– Photos by Claudia Ferro

Mayor Curtatone, the Somerville Board of Aldermen and School Committee, Somerville Bicycle Committee, Shape Up Somerville, and many others celebrated walking, biking, and transit-riding into the fall, as well as two important milestones for Somerville last Friday at the East Somerville Community School. Residents and commuters were invited to join in for hot coffee or hot cider, and students who took part in the “active transportation” day entered to win a free bike helmet. Kids are seen here enjoying some free hot cider.

 – Photos by Claudia Ferro

On Friday, November 22, Capuano Early Childhood Center celebrated its newly renovated playground with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Alderman Maureen Bastardi and School Committee member Steve Roix.

Timothy Gager has been a long time presence on the Somerville poetry scene. He co-founded the Somerville News Writers Festival with me back in 2003 (It ran for 8 years), and he is a regular presence at the famed literary cafe, the Diesel Cafe, in Davis Square, close to where he has worked for many years. The Ibbetson Street Press of Somerville published his latest collection. The noted critic Dennis Daly has sent in his review for Off the Shelf.

Poet Gary Metras reminds us that nothing is ever routine in this world.

The City of Somerville—the ‘Innovation City’—is supporting the growth of next-generation industries that will fuel the 21^st century economy with the creation of the Somerville Innovation Fund (the I-Fund), a $1 million loan program to support the growth of innovative businesses in the city.

Residential and commercial tax rates to be lower in FY14; Significant shift in tax burden from residents to commercial properties keeps taxes low despite rising property values

Somerville property owners are in for some good news regarding their tax bills. Real estate values in Somerville are climbing, but tax bills will hold relatively steady in fiscal year 2014 (FY14) with a decline in tax bills for some and only modest increases for most—thanks to unprecedented gains in new growth fueled mainly by new development in Assembly Square.

Arrests:
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Dennis Reid, 31, of 45 Clayton St., Malden, November 18, 8:16 a.m., arrested on a warrant charge of receiving stolen property over $250.

Jorge Furtado, 38, of 11 MacArthur St., November 18, 2:07 p.m., arrested at 14 McGrath Hwy. on a warrant charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

November 25, 2013

Change is coming to Union Square. The opening of the Green Line Extension station by 2017 that our community has pursued for decades carries with it transformative potential. However, we do not want to transform Union Square into something else. We want to preserve what we love about Union Square, its unique character and diversity with its small businesses, ethnic stores, a vibrant artist community and affordable housing options. We must ensure that redevelopment in the neighborhood enhances and complements this historic commercial center. The new T station guarantees that there will be interest in redevelopment within the square. But if we want to ensure a balance between redevelopment and preservation as well as hold to our community vision, we must manage that change.

The holidays will come a little early to Somerville once again this year, with several celebrations planned throughout the month of December including the annual tree and Menorah lighting at City Hall, the Arts Council’s Illuminations Tour, and a first-ever “Holiday Arts and Eats” Festival at Assembly Row, sponsored by Federal Realty Investment Trust.