"Balancing
our budget will require difficult choices," said Curtatone, "with this
contract, a municipal public safety union has stepped forward to say
'We'll help shoulder the burden of this fiscal crisis.'" The
negotiations in Somerville appear to have gone smoothly relative to
those currently taking place in Boston, where Mayor Menino has been
unable to reach an agreement with the Boston Police Patrolmens Union.
By agreeing to forego raises, an estimated $55 million would go towards
the city's $131 million budget gap and large-scale layoffs of up to 700
city employees could be avoided.

In Somerville, potential
layoffs were never threatened, but, said John W. Leuchter, President of
SPEA, a sense of duty to the community took precedence over personal
interests. "I never envisioned going to the union and having unanimous
support for a measure like this," Leuchter said. "These guys really
wanted to be part of the solution, not the problem."

As
compensation for their sacrifice, the Police Department will have
increased purview over when and where special police details will be
deployed. The agreement also includes a commitment by the City not to
cut police salaries should there be a reduction in state funding that
is currently guaranteed by the Quinn Bill. A measure to compensate
officers with advanced degrees in higher education programs, the Bill
could fall victim to the declining economy. This year alone, Somerville
has lost $3 million in state funding.

Mayor Curtatone recently
appointed a financial advisory committee to oversee the writing of the
next budget, the first draft of which should be ready by mid-June. To
date, no other unions have been called on to make sacrifices comparable
to those volunteered by SEPA. With $8 million to be accounted for,
however, Curtatone has informed city employees that "everything's on
the table," said Tom Champion, Executive Director of Communications.

"We've made a lot of progress," Leuchter said, "we just don't want to see the community move backward."

"The All-America City Award (AAC) is
like a civic 'Oscar' for communities of all sizes," said National Civic
League President Gloria Rubio-Cortés. "It's unique because it
recognizes the efforts of entire communities. AACs demonstrate
inclusiveness, collaboration, civic engagement, and innovation."

An
All-America City has a proven capacity for community-based problem
solving, grassroots civic engagement and cooperation between sectors
(public, private and nonprofit). To become a finalist, each participant
completed an application documenting three community projects that
address local challenges such as job creation/economic development,
environmental sustainability, neighborhood revitalization and disaster
recovery.

Listed alphabetically by state are the 2009 finalists:

Phoenix, Arizona Windsor Heights, Iowa Toledo, Ohio

Fort Smith, Arkansas Wichita, Kansas Wooster, Ohio

Inglewood, California Pocomoke City, Maryland Toledo, Oregon

Rancho Cordova, California Rockville, Maryland Erie, Pennsylvania

Windsor, Colorado Salisbury, Maryland Providence, Rhode Island

Tampa, Florida Somerville, Massachusetts Chattanooga, Tennessee

Bensenville, Illinois Belton, Missouri Rowlett, Texas

Carbondale, Illinois Albany, New York Caroline County, Virginia

Fort Wayne, Indiana Benson, North Carolina

Richmond, Indiana Kinston, North Carolina

South Bend, Indiana Clinton, North Carolina

Des Moines, Iowa Statesville, North Carolina

The
June 17-19 awards program will be an excellent opportunity for
journalists and broadcasters who cover government, business, schools,
crime, or neighborhood/community issues to catch up on the latest
strategies for local problem solving.

"This year is the 60th
Anniversary of the All-America City Awards. We are inviting all former
winners (more than 500 of them) to come to the event in Tampa to be
recognized, and to share their lessons learned and community stories
with their peers," noted Rubio-Cortés.

During the three-day
competition, a delegation from each community will present its
challenges and solutions to a jury of national experts from across the
United States. At least one community project must focus on the needs
of young people.

The 2009 awards program will feature Innovation
Forums to promote peer-to-peer dialogues among the finalist communities
and regional and national leaders. Topical dialogues and panel
discussions on "green" solutions, immigrant integration, race
relations, and economic recovery strategies will be featured, along
with a planning session for future AAC alumni activities.

The
All-America City Award is an honor achieved by more than 500
neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties, and regions across
the country. Some have won the award multiple times.

This
year's AAC Awards are sponsored in part by Prudential, MWH Global,
Inc., Mile High United Way, Jones Day, Southern California Edison,
Southwest Airlines (The Official Airline of the AAC Awards), Tampa
Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina (The Sole Official Headquarters
Hotel of the AAC Awards) and Marriott International.

Headquartered
in Denver, Colorado, the National Civic League strengthens democracy by
increasing the capacity of our nation's people to fully participate in
and build healthy and prosperous communities across America. Founded in
1894 by Theodore Roosevelt and other government reformers, NCL is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that accomplishes its mission
through training, technical assistance, publishing, facilitating
community-wide strategic planning and awards programs. It publishes
research on government structures and reform and community building
innovation (The National Civic Review, Civic Index, and 8th Edition of
the Model City Charter). In addition to the All-America City Awards,
NCL conducts the MetLife Foundation Ambassadors in Education Awards to
be announced in April.

