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Alderman-at-large William A. White Jr. mails more than 1,200 campaign Wednesday at the Fort Point Post Office. White is running for re-election to one of the four alderman-at-large seats.
Powderhouse Photo by Neil W. McCabe
The Heller campaign sent us the following release:
State Rep. Carl Sciortino endorses Ward7 Alderman Candidate Rachel Heller
Calling Rachel Heller a "valuable asset" to Somerville, State Representative Carl Sciortino officially endorsed the candidate for Ward 7 alderman.
"Rachel's expertise would be an incredibly valuable asset for Ward 7, and for all of Somerville," Sciortino said. "She is hard-working and authentically cares about people, especially those who have little voice in government."
Sciortino noted that he has often worked with Heller, particularly in connection with her position as Policy Director for the State Senate Housing Committee. He credited her with playing a key role in addressing the mortgage foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts and with helping to restore funding to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.
He also applauded her efforts on a local senior housing issue. Heller, he said, brought attention to the concerns of Capen Court residents, who are scheduled to be relocated during construction of their new building.
"Rachel used her expertise in housing, got them the information they needed, brought in legal advocates, and got the state to respond to protect the residents of Capen Court," he said.
Sciortino also said Heller's advocacy for the environment, consumers, and the homeless showed she would be a proactive alderman.
"Rachel will be a strong advocate for the residents of Ward 7 on the Board of Alderman," Sciortino said. "She is someone who will fix the potholes as well as work to make the city a better place to live for everyone."
Heller said she was proud to have the state representative's endorsement.
"Carl is inspiring as a represenative," she said. "The way he reaches out to the community is something I would emulate as a board member."
Greg Brown delivers songs of pure Americana—rough country, sweet folk, dark blues and slow grooves. 
Brown’s deep, gravely voice and rich poetic songwriting is filled with warmth, humor and an unpretentious musical vision.
It’s no wonder that Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many others have chosen to perform his material.
[Reserved seating: $25.00 (includes Somerville Theatre $1.00 restoration fee)]
The Somerville Affordable Housing Organizing Committee is holding a forum on affordable housing for alderman candidates to discuss their visions for addressing critical affordable housing needs in the city.
Candidates' Forum on Affordable Housing
Wednesday, October 24, 7 - 9 PM
The VNA, 259 Lowell St., 3rd floor
(some parking available; also walkable from Davis and on the 88 bus)
Candidates expected to attend include:
At large candidates: Fred Berman, Jack Connolly, Bruce Desmond, Tony Lafuente, Dennis Sullivan, Bill White and Ward candidates: Joe Lynch (5), Rebekah Gewirtz (6), Rachel Heller (7)
Language interpretation and childcare available, but must be arranged beforehand. Call 617-776-5931, Ext. 230.
Powderhouse Photos by Neil W. McCabe
I’ve lived halfway between Davis and Powderhouse for a while now.
My husband and I wanted to raise our kids here, because we spent a few years in the burbs, and frankly, it was the worst of both worlds: no real privacy or exposure to nature (other than
the occasional rabid skunk), and no real in-your-face community. So we threw in our lot with city, and Somerville has never disappointed. We love the crush of humanity, the drama that plays out on our front stoop nearly every day.
Rev. Molly Baskette
One regular feature is Mike, who is fond of hanging out on the bench in front of Powderhouse Park on College Avenue. I don’t know what his diagnosis is (Schizophrenia? Borderline personality disorder? Acid reflux?), but he is the least comprehensible and angriest guy around.
I’ve heard him shouting up and down this street for four years, at odd hours, and the only words I can make out are the expletives.
“Momma, what does %&$@! mean?” my five-year-old asks me after he passes by our front porch.
by Chamath Ganepola
In 1980, Raymond Terranova bought out the owners of Mike’s Food and Spirits, a struggling franchisee of a Canadian restaurant chain.
Drawing on his own heritage, he created a new, diverse menu of Italian American dishes and, with the help of his wife Diane M. and daughter Maria A. has provided an affordable, friendly dining experience in Davis Square for the last 27 years.
This simple formula has made Mike’s a Davis Square mainstay despite changes in the surrounding community’s demographic.
“We haven’t changed but the Davis Square area has changed. It used to be factory workers. Now it’s young professionals,” Terranova said.
Teranova wanted to create a menu with something for everyone. This is why he says Mike’s offers so many different pasta, chicken, veal and seafood meals while still offering quicker items like pizzas, wraps, subs and burgers, he said.
“People ask why do you have such a big menu. Well, some stuff sells and some does not, but it’s there. That is the only way you can compete,” he said.
One of us found this torn photo on the sidewalk. If you know the story behind the story call us at: (617) 684-0351.
Erin Gray will be the editor of The Powderhouse newspaper.
A native of Belmont, Gray is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Before joining the paper, Gray was a contributor to The Alewife newspaper in North Cambridge.
Gray said she thrilled to give voice to the stories of West Somerville and is looking forward to growing the new paper. Her heroes are journalists who dare to tell the truth, Noam Chomsky and columnist Amy Goodman.
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