Health Department Reminder

The City of Somerville Health Department issued a reminder today that with warmer temperatures expected this week, residents are advised to continue to take precautions against mosquitoes, which may carry diseases such as EEE or West Nile Virus.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health released the following statement and prevention tips last week: “Even as cooler temperatures begin arriving in the state, the fact is that the threat of mosquito-borne illness will continue until the first hard overnight frost,” said DPH State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown. “In the meantime, it’s vitally important that we continue taking common-sense precautions against mosquito bites: use insect repellant, cover up, and avoid outdoor activities at dusk and after nightfall when mosquitoes are at their most active.”

Avoid Mosquito Bites

• Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
• Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning
• Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

• Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
• Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Protect Your Animals

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools – especially after heavy rains. Water troughs provide excellent mosquito breeding habitats and should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitoes near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitoes. If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to Department of Agriculture (DAR), Division of Animal Health by calling 617-626-1795 and to the Department of Public Health (DPH) by calling 617-983-6800.

Available Affordable Homeownership Opportunity

On behalf of Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Housing Division is pleased to announce the availability of a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit for purchase located at 181 Cedar Street. The condominium is new construction and is offered through the City's Inclusionary Housing Program.

Unit #4 is a two bedroom, two bathroom unit being offered at a price of $170,380 to an income eligible household with a minimum of two people. The unit is restricted to households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income. The Area Median Income limit for a household of two people is $53,900 and for a household of three people, it is $60,650. Please note that these income limits are gross income limits.

Requirements to Apply:

• Households making up to 80% Area Median Income. 
• Must be a first time homebuyer household (cannot have owned a home, or an interest in a home, in the preceding 3 years)
• Must be a minimum household of two people
• Must have taken or be enrolled in a first time homebuyer training class (http://www.chapa.org/looking-for-housing/homebuyer-workshops). Certificates of Completion of a First Time Homebuyer Training Class must be within 3 years of the date of application to be eligible.

 Eligible buyers may also be eligible to access up to $5,000 in Closing Cost Assistance from the City of Somerville. Eligibility requirements apply.

Timeline to Apply:

•  A mandatory information will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at  6pm at the Somerville Central Library at 79 Highland Ave. in the 1^st floor meeting room.
•  The application deadline is 4 pm on Thursday, October 24, 2013. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Documents Required for a Complete Application:

• Completed application
• Current mortgage pre-approval from any lending institution for a 30 year fixed rate standard mortgage
• Completed first time homebuyer certificate or documentation of enrollment in a first time homebuyer training class
• Evidence that you live or work full-time in Somerville.  This can be a copy of a lease, a utility bill or a current paystub.

Please contact me with any questions.

Vicki

Vicki Wairi

Program Specialist

City of Somerville

Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development

Housing Division

50 Evergreen Av

Somerville, MA  02145

617.625.6600 x 2588

617.666.8035  fax

Weekly E-mail Updates - Sent out Saturday, 9-28-13

Big happenings with East Somerville By Design coming up this week.  A three day public design session starts on Monday, September 30th.  Please click here for more information.  You can also click here for even more information.  It all takes place right here in Ward 1 - the team from the City will set up camp for 3 days in the store front located at 122-124 Broadway.  This is your chance to have your voice be heard.

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Lots of hydrant flushing happening in the Ward - click here for more details.

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Check out what is happening with the Somerville Arts Council by clicking here or you can visit there website by clicking here.

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Though the latest fire in Somerville is not believed to be suspicious please know that the appropriate officials are still investigating and please follow the arson prevention and fire safety tips listed here - just click.

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Remember all Board of Aldermen meetings are listed on the City web site as well as agenda and minutes - just click here.

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Thanks to everyone who exercised their right to vote this past Tuesday during the Primary Election.  Unfortunately I did not make it to the November Election.  As you already know I LOVE WARD 1 and I will continue to serve you as your Alderman until the new Alderman will be sworn in the first week in January of 2014.  I will represent this Ward as if the job were mine again next year.  You can click here for the unofficial election results.

The field is now narrowed down to 2 men and I will be throwing my support behind Matt McLaughlin.  Matt is a young, intelligent, energetic individual who has been involved in Somerville for many years.  He is a Iraq war veteran and co-founder of "Save our Somerville."  I am looking forward to working with Matt these next couple of months helping him to get elected and I hope you will do the same.  If you click here it will bring you to Matt's Facebook page and if you click here it will bring you to his web page. 