For more information on NCL and its programs, visit www.ncl.org.

This year the National Veterans organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is celebrating 110 years of it's founding.

Started
as an organization of Spanish-American War veterans in 1898, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars is the world's largest Combat Veterans Service
organization with over 2.2 million men & women veterans and over
8,000 VFW Posts worldwide.

Since the organization's founding,
the VFW has provided services at no cost for Veterans and their family
such as disability claims service, education & community service
projects and legislative services which have resulted in concrete
results dealing with Agent Orange health claims as well as a brand new
21st Century Post 9/11 GI Bill to assists our returning Iraq &
Afghanistan Veterans achieve educational goals.

The days of the
VFW being a men's club and lounge mentality are long passed. The VFW
currently assists servicemen & servicewomen with Operation Uplink
phone cards while deployed overseas to maintain the contact with their
families as well as a Military Assistance Program that helps families
in need while military family members are deployed.

In addition,
VFW Posts and their members of the Ladies Auxiliary contribute over 13
million hours to Volunteerism and Hospital Service programs as well as
Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen essay programs which directly result
in Middle & High School students receiving awards which provide a
much needed boost in scholarship programs when planning their future
education.

New Veterans are always welcomed as well as veterans
of all eras. There is place for you, at your local Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post.

Timothy C. Smith

Massachusetts VFW Public Affairs Officer

(617) 727-2612

Because
he once lived here, President Obama has announced that he will set up a
Somerville White House in the Brickbottom section of the city.

Mayor
Joe Curtatone has announced the formation of his new a cappella singing
group comprised of all city officials. Members will be from the School
Committee and Board of Alderman. The group will be called Joe and the
Curta-Tones. Tom Champion, with his resounding pipes, will be the main
vocalist. Frank Santangelo joins as the group's booking agent, George
Landers will run sound and Michael Browne will be the road manager. The
group will make their debut at the Mayor's Annual Senior Citizens
Picnic – Gene Brune will be the first featured guest soloist.

The
former traffic and parking officers will soon be ready to debut their
new positions as "The Roving Somerville City Singers." This will be
because the city has agreed to remove all parking meters and lift most
restrictions throughout the city. The 'Singers' will still wear their
uniforms, but will now merely pleasantly serenade motorists throughout
the city.

13 new restaurants will soon open in Davis square.

Joggers wearing spandex will now be banned from the bike trail during daylight hours.

George
Wood, Senior Program Director of Somerville City Cable TV, will be
hosting a show called "25 Years Of My Favorite Bloopers." It will be an
uncensored collection of outtakes, slips of the tongue and political
embarrassments from city cable's vast archives.

Somerville will institute a new 4 hour school day and add 2 months to summer vacation.

MCAS
testing will be replaced by honor system grading. Each student will be
able to give themselves the score they feel they deserve.

Somerville property taxes will be reduced by 50% in the next fiscal year.

Legendary
submarine sandwich maker Ross Blouin has agreed to return to McKinnon's
Market to resume his illustrious hoagie-making career. Davis Square
eateries are nervous speculating a rush the humongous heroes that Ross
creates.

Citing the success of the new solar powered trash cans
throughout the city, soon we will see solar powered robot crossing
guards in some school zones. They work much like the robot sweepers you
see on TV commercials. These new robot crossing guards will in fact be
able to cross people safely and sweep the streets at the same time. A
all-new model next year will include the ability to ticket and tow cars
as well.

A statue of Somerville's favorite bar singer Jimmy
Plunkett will be erected in the courtyard of Ciampa Manor. As you know,
the Manor is the former site of the Woodbridge Inn that housed The
Blarney Stone Pub. The statue will have the song "Charlie On The MTA"
piped into it.

That new cupcake place on Highland Ave will soon
take over the entire block. New offerings will be cupcakes for
breakfast, lunch and dinner – alone with veggie cupcakes and a new
prototype "on the go" cupcake.

Kay and Chips, The Venice Café,
and Frascatti's have announced they will be re-opening in Davis Square.
They are still waiting to hear plans from Butler's Music and Goff's
Auto. A management representative of the A&P was quoted as saying,
"we are looking for a suitable spot in the Davis Square area with a
concrete floor."

Back on the immense Somerville music front,
disco bands will make their triumphant return to the club behind the
Rosebud Diner in Davis Square. The Surrey Room will feature live
dancing with bands such as Mason Dixon and The Line, Marie Michaels and
The Dream Machine and a group featuring Vinnie Scrima.

Johnny D's will go back to an all country western musical line-up, except on Sundays, when lip-synch groups will return.

