Members of the Somerville community concerned about climate change and determined to stick to the goals of the Paris Climate Accord, have a direct opportunity to get involved locally. On June 26th, the City of Somerville will launch the next phase of their planning process to create a new climate change plan. The plan, called Somerville Climate Forward, will serve as the city’s comprehensive strategy for addressing climate change. Somerville Climate Forward will identify actionable short- and medium-term policies, projects, and programs around two key goals:

Join Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Senator Pat Jehlen, Rep. Christine Barber and School Member Ward 7, Carrie Normand for a joint open meeting Saturday, June 10 at 3:00-4:30pm at  Angelina’s Pizzeria, Teele Sq.

Secondhand record store Grooves owner, Dave.

By JT Thompson

Dave: the owner of Grooves, a secondhand record store in Union Square which is riding the wave of the vinyl revival. The long plate glass window is full of old album covers – from Dylan and the Stones to Devo and “Mickey Mouse Disco” – as well as posters for guitar lessons, violin lessons, ukulele lessons, a front person for a band, an Antique Radio Flea Market.

Dave is perched behind the wooden counter next to a record player, which is not state-of-the-art perfectionist, but a cozy, simple looking thing that probably dates back to the 80s. He has long, frizzy, reddish hair, complicated facial whiskers, an aquamarine t-shirt, and glasses which he puts on whenever a customer comes up to the counter, then quickly takes off again.

By Donald Norton

A single family home was purchased for $875,000 and the new owners tore it down to build three new homes. The pictures show the house being torn down, and what’s left now – a hole in the ground. It seems as though the entire Kent Court is going to look so totally different than before, with all the new homes replacing a lot of older ones.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

SomerStreets: Carnaval returned for its 8th year of shaking up East Somerville on Sunday.

Revelers enjoyed the best of the East Broadway Business District and the East Somerville community including food, music, and culture from around the world.

— Photo by Donald Norton

New partnership with Paddle Boston, increased programming with Gentle Giant Rowing Club to expand waterfront recreation offerings for Somerville residents.

The City of Somerville and the Somerville Parks & Recreation Department, under the leadership of Director Jill Lathan, are proud to announce that the City of Somerville recently won a statewide bid to conduct maintenance, operations and additional programming at the Blessing of the Bay Boat House on Shore Drive. Earlier this year, a Request for Proposals was issued by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which owns and formerly operated the boat house and surrounding green space. The City of Somerville has shared maintenance of the facility under a Memorandum of Understanding with DCR.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to a Boston St. location last Thursday on reports of two men consuming alcohol in public.

Upon arrival, the officers observed one of the men, later identified as Davron Davis, attempt to hide a twenty four ounce can of malt liquor behind a stone retaining wall.

Taking a closer look at this month’s notable city data—and interesting numbers.
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By Joseph A. Curtatone

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

30 – That’s the number of months that rates are locked in through the city’s new Community Choice Electricity program (Somerville CEE). We recently joined more than 60 other cities and towns in Massachusetts to harnesses the bulk buying power of ratepayers to secure a low, fixed rate for electricity. Somerville CEE, which will run from July 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019, aims to reduce the cost of electricity for residents and businesses in Somerville by insulating them from market fluctuations like those that have occurred in recent winter months.

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

Dear Editor,

Over the last 11 months, the Board of Aldermen has been hammering out the details of new zoning for Union Square including the seven Union Square Revitalization Area blocks, most of which are adjacent or near the future Green Line stop.

~Photos by Bobbie Toner