission attend one of the meetings held every
third Wednesday of the Month at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Annex.

A short
time later, two Boston police detectives on detail in Charlestown
observed the suspect vehicle and stopped it. Two of the suspects were
placed into custody while the third suspect fled on foot. After a short
foot chase the third suspect was also arrested. Recovered in the
vehicle were the masks used in the robbery.

The suspects are
identified as a James Rigano, d.o.b. 7/13/66 of Malden, Eric Leonard,
d.o.b. 7/4/88 of Everett, and Terrence Dunnells, d.o.b: 7/21/79 of
Cambridge, New York. The suspects were transported to Somerville Police
station where they were booked on the charge of armed robbery while
masked and later interviewed. The gun and clothing used in the robbery
were recovered from a trash barrel in Cambridge by Somerville
Detectives and agents from the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force. Two of
the suspects have made incriminating statements in connection with
today's robbery and two other recent bank robberies. Additional charges
will be filed by the appropriate jurisdictions in those incidents. All
three suspects will be arraigned tomorrow in Somerville District Court.

Chief Anthony Holloway noted that this crime was brought to a
quick solution by the keen observations of witnesses who gave police
the plate number and description of the get away car and the prompt
notification of surrounding police agencies. The quick work by two
Boston Police officers on detail brought this crime spree to an abrupt
halt without anyone getting hurt. The investigation is continuing in
cooperation with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

The total approved budget
for the city is $160,032,473, down from the proposed $160,272,078 after
a marathon session of line item cuts that followed a week of department
presentations.

During the Finance Committee meeting that began
June 29, a total of $239,605 in cuts were made during five and a half
hours of deliberation. A public hearing, which saw a capacity audience,
saw two speak in favor of the budget and eight against.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone's administration said the budget is $4.98 million less than in Fiscal Year 2009 and reflects a 22 percent cut in state aid. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the state budget earlier on June 29, indicating proposals for local meals and hotel taxes could go forward.

Curtatone said he would have those taxes ready for Board approval at their July 9 meeting.

Until the final moments before the budget vote on Monday, aldermen argued about budget
issues ranging from overtime spending to whether the mayor's office had
kept them in the dark about litigation payouts – a topic which required
a closed-door session.

Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane and Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz eventually voted against the budget, citing their disappointment in Youth and Recreation Department cuts. Alderman Tom Taylor was absent for the vote.

The Public Speaks Out

A
group of children opposed to the layoffs of two Youth and Recreation
Department employees spoke during the public hearing portion of the
Board's Finance Committee meeting. They were also sponsored at the
Board's June 25 meeting.

A group of around 80 also marched to
City Hall June 25 to protest the layoffs of Karen Harrington and Carol
Lane, two long-time rec department employees. A petition to keep them
had gathered 160 signatures.

The two who spoke in favor two spoke in favor of the budget
at the June 29 hearing were parents of rising sixth graders at the
Brown school, which at one point faced the sixth grade being cut.

The debate around the school was one of many issues that aldermen debated during a week of budget
presentations from city departments. At the Board's June 25 meeting,
Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche asked if the city had considered whether the
school could be closed altogether.

Trane left the chambers after
Committee Chairman Maryann Heuston refused to let him ask a follow up
question on the school, telling him to "take a walk" as he got up.

"Unfortunately
the Alderman from Ward 2 likes to stifle debate, because she's so in
line with what the administration wants," Trane said before rejoining
the meeting.

Cuts All Around

As the June 30 deadline for approving the budget approached, aldermen continued to suggest cuts they had lobbied for throughout budget
review process. No cut was too small, and some city officials spoke to
the merits of some items after they had been struck – prompting Heuston
to chastise them for being too slow.

Roche found $11,129 in
unnecessary salary payments. Gewirtz and others questioned the amounts
being spent on police and fire department overtime but ultimately lost
the battle.

Trane won a fight for a roughly 10 percent cut in
natural gas spending for the Public Works Department after the measure
was voted down twice in earlier forms.

At around 11 p.m.,
Alderman-at-Large Bill White asked why the Board was being asked to
approve $112,500 in line item form for a legal settlement for a
discrimination case in the police department without any explanation
from the city solicitor beforehand.

Gannon said that while the
city felt the suit had no merit, it decided to settle with the
plaintiff. White pointed out any claim more than $5,000 needs to go
before the board for approval on an individual case basis.

White
threatened to cut the line item down to $0 prior to going into
executive session, with Police Chief Anthony Holloway in attendance.
The item was later approved.

White had earlier challenged City
Solicitor John Gannon to explain whether the city would move forward
with a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration challenging
excessive airplane noise if they lost the current case.

The
city spent $77,000 more than the allotted $100,000 for outside legal
counsel in FY09, mostly on the suit, which has cost the city $158,000
so far.

"We're in this to win," Gannon said.

The Parking Battle Continues

During the earlier public hearing portion of the final budget
meeting, resident Bob grilled the Board on letting the Traffic and
Parking Commission force the changes through without public input.

"That's
the biggest joke I ever heard in my life," one senior resident said of
the proposed citywide permit parking requirement. "What do you do when
you have a large family, ration them out? This is a joke. Why force it
down everyone's throat whether they want it or not?"

The parking
changes proposed to take effect August 1 were dealt with mostly at the
Board's June 25 meeting. The aldermen rejected a resolution 5-6 that
would have asked the Parking and Traffic Commission to reconsider
citywide permit parking and extend meter hours in Davis and Magoun
Squares.

Sean O'Donovan, Tom Taylor, Dennis Sullivan, White and
Gewirtz voted to send the resolution to the commission. Bruce Desmond,
Jack Connolly, Walter Pero, Roche and Heuston voted against it.

The changes, Heuston said, were a major factor in determining the budget
and that the potential revenue had already been worked in. Gewirtz said
the recommendations of a recently convened parking task force will be
released by mid-July.

The Vote

As the clock struck midnight, the Aldermen approached the final vote on the budget, with all weighing in on the cuts being a "shared sacrifice" except for Trane and Gewirtz.

Both
said the 21 percent cut to the Youth and Recreation Department was
unfair, with Gewirtz stressing it could lead to an increase in youth
violence – which White said was unlikely. Gewirtz also pointed out the
two top administrators in the department, James Halloran and George
Scarpelli, are earning $70,000 a year.

"I mean no disrespect
to my colleagues on the Board," Gewirtz said. "I'm going to do this
because of the kids coming up every night. As a form of protest I'm
voting 'no' this evening."

She also pointed out that the mayor's
proposal to put $3 million in a "rainy day" fund went against the
current cuts the Board had just issued.

"It's raining now," Gewirtz said.

"I'm
a little confused," Roche said in response. "Nobody likes cuts, nobody
likes layoffs. There's nobody around this board that's happy. What if
we all voted no? What would that do? The city wouldn't have a budget. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

After the 8-2 vote, with Trane and Gewirtz voting against the budget, Gewirtz was the lone vote against the $3 million rainy day fund allocation.

At
the end of the meeting, Heuston noted that the state will likely make
cuts to its local aid in the middle of the fiscal year, in January,
when that $3 million may be needed.

"I would submit that this is as fair and balanced a budget as it can be," Heuston said.

The budget took effect July 1.