Contents
1) Transportation Update
A) Real progress, hearing, on Green Line extension!
Even before I was sworn in as State Representative, I was attending meetings with the rest of
our state delegation to press for real progress on the Green Line Extension through Somerville.
So far, that progress has been slow - often frustratingly slow - and practically invisible. That
picture is about to change.
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) is filing an Expanded Environmental Notification
Form (EENF) for the Green Line Extension project with the Massachusetts Environmental
Protection Act (MEPA) unit of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA). Notice
of the EENF will be published in the Environmental Monitor on Tuesday, October 10, 2006.
This filing initiates the mandatory environmental planning process for the project, to which EOT
has committed $2.2 million in funding.
There will be a public hearing on the environmental review and planning process on Monday,
October 16, from 6-8pm, in the Somerville High Auditorium.
EOT has also committed to facilitating the land use planning for the corridor in which the Green
Line Extension will be built, but has yet to provide a timeframe for that process.
B) Mass. Bicycle Plan Update/Meeting
The Executive Office of Transportation (EOT) is currently undertaking a project to form a
statewide bicycling network. This effort, known as The Massachusetts Bicycle Plan Update, is
intended to improve bicycle transportation, as well as promote multi-modal transportation,
recreation, tourism, and economic vitality.
Interested persons are invited to attend EOT's upcoming meeting on the plan:
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
State Transportation Building (Conference Room 2&3), 10 Park Plaza, Boston (617-973-7000)
For more information on the project, or if you wish to submit comments via the Internet, visit the
website.
C) Tour new Greenbush Line
The Association for Public Transportation invites you to a tour of the soon-to-be completed
Greenbush line to Hingham and Scituate.
Date of Tour: Sunday, October 29, 2006
Tickets: $22 for APT members, $25 for other tickets
For more information, contact Barry Steinberg at
bmsteinberg@earthlink.net or 617-773-7495
2) Big Raises for City Employees? Find out more.
Our city administration recently had completed a study of the salaries paid Somerville's
municipal employees. The study uses comparative data from other cities, and recommends
increasing many salaries - including those of elected officials - to levels within “ranges” given
in the final report recently distributed to members of the Board of Aldermen.
On Tuesday, October 10, 2006, at 7 pm in City Hall, the Finance Committee will meet to see
a Power point presentation of the study's findings, and commence discussion of the proposed
pay increases. The meeting is open to the public. If you're concerned about the city's budget and
tax rate, you might want to attend.
3) Resources for Artists
A) Somerville Council Grant Deadline
Funding is available for individuals, schools, community groups and non-profit organizations in
the fields of dance, film/video, literature, theater, music, visual arts, multi-disciplinary and
cultural heritage. Grants may be used for after school and summer programs, school residencies
and field trips, artist fellowships, art events, exhibitions, public concerts, and more.
Guidelines, a schedule of information sessions, and applications are available online.
Application deadline: October 16, 2006
B) Looking for Artist's Space?
MCC and a coalition of major cultural and civic groups announce the public launch of
ArtistLink, an ambitious new effort to help artists, real estate developers, and communities
develop work and living space for artists across Massachusetts. Check out www.ArtistLink.org
for more than 85 pages of comprehensive information for artists, developers and municipalities
on finding, developing and securing artist space.
Post and search for artist space in your community for
free.
4) Annals of Public Safety/Public Spending
Middlesex County Sheriff James DiPaola has asked the legislature this session to ask for about
$250 million for “corrections needs.” About $50 million of this amount is for asbestos abatement
at the existing Middlesex County Jail; about $200 million for the construction of a new jail. The
Somerville Board of Aldermen recently invited Sheriff DiPaola to come to the Board and discuss
his proposal for locating that new jail in Somerville.
This background material is just a bit of context, explaining Sheriff DiPaola's connection to
Somerville. The news story linked below is not about Somerville, but is about Sheriff's
Departments, and their spending. The spending in question isn't jail spending - but that seems
to be the point of the story - you might want to take a look.
http://cbs4boston.com/video/?id=24408@wbz.dayport.com
5) Community Events Coming Up
A) Harvest Fair
Free fun for the whole family! Sculpture exhibits, pumpkin decorating, clay workshop, butter
dance, games, cider making, garden tours, prizes, and music
Saturday, October 7, 1-4pm
Somerville Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue, right outside Union Square
For more information, call 617-666-2969, or visit the website.
B) HONK! Festival reminder
Date: October 7-8
Where: In and Around Davis Square, Somerville
For more info check out the website, or call 617-497-9889
The first-ever HONK! Festival is a fall gathering of 13 activist brass bands from across North
America. Across the country and around the world, a new type of street band is emerging.
Acoustic and mobile, borrowing repertoire and inspiration from a diverse set of folk music
traditions, these “Honkers” all share a commitment to music as social action. The HONK!
Festival features such bands as the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, March Fourth Marching
Band, Brass Liberation Orchestra, The Leftist Marching Band, and Environmental
Encroachment.
C) Sunday: Walk Historic West Somerville
“At the Threshold of West Somerville: From Davis to Power House Square”
A Historic walking tour of West Somerville led by Ed Gordon, president of the New England
Chapter of the Victorian Society and co-sponsored by Historic Somerville
Date: Sunday, October 15, 2006
Time: 2pm
Leaving from: Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square
There will be refreshment stops along the route
Admission: $5 for Historic Somerville or Victorian Society of New England members, and $8
for non-members
D) Tour de Somerville reminder
14th Annual Tour de Somerville: "Streets, Rails, and Trails"
When: Saturday, October 14, 10 am
Where: Starts at Seven Hills Park, behind the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square
Who: Sponsored by the Somerville Bicycle Committee, Friends of the
Community Path, and the Mass. Central Rail Trail Coalition.
What: A family-friendly, 8-mile bicycle ride. Our theme this year is "Streets, Rails, and Trails". We'll start by exploring the back streets of Somerville's mostly-flat Ward Two. Then we'll ride alongside future extensions of both the Somerville Community
Path and the MBTA Green Line, looking at railroad rights-of-way from a variety of
viewpoints. Finally, we'll return to Davis Square on the existing paved Community Path.
Rain date: If it rains, we'll postpone the ride to Sunday, October 15, same starting time and
location.
For more information, call 617-628-8895, or email sbc@ci.somerville.ma.us.
E) Duhamel Dinner
The Duhamel Education Initiative (DEI) is a local non-profit organization dedicated to slowing
Somerville's school drop-out rate. It runs projects, from mini-grants that fund teaching
innovations, to after-school programming for some of the children most at-risk for leaving school
prematurely. You can help this good work in a most enjoyable way.
Every autumn, DEI holds a wonderful dinner, cooked by its members and shared with its
community of supporters. This traditional 'Ham and Bean' dinner also includes vegetarian
specialties, homemade desserts, music, and lots of socializing. This year's event will take place
on Saturday, Oct. 28, starting at 6 pm, in the Hall on the First Congregational Church on
College Avenue, just northeast of Davis Square. See you there.
Material from this newsletter may be quoted freely, provided that it is credited to Denise
Provost, www.provost-citywide.org
copyright 2006 Denise Provost
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