A
concert in the newly renovated Armory on Highland Ave will feature a
rock music festival of old retro city bands. Here is a list of bands
already on the roster: The Tools, Shadowfax, The Bill Connors Blues
Band, The Ellington Alley Band, The PJ Five, ETC., Indescribably
Delicious, The Boize, The Huns, The Echoes, The Works, Zenophon, Fire
Dept., Del Fusion, The Sled Dogs, The New Friendship Band, The
Wildcats, Radio Stench, Davis Square Goons, The McCain Brothers,
Electric Smile, Sudden Urge, Splash, CRT Band, Fly By Night, Upper
Crust, Hobbit, K Kiely Band, Solid Gold, The Fabulous Pharaohs, The
Great Pretenders, The Amazing Sensations, The Mini-Squirts, Ritchie and
the Rockets featuring Del Sonic Blast, The Nek, The Premieres, and
Dillinger.

Somerville's unofficial motto is "Somerville Rocks,"
which will be changed to "Somerville Rocks, why, it don't?" You can
email Jimmy directly with comments at jimmydel@rcn.com

Somerville Local First
Executive Director and 10 % Shift committee member Joe Grafton was on
hand with business representatives from throughout the city to receive
recognition from both the Aldermen and Mayor Joseph Curtatone.

"This
is going to support our local character and diversity," Curtatone said.
"I think that's what makes Somerville unique. In these economic times,
it's good that our dollars are staying here within our business
districts."

The 10% Shift is a coalition of businesses
throughout New England that has seen 277 people sign a pledge to spend
that amount of their budget locally since forming last fall. The group
claims that if five million households in New England signed the pledge
it would generate $5 billion and create 48,000 jobs.

Somerville
Local First, an alliance of business owners, formed in March 2008 to
create awareness of the support needed form the community in competing
against large chain stores.

"The 10 % Shift and Somerville
Local First first is one of the more exciting things happening now in
this city," Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said at the board's March
25 meeting. "I think far too often we've seen what happens in other
areas when chains come in and take over, and the fabric and the nature
of that community is lost. And it's really lost for good."

Gewirtz
and Curtatone recently became the first elected officials to sign on to
the pledge, joining 45 Somerville residents who had signed up by the
end of March.

More information can be found at www.somervillelocalfirst.org and www.10percentshift.org.

In April 2008, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance
(OCPF) began an initial investigation into suspected violations of
campaign finance laws by Buonomo. In November 2008, OCPF referred the
matter to the Attorney General's Office for further investigation.
Authorities believe that on various dates between December 2004 and
July 2008, Buonomo withdrew funds from the Committee to Elect John
Buonomo for his personal use. Buonomo allegedly stole these funds using
two methods. First, investigators discovered that Buonomo allegedly
wrote checks to himself from the Committee's account, falsely stating
on the checks that he was reimbursing himself for postage he had bought
with cash. Second, investigators discovered that Buonomo also allegedly
stole funds from his campaign account by writing checks from the
Committee to Piro Printing for fictitious print jobs. Authorities
believe that Buonomo wanted to make it appear as though the printing
company was printing materials for the campaign, when in actuality
these services were never rendered. Investigators discovered that after
receiving the money from the Committee, Piro would allegedly refund the
funds back to Buonomo immediately, minus approximately $500 for each
transaction. Authorities believe that Piro also allegedly participated
in the creation of fake invoices for these transactions, so that it
would appear as if Buonomo had indeed used the company's printing
services. All of these fake invoices were created on the same day, and
were entered into Piro's accounting system in an effort to make the
transactions appear legitimate.

During the course of their
initial investigation, OCPF found that Buonomo allegedly submitted to
OCPF forged and altered bank records, forged and altered printing
invoices, as well as false written statements he had obtained from
postal employees. Investigators believe this was an effort by Buonomo
to mislead OCPF and to justify the taking of funds from his Committee.
Investigators from OCPF and the Attorney General's Office believe that
Buonomo stole approximately $100,000 from the Committee.

A
Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against Buonomo and Piro
today. Both men will be arraigned at a later date in Middlesex Superior
Court.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney
General Marc Jones of Attorney General Martha Coakley's Corruption and
Fraud Division, with assistance from Financial Investigator Jessie
Julian Dean and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Attorney
General's Office. Sarah Hartry, Legal Counsel for the Office of
Campaign and Political Finance also investigated and assisted with this
case.

"The
MBTA should not be able to place freestanding billboards wherever
they'd like and without input from the communities affected. We all
recognize how desperate the MBTA is for new revenue. This amendment
allows for ample commercial advertising opportunities while striking a
balance by involving communities in discussions about the construction
and placement of these potentially towering structures," Senator
Galluccio said. "Billboards have gone up rapidly in Charlestown and
Somerville. Unfortunately, this amendment was not adopted, but local
communities should have some say and this conversation has to take
place. I expect this issue will be revisited as the legislative session
proceeds."