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Something I forgot - sent out Sunday 9-29-13

I failed to mention that a ring was found at Ward 1's - Precinct 3 polling place - the Reilly-Brickley Fire Station on Broadway.  If you lost a ring please contact me or officer Nick Stiles.  It's a beautiful ring and I would love to find its owner. 

THREE-DAY EAST SOMERVILLE PUBLIC DESIGN SESSIONS BEGIN SEPT. 30

Somerville by Design turns 122-124 Broadway into a design charrette studio where residents and business community interact with City planners and consultants

The next phase of the City’s Somerville by Design community planning process in East Somerville will take place Monday, Sept. 30 through Wednesday, Oct. 2. A three-day public design charrette will give residents, the business community and other stakeholders numerous opportunities to interact with each other, and with City planners and consultants. This event will build on input from the East Somerville community gathered at a public Crowdsourcing and two public Visioning Sessions held earlier this year.

The design charrette offers daytime as well as evening opportunities for public participation and includes one-hour sessions on a variety of planning topics. A vacant storefront at 122-124 Broadway will be transformed into a design studio open to the public, with meeting spaces, working studios and gallery-style displays. Outside the studio, a “parklet” will be set up with moveable seating, café tables and plants. The program will culminate in a public “Pin-Up Presentation” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 3, at 115 Pearl Street.

The detailed schedule is as follows:

• Monday, September 30
• Location: 122-124 Broadway
• 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. - public Open Studios
• 11 a. m. – 12 p.m. and 3 – 8:30 p.m. – public stakeholder sessions (descriptions available at www.somervillebydesign.com)

• Tuesday, October 1
• Location: 122-124 Broadway
• 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. - public Open Studios
• 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. – public stakeholder sessions (descriptions available at www.somervillebydesign.com)

• Wednesday, October 2
• Location: 115 Pearl Street
• 7 – 9 p.m. – Pin Up Presentation

The Somerville by Design team recently held a three-day charrette in Davis Square and is posting the ideas generated at the event at http://www.somervillebydesign.com/.

Somerville by Design is a cutting-edge approach to community planning that uses resident know-how to solve challenging physical planning and urban design issues. It makes planning fun, using highly visual, interactive techniques such as "Open Studio" design sessions, neighborhood meetings, block walking and online surveys. Most importantly, it provides multiple ways for the public to get involved in generating and refining physical design plans that are driven by community members’ preferences and creative ideas. In 2012, hundreds of residents and businesspersons participated in the Somerville by Design "Station Area Planning Series" for Gilman Square, Lowell Street / Magoun Square, and Ball Square neighborhoods that will soon be served by the Green Line Extension.

Additional information is available on the City of Somerville website at www.somervillebydesign.com.

Latest Fire Does NOT Appear Suspicious

Joint Release City of Somerville and Office of the State Fire Marshal

For Immediate Release:   September 27, 2013

State Contact: Jennifer Mieth, (978) 567-3189

Somerville Contact: Chief Kevin Kelleher 617-625-6600 x8100

Somerville Fire Under Investigation: Does Not Appear Suspicious

State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan, Somerville Fire Chief Kevin W. Kelleher and Somerville Police Chief Thomas Pasquarello said last night’s fire at 327 Dickinson Street remains under investigation this morning but it does not appear suspicious in nature. At this stage, the investigative team is focusing on several possible accidental causes.

The fire is being jointly investigated by members of the Somerville Fire and Police Departments and state police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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Though the latest fire is not believed to be suspicious pleases know that the appropriate officials are still investigating and please follow the arson prevention tips and fire safety tips - click here to see.

CITY TO SEEK REVISIONS TO ASSEMBLY SQUARE URBAN RENEWAL PLAN

The City of Somerville is pursuing revisions to Assembly Square’s Urban Renewal Plan to ensure that the properties within the entire renewal area are developed to their highest and best use and fulfill the community’s vision of a vibrant, transit-oriented urban district.  The overall boundaries of the urban renewal area would not be changed as a result of the proposed amendments to the plan.

The proposed changes result from the evolution of the site, beginning with IKEA announcing in July 2012 that it would not proceed with developing a 12-acre parcel within Assembly Square. That decision created the opportunity and the need to reexamine how the City could ensure the best use for not only the IKEA lot but also for the full 129.2 acres of the urban renewal district.

Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) is redeveloping 56.2 acres in the district as part of the Assembly Row development. The approximately 73 remaining acres include single-story big box retail stores, a former multi-screen movie theatre, an office building and several smaller commercial-industrial buildings located within the urban renewal area.

The plan change would provide added flexibility in support of mixed use development on the remaining acreage within the renewal area. It would also identify infrastructure needs and possible acquisition parcels that were not specified in either the original 1980 Urban Renewal Plan or the major plan change of 2002.

To guide this process, the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development has submitted an appropriation request of $500,000 to the Board of Aldermen, and will be presenting information in support ofr the request during upcoming meetings of the Finance Committee. That funding would pay for professional consultants in the areas of planning and design, financial and economic analysis, infrastructure capacity, engineering, legal and appraisal services. These combined efforts would be expected to result in proposed plan changes that would then go before the Somerville Redevelopment Authority and, if approved by the Redevelopment Authority and the Planning Board, to the Board of Aldermen for approval before submitting the proposed changes to the state.

Careful planning now will ensure that future development complements and enhances the uses already approved and under construction at Assembly Row. Potential changes to the Urban Renewal Plan would be built upon the vision set forth in the 2002 major plan change, which envisioned “the redevelopment of Assembly Square as a more urban ‘mixed use’ area … (and) projects the continued migration of industrial uses from the district and a gradual phase-in of mixed use development, including residential, office, retail and entertainment uses…. These mixed use developments will include significant open spaces to add to the existing parks along the Mystic River and some new open spaces at the heart of the district.”

“IKEA has been a great partner over the years and was instrumental in jump-starting Assembly Row, but with their decision not to develop the site, we have a better opportunity to continue transforming Assembly Square into the kind of smart growth development we want to see,” Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said. “With the first new MBTA station in more than a quarter-century on schedule to open at Assembly Square next year, and with zoning in place and the major infrastructure components ready, we are committed to working with community residents, our elected officials, and all interested parties to set the stage for the whole of Assembly Square to become a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented neighborhood filled with new businesses and homes.”

Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi said, “Assembly Square holds the greatest potential in Somerville to create jobs and give our residents tax relief by expanding the city’s commercial tax base. It’s exciting to see FRIT’s progress so far, and updating the Urban Renewal Plan takes advantage of this opportunity to keep Assembly Square moving in the right direction and building the newest, vibrant Ward 1 neighborhood.”

Wig Zamore, a founding and active member of both Mystic View Task Force and Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership wholeheartedly agreed with the importance of pushing ahead with the full transformation of Assembly Square.

“The four multi-story, mixed use blocks next to the expanded Mystic River park and the new Orange Line Station that will be open in 2014 should provide tremendous momentum for the completion of Assembly Row and the evolution of 21^st century urban fabric across the rest of Assembly Square,” Zamore said. “These features, including the new main street with local retailers and mixed income rental housing, should provide a great foundation for continued development of mixed use which complements Somerville’s most pressing long term needs. As Somerville has Massachusetts’ greatest shortage of local jobs per square mile relative to resident workers, it is especially important that we develop an intense and diverse array of new jobs, including university related research and development, so that a sustainable live-work balance is restored and then maintained within the community.”

The original Urban Renewal Plan adopted in 1980 sought to guide the transition of the long-standing industrial and warehouse uses at Assembly Square to commercial uses such as retail, office and entertainment. It defined the site as 129.2 acres and identified specific parcels for the Somerville Redevelopment Authority (SRA) to acquire for eventual redevelopment by private entities.

With the original 1980 plan set to expire after 20 years, the City of Somerville undertook a major effort in 1999 to update the Urban Renewal Plan in a manner that better reflected changes on the Assembly Square site, in the Greater Boston economy and in Somerville itself. That resulted in the 2002 major plan change.

In March of 2004, the Assembly Square Mixed Use District was adopted as part of the City of Somerville Zoning Code.

Today, with four buildings now under construction by FRIT and their partners, the promise of Assembly Square envisioned by the 1980 Urban Renewal Plan and the 2002 Major Plan Change is now becoming a reality. By the Spring of 2014, hundreds of apartments will be occupied, with 56 of those units being permanently affordable. Retail shops, restaurants and a 12-screen AMC movie theater will be in operation. A 100,000-square-foot office building is also currently under construction, and developers are confident that a major tenant will occupy the building upon completion.

