This Thursday evening, the 10th at 6:30 p.m., a public hearing on Union Square Community Benefits Agreement is scheduled, a discussion on the potential to address displacement and uphold community values. The administration’s proposal for new Union Square zoning has been under discussion by the BOA since a public hearing took place in mid-October. There are three more meetings scheduled in November. The new zoning proposal is designed to unlock the heart of Union Square, especially the area around the forthcoming GLX Union Square station for major development. This public hearing is being held as a result of an official request from 138 voters who are concerned that the development will cause displacement in Union Square. Only the BOA has the power to change zoning. A 2/3 vote of the BOA (8 of 11 Aldermen) is necessary to adopt new Union Square zoning (or any zoning change or proposal). On another, related topic, the Administration has announced it will introduce early in 2017 a second edition of the citywide zoning overhaul proposal.

By Donald Norton

The 116th Annual Banquet for the Middlesex County Bar Association was held last week in Stoneham at Montvale Plaza.

The event was attended by over 300 attorneys, judges, court officers and clerks as well as court employees throughout Middlesex County.

12th annual Scrapheap Showdown 1st Place winners “Team Take Dubs” (Qijiin Chau, Gabe K-G, Samuel Saron).

By Tom Bannister

On October 30, 39 high school students on 13 teams gathered in “The Cage” in Cousins Gym at Tufts University to compete in the 12th annual Scrapheap Showdown.

Along with the usual interesting “junk” in the center of the room when the students walked in, there was paper, lots of foam and foam core, plus of string and tape. There was also a wind tunnel built in the middle of the gym. The students were given their challenge: to build a wind powered craft to sail across the treacherous gym floor.

Mayor Curtatone, Ward 3 Alderman McWatters and other city officials updated Ward 3 residents on matters related to their ward.

By Donald Norton

Last week, Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters conducted the Ward 3 ResiStat meeting at Somerville High School.

About 50 to 60 residents attended and the discussion centered on the use of bicycles use in the city, development in the Ward 3 Union Square area, with a lot of talk about the proposed new high school.

Eagle Feathers #116 – Mr. Jones and His Time

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

The year 1868 was exciting for Florentine Ariosto Jones. He was born in 1841, the year before Somerville broke away from Charlestown, and the young twenty-seven year old was free to do his own bidding.

State Rep. Denise Provost reviews Lawrence Kessenich’s new novel Cinnamon Girl. Kessenich is a managing editor for Somerville’s literary magazine Ibbetson Street. 

Karen Locascio is a graduate of the MFA program at UMass, Boston, where she won an Academy of American Poets prize. Her work has appeared in Paper Nautilus, Cider Press Review, and Window Cat Press, among others, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her debut collection, May All My Wounds Be Mortal, won the first Ron Schreiber Poetry Prize and will be published by Hanging Loose Press in early 2017. In her spare time, Karen enjoys genealogy research and fantasy football, and reads submissions for Spry Literary Journal. Originally from New Jersey, Karen currently lives in Dorchester.

Arrests:
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Jose Molina, of 306 Dudley St., Roxbury, October 31, 3:15 p.m., arrested at Washington St. on warrant charges of uninsured motor vehicle or trailer, unregistered motor vehicle, and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.

Momadue Darboe, of 43 Wolcott St., Malden, November 1, 3:35 p.m., arrested at Assembly Row on a charge of disorderly conduct and on a warrant charge of trespassing.

~Photo by Donald Norton

Polls will be open until 8 p.m. Not sure where you vote? Visit www.somervillema.gov/elections where you can enter your address and find out. Please note that if you vote in Ward 6, Precinct 1 you should use the main entrance to the Kennedy School at 5 Cherry St. this year due to construction.