Beginning Thursday, November 13, at approximately 4 p.m., city contractors plan to mill (remove the top few layers of asphalt) the roadway surface at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Central Street in preparation for paving.

136 affordable housing units are slated to be constructed at 299 Broadway, the site of the former Star Market. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By The Times Staff

The housing affordability crisis in Massachusetts is a growing challenge and a hot-button issue. Home prices are rising much faster than incomes. The shortage in affordable housing is a result of restrictive zoning laws, lengthy permitting processes, and high land and labor costs.

The city’s Land Use Committee, along with the Planning Board and Redevelopment Authority, recently met to discuss plans for the 90 Washington Street Demonstration Project. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jordan Pagkalinawan

On November 6, the Somerville Land Use Committee held a joint session with the city’s Planning Board and Redevelopment Authority to discuss potential changes to the 90 Washington Street Demonstration Project plan. The committee also heard from several city officials requesting amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and upzoning classifications on various properties.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Matthew McLaughlin

It’s been 22 years since I enlisted in the Army and served in the Iraq War. Every Veterans Day becomes more significant to me. This year is made more significant by the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney, a person who had a profoundly negative impact on my life.

Beginning Thursday, November 13, at approximately 4 p.m., city contractors plan to mill (remove the top few layers of asphalt) the roadway surface at the intersection of Somerville Avenue and Central Street in preparation for paving. During this work, Somerville Avenue between Lowell Street and Park Street will be closed to motor vehicle traffic in both directions. Milling is expected to begin at approximately 4 p.m. and end at approximately midnight. This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other factors. For more information, including full detour maps, please visit www.somervillema.gov/somcentralpave.

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Whenever I ask what I can bring to a gathering, this particular appetizer is the most requested. I have made other recipes over the years for stuffed mushrooms, but have been disappointed with the stuffing coming out soggy. After multiple testings of my own recipe I finally came up with a combination where multiple textures are experienced, moist on the inside and crunchy on the top.

The Somerville Boys Cross Country Team.

Boys

The Somerville Boys Cross Country Team triumphed in the Greater Boston League (GBL) Championship, placing five (5) runners in the top ten to best second-place Medford,  28-45, to win its 4th GBL crown in a row. Medford’s Adam Lewis won the race in 17:08 for the newly configured 3.1-mile course at MacDonald Park in Medford. Somerville’s Henry Zarecor came in second in 17:30. Somerville’s top five finishers all earned All-GBL designation.

Once again, the democratic process has run its course, and those of us who chose to participate can rest assured that we have done our parts in having a say in who governs and guides our city as we head into the future.

We congratulate all who participated as candidates, not only those who were elected, but also those who missed achieving their victories. Everybody benefits when clearly diverse choices are presented to voters. Without that, the process could only be regarded as a hollow covenant. It takes a lot of courage and self-confidence to put oneself on the block in this way.

Recently I went on a tour of the Beacon Hill environs that the late poet John Wieners inhabited for many years. Jim Dunn, a confidante of Wieners in his last years hosted the tour, and was full of anecdotes about the poet and his life and times. The walk was partly in support of a reissued collection of Wiener’s, Behind the State Capitol: Or Cincinnati Pike. Jim generously agreed to this interview.