SOMERVILLE ARTS COUNCIL LAUNCHES PUBLIC ART MAP WITH INTERACTIVE ART EVENT 10/5

SOMERVILLE – The City of Somerville, Somerville Arts Council and Shape Up Somerville announce a new innovative art project, Art in Action: A Walk to Explore and Create Public Art. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. Foss Park on Saturday, October 5th, continuing to locations throughout Somerville to explore the local arts scene and projects, culminating at 11:30 a.m. along Broadway where an unpainted switchbox will serve as a blank canvas for Art in Action. Artist Emily Bhargava of Connection Lab will distribute art materials and guide participants in creating a collaborative work of public art.

The event marks the launch of the city’s interactive Art Map (www.somervilleartscouncil.org/artmap), a platform for Somerville residents to share and view information about the public art across Somerville. During the event, art lovers will have the opportunity to engage in a walking tour featuring talks by local artists and collaborate on the creation of a new piece of public art.

“We are proud to have one of the most diverse, funky arts scenes in the nation - Somerville is second only to New York City in the number of artists per capita – and through this new interactive map community members will be able to learn so much more about what Somerville has to offer,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Furthermore, launching the map in cooperation with Shape Up Somerville to create an active tour of the City promotes so much of the ideals we believe in in Somerville: creating an exceptional place to live, work, play, raise a family and be active.”

Art in Action will kick off at 10 a.m. on October 5^th by the Latta Brothers Memorial Pool in Foss Park at the corner of Broadway and McGrath Highway, where David Fichter will tell the creation story of the Foss Park Pool Mural and discuss his international career as a muralist. Next, art lovers will immerse themselves in the local art landscape by proceeding eastwards on Broadway, where local artists have taken the Switchbox Project and run with it. The switchbox stroll will feature work by Lisa Graf and Elisa Hamilton. The tour will also make stops at the recently-renovated Chuckie Harris Park and the East Somerville library’s mural.

Art in Action is free and open to the public. We encourage anyone who wants to learn about or engage in the local art scene to join the event.  Kids and strollers welcome.  Rain or Shine!

For more information, visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org.

Somerville Public Schools Show Phenomenal Growth on Spring 2013 MCAS

Somerville Public Schools had extraordinary growth exceeding most other school districts according to results from the Spring 2013 MCAS tests, released Friday by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), leading all Massachusetts urban districts in Student Growth Percentile (SGP).

Somerville’s extraordinary SGP growth this year, following incremental improvements in recent years, moved the District from one hovering at the state median level in 2012 to one that is on par with some of the highest-performing districts in the State. As measured by SGP, Somerville Public Schools grew faster than almost any district, surpassing hundreds of districts along the way as it rose from the 35^th to 81^st percentile rank. The new 81st percentile rank for combined Math and English Language Arts SGP means that students in the Somerville Public Schools performed as well as or better than students in 320 (of 397) districts in the State as measured by SGP. Furthermore, when small districts with fewer than 500 students are removed from the database, the Somerville Public Schools’ percentile rank jumps to 92^nd.

In fact, the Somerville Public Schools showed improvement by every measure—School Accountability ratings, Student Growth Percentage (SGP), Composite Performance Index (CPI) and percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced.

Because of these results and Somerville High School’s overall improved performance, the high school made a two-level leap on the state’s five-level Accountability scale and now has a Level 1 accountability designation for the first time in the school’s history—the highest Accountability Level that can be earned. The John F. Kennedy School also earned a Level 1 designation, moving up from a Level 2 school in 2012-2013. 

Somerville’s SGP growth was coupled with District-wide improvement in the number of students progressing toward proficiency. The number of students district-wide scoring Advanced or Proficient in Math leapt an impressive 7 percent and the number of students scoring Advanced or Proficient in English Language Arts jumped a notable 5 percent. These score improvements are part of a district-wide total for all students known as the Composite Performance Index, but the gains were system-wide with percentage increases made in every grade and in both core subject areas (Math and English Language Arts), with the exception of 4^th grade English Language Arts.

“This is great news for the District, for our teachers and students, and for the City of Somerville. Still, this isn’t a destination—this is a foundation,” said Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi. “These results send a clear and undeniable message that the initiatives we have undertaken yield demonstrable improvement in student achievement. Although we’ve had significant growth to celebrate, these results also serve as a beacon for Somerville Public Schools’ future, and that the hard work of our teachers will lead to higher proficiency levels for all students. That type of effort requires patience, consistency, and diligence. That effort will not stop today.”

