MarKa Communities presented their proposed plan for redevelopment of the Powder House Community School to the public at a meeting held last week. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Josie Grove

Cambridge-based developer MarKa Communities showed off their plan for redevelopment of the Powder House Community School (PHCS) building on Broadway last Wednesday. The structure will become a mixed-use building with 40 residential units and 15,000 square feet of retail space. A city park will emerge from the building’s courtyard, filled with a laundry list of amenities for the neighborhood.

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015, voters will cast their ballots for School Committee Members in Wards 1, 3 and 4. The Somerville Times asked each of the qualified candidates to answer six questions on their views relating to their possible tenure as Committee Members, as well as provide a brief biography of themselves. Their responses are presented here in alphabetical order based on their last names. As of our publication deadline, Vivaldo Meneses Jr., running for the Ward 3 seat, has not responded to the questionnaire.

Happy Halloween to all. This year in particular, be careful driving around the city and watch out for young kids darting in between cars. We hope all is well with everyone and the kids enjoy the fun of the night showing off their costumes, before the PC Police ban them because they offend a small group of people. Most of us growing up couldn’t wait for this holiday, dressed up in homemade costumes.

The Polyphonic Spree will be performing a special Halloween show at Johnny D’s this coming Saturday, October 31.

By Blake Maddux

The Polyphonic Spree is a self-described “choral symphonic rock” group that has included as many as two dozen-plus members at a time. Regularly garbed in matching (if sometimes differently colored) attire, the unusually large number of musicians allows the traditional guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards sound to be augmented by assorted string, brass, and woodwind instruments.

In the Ward 1 School Committee race, we endorse and hope you vote for School Committeeman Steve Roix, who was first appointed to the position after a long search by the School Board, and we think they got it right on picking Steve. He’s a family man, with his kids being in the system. Before being on the Board he was very active in the schools. Steve lives with his family on Pinckney Street, is a homeowner and someone who fits into the community. We have watched him on the Board and we hear nothing but positive comments regarding his tenure there. He listens to the concerns of both parents and homeowners alike. We think he deserves a chance at being re-elected and hope you see that as well.

By Donald Norton

Not forgetting about the elderly, Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters hosted a pizza party/Halloween celebration at the Little Sisters of the Poor this past Monday night, along with his associate and campaign manager Zachary “Zak” Zasloff, also a Ward 3 resident.

Reminding everyone its local election time, showing up and greeting everyone were Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan, Alderman at Large Jack Connolly and Alderman at Large Bill White.

While walking across Somerville Ave. in Union Square I noticed that the old Elegant Furniture storefront was inhabited by a new concept. So I took a detour from my usual haunts, the Bloc 11 Cafe, Market Basket, etc., and walked right in. At the front desk was Anne Sholley – the freckled-face and friendly “Space and Community Manager ” of the WORKBAR. Like a grizzled reporter from the play The Front Page, I said, “Doug Holder, The Somerville Times.” Sholley proved to be a gracious host and explained to me that the WORKBAR is a “co-working space” founded by Bill Jacobson, a pioneer of this work space movement. Sholley explained that folks can rent space in this expansive venue on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Somerville Poet Dennis Daly writes: “The following ekphrastic poem, Odd Man, I based on a highly affecting 1947 British noir film set in Northern Ireland entitled Odd Man Out, directed by Carol Reed and starring James Mason. The movie had in turn been inspired by F.L. Green’s novel of the same name. – DD”

ResiStat neighborhood meetings are back. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone invites residents to the Fall 2015 ResiStat Community Meetings, a twice-yearly effort to share the latest City news and neighborhood updates directly with residents and gather their feedback. ResiStat is more than a great way to get an overview of what’s happening specifically in your neighborhood as well as citywide. The social time before and after the meetings also offer an easy opportunity to talk one-on-one to the Mayor, your Aldermen, and City staff and police—and to connect with your neighbors. (We serve pizza and kid-friendly, healthy snacks to make it more fun to come and chat.)

Arrests:
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Brittany O’Donnell, of 15A Tibbets Town Way, Charlestown, October 19, 4:51 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Andrew Carneiro, of 422 Main St., Medford, October 19, 8:44 p.m., arrested at Temple St. on warrant charges of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unsafe operation of a motor vehicle.