By Josie Grove

Somerville’s Union Square could soon be the site of a cannabis dispensary.

A 2012 ballot question opened the gates for medical marijuana, but the city imposed a temporary moratorium on dispensaries and other medical marijuana treatment facilities until the city could figure out how to address this new type of business in its zoning laws.

Lawrence Otis Smithe

Lawrence Otis Smithe passed away suddenly on May 31st 2016. He was 64 years old.

Lawrence was the beloved husband of Deborah (Roach) Smithe. He was the son of the late Otis and Marianna (DiGiovani) Smithe. Lawrence was the loving father of Lawrence Russell Smithe and his wife Janet of Milford, NH, Russell Otis Smithe and his wife Michelle of Derry, NH, and Julie Rachel Russell and her husband Chris of Derry, NH. He was the dear brother of Russell Joseph Smithe and Shirley Chapski. Lawrence was the cherished grandfather of Devan and Michael Smithe, Talia Smithe, and Nolan and Cole Russell. He was the loving uncle of Jessica Carnevale and great uncle of Roman Carnevale. He is also survived by many other nieces and nephews.

Preliminary Results indicate two publicly accessible fountains out of 192 fixtures exceeded acceptable lead levels; three additional non-publicly accessible fixtures also exceeded levels

In light of recent national and local news regarding the presence of lead in drinking water, the City of Somerville with the Somerville Public Schools recently conducted additional lead testing for drinking water in the Somerville schools. Currently, federal water testing regulations for lead in school water sources require limited sampling rather than the testing of all fixtures. To ensure that no lead levels exceeding allowable federal limits were left undetected, further testing of every drinking water fountain, cafeteria water source, and school nursing station sink at every school in the District was conducted. Additional testing of other water sources at Somerville public parks and libraries is also currently underway.

Brad Rawson, Director of Somerville’s Transportation & Infrastructure

On this edition of Somerville neighborhood news we sit down with Director of Transportation and Infrastructure Brad Rawson. The department looks at everything from the GLX to protecting the city’s ash trees. Every project starts long before the construction machinery shows up. Rawson believes community input must be the foundation of policy decisions made by the department. For Rawson transportation and infrastructure improvements are means to a more important end, connecting people. Learn more in this special segment of Somerville Neighborhood News – Somerville’s Local TV News Show.

Honoring our heroes and remembering our fallen

~Photos by Claudia Ferro, Donald Norton, Bob Trane

This past Sunday, the City of Somerville honored its military veterans, especially those who made the supreme sacrifice, by once again hosting its annual Memorial Day Parade, the largest in the Boston metro region.

There will be a lot of debate and deliberation in the future, according to civic leaders, as the city looks for ways to cover the $50M that has been pledged to help see the Green Line Extension through its completion.

By Josie Grove

Now that the MBTA has given its cautious go-ahead for the Green Line Extension, the city of Somerville is trying to figure out how to make good on Mayor Joseph Curtatone’s $50 million promise to the project.

Residents and city planners gathered to discuss the need for thinning out a number of trees in the area in order to curtail the spread of harmful insects.

By Amy Swain

On Wednesday, May 25, residents gathered at the Somerville Water Department to discuss possible tree removals and replacements. Public hearings are routine when considering tree removal in the city, so interested citizens – more than fifty – were ready and eager to voice opinions.

Don’t forget, on THURSDAY NIGHT, June 2, Alderman at Large and President of the Board of Alderman Bill White is having a fundraiser at Cantina La Mexicana in Union Square. We’re very lucky to have Bill on the Board of Alderman. He’s one of the smartest and most forward thinking aldermen. He is currently in his fourth year as President of the Board of Alderman. You know you’re good when your colleagues on the Board keep voting for you every year for the office of President. Not in our lifetime has that accomplishment ever been made.

By Tom Bannister

On Tuesday, May 31, EPA Regional Administrator, Curt Spalding in coordination with the Mystic River Watershed Association, U.S. Representative Michael Capuano, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority announced the localized grades for the Mystic River Watershed. The grades are specified for each segment of the watershed, totaling 14 separate stretches of river and tributaries.

“Mountains Beyond Mountains” (detail) by Ben Foley; 2016; Tempered and crystal glass, steel, light.

Residual Form is an exploration of the art experience. As process becomes more and more a part of the artwork, how much of the artist’s hand do we need to see? How do we define our experience when we must redefine the art object? In this exhibition the questions of the Process Art Movement are being asked by both emerging and established artists.