Working collaboratively to establish jobs for Somerville residents, FRIT and city co-host two weekend-long hiring events; Somerville residents invited to first weekend, second weekend to be opened to general public.

By David R. Smith

The Planning Board is poised to approve a scaled-down project in Union Square after abutters appealed the original proposal’s approval this past July.

The two properties being developed jointly between the Somerville Community Corporation (SSC) and a private developer are at 181 and 197 Washington St. Both buildings currently at each site will be demolished to make room for a mix of commercial/retail space along with market-rate and affordable residential units.

Over 100 registered Democrats representing all seven Wards here in Somerville met at Somerville High School at 10 a.m. this past Saturday.

By Izak Shapiro

The Board of Aldermen met in the Aldermanic Chambers Tuesday, Feb. 18. The meeting—jovial and efficient for the majority of its session—began with sadness. Alderman at Large John M. Connolly requested a moment of silence for Thomas M. Sullivan, a longtime Somerville resident, World War II veteran and lover of recreational sports who passed away earlier this month at the age of 96.

Happy birthday to some of our Villens, both here and away from us. That includes our good friend Eamon Fee, who can be seen in the Ville almost all the time. What a great guy and fantastic contractor. Rod Kreimeyer of Best Pest is also celebrating this week, but he’s in Florida on vacation (long vacation). He’s another great Villen out of Davis. To a good guy and our friend Sean Fitzgerald, who is everywhere and very committed to Somerville and involved here as well, we wish him HB. And we can’t forget about Nancy Trane, the better half of Bob Trane, who is also celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Peter Miller, who is from here and has been very involved over the years.  And to good friend and former Boston Globe person Debra Canzater of JP, who is a great lady and always has a big smile, we wish her happy birthday!

Public invited to record theirs at the library
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Somerville kids are participating with the library and StoryCorps through Teen Empowerment.
– Photo by By Sarah Hopkinson

By Sarah Hopkinson

By the end of this year, 40 voices from Somerville will be memorialized in the archives at the Library of Congress. This is thanks to StoryCorps, a countrywide nonprofit that recently chose Somerville to be one of 10 pilot cities for its “StoryCorps @ Your Library” initiative.

By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to the intersection of Temple and Puritan Roads just after midnight last Wednesday on a report of a motor vehicle accident.

Upon arrival, officers failed to immediately locate any damaged vehicles at the intersection, but after a brief search did locate one nearby.

Not every abutter – not even every group of abutters – to a project has the time or resources to fight it in court if concerns are not addressed and resolved through the normal permitting and public-hearing process, which often stretches out over months and continuance after continuance. Sometimes going through the regular process ends with a compromise, a few redesigns and a decision that is not appealed (and even sometimes plans, as first presented, receive no objections).

Resident input sought for composting program in Somerville. Interested applicants asked to submit personal statement to Office of Sustainability by March 24

Furthering its commitment to sustainability and best practices surrounding trash and recycling policies, the City of Somerville announces its newest task force to review feasibility and implementation options for a Curbside Composting Initiative. Announced this week by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and to be co-Chaired by Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, who is the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Aldermen’s Committee on Energy and Environment, the Curbside Composting Task Force is currently seeking applicants from the Somerville community.

Our guest columnist this week is School Street resident Kirk Etherton. http://bagelbards.com
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Bridget Galway and I both have exhibits at the Somerville  Public Library (Central Branch) for the month of February. Also, we’re both Somerville residents—plus members of the Bagel Bards writing group—so Doug Holder suggested I write up a conversation/review involving our visual art. Bridget liked the idea; we met and talked (quietly, of course!) at the library.