SGP measures a student’s progress relative to the progress of other students with similar MCAS performance histories from across the state. According to MCAS data, higher-performing districts tend to consistently post higher SGP numbers. MCAS SGP and Composite Index Highlights include:

• Somerville students have the highest overall SGP—in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math—of any of the 26 urban districts in Massachusetts.

• Somerville students showed District-wide improvement in SGP of 7 points in ELA and 12.5 points in Math, among the largest statewide gains between 2012 and 2013.

• Somerville’s 7^th graders lead the district, with a combined ELA and Math SGP in the 96^th percentile rank. This means that only 12 of 291 districts had higher 7^th grade SGP scores and less than 2 percent of seventh graders in the Commonwealth were enrolled in a district with higher growth.

• By subject, SPS performed in the 79^th percentile rank for math, meaning SPS performed as well as or better than 314 of 397 districts and only 9 percent of MCAS-tested students were in districts with higher SGPs. For ELA, the percentile rank was 78^th, meaning SPS performed as well as or better than 309 of 397 districts and only 12 percent of MCAS-tested students were enrolled in districts with higher SGPs.

• Somerville’s 2013 median English Language Arts SGP was 58 and its Math median SGP was 59, compared to the statewide median of 51 in both subjects. In 2012, Somerville’s median English Language Arts SGP was 51 and its Math median SGP was 46.5.

• The percentage of SPS students scoring Advanced or Proficient in both English Language Arts and Math was the highest it’s been in the last four years with a 7 percent improvement in the number of students District-wide scoring Proficient or Advanced in Math and a 5 percent improvement in English Language Arts, led by a 10 percent growth in the percentage of Grade 10 students scoring Proficient or Advanced in both ELA (84 percent) and Math (69 percent).  Close to 70 percent of all 7^th and 8^th grade students scored Proficient or Advanced in ELA.

• Somerville’s CPI was higher in all tested areas (Math, English Language Arts, and Science/Technology/Engineering) than in 2012, including a Grade 10 CPI improvement of 10 points in ELA to a 2013 CPI of 94.2.

2011 Student Growth Percentile (SGP)
for MA School Districts with 1,000 or More Students(horizontal axis = Median SGP Math, vertical axis = Median SGP English Language Arts)

2013 Student Growth Percentile (SGP)
for MA School Districts with 1,000 or More Students(horizontal axis = Median SGP Math, vertical axis = Median SGP English Language Arts)

(Embeddable motion graph available online here. Hi-res chart images available here.)

While SGP is not the state’s sole measure of progress, it does provide a clear measure of a school’s ability to help students at every level of proficiency show growth compared to their “academic peers” from across the state.

“That measure shows that all Somerville students, from all backgrounds and regardless of their past academic performance, out improved their peers in most other districts. Whether students in Somerville are performing at the higher end of the spectrum, are performing in an at-risk category, or if they fall somewhere in the middle, what this shows is that overall they learned more. Our SGP shows that in nearly every grade in both core subjects overall every level of learner in our schools advanced to a higher level of learning,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Vince McKay. “As an urban school district, Somerville has a diverse student population with a wide array of socio-economic backgrounds and past academic performance. These results show that Somerville Public Schools educate each and every child, improving student achievement for all students. In Somerville Schools, every child can succeed.”

“Education needs to go beyond keeping a student at the same level of proficiency from year to year. An ideal education helps students develop into more advanced self-learners no matter what the starting point. Our SGP shows that this is what we are doing in Somerville. We are giving every level of student the tools, the targeted education and support needed to advance to the next level, and ultimately to reach their full potential,” said Superintendent Pierantozzi. “Whether a student is an at-risk learner or an A student, the bar should be set higher every year.”

School administrators credit these results to the district’s highly data-informed systems approach that takes a holistic approach to educating and supporting each student both academically and as a whole child. Within that effort, five factors are key:

• Somerville Schools have improved general instruction in every classroom by setting high, formal standards.

• Targeted instructional support that predicts student performance and intervenes early supports Somerville’s richly diverse student population and a wide range of educational backgrounds and learning abilities.

