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Ellin Reisner and Alan Moore (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.) Ever hopeful regarding the extensions of the Green Line and Community Path, Somerville residents should be cheered by comments made by the Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Mullan on May 2 extolling the success of the Southwest Corridor Park. He noted that rather than "…dividing the neighborhood by an expressway, this neighborhood is drawn together by the Orange Line and by the Southwest Corridor Park." He went on to state that "this beautiful ribbon of green helps people get out of their cars and walk to the T station, or bike right to downtown Boston. Governor Sargent's decision forty years ago enabled the creation of this corridor that brings together the modes – walking, bicycling, and public transit – that represent not the past, but the future of transportation." When the Secretary's comments about the success of the Southwest Corridor Park were lauded in a recent Boston Globe Op-Ed by Lawrence Harmon, "A park that is the muscle and bone of the city" (May 5, 2010) it seemed like a "no brainer" that the extension of the Community Path in Somerville as part of the Green Line extension would be treated similarly by the Commonwealth. When we see broad public acknowledgement of the critical value of investments in green space that also provide for active transportation (i.e., walking and bicycling) as well as easy and attractive access to public transportation, we again raise our hopes that the State will change their present policy and "do the right thing" in Somerville. |
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Somerville Community Access Television's (SCATV) youth media program, Next Generation Producers, in collaboration with Somerville High School and Home, Inc., will hold the Fourth Annual Somerville Youth Film Festival on June 9 at 7 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. The Somerville Youth Film Festival is free and open to the public. The festival includes short movies, animations, public service announcements, documentaries and news packages that were produced by students of the Next Generation Producers and the High School's TV & Media Production class. As they created their video projects, students learned the complete process of media production, including research, scriptwriting, camera and audio skills, and digital editing. Organizations participating in Next Generation Producers programs this year were Somerville Cares About Prevention, The Boys and Girls Club, and the Community Action Agency of Somerville. |
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By William Tauro Somerville Fire Department's Engine 3 responded to a call at Washington Terrace early Friday morning. They were following up on a report of utility wires that are hanging down too low on that street which could accidentally get hit by a delivery or trash truck when traveling beneath them and pose a saftey concern hazard. Within minutes Somerville DPW crews arrived on scene to rectify the problem. |
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Lauren C. Ostberg State legislators came to Somerville Monday to kick off a discussion about taxes in the state. "I want to see if we, as a Commonwealth, can have an adult conversation about taxes," said State Representative Jay Kaufman, a Democrat. He opened the meeting at Somerville City Hall with several broad strokes. "I think our tax system is broken, and I don't think we can fix what's wrong with our tax system as is," he said. "We have to peel back some of our thinking and go from there." |
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Blogger leads activism against more density By Tom Nash The Planning Board recently learned it has little say in whether a developer can add three condos on the site of a Victorian era home known as the Giobbe house, despite opposition from both city officials and neighbors. MLM Realty's plan to subdivide a property at 1 Benton Road faced a storm of criticism last month, with aldermen and abutters saying the historic structure has been marred and an already crowded neighborhood will face more strain. |
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| By George P. Hassett
A 21-year-old Pearl Street man trying to retrieve his towed car was arrested after police allegedly found an ounce of marijuana and a silver knife in his black Audi, police said. David Walker was charged with possession of a class D drug and possession of a dangerous weapon. |
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(from the City of Somerville)  |
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| This Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, the Child Identification Program (CHIPS) will be held by the local Masonic Lodge, all cost and time donated by the lodges here in Somerville. All local parents are encouraged to bring their child.
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Somerville has a long history of social justice. From neighborhood activism to immigration, from labor to gay and lesbian rights, this community has been sensitive to voices drowned out in many places. That is what makes the situation at the Healey School so distressing. Two worlds exist within one Meacham Street building: in the neighborhood program, 90 percent of kids come from low-income homes. In the Choice program it's less than 40 percent. |
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Superintendent to make recommendation May 24 By George P. Hassett In one Somerville school building parents are debating if their children are getting two different educations. The Arthur D. Healey School in Winter Hill has operated separate learning programs for Somerville kids since the 1980s when the Choice program was added to the neighborhood school. The Choice program bills itself as focusing on project-based learning and parents go through a lottery system to get their children enrolled. |
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