Poverty up, graduation rate, MCAS scores down

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville was hit by a double whammy last week, when two separate test results conducted by the federal government showed signs of catastrophe. The United States census showed that over 13,000 Somervilliens, or 17 percent of the population, is living below the poverty line, according to US Census report released Sept. 22 and the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) a poverty assistance non-profit.

On The Silly Side by Jimmy Del Ponte

(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.)

So, Massachusetts may get casino gambling. There may be one at Suffolk Downs. How convenient. More temptation for us hard working people to blow our money, just like Denise and Carl said.

City’s efforts rewarded by walkscore.com: Somerville ranked ahead of Boston, Santa Monica, and just behind the 2008 national winner San Francisco.
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Among communities nationwide with a population of 70,000 or more, Somerville was recently rated the 5th most walkable community by walkscore.com, a website that measures the ease of car-free living in communities nationwide using a “Walk Score” algorithm, awarding points based on the distance to amenities in several categories.  Amenities within .25 miles receive maximum points and no points are awarded for amenities further than one mile.  Somerville ranked 10th overall, just behind San Francisco, California, who took the top score in 2008.

The HONK! Festival mixes music with social activism and presents it in an irresistibly fun fashion.

The brass will crash and the trumpets bray this weekend in Somerville as the 6th annual HONK! festival hits Davis Square commencing on Friday, September 30 at sundown and running through Monday, October 3.

The fun-filled, slightly subversive street celebration brings brass, drums, and almost anything that can make a happy noise together to march and make merriment fit for the entire family.

The event kicks off at Johnny D’s Uptown on Friday night (10 p.m.) with Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, joined by an impressive guest roster of HONK! band members.

By William C.  Shelton

(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 migration to Somerville of people who make their living as professionals continues to increase. The city now has more residents per capita with advanced academic degrees than any Massachusetts municipality other than Cambridge.

The volunteers of Ladder 2 in Somerville worked hard this year, helping to send grateful kids with special needs to summer camp. The Russel family celebrated the achievement at the station house last week.

By Harry Kane

Firefighters raised 15,200 dollars this year in donations for children with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy disease. The volunteers at Ladder 2 held a meet with MDA ambassadors and the Russell family on September 22, 2011.

By Jim Clark

The Somerville Police Department Drug Control Unit’s ongoing narcotic investigation of alleged illegal drug activity occurring within the North Street Housing Development complex and adjacent park / playground area yielded positive results last week when a suspected dealer was caught in a sting operation implemented by the Department, police said.

Sugar Law Center director Mark Stern says that an exclusive local hiring ordinance is possible. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

Aldermen weigh local hiring ordinance

By Andrew Firestone

Somerville has long suffered under the disproportionate ratio of jobs to laborers; there are only 21,000 jobs for around 45,000 workers who live in the city. Proposed over the summer by the Somerville Community Corporation, a local jobs ordinance was introduced to the Board of Aldermen, which would require all developers in the city who receive more than $50,000 in public funds to hire 30 percent of their workforce from Somerville.

- Photos by Donald Norton

After years and years of being torn up, full of pot holes and bumps, Temple Street is finally being repaved.  The six block long street will soon be open for business. Residents of  Winter Hill can rejoice until NSTAR and National Grid decide they need to dig one more time.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police were dispatched to a residence on High Street in the early hours of Monday this week in response to reports of noise and a possible fight underway at this location.