By Josie Grove

The Legislative Matters Committee of the Somerville Board of Aldermen is considering a change to Section 2-369 of Somerville’s city charter, making it simpler for the city to make purchases under $10,000. As the law stands, any purchase over $5,000 has to use a contract, rather than the simpler purchase order process. “We want to get things done more quickly,” said Edward Bean, Somerville’s director of finance auditor.

Greentown Labs announced plans for an ambitious 11 million dollar expansion at its recent DEMO Day event.

Announces large expansion project
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By Matt Carli

The largest clean technology start-up incubator in the nation, Greentown Labs, announced plans for an ambitious 11 million dollar expansion of its facilities at 28 Dane Street, an area popularly dubbed “Innovation Row.”

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

East Somerville Main Streets held its frighteningly fun Halloween Block Party from at Chuckie Harris Park on Saturday.

District Attorney Marian Ryan delivers testimony, Panelists pictured: Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health; Kate Hogan, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Health; Liz Malia, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

On Monday, November 2, Middlesex District Attorney Ryan testified at an Informational Hearing on Substance Abuse at the State House sponsored by the Joint Committees on Public Health and Mental Health and Substance Abuse about her office’s multi-pronged approach to addressing the opioid epidemic that includes education and prevention; intervention; legislation; treatment and enforcement. District Attorney Ryan also highlighted the launch of her office’s “Mobile Public Policy Forum” where recovering opioid users discuss their personal experiences and offer recommendations for enhancing prevention efforts and for improving treatment and care.

— Photos by Claudia Ferro

Last Friday, students from East Somerville Community School paraded over to the Windsor House on Pearl Street and sang for the elderly for Halloween dressed in book character costumes. The residents there were greatly pleased by the performance.

The boys team representing Somerville High School soccer has advanced to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament, with the lead-off match taking place tonight, Wednesday, November 4 at Dilboy Stadium. The Highlander squad will be taking on Everett at 7:30 p.m.

Mayor Curtatone shows off the city’s second Sustainaville/GreenTech pilot program solar powered charging station. — Photo courtesy of Sustainaville/GreenTech

By Haley ED Houseman

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris is scheduled for December, but Somerville’s Mayor Curtatone has stepped up ahead of talks to offer his signature to the Compact of Mayors.

The design firm of Weston & Sampson presented their proposed plan for the recreational areas of Somerville’s Lincoln Park to curious residents and local officials at a public meeting on October 24.

By Mariya Manzhos

The plan for the redesign of the Lincoln Park playground was presented to the Somerville residents at a meeting hosted by the Park and Open Space department and Weston & Sampson’s design studio on October 24 morning at the Argenziano School Cafeteria.

There was an extremely low turnout on Election Day yesterday. What with the lack of candidates who wanted to run and the general feeling out there that most people here are not interested in city government, what do you think is the problem? Not that long ago we would have multiple office seekers in every ward and for At Large, but for some reason the citywide elections are of no concern to most folks. So the other day we asked what was the difference in enrollment here in the city. In 2006, according to the election department at City Hall, there were 20,167 registered Democrats, 14,919 registered Independents and 2,247 registered Republicans. This year there are 23,509 registered Democrats, 19,170 registered Independents and 1,817 registered Republicans. A big increase of registered Independents as well as an increase in registered Democrats. In a city of about 75,000 residents, we have a total of 44,496 registered voters and yet fewer than 14% voted. There are times we think that elected city officials owe it to the public to get more participation, especially in our local city government. Don’t you agree?

By Tom Bannister

Following many months of conversation with stakeholders, local business owners, community activists, and residents, city officials released a draft neighborhood plan for Union Square at a well-attended meeting of the Civic Advisory Committee this past Wednesday.