Vol. 5, No. 11
June 9, 2005
NEWS FLASH!
PRIDE DAY
RAINBOW
FLAG RAISING
9:00 AM
SATURDAY JUNE 11
CITY HALL
Contents
1) CITY BUDGET HEARINGS COMMENCE
The mayor will be presenting Somerville's FY 2006 budget and giving an overview of it to the
Board of Aldermen at a Special Meeting scheduled for 6 pm on Thursday June 9, before the
regular Board meeting.
Meetings with department heads to discuss departmental budgets are tentatively scheduled to
begin on Monday June 13, at 6 pm. When the schedule is firm, I will try to get it on the city
website, my own, or both. Although not public hearings, these meetings are most definitely open
to the public. I'm always surprised how few people come in to hear how over one hundred and
fifty million dollars of tax monies are spent by the city each year.
Presently, the only public hearing on the city's proposed FY 2006 budget will be held on
Tuesday June 21, at 6 pm in the Aldermen's Chambers. It is scheduled at the end of the budget
process, when all the departmental presentations have been made. Please call City Clerk John
Long at 617-625-6600 to confirm the date, as I won't be able to put out another newsletter until
after the budget process ends.
2) S.T.E.P. FUND RAISER JUNE 14
STEP - the Somerville Transportation Equity Network - is the citizens' group that has been
marshalling Somerville's public health data, organizing people to attend and testify at local and
regional transportation planning meetings and hearings, and generally raising the profile of the
Green Line extension, and making the case for it and other Somerville transit improvements to
state officials and in the press. Doesn't a group that does such great work deserve our support?
We can offer our financial - and moral - support to STEP at its fund raiser on the evening of
Tuesday June 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Independent restaurant in Union Square. There
will be light refreshments, live music, and a cash bar. STEP is suggesting a donation of $25 per
person to help pay for such expenses as postage, printing, videography, and web hosting, but
will "gratefully accept whatever you can afford."
I'll be at a budget meeting that evening, but will send my check to STEP, 19 Alston Street,
Somerville, MA 02143. I hope that you'll support STEP, too.
3) SYCAMORE STREET BRIDGE CLOSED - TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES!
The Mass. Highway Department has begun work on the Sycamore Street bridge, and Willougby
Street, between Sycamore and Central, has been made one way, westbound - i.e., it can no
longer be entered from Central Street, only from Sycamore. Also, there is NO PEDESTRIAN
BRIDGE here, an inconvenience that makes me especially grateful that Sen. Shannon and Rep.
Jehlen pushed so hard to gain pedestrian access for the duration of the Lowell Street Bridge
project.
If you have questions, call City Engineer Charles O'Brien at 617-625-6600, x5410, or email him
4) FUN ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS COMING UP
A) "MOMS ON THE MOVE" FRIDAY
June 10, from noon until 2, there will be a free health fair for moms and their kids in Somerville
and Medford. The event will be held at the Cousens Gym at Tufts University, 161 College Ave.
(north of the railroad bridge). There will be information, fitness tests, and activities, including
a raffle for New Balance sneakers, healthy snacks, and activities for kids. At 12:30, Dr. Miriam
Nelson, author of the "Strong Women" book series will speak.
For more information, contact Sarah Cluggish, 617-636-3714, or sarah.cluggish@tufts.edu.
B) UNION SQUARE FARMERS' MARKET "FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL"
The new Union Square Farmers' Market will open on Saturday June 11, 2005, with a "Family
Fun Festival" from 10:30 until 1:30. There will be activity tables for kids as well as staged and
roving performances, including the Sunsetters and the Skyline Trio. Children can decorate
themselves to take part in the Sidewalk Parade at noon.
The Union Square Farmers' Market will be held for the rest of the growing season on Saturdays,
from 9 am to 1 pm, Union Square will host 15 vendors in the plaza near the SCAT building.
For more information about the market, or the Union Square Main Streets program which is co-sponsoring it,
contact Mimi Graney.
5) WILL YOU HELP ME GET SIGNATURES...
On my nomination papers? As I stated in newsletter-before-last (
Vol. 5, No. 9; April 27, 2005),
I am running for re-election as Alderman at Large. Please contact me if you would be willing
to take a sheet of my nomination papers and collect signatures to get me on the ballot. I would
greatly appreciate your help.
Material from this newsletter may be quoted freely, provided that it is credited to Denise
Provost, www.provost-citywide.org
copyright 2005 Denise Provost
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