Pols outraged at plans for nearby sludge facility
By George P. Hassett

Local politicians are fuming mad at a plan to relocate a facility that would increase neighborhood air pollution and traffic to a property abutting East Somerville.   
   State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios, D-Cambridge, state Senator Patrica D. Jehlen, D-Somerville and Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, sent a letter to the Executive Director of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) this week regarding plans to relocate, from Dorchester to Charlestown, a facility that handles catch basin sludge collected by the City of Boston.

Union prez: Mayor retaliated for protest
By George P. Hassett

A 30 year Somerville police veteran was removed from a desirable position within the department because he participated in his union’s picketing of City Hall last week, said Patrolmen’s Union President Jack Leutcher.

Mayor, aldermen get pay hike

The Board of Aldermen last night approved a $40,000 pay raise for Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, and raises for themselves and the School Committee.

Provost resigns

Alderman-at-Large and state Rep. Denise Provost, D-Somerville, resigned from the Board of Alderman last night. Provost has been an alderman since 2000 and became state Rep. for the 27th Middlesex district earlier this year.

Storefronts shift in Square

Wave of new businesses fill once  empty storefronts
By George P. Hassett

In the place of a beloved coffee shop now sits an empty storefront. A prominent building that once housed non-profit companies has been reduced to rubble. A storefront, home to two upscale restaurants in the past six months, is unfilled. These are some of the noticeable changes Davis Square has seen in the past few months — and these are signs that business in Davis Square is as healthy as it has ever been, according to the ward alderman.

Mayor, Superior Officers reach agreement on contract

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the leadership of the Somerville Police Superior Officers Association today announced the signing of a new two-year labor agreement covering the 28 sergeants, lieutenants and captains of the Somerville Police Department.

News Talk for the week of October 25

Last Wednesday, for the first time that we can remember, two major unions picketed City Hall with around 130 to 140 picketers altogether – mostly from the Fire Department. You could see the camera up on the 2nd floor making sure everyone could be identified later.  Now it‚Äôs true the City is trying to negotiate contracts, even Thursday morning the Fire Departments Union was meeting about their contract.  So the Mayor is probably upset about these unions doing this to him and we also heard that it‚Äôs supposed to be illegal to picket when you‚Äôre negotiating.  Some fallout from the picket has already happened ‚Äì Officer Bruce Campbell, who had the coveted job of being assigned to the Licensing Board, was removed the next day and another officer was asked to do it –  one who wasn‚Äôt there picketing.    
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Now we all heard about the Abington School that cancelled ‚ÄúTag‚Äù in the schoolyard. Well, we have it on reliable sources that our new Superintendent of Schools has managed to tick off a lot of parents.  He‚Äôs apparently cancelled all ‚Äúbake sales‚Äù – last week the students at the Winter Hill School were stunned when he put a stop to ‚Äúarts & crafts sales‚Äù that the children and parents hand made to sell in the school store.  Also, it is an unfortunate fact of life, but every year there are students who are found to have lice in their hair and they‚Äôre supposed to be sent home‚Ķnow this practice is being stopped – as well as not notifying other students parents.  We have a feeling ‚ÄúTag‚Äù and just plain old running around in the schoolyard will be done away with as well for the kids‚Ķwe hope this isn‚Äôt true.

Social club covets liquor license
By George P. Hassett

Mario DaSilva feels he is being targeted. The owner of the International Soccer Club said police have visited his establishment 30 times in the past year hoping to catch him serving alcohol. He said Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero regularly walks by and looks in the window menacingly, inspecting DaSilva and his customers.
  ‚ÄúI feel like I‚Äôm a bad guy here. Worse, I feel like I‚Äôm the only bad guy in Somerville,‚Äù DaSilva said.

Alderman tries to save city $280,000, gets defeated                                                                     

By George P. Hassett

Alderman-at-Large Denise Provost tried to shrink the $2.2 million Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone plans to borrow to buy new equipment for city departments by $283,000 but was voted down.

Off the Shelf by Doug Holder for the week of Oct. 25

A Night in November. Play by Marie Jones. Starring: Marty Maguire. Directed by Tim Byron Owen. (Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theatre
255 Elm St. Davis Square, Somerville http://www.jtoffbroadway.com)

  If I had to describe ‚ÄúA Night in November‚Äù in a few words; I would say it is about a man in a cage. He is trapped by his past, by his petty bureaucratic job, by the entrenched divide between Protestant and Catholic Ireland.