The Powderhouse

125 years of St. Ann's capped with Saturday Mass and Gala

The St. Ann Parish Family, Somerville, will conclude its year-long celebration of its 125th Anniversary with Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley as the principle celebrant at the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Sept. 29.

An anniversary gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Greek Church of The Dormition on Central Street--a last minute change of venue.

Tickets for the gala are only $20 and can be purchased after any of the weekend Masses or by contacting the parish office (617) 625-1904.

Video of Somerville Police from Aug. 2

Curtatone garners 76% in primary; Gewirtz moves on with 61%

Voters in Tuesday's non-partisian primary winnowed the field to set up a contest between Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, 6,164 votes, against his challenger Suzanne W. Bremer, 825 votes, and for Ward 6
Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz, 728 votes, against her challenger Charles J. Chrisolm, 390 votes.

Mayoral challenger Richard J. Scirocco, 467 votes, and Ward 6 challenger Bob Adams, 49 votes, lost the primary and will not be on the November General Election ballot.

In the citywide primary for mayor 6,164 votes were cast with 83 write-ins and 72 blanks.

In the Ward 6 primary for alderman 1,198 votes were cast with 8 write-ins and 23 blanks.

Heller kicks off campaign Sept. 17

The Heller campaign sent over the following release:

Rachel Heller brandished her credentials as a candidate with an independent voice at her official campaign kickoff Monday at Johnny D's in Davis Square.

From the green and white balloons to the venue itself, the event became iconic of the campaign's grassroots origins and Heller continued that theme in her speech.

"I'm running for Ward 7 Alderman because I want to make City Hall more responsive, inclusive, and proactive," Heller told the audience of nearly 100 supporters, including a number of local elected officials. "I believe that government works best when it works in partnership with the people it represents."

Heller continued by discussing some of the concerns she says she has heard while going door-to-door since starting the campaign. She said one of the top concerns was the rise in the cost of living for renters and homeowners.

"I hear it from people who have lived here for more than 50 or 60 years," she said. "For them, their property taxes and water bills are concerns. For their children and grandchildren, Somerville has become a place to visit rather than a place to call home."

Heller also cited the need for more open space, more accessible after-school programs and a clean Mystic River. She noted that Somerville is in transition with a number of imminent changes such as the building of two subway stations and Assembly Square. She declared she would advocate for the "community's interests" when making decisions regarding such matters.

Heller pointed at her record as an environmental and housing activist, saying that she would continue to be an activist in office. Heller has worked as an organizer with the PIRGS, Earthday Resources for Living Green and Green Century Capital Management. She also has volunteered with the Somerville Affordable Housing Organizing Committee and is now the Policy Director for the Massachusetts State Senate Housing Committee.

"I have always been an advocate and as Alderman I will continue to be an advocate for you, for our neighborhood, and for Somerville - which is a nice place to visit, AND a nice place to call home."

"She's very enthusiastic," said Elese Greene, a resident of the ward for 30 years who attended the kickoff. "I was impressed by her keen insight into the issues affecting the community."

Lou Ann David, a resident of Ward 7 for 21 years and who has lived in the region since the 1950's, said that she plans to vote for Rachel because of her "honesty" and "integrity."

"She is someone who looks you in the eye and says she is going to do something and then actually goes and does it," David said. "She will tell you what you need to know and if she doesn't know, she will go and find out and come back."

Curtatone celebrates Central American Independence

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Multicultural Commission Director Aru Manrique help Wilber Rivera, an El Salvadoran Somerville resident, raise the El Salvadoran flag in celebration of the country’s Independence Day on Sept. 23.

The City of Somerville held its fourth annual Central American Independence Day ceremonies on Sunday, after flying the flags of the five Central American nations – Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador – over the previous week.

This weekend the City of Somerville also celebrated its Sister City relationship with the community of
Yucuaiquin, El Salvador, with the crowning of Miss Yucuaiquin-Somerville, Kelly Rivera, also in attendance at
Sunday’s ceremonies. During Sunday’s ceremonies, Mayor Curtatone presented Vice Consulate Pedro Angel with a Proclamation by the Board of Aldermen declaring September “Central American Independence Month,” and raised the El Salvadoran flag, which will fly throughout the week of Sept. 24.