• Remediation initiatives quickly adapt to students targeted for instructional support—providing intervention to students at risk of a decline in proficiency before they begin to decline.

• Technology brings leading edge techniques to the classroom and provides the data points that return information fast and quickly to teachers, constantly measuring student progress throughout the year, improving communication between teachers, students and parents or guardians, and empowering teachers and the district to stay nimble and proactive in adapting to the individual needs of each student.

• Finally, Somerville has expanded academic opportunities both before and after school, while addressing the education and needs of the whole child.

“We’ve been encouraged by the incremental improvements in the last few years, expecting that our focus on laying a solid foundation for improvement would pay off,” said Dr. McKay.  “These steps have included a rigorous and up-to-date curriculum and effective strategies to intervene quickly with students who need extra support.  I have been confident that these improvements would lead to the type of success in student achievement we’re seeing now.  I am thrilled for our teachers to see that their hard work and focused instruction is showing such extraordinary results.”

Today’s results can also be attributed to the all-hands-on-deck approach and cooperation between the City and School District, from the establishment of the SomerPromise joint initiative between the Mayor’s Office and Superintendent’s Office, to providing opportunities for students and their families to stay involved in the community through the Recreation Department and other programs.

“This isn’t about writing a check and handing it over to the schools—it’s about a community effort and this is a community success,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Our investment in active, engaging education, not only within the classroom but outside the school walls, reflects Somerville’s commitment to educating the whole child, engaging the community in a students’ education and ensuring that every student is exposed to the same rich curriculum. We cannot only change what’s happening inside the schools, but must change our whole environment to create an atmosphere where our students’ can reach their greatest potential.”

"This announcement comes as no surprise.  With the close working collaboration both inside and out of our school buildings, together we will continue to better our mark of student achievement," added School Committee Chair, Mary Jo Rossetti.  "These results are indication that Somerville Public Schools teachers and students are up to the challenge of a rigorous learning environment, and meeting that challenge with innovative and engaging approaches designed to help students reach their individual potential.  With a staff that has a focused commitment to meeting the school committee's targeted goals, we shall continue to rise."

“Somerville stands committed to educating the whole child through innovative, engaging and inclusive approaches that meet the needs of our wonderfully diverse community,” added Superintendent Pierantozzi.  “We’re excited about our progress, but are even more excited about continuing to pursue our vision of helping every student in the Somerville Public Schools reach their potential and be inspired to learn and grow throughout their lives.”

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For additional details, analysis, and commentary on the Spring 2013 MCAS test results, please contact Dr. Vince McKay, Assistant Superintendent of the Somerville Public Schools at 617-629-5214 or vmckay@k12.somerville.ma.us.

For an embeddable, interactive motion graphic showing the change in SGP for all school districts with 1,000 or more students in the state, please visit http://www.somervillema.gov/mcasdata. If you need assistance in using or embedding the graphic, please contact Daniel Hadley, Director of SomerStat at 617-625-6600 ext. 2122 or dhadley@somervillema.gov.

Tuesdays Primary

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 24th Ward 1 is having a Primary to narrow the field from 3 to 2 candidates for the position of Alderman.
Polling places will be open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M.  If you are not familiar with where you should be voting you can click here
and it will bring you to the City's web page and all you have to do is key in your address.   

If you need a ride to the polls just call me at 617-764-5373 - several members of my Campaign Committee have graciously volunteered to provide rides to anyone in need. 

You can also call that number if you would like to volunteer that day. 

Tomorrow you will see three names on the ballot, but vote for the woman who has held elected office in this Ward for the past decade. Vote for the woman who always has an ear for her constituents and the one candidate who has worked with the City to get results for her constituents. Vote for the woman who has the proven leadership in this community. I am Maureen Bastardi, and together WE will usher Ward 1 into its bright future.

Please do me the honor of voting for me on Tuesday and let's keep Ward 1 moving in the right direction.

Most importantly, your vote is your voice, people have fought and died for the right to vote and I am personally grateful to exercise my right to vote in every election.  Please exercise your right to vote!

Mark your calendars for all the upcoming Office of Somerville Commissions events............

