Community Note - Repair your own windows

Learn to Repair Your Windows Rather than Replace Them Need to improve your old windows? Thinking about replacing them? Think again! Come to a hands-on workshop sponsored by the City of Somerville Historic Preservation Commission and Historic Somerville on How to Repair Windows Yourself on Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road. With proper tools, knowledge, and care, your windows can last for many years. This workshop will be a hands-on demonstration with an actual window from the Somerville Museum. Why Restore Instead of Replace? It’s environmentally friendly, energy efficient, and cost effective, and old windows are higher quality and they preserve the character of your house as well. The class is $50 per person, with a maximum of 15, to allow for individual attention. All proceeds will go to the Somerville Museum Building Fund to help support their Access For All ADA Project. Instructor David Liberty has been restoring people’s windows since 1985, and he has been featured on PBS’s This Old House and is well-known in the Greater Boston Preservation community. To register, contact SHPC Executive Director Brandon Wilson at bwilson@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 x2532.
Here's what one property owner recently said after attending the first workshop: " I thought the class was excellent and I learned a lot more than I was expecting...I look forward to rebuilding all of my windows and have already bought supplies.” (Seth K., June Workshop Participant)
If you have any questions please contact Brandon Wilson at bwilson@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 x2532.

CITY TO HOST CASINO LAW INFORMATIONAL MEETING WITH GAMING COMMISSION

The City of Somerville will host an informational public meeting with a Massachusetts Gaming Commission staffer to give City officials and the public a better understanding of the state’s casino laws and how those laws may relate to Somerville.

Gaming Commission Ombudsman John Ziemba will lead a presentation on Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m., in the East Somerville Community School auditorium at 50 Cross St. He will touch upon facets of the law such as host community status, surrounding community status, mitigation for affected communities and more. Representatives from City Hall will serve as members of a panel and the meeting will be open to the public.

This meeting will not focus on specific proposed casino projects in Massachusetts or advocating for or against casinos. Instead, City officials hope to gain a better understanding of the casino law and its potential impacts, and to educate the public about the law.

“Regardless of personal opinions about casinos, it’s important for us to become well-versed in the current laws governing the creation of casinos in Massachusetts and the impact of those laws on our community,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “I thank the Gaming Commission and Mr. Ziemba for making themselves available to City officials and the public, providing us with a better understanding of the law and answering any questions we may have.”

Gov. Deval Patrick signed “An Act Establishing Expanded Gaming in the Commonwealth” in late 2011, allowing for up to three resort casinos—one in Western Massachusetts, one in Central and Eastern Massachusetts and one in Southeastern Massachusetts. It also allows the creation of one slots facility in the state. Host communities under the law are locations where the casino or slots facility will be located, while surrounding communities are municipalities in proximity to a host community and are determined, by the Gaming Commission, to experience impacts from the establishment of a casino.

Lincoln Technical Institue

Lincoln Technical Institute is located right here in Ward 1 and has been a good community partner in the past.  Helping to raise funds in the past for the Somerville Boxing Club among other great things.  If I was available this day I would be down there trying to learn how to fix this old clunker of a laptop.

 

Come On Down To
Lincoln Technical Institute Located
@ 5 Middlesex Avenue Somerville Ma

Thursday, September 26^th 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Complimentary Computer Repair Clinic For Friends & Family of Lincoln Tech

Tell Your Family & Friends To Come Down With Their Computer So Our Students Can Repair Any Issues You Might Have!
Take A Tour, Meet With Our Instructors, Meet With Financial Aid & Learn How A New Career Can Be Yours!

Call 617.776.3500
Facebook.com/LTISomerville

‘POP-UP PLAZA’ BRINGS TACTICAL URBANISM TO SOMERVILLE BY DESIGN: DAVIS SQUARE

Can food trucks, artist-made street furniture and street performers help design the future of Davis Square’s urban landscape? They will in Somerville at the Somerville by Design “Pop-Up Plaza” community planning event, a City of Somerville initiative that will sprout from a parking lot starting Monday, Sept. 9, in Davis Square.

 

The Pop-Up Plaza will set up shop for three full days, Sept.9 through Sept. 11, in the Cutter Square parking lot (the small triangular parking lot opposite Rosebud Diner on Elm St. in Davis Square) with moveable street furniture, improvised landscaping, food trucks, public art, fabrication demonstrations, and street performers. This temporary public plaza will complement the temporary indoor public design studio in the vacant storefront just across the way at 377 Summer St., where City staff and a team of design consultants will be hosting a variety of day and evening events during a three-day public charrette (a collaborative design event).

