Giant puppets were recently seen in the vicinity of East Somerville Public Library, all a part of the Puppet Palooza series. – Photo by Reda Limantas

By Martynas Limantas

Puppet Palooza, a series of puppet shows hitting local parks, streets, and courtyards this summer, kicked off the season with A Giant Puppet Romp on June 12 at East Somerville Public Library.

Proposed Washington Street development falls short of community vision

(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.)

The recent editorial written by Danny LeBlanc regarding the Somerville Community Corporation’s proposed development at 181 Washington Street describes the project as embodying a shared community vision.  Developed alongside Cathartes Private Investments who are proposing a building to replace the adjacent historic Cota Funeral Home at 197 Washington Street, they promise a “thriving neighborhood at the gateway of Union Square” that is a “mixed-income, mixed-use site with community amenities such as public green space and ground floor retail.”

(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.)

I think it is vitally important to keep people who were born and raised in Somerville as members of this community.  Somerville has become a very desirable place to live and will become more so with the addition of the Green Line and the new housing and waterfront park at Assembly Row.  As our wonderful community attracts new residents, property values and rents are increasing. And this is making it harder for native Somervillians to continue to live in the city.  The number of students in Somerville schools is decreasing in spite of the fact that the quality of the schools has improved.  This is a direct result of residents moving further and further away to afford a place to live.

A lot of talk is thrown around these days about what a desirable place to live Somerville is. To be sure, for the long time residents and newcomers alike the city has a lot to offer, whether one is raising a family here or otherwise.

The Alibrandis continue to dominate in the Yawkee Baseball League. – Photo by Harry Kane.

By Mike Stoller

Leading the Ted Williams Division by two-and-a-half games in the Yawkey Baseball League, the Somerville Alibrandis team is playing in a way that ol’ Teddy Ballgame would himself admire.

(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.)

I am writing in support of the Somerville Community Corporation/Cathartes proposal for redevelopment of 181 – 197 Washington Street.  I recently moved to Somerville – on Rossmore Street, less than 200 feet from the site – and am attending graduate school at Tufts. I would love to stay here after I graduate in 2015, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford it, especially once the Green Line extension comes in, on what will probably be an entry level, non-profit income.

The original home of the Ibbetson Street Press at 33 Ibbetson Street in Somerville, Mass.( Far back left, the late Jack Powers founder of the Stone Soup Poets)

I was speaking with Gil Barbosa the owner of The Book Shop at Ball Square, and we decided his shop would be a great place for the Ibbetson Street 33 reading. ( June 26 6:30PM) All past and present readers are welcome to come and read from their work. This is our 15th Anniversary, and we have such great poets as Jean Valentine, Cornelius Eady, Kathleen Spivack, Brendan Galvin, Marge Piercy, as well as many others in this issue. The front and back cover art was contributed by Richard Wilhelm, a Ball Square resident. Also this bookstore is a great independent and I hope you will buy books and keep this joint running…Gil tells me he signed a new four year lease.

Arrests:
*

Michael Harrison, 36, of 17 Mason St., June 10, 11:16 a.m., arrested on warrant charges of assault to murder and mayhem.

David Palmater, 60, of 22 Tennyson St., June 10, 6:55 p.m., arrested at home on warrant charges of failure to stop or yield and operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

New departure procedure alleviates noise over some parts of the city; residents should continue advocating for further changes

 The City of Somerville is pleased to announce that Boston Logan International Airport has implemented a new departure procedure for one of its runways that should decrease aircraft noise pollution over parts of the city, but urges residents to continue reporting aircraft noise to compel the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Massport’s adoption of further alternative operations at Logan Airport that would provide relief to all of Somerville.