 

September Upcoming Dates

Sept 26:  HRC Monthly Meeting

7pm at 165 Broadway

Sept 26:  Library Visit by Author Sara Farizan ("If You Could Be Mine")

7pm Somerville Public Library (79 Highland Ave)

October Upcoming Dates

Oct 2: Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

6-7:15pm at the Public Safety Building at 220 Washington Street

Oct 16:  SCW Monthly Meeting

7pm at 165 Broadway

Oct 21:  Muslim & Arab Community Panel: Domestic Violence Data

2:30pm-4:30pm at the Public Safety Building at 220 Washington Street

Oct 24: HRC Monthly Meeting

7pm at 165 Broadway

Oct 26: LGBT Halloween Skate Night

8-10pm, all ages Veteran’s Memorial Rink

Event Highlights

Sept 26:  Library Visit by Author Sara Farizan ("If You Could Be Mine")

On Thursday, September 26th at 7:00 p.m, you’re invited to the Central Library (79 Highland Ave) to meet Sara Farizan, author of If You Could Be Mine.  Pulling back the curtain on one of the most hidden corners of a much-talked-about culture, If You Could Be Mine is the stunning debut novel by Iranian American writer Sara Farizan about hope and love in the face of danger.  This event is presented by the Somerville Public Libraries and co-sponsored by Partners: Somerville Public Library, The LGBT Liaison to the City of Somerville and the Office of Somerville Commissions, and The LGBT Advisory Group, Council on Aging.

Oct 2:  Candlelight Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Somerville Commission for Women will hold its Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Candlelight Vigil on Oct 2 from 6-7:30pm in Union Square at the Public Safety Building (220 Washington Street) in the Police Academy.  A candlelight walk around Union Square starts at 6pm with speakers in the Police Academy from 6:30pm. Our featured speaker is Corey Yarbrough of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC).  For more information, contact the Office of Somerville Commissions at 617-625-6600 (x2400) or commissions@somervillema.gov.

Oct 21:  Muslim & Arab Community Panel: Domestic Violence Data

The Somerville Commission for Women & the Somerville Police Department will hold a Muslim & Arab Community Panel on Domestic Violence Data on Monday, October 21 from 2:30pm-4:30pm at the Public Safety Building (220 Washington Street, Union Square).  Domestic violence data focusing on the Muslim and Arab community will be presented by Shawn M. MacMaster (McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies, UMass Boston).  Following the data presentation, there will be a panel discussion with Shawn MacMaster, and Muslim & Arab community service providers Naima Agalab (RIAC), Rita Shah (Saheli), and Souad Akib (American Assoc. Arab Women).  A Question and Answer opportunity will be after the panel.  There will be light refreshments.  For more information, contact the Office of Somerville Commissions at 617-625-6600 (x2400) or commissions@somervillema.gov.

Oct 26: LGBT Halloween Skate Night

The City of Somerville’s second annual LGBT Halloween Skate Night, on Saturday, October 26^th, from 8-10 PM at the Veteran’s Memorial Rink at 570 Somerville Ave. All ages and allies are welcome, and costume prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $10 and include skate rental. You can get more information by contacting LGBT Liaison Elizabeth Field at 617-625-6600 x2400. 

Sonja Darai, MA Intercultural Management & Sustainable Development

Director, Office of Somerville Commissions

• Somerville Commission for Women
• Human Rights Commission
• Multicultural Affairs Commission
• LGBT Community Outreach and Issues  

Program of the Somerville Health Department

City of Somerville, City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Avenue, Somerville, MA  02145

Voice:  617-625-6600, x2406        Fax:  617-629-3040

TTY:  1-866-808-4851                     Email:  sdarai@somervillema.gov

Website:  www.somervillema.gov/departments/health/somerville-commissions

The City of Somerville Health Department is committed to the protection of the health of our community through our work in disease prevention, community engagement, and the promotion of healthy behaviors.

The magnitude of the problem does not relieve us of the obligation to take action.

 —Boston Community Capital

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE APPLICATIONS

Time is running out for members of the Somerville community to help shape the future of the city’s open space, affordable housing and historic preservation.

The City of Somerville has extended the application deadline to Friday, Sept. 27 for the four public positions on the newly formed Community Preservation Committee, which is tasked with evaluating Somerville’s needs in open space and outdoor recreation, affordable housing, and historic preservation, and making recommendations to the Board of Aldermen on how Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenues should be spent. Somerville voters overwhelmingly approved adoption of the CPA in November 2012, which will raise an estimated $1.5 million in funding annually via a tax surcharge and state funds designated for those three specific areas.

