Somerville Voices: Union Square hearing, video of the death of the willow, after-school volunteers, charter change, and more

[Somerville Voices]

*New This Week on Somerville Voices
<http://www.somervillevoices.org/>* *December
1, 2008**Come to the Somerville Voices open meeting this Sunday, 6 to 8. See
the calendar listing below.*
*Union Square Hearing–6:30 on Thursday at City
Hall<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/housing/union-square-hearing-630-on-thursday-at-city-hall/>
*   by Adam Rich
Please join the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC) and Save Our
Somerville (SOS) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for the hearing of the Union
Square Zoning Ordinance at City Hall. We are very concerned that the
proposed Union Square zoning does little to protect affordability in the
area.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/housing/union-square-hearing-630-on-thursday-at-city-hall/>
*Benoit Kills Willow, Despite Community
Outpouring<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/28/development-and-zoning/benoit-kills-willow-despite-community-outpouring/>
*   by Greg Nadeau
The tree is gone. Several of us confronted the arborist. Ellie and Kirsten
went to court in Woburn where Joe Benoit mysteriously turned up and
successfully challenged their request for a temporary restraining order.
(with video)
Read more (and join the heated
debate)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/28/development-and-zoning/benoit-kills-willow-despite-community-outpouring/>
<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/28/development-and-zoning/benoit-kills-willow-despite-community-outpouring/#comments>
*What can you offer to help young people learn during after school
hours?<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/uncategorized/what-can-you-offer-to-help-young-people-learn-during-after-school-hours/>
*   by Gretchen Kinder
The Somerville Public Schools is looking for businesses, non-profit
partners, volunteers and community experts to work with us planning and
running afterschool activity clubs from 4:00-5:30 PM for students in Grades
K-8 across the City. We know you have great experience helping students
learn in innovative ways, enthusiasm for afterschool learning, and a desire
to help students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be
successful throughout their lives.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/uncategorized/what-can-you-offer-to-help-young-people-learn-during-after-school-hours/>
*Upcoming events in the Somerville Public
Schools<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/schools-and-youth/upcoming-events-in-the-somerville-public-schools-3/>
*   by Gretchen Kinder
The District is rich in activity throughout the early part of December.
Highlights include…
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/schools-and-youth/upcoming-events-in-the-somerville-public-schools-3/>
*My Testimony to Charter Advisory
Committee<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/government-reform/my-testimony-to-charter-advisory-committee/>
*   by fberman
If you've been waiting to submit your written testimony to the Charter
Advisory Committee, now's the time. If you haven't reviewed the Committee's
preliminary recommendations, check them out
here<http://www.somervillevoices.org/www.somervillema.gov/cos_content/documents/PreliminaryRecommendations1.pdf>.
Here are my thoughts:
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/government-reform/my-testimony-to-charter-advisory-committee/>

   *Somerville Homeless Coalition/Gift
Giving<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/28/uncategorized/somerville-homeless-coalitiongift-giving/>
*   by Linda Haviland Conte
This winter, the Somerville Homeless Coalition will serve hundreds of men,
women, and children who would otherwise have no place to call home or enough
food to feed their families. Jump to their
website<http://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/shop/index.html>to
learn how to donate, or read on.
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/28/uncategorized/somerville-homeless-coalitiongift-giving/>
*Where We Need to Change
Obama<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/schools-and-youth/426/>
*   by Dennis K. Fischman
I don't agree with his accusatory tone–I think most people voted for Obama
with their eyes open–but Sam Smith has "listed nearly three dozen things
that Obama supports or opposes with which no good liberal or progressive
would agree." Most prominent among them to my perspective:
Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/schools-and-youth/426/><http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/schools-and-youth/426/#comments>

 *Upcoming events on our calendar*:


   - December 3
   Pathways to Progress : SCC 39th Annual Meeting (6:00 pm)


   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/13/events/pathways-to-progress-scc-39th-annual-meeting/>
   - December 4
   Union Square Hearing - City Hall (6:30 pm)


   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/30/events/union-square-hearing-city-hall/>
   - December 7
   Somerville Voices open meeting (6:00 pm)


   <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/12/01/events/somerville-voices-open-meeting/>
   - December 8
   Historic Somerville Nomination Deadline Extended to Dec 8 (all
day)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2008/11/26/events/historic-somerville-nomination-deadline-extended-to-dec-8/>
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