The transportation reform legislation passed by the
Senate consolidates multiple agencies into an independent authority
known as the Massachusetts Surface Transportation Authority (MSTA). The
reform package will potentially save the Commonwealth up to $6.5
billion over 20 years.

The Senate's bill must now go to the House for further action.

CO-SPONSORS:
Tapestry of Voices & Kaji Aso Studio in partnership with the Boston
Public Library, SAVE the DATE, Saturday, April 4th 10:00 A.M.- 4:45
P.M. OPEN MIKE: 1:30 to 4:00P.M. The Festival will be held at the
library's main branch in Copley Square. FREE ADMISSION

53 Major and Emerging poets will each do a ten minute reading; ALSO

Featuring
six extraordinarily talented prize winning high school students: Dianna
Willard & Joshua Mejia from Boston Latin High School; Yolanda Cruz,
Peter Li & Yamira Serret: Boston Arts Academy; Gabriella Fee:
Walnut Hill School for the Arts. These student stars will open the
Festival at 10:00 A.M. SAM CORNISH, Boston's current and first Poet
Laureate will open the formal part of the Festival at 11:00 A.M. 52
additional major and emerging poets will follow.

POETRY MARATHON

Some
of the many luminaries include SAM CORNISH, Diana Der Hovanessian,
Richard Wollman, Jennifer Barber, Afaa M. Weaver, Barbara
Helfgott-Hyett, Dan Tobin, Ellen Steinbaum, Charles Coe, Ryk McIntyre,
Elizabeth McKim, Regie O'Gibson, Kate Finnegan, Michael Bialis, Gary
Tucker, (Kaji Aso Studio), Marc Widershien, Sandee Story, CD Collins,
Marc Goldfinger, Diana Saenz, Stuart Peterfreund, Valerie Lawson,
Joseph DeRoche, Frannie Lindsay, Ifeanyi Menkiti, Dick Lourie , Mark
Pawlak, Lainie Senechal, Harris Gardner, Joanna Nealon, Susan Donnelly,
Irene Koronas, Doug Holder and a Plethora of other prize winning poets.

This Festival has it all: Professional published poets, celebrities, numerous prize winners, student participation, OPEN MIKE.

Even
more, it is about community, neighborhoods, diversity, Boston, and
Massachusetts. This popular tradition is one of the largest events in
Boston's Contribution to National Poetry Month. FREE ADMISSION!!!

FOR INFORMATION: Tapestry of Voices: 617-306-9484 or 617-723-3716

Library: 617-536-5400

Wheelchair
accessible. Assistive listening devices available. To request a sign
language interpreter, or for other special needs, call
617-536-7855(TTY) at least two weeks before the program date.

Abandoned Chair

A leaf-littered chair sits

in the woods behind

the school.

The deskless seat stares

at train tracks, nothing,

and wishes for an occupant,

oblivion, between trees

in autumn's fall.

Leaves weep and pool

beneath the abandoned,

drowning the lonely

in the forgotten dead.

They crunch in my booted tread.

I steal out

to learn the unteachable

lessons of decay,

to share the solitude

of noon.

Co-dependent cast-offs

supporting each other

in the certainty of a sharp

October afternoon.

–Cameron Mount

"Our goal is to
give Somerville youth an opportunity to use their own experiences,
their voices, and their unique talents to raise awareness about the
issues affecting their lives and the community and inspire their peers
to work together toward positive change" said Stephanie Berkowitz, the
Director of External Relations for Teen Empowerment.

At the
conference, themed "The Faces of Change: The Changes We Face,"
presentations by youth speakers will be used to foster dialogue among a
diverse group of participants. Using mediums such as rap, poetry, plays
and dance, youths will have a chance to express their perspectives on
issues that affect them, including teen pregnancy, gang violence,
immigration.

The conference will kick off with a "Jobs and
Services Fair" that will provide participants with information on local
services available to Somerville youths, and expose them to potential
employers. There will also be a fashion design workshop, an address
from Mayor Curtatone, and a speech by Terrel Walton, a former
Somerville High School student who was left partially paralyzed by a
gang-related shooting.

The conference will also highlight Teen
Empowerment's "successful efforts to improve youth outcomes in
Somerville over the past few years," according to Berkowitz. One such
successful effort came out of the 2007 conference, where teens
identified a lack of summer job opportunities for the city's teenagers,
and sent a letter to the Mayor's Youth Council. Their appeal led to
increased funding in the city's budget to create more jobs, and to the
appointment of a summer youth employment coordinator.

Last
year's conference drew a crowd of almost 700 young people, according to
organizers, and they expect a similar turnout this year. The conference
will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Somerville High School.
Tickets are $3, and the admission cost covers lunch. For more
information, you can visit Teen Empowerment's Web site,
http://www.teenempowerment.org/somerville/, or call them at
617-628-0710.