The committee consists of nine volunteers, including four members from the general public and a member from each of the following bodies: the Planning Board, the Conservation Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission, the Parks and Open Space Department, and the Housing Authority.

The City is currently looking to fill the four general public positions. To ensure the most qualified applicants are selected, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has formed a planning team of City experts and community members to review applications, conduct interviews, and consider public feedback on candidates. From the group of applicants, they will nominate candidates for appointment for the Mayor to review. The Mayor will then submit candidate finalists to the Board of Aldermen for approval.

Committee members serve three-year terms, but initial appointments to the committee have been staggered, so the City is seeking to fill two one-year term positions, one two-year term position, and one three-year term position.

Though it is ultimately the decision of the Community Preservation Committee to decide when and how often to meet, the City expects that it will meet one to two times each month in the evening. The inaugural meeting of the committee will likely take place in December 2013 or January 2014.

Being an effective committee member will require that you:

• Familiarize yourself with Somerville’s affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space/outdoor recreation policies and needs
• Familiarize yourself with the law (Community Preservation Act, MGL Chapter 44B) that governs the committee
• Attend meetings regularly
• Foster good relations with other city departments, boards, and commissions
• Listen to and be responsive to community feedback
• Use fairness and objectivity when making decisions

The planning team is seeking candidates who:

• Are supportive of all three programmatic areas of the CPA: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space and outdoor recreation AND
• Have demonstrated a commitment to at least one of these areas.

In addition, the goal of the planning team is to create a balanced committee that includes members who:

·         Come from diverse demographic backgrounds

·         Represent all geographic areas of the City

·         Have financial expertise

·         Have project management experience

·         Are actively involved in the community

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested residents should complete the application available on the City’s website or outside the SomerStat Office at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. Completed applications should be sent to Candace Cooper (ccooper@somervillema.gov or 617.625.6600 ext. 3306) by Sept. 27, 2013. All residents are welcome to apply, except for City employees or individuals holding elected or appointed positions. No nomination is required to submit an application.

Please note that if you choose to apply for the Community Preservation Committee, your name and a portion of your application (a brief summary describing why you are a qualified candidate) will be posted on the city website for public review between Sept. 30 and Oct. 13. All community members are invited to provide feedback on candidates during this time. 

To find out more about serving as a CPC member, please visit the following websites:

http://www.somervillema.gov/cpa

http://www.communitypreservation.org/

Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Commission for Women announce the Annual Candlelight Vigil in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month on Wednesday, October 2^nd at 6 p.m. at the Somerville Public Safety Building, 220 Washington Street. The vigil walk begins at 6 p.m. through Union Square, concluding with a speaking agenda at the Public Safety Building at 6:30 p.m.  Speakers include Mayor Curtatone, Chairperson of the Commission for Women Nancy Bacci, Somerville Chief of Police Thomas Pasquarello, and featured speaker Corey Yarbrough of the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC). The vigil is an annual event bringing the community together to remember those who have lost their lives over the last year to domestic violence. For more information about domestic violence, contact RESPOND at their Hotline number (617) 623-5900 (TTY accessible for the hearing impaired) and for on-line information go to www.respondinc.org.  For more information about the Vigil, contact Director of Somerville Commissions, Sonja Darai, at 617-625-6600 x2406 or SDarai@somervillema.gov. 

Opening of the Milk Row Cemetery

Historic Somerville

 in collaboration with the

Somerville Historic Preservation Commission

presents an

Opening of the Milk Row Cemetery

Sundays, Sept. 22 and Nov. 10, 1:30–4 pm; and

Wed. Oct 2 & Thurs. Oct. 17, 5:30-7pm; heavy rain cancels

Wondering about the residents of this Somerville Avenue Cemetery?

The gates of the Milk Row Cemetery on Somerville Avenue will be open on the above dates from 1:30 to 4 pm.  This small historic site, established in 1804, is usually closed to the public except for two annual events in May and October.  Volunteer docents dressed in historic period clothing will be on hand to help people learn a little about the buried residents, from as far back as Revolutionary times, and their history within the community, once known as "Beyond the Neck.”  The grounds may also be appreciated as a peaceful retreat for reading and contemplation.  

If interested in being a Docent, or joining a Friends of the Milk Row Cemetery group, or for more information, please contact bwilson@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 x2532 or Barbara Mangum at info@historicsomerville.org or 617-331-7726.