Rotary bloom

A rosehip blossom basks in the afternoon sun in the island garden of the James A. Reynolds Traffic Circle, a.k.a. The Powderhouse Rotary. The rotary was dedicated in 1940 in memory of the Tufts professor by Mayor John M. Lynch.

Powderhouse Photo by Neil W. McCabe

Singer to leave Tingle's Off-Broadway

[Our friend Emily Singer sent out the following e-mail today. Singer is a brilliant comic and a clever friend. We will miss our conversations in Davis Square and, of course, the press passes.]

Hi,

All good things must change…

I hope you’ll pardon the “group e-mail”, but I wanted to let you know that after over three years as the press contact for the exceptional theater known as Jimmy Tingle’s OFF BROADWAY Theater I have decided to leave this position to explore new possibilities. Commencing Friday, Sept. 21, I will no longer be the media contact for JTOB. In the near future, you may continue to direct press inquiries about JTOB to: Jimmy Tingle at (617) 628-3610 (theater business line) or pr@jtoffbroadway.com

It has been a pleasure to work here and I look forward to a continued affiliation with the theater in some capacity, as the theater celebrates its 5th anniversary this year – there have been many laughs and a multitude of talented artists with whom I have had the privilege of working – in one theater. Your ability to recognize a good story when you see one has really helped in my efforts to let folks know about the great shows here.

Thank you!

All the best,

Emily Singer

Powderhouse Photo by Neil W. McCabe

Mayor, City Women’s Commission Sets Sept. 27 Date for Anti-violence Summit

Mayor’s Anti-Violence Task Force Reconvened; Public Forum to Include Local Agencies, Proposals for Local Initiatives

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Sonja Darai, Executive Director of the Somerville Commission for Women, announced today that the city will officially launch the Mayor’s Anti-Violence Task Force with a public forum on Thursday, September 27th at 2:00 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall – 93 Highland Avenue. The event will bring together local sexual assault, domestic violence, and violence prevention agencies and services to provide assistance to Somerville residents.

“Over the past year, there’s been a disturbing increase in the number of domestic violence murders across Massachusetts,” Mayor Curtatone said. “It’s important that we recognize this larger societal problem and continue to work to end this devastating crime. Reconvening the Anti-Violence Task Force is helping us develop more aggressive prevention and enforcement measures – and to shed light on a tragic and urgent problem.”

Since January, 35 domestic violence-related murders have been reported in the Commonwealth, according to a report by Jane Doe Inc., a Massachusetts coalition against domestic violence.

“In light of the extreme rise in domestic violence recently, it is more important than ever that we come together as a community and vow to resolve this terrible problem,” said Darai. “The upcoming forum and the work of the Task Force represent the ways in which we are working to eliminate sexual assault and domestic violence in Somerville, and to raise awareness at the local level.”

The official launch of the Anti-Violence Task Force on September 27th will be held in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, from 2:00-4:00 p.m., and will include twelve agencies and organizations associated with the task force. In addition to promoting a new directory of local anti-violence programs, agencies will also offer free “palm cards” – information and contact cards which promote anonymity by fitting into the palm of a hand.

The Anti-Violence Task Force was reconvened by Mayor Curtatone and the Somerville Commission for Women in 2005, and operates under the mission statement: “The City of Somerville will not tolerate domestic violence. Individuals, families, city representatives, organizations, and communities will work together to prevent and ultimately eliminate domestic violence. We will strive to provide an array of culturally sensitive, well- supported services promoting safety, health, and justice for all individuals and families affected by domestic violence.”

In the last year, task force members met monthly with local agencies, and formed subcommittees to address local issues and to promote new programs. The 2007 forum is a culmination of these meetings, and includes public presentation of available and updated services.

For more information on the Anti-Violence Task Force and the September 27th forum, please contact Executive Director of the Somerville Commission for Women Sonja Darai at 617-625-6600 ext 2406.

An IPod for two

Two Japanese students from Medford, Nami Motomura (right) and Megumi Takahashi, study their English lessons and share music in Davis Square's Mr. Crepe restaurant.

Powderhouse Photo by Neil W. McCabe

Welcome to The Powderhouse

In October, we will launch a new newspaper for the neighborhoods of West Somerville, focusing on Davis Square, Teele Square and Tufts University.

The paper will come hit the streets on the first and third Wednesday of every month, but this site will be updated regularly with the words and pictures of the people and events in real-time.