The Magoun Sq. area awaits repaving. – Photos by Bobbie Toner

Magoun Square had to be torn up again because back in February the contractors ended up paving the roads on a very cold night, causing it to settle incorrectly.  Mayor Joe Curtatone walked the area and noticed problems with the paving. He insisted the entire area be torn up and done over correctly and that the costs should be passed on to the contractor.

It appears as though the City of Somerville will be spared public employee layoffs if Mayor Curtatone’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 is accepted and implemented according to plan. Many who depend on these jobs are breathing a collective sigh of relief as this news is disseminated throughout the city grapevine.

RESPOND, Inc. was this year’s grateful beneficiary of the Taste of Somerville event. – Photo by Bill Rogers

By Tatiana Kombo

On June 5, over 30 restaurants from the Somerville area gathered for the 14th annual Taste of Somerville event at the Holiday Inn. Participating eateries included Highland Kitchen, the infamous Redbones- which celebrated its 25th birthday this year- and Kickass Cupcakes.

The Somerville News Person of the Week, Bert Gay

Meet Bert Gay, husband of Dorothy Kelly Gay, a nice guy who has had some health setbacks of late, but he doesn’t show it. He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and had a long stay at Mt. Auburn Hospital. The bad news, according to Bert, was a setback. But he’s turning that around and making positive strides to get better and enjoy a long life with his wife Dorothy. Born in England about 70 years ago, he later met Dot his wife-to-be as she served as a nurse in England. They both immigrated here to Somerville in 1968.

Rosie Rosenzweig.

Rosie Rosenzweig is a woman who has studied the creative mind for years and has found that creativity is a meditative process that often leads to compassion. She is a Jewish woman with a ravenous appetite for all things Buddhist, and speaks with a rapid fire cadence about many subjects with intelligence and authority.

Somerville Girl Scout Troop 1318 in Washington D.C. for the 100th Anniversary Sing Along. – Photo by Nicole Estey

On Saturday, June 9, over 250,000 Girl Scouts, families and friends gathered in Washington D.C. at the National Mall for a sing along to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA. Hot temperatures did not dampen the spirit of hundreds of thousands of Girl Scouts there to celebrate the anniversary. Juliette Gordon Low founded the first Girl Scout troop on  March 12, 1912 with 18 girls. Today there is reported to be a total of 3.6 million girls and adults.

JEAN MONAHAN is the author of three books of poetry: Hands (chosen by Donald Hall to win the 1991 Anhinga Prize); and Believe It or Not and Mauled Illusionist, both published by Orchises Press (1999 and 2006). She has received several awards and an artist residency at Yaddo. Her poems have appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Poetry, The New Republic, Atlantic Monthly, and Salamander, as well as in several anthologies. Her MFA in Creative Writing is from Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning of Community Development (OSPCD) invite all interested community members to a series of meetings to discuss upcoming Davis Square Streetscape improvements. Through this process, the City will evaluate existing and future transportation needs in Davis Square – including public transit, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and vehicular traffic patterns – beginning this summer. While a needs assessment is currently underway, under the direction of the City’s Director of Transportation and Infrastructure, Hayes Morrison, the City will look to improve multi-modal transportation in the square, including bus and traffic operations as well as potential traffic calming measures. Additionally, the project would include an updated streetscape, including renovated sidewalks, lighting, trees, benches, trash receptacles, wayfinding signs and public art.

Arrests:
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Dawn Greene, 38, of 14 Warren St., Cambridge, June 4, 12:36 p.m., arrested at Newton St. on a warrant charge of felony daytime breaking and entering of a motor vehicle or boat.

Atiqul Alam, 30, of 41 Franklin St., June 5, 12:29 a.m., arrested at home on a charge of assault and battery.

Mayor Joe Curtatone, Tom Bent, Leo DeSimone, Award Recipient Brendan McNabb, John Oteri, Superintendent Pierantozzi, Award Recipient Kevin McNabb, SHS Headmaster Tony Cicciariello, and Michael Calder of IBEW 103.

Kevin McNabb, Brendan McNabb earn entry into Apprenticeship Program
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Kevin McNabb and Brendan McNabb, this year’s top graduates from the Electrical Program at the Center for Career and Technical Education at Somerville High School, have been selected for the IBEW Local 103 pre-Apprentice Partnership Program. The apprenticeship is a five-year program in which participating students become members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  IBEW Local 103 represents all of eastern Massachusetts.