Members ask for compromise; vote expected Thursday
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Opponents of a planned development on Washington Street rallied outside last week’s Planning Board meeting.
– Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

By Elizabeth Sheeran

Developers of a Union Square housing and retail project have until tomorrow to convince Somerville Planning Board members they have a plan the neighborhood can live with.

There’s a brand new park in Somerville, with something for everyone. – Photos by Douglas Yu

By Douglas Yu

Four water beams drop down to the ground from a multi-functional water feature with kids jumping, shouting, and chasing each other. Getting wet does not bother them on a hot summer day. Some others played around with rock climbing and slid down the slides. East Somerville’s new park, Chuckie Harris Park provides all these activities.

Mark your calendar for Friday, July 26. Right here in Somerville, Fox 25 will be broadcasting their Friday morning ZIP TRIP to Somerville from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. from Union Square. The entire morning show will be broadcasting from the Ville. If you haven’t seen ZIP TRIPS watch it this Friday and acquaint yourself. They have all sorts of things they are going to be talking about here in Somerville, restaurants, historic places, groups and sports organizations. This is your opportunity to welcome them to Somerville and show off what we here in Somerville love about the city. The reasons why more and more people are realizing what we have. Look here online and in the paper next week for details on what will take place. If you have a group or organization you want to show off, this is a good time.

Mario Oliveira received accolades from the entire Board of Alderman as they expressed their gratitude for his selfless service to the community.

By Harry Kane

Former Somerville police detective Mario Oliveira, who was wounded in the line of duty during a shootout in 2010, has been unable to perform his duty as an officer, leading to a decision by the City of Somerville and the Aldermen to pass a petition allowing Oliveira to retire and receive a pension, pending state legislature approval.

City planners, residents and developers often find themselves at loggerheads when it comes to ironing out the best possible resolution to conflicting interests. This city certainly feels no shortage of such skirmishes.

The Alibrandis keep racking up the victories, thanks largely to superior pitching, according to team coach Cam Lynch. – Photo by Harry Kane.

By Mike Stoller

It was an especially stunning week for the Somerville Alibrandis baseball team, which played its 700th regular season game in franchise history, while racking up four more wins to improve its Yawkey League leading record to 18-2.

Ross Joyner takes the reins at Assembly Row, Federal Realty Trust.

By Donald Norton

Mr. Ross Joyner has been appointed VP and General Manager of Assembly Row, Federal Realty Investment Trust earlier this month.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and  do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff  or publishers.

Dear Editor,

Last week’s letter by Mr Plymesser missed some salient issues. The proposed 181-197 Washington St redevelopment is typical with the developer mind set of cramming the maximum number of housing units into a given space, without regard for the community or sensible urban design.  Obviously, maximizing profit is the motive, not community regard. The proposed plan includes the demolition of the historic Cota Funeral Home, a landmark in the area, to make way for a parking lot.

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My Perspective of the Ever Changing Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene
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Doug Holder

I remember coming to Boston to go to college in 1973. Back then you basically had (according to my recollection) the academic poetry crowd, fed by the plethora of universities and colleges in the area, and the alternative crowd of non-academic barbarians  in the Stone Soup Poetry group founded by the late Jack Powers. Before 1998, at least for me and many others I knew in the world of the small press, you made poetry chapbooks the old fashioned way. This was a xeroxed affair, with actual cutting and pasting the text on the page. You would take your primitive booklet to the old Copy Cop on Boylston Street in Boston and hand your baby to the clerk. You hoped for the best. Our first issue of Ibbetson Street  was handled by a friend of mine Jim Resnick—an employee of Copy Cop.  Also during the 70’s and 80’s poets were generally unplugged, not hooked up, for the most part low-tech creatures. They were not adorned by earphones, Google Glasses–their fingers did not expressively dance out text messages. A poet would walk down the street—taking it all in—a regular Walker in the City—as Alfred Kazin aptly put it.

Arrests:
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Christopher Marshall, 28, of 22 Minnesota Ave., July 8, 4:40 p.m., arrested at 775 McGrath Hwy. on a charge of larceny over $250 and on a warrant charge of operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Kelly Smith, 35, July 9, 7:04 p.m., arrested at 115 Alewife Brook Pkwy. on charges of trespassing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.