Vol. 5, No. 13
September 27, 2005
Contents
1) ELECTION DAY TODAY - PLEASE VOTE!
Today is the Special Election for the Senate seat left vacant by the late Senator Charlie Shannon.
The polls will be open from 7 am to 8 pm for your voting convenience.
I have endorsed our State Representative, Pat Jehlen, in this race - see my website to learn why.
The Jehlen campaign will be at Anthony's, on the corner of Highland Avenue and Central
Street, after the close of the polls; all are welcome to drop by.
2) PUBLIC MEETING ON ARMORY REDEVELOPMENT
There will be a city-sponsored public meeting on Wednesday, September 28, to discuss proposed
changes to the Sater brothers' plan to redevelop the former National Guard Armory on Highland
Avenue into an arts center. The meeting will take place at 6:30 pm, at the VNA Assisted Living
Facility's third floor Community Room, at 259 Lowell Street.
3) SOMERVILLE SPONSORS HURRICANE RELIEF BENEFIT
The City of Somerville will be holding an event to support the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
of the Red Cross, on Thursday, September 29, 2005, from 7 until 11 pm. The benefit will be
held at the Eugene Brune Field House at Somerville High School. It will feature live
entertainment, refreshments, an auction, and raffles. A $25 donation is requested.
4) SOMERVILLE POINT OF VIEW: DOG WALKERS BENEFIT PUBLIC
As a new feature, I have decided to reprint, with the writer's permission, some letters that come
to me expressing interesting points of view, or ideas. The first of these comes from Joan
Brundage, who recently sent me this message:
“Last week, there were some homeless guys around Lincoln Park. I called and an officer came
and they got them out of there. A couple of weeks ago, a dog owner found a syringe near the
red bench at the end of Bowdoin St. He disposed of it. On Monday, Sept. 5th, an officer came
and was looking around for some more. I was glad to see that. However, he also spoke to
the dog owners that were in the park at the time and told them there were no dogs allowed in the
park. I know that is the policy. However, it was a dog owner that found the syringe. What if
it had been a child? Sometimes battles need to be chosen and if dog owners are the ones that are
keeping the park clear of things like this, maybe you need to look the other way. Obviously, if
someone complains then dogs need to be moved along but if no one is complaining, then look
at is as a good thing - someone is looking out for the best interest of the neighborhood. I know
that this park cannot have a police officer in it 24/7. Maybe, patrols need to be stepped up a bit
just so things like this will not go on at this park. There are a lot of children that go to this park
to play. Also, the same dog owner spoke to people that were drinking and asked them to pick
up after themselves. He was told they did not have a bag to clean up their mess. He went to his
car and got one for them. The next day, the area they were in was clean! Last night, the park
was littered with paper and debris. Guess who cleaned it up? A neighbor and a dog owner.”
5) FOSS PARK CLEANUP SATURDAY
Get out your gloves and rake, broom and dustpan. The Foss Park Neighborhood Association is
holding another cleanup of Foss Park on Saturday, October 1, from 10 am to 1 pm. See you
there.
6) COMMUNITY DAY AT TUFTS ON SUNDAY
Come to the Tufts University campus on Sunday, October 2, from 11 am to 3 pm for
"Community Day," a free event featuring lunch and refreshments, music, children's activities,
information and advice, and, this year, a preview of a major exhibition about Abraham Lincoln,
together with a Civil War encampment and re-enactors portraying important historical figures
of the period.
All events will be held in the academic quad at the top of the hill, by Goddard Chapel. The site
is wheelchair accessible. Free parking is available in the Tufts garage at 419 Boston Ave., or
take a free shuttle bus from opposite the Somerville Theater in Davis Square.
For more information, call Ted Schwartzberg at 617-627-3587, or visit the
Tufts website.
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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