By Carrie Stanziola

People may not associate Somerville with toy manufacturing, but in 1922, when Jennie Graves started making doll clothes out of her Liberty Avenue home in Somerville, she started a minor Massachusetts manufacturing empire.  As Evelyn Battinelli explains, the 8 inch tall Ginny doll went through several phases.  Initially, Ginny’s wardrobe was reflective of women’s roles, and she wore nursing and Girl Scout outfits.  However, her wardrobe evolved over time, offering girls a greater variety of clothes to choose from.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police officers responded to a request by Massachusetts State Police to investigate a claim of a man with a gun at a Rossmore Street residence last Thursday.

Responding officers were advised that the person calling in the tip seemed to be “covering up” their voice, and that there was a history of such calls made in the past.

By Andrew Firestone

The wheels of the Green Line Extension churned on this last Thursday, May 26, with some hope for progress in the near future. Community members met to hammer out details for working with the new design team Gilbane/HDR and were met with other funding updates.

Among the positive points of the meeting, which took place with the community Design Working Group, was the introduction of architect Michael Epp, a longtime veteran of the transit-building process across the state. Epp, who is directing the station design, said he felt “privileged” to be working on the project, a passion of his ranging on station work for the Orange, Red and Silver Lines over the past 35 years. “This is going to change people’s lives, and it’s going to change them for the better.”

Luckily, residents of the Rush Street 3-family home were not present during the fire as the building had been undergoing renovations at the time of the incident. - Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Andrew Firestone

Authorities are calling a two-alarm fire that swept through an unoccupied 3-family home on Rush Street “suspicious” today, since the actual cause for the blaze could not be identified.

“The fire is under investigation by the Somerville Fire Department Investigation Unit, the Somerville Police, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office,” said Somerville Fire Marshal Kevin Kelleher. Kelleher said the fire originated on the first floor of the house.

Good job with the Parade this year. Frank was right; this was the biggest Memorial Day Parade. A good job. The marchers did a great job and it appears that all on the sidelines enjoyed the parade as well. The local politicians passed out flags, and plenty of them were marching. Alderman Sean O’Donovan, after a leg injury recently (we hear was out getting signatures) had to ride, but at least he and most of the elected officials showed up. You can go online to our Web site and view all the marchers.

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Congratulations to Mayor Joe Curtatone who recently received his Masters Degree from Harvard University this past Friday. A full time mayor with a large family and this guy finds time to do his Masters. He is an inspiration to a lot of us here in the city. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive his diploma which was given out last Thursday evening. His grandmother passed away and the wake was Thursday night.

By Andrew Firestone

A controversial amendment that reportedly stripped public labor unions of their rights was passed Thursday, May 26, with the rest of the $30.5 billion state budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. While in the House, the issue had divided many lawmakers, with Mayor Joseph Curtatone supporting it, and others, such as Rep. Denise Provost (D-Somerville) and Congressman Mike Capuano, opposed.

Who would have thought that one simple idea, that of bringing folks together to enjoy some music in the open air, could produce such divergent points of view and controversy? Those familiar with our diverse and contentious community would, of course.

Last week’s Porchfest was a well-intentioned attempt to bring back the spirit of the down-home hoe-down. The satisfying warmth of the old-fashioned town band concert, sans the handlebar moustaches and Gibson Girl bouffants. A lot of legitimate talent hit the floorboards – and gravel – to be sure. But a few involuntary audience members were less than thrilled.

By Andrew Firestone

The City of Somerville’s Bond Rating was raised last week, coming into ‘AA-’ level upgraded from an ‘A+’, by Standard and Poor’s (S&P). This enhances the City’s power to borrow money for projects due to a perception of being able to keep its financial commitments while also lowering the City’s interest payments to bondholders. City accounting was praised for its ability to maintain a low debt level, but the City also suffered due to the poor rating of their pension liability.

By Jim Clark

Somerville police were dispatched to a residence on Meacham Street early last Sunday morning after it was reported that an unwanted woman was trespassing in the backyard.

Residents of the apartment reportedly advised police that they had a few friends over the night before and that the party broke up at around 4:00 a.m., but one woman, Vivian James, 25, who lived nearby, refused to leave and began banging on the back door.

Jennifer Jean

Poet Jennifer Jean was born near the water in Venice Beach, California. Her mother often took her out on the water, and the water has been a player on her life stage. She now lives in Salem, Mass., a historic seaport with her husband and kids. So I guess you could say she has never been a fish out of water.