Temporary public space projects like this Pop-Up Plaza are an example of “tactical urbanism,” an approach to urban planning and design that uses low-cost, grassroots-oriented initiatives as a way to test ideas and incorporate public input for larger projects. Pop-Up Plaza installations have been used successfully in cities across the country, bringing attention to locations that are often taken for granted. These projects also allow planners and advocates to observe how people use public spaces and the features that can create safe, cost-effective parks, plazas and streetscapes. In short, they mix fun and culture with a community purpose.

“Somerville by Design makes planning fun and this is another example of using creative ways to involve the community in crafting our vision for Davis Square and the whole city,” Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said. “We make every effort to engage residents in the planning process via public meetings and the usual outreach. Now with this event, if you want to participate, all you have to do is show up at the Pop-Up Plaza and enjoy the fun.”

“Participating in the design of Davis Square’s urban landscape has never been easier or more enjoyable for people of all ages,” Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz said. “With so much foot traffic already in our vibrant neighborhood, the Pop-Up Plaza is a unique way to examine how public spaces in Davis Square can meet the needs of our residents. I hope everyone stops in to enjoy this fun event and participate in the design studio by lending their imaginations.”

The Davis Square Pop-Up Plaza will be open to the public:

·        9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9

·        9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10

·        9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11  

A full list of participating vendors, demonstrations and performances is available at www.somervillebydesign.com, and the following food trucks will be on site:

·        Tenoch Mexican (Mon.-Wed., All Day)

·        Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese (Mon., 4 p.m.-9 p.m.)

·        Mei Mei Street Kitchen (Tues., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; Wed., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.)

·        Kick*ss Cup Cakes (Mon. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wed. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information please visit www.somervillebydesign.com or call the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 617-625-6600 ext. 2500.

September 11th Remembered

The City of Somerville marks the 12^th anniversary of September 11th.................

Please join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone for the 12^th annual candlelight vigil honoring those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The vigil will begin at the Cedar Street end of the Community Path at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, accompanied by Somerville Police and Somerville Fire Honor Guard. A short procession will lead into Davis Square, where a short speaking program and a moment of silence will take place. For more information, please contact the Mayor’s Office at 617-625-6600 ext. 2100.

Weekly email updates - sent 9-6-13

IMPORTANT FIRE INVESTIGATION UPDATE AND SAFETY TIPS
Since June 27, 13 house fires have occurred in Somerville, the most recent of which occurred on today and was immediately deemed to be clearly arson. Five other suspicious fires remain under  investigation and four have been ruled accidental. We are asking residents to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity or
information that could be related to these fires, and to follow fire and arson safety tips.

If you have possible information on the
fires, please call the  Somerville Arson Tip Hotline at 617-629-1847
(617-629-1TIP) or the statewide Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. If you
see smoke, fire, or something that leads you to believe there is
immediate danger CALL 911.

You can help prevent arson, as well as accidental fires, by keeping porches clear of overstuffed furniture
and paper, locking basement and garage doors and windows, and not storing flammable liquids outside.

For more information, including important fire safety tips, please visit this page by clicking here.  To read the latest press release that I received from the City this afternoon you can click here.

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If you do not receive important updates from the City you can by clicking here.  You can receive them to more than one telephone number and/or via email.

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The East Somerville Community School is officially open.  There was an
amazing turn out at the ribbon cutting and you can see some photos by clicking here. 

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Check out the latest news from the library by clicking here.

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Have you checked out the East End Grille lately?  Lots of great events to go
along with the great food.  You can check out the events by clicking here.

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I'd like to thank everyone who showed up at my first official stand out - your support means the world to me.  You can a few photos by clicking here.  Remember to keep checking my blog for updates throughout the week. 

City of Somerville LGBTQ Programs & Services Directory

Please see the email below which I received from Elizabeth Field the City's LGBT liaison.

Hello all,

It is my pleasure to introduce the first edition of the City of Somerville LGBTQ Programs and Services Directory. This directory was compiled over several years, and then finally finished with the tireless work of a fantastic Tisch Scholar, Ryan Paragoris. There is a paper version and an online version, and the online version can be found here: http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/Somerville-LGBTQ-Directory2013.pdf. If you would like a paper copy or copies for your agency, please let me know and I will make sure that you get it. Please also take a look at the directory. If your agency is not listed and you would like to be, there are errors, or you have any other feedback for me, please let me know, and I will make the appropriate changes to the online version. It would also be wonderful if you could promote this guide to your networks, especially on social media.

Thank you for all your work.

Elizabeth Field

LGBT Liaison

Office of Somerville Commissions

Program of the Somerville Health Department

City of Somerville, City Hall Annex

50 Evergreen Ave., Somerville, MA 02145

617-625-6600 X 2404

efield@somervillema.gov

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.