Somerville Voices: Meals tax, plant sale, Green Line funding, and a lot more.

[Somerville Voices]

*New this week on Somerville Voices <http://www.somervillevoices.org/> *

September 2, 2009



Upcoming events on our calendar:

Wed., Sept. 2:           First day of School Grades
1-12<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/07/24/schools-and-youth/plan-ahead-for-the-first-day-of-school-on-september-2nd/>

Thurs. Sept. 3:           MPO Transportation Planning and Programming
Meeting (10:00 am)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/events/mpo-transportation-planning-and-programming-committee-meeting-2/>

Sat., Sept 5:               FossFest 2009 (2:00
pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/27/events/fossfest-2009/>

Tues., Sept. 8:           First day of School: Kindergarten and Project
SMILE<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/07/24/schools-and-youth/plan-ahead-for-the-first-day-of-school-on-september-2nd/>

Thurs. Sept. 10:         Dedication of the Brian Higgins Tot Lot at the
Kennedy School (5:30
pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/events/dedication-of-the-brian-higgins-tot-lot-at-the-kennedy-school/>

Thurs. Sept. 10:         HONK! Festival Parade Open Meeting (7:00
pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/18/events/honk-festival-parade-open-meeting/>

Sun., Sept. 13:           TOPSoccer – Sunday Sept 13th (all
day)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/06/events/topsoccer-sunday-sept-13th/>

Sun. ,Sept. 13:           Ward 4 School Committee Kick Off for Christine
Rafal (3:00 pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/25/events/ward-4-school-committee-candidate-kick-off-for-christine-rafal/>

Tues., Sept. 15:         End of Comment Period for Status of Public Transit
Projects<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/events/comment-period-for-status-of-public-transit-projects-required-by-state-implementation-plan/>

Sat., Sept. 19:           Somerville Garden Club Plant Sale (9:00 am to
noon)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/events/somerville-garden-club-plant-sale-2/>

Wed. Sept. 23:          End of Comment Period on MPO Transportation
Improvement Plan<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/23/events/30-day-comment-period-on-mpo-transportation-improvement-plan/>

Thurs. Sept. 24          Celebrating Local Harvests in the Somerville Public
Schools!<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/02/events/celebrating-local-harvests-in-the-somerville-public-schools-on-september-24th/>

Thurs., Sept. 24:        Guiding Good Choices Workshop For Parents
(5:30 pm)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/24/events/good-choices-free-workshop-for-parents/>

Mon., Sept. 28:          Family
Day<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/events/mayor-curtatone-proclaims-monday-sep-28th-2009-as-family-day/>

Sun. Oct. 25:              TOPSoccer – Sunday Sept 13th (all
day)<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/06/events/topsoccer-sunday-sept-13th/>



Senator Kerry Townhall at Somerville
High<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/29/events/senator-kerry-townhall-at-somerville-high/>by
Greg

Senator John Kerry [held] a Town Hall at Somerville High School this
Wednesday, September 2 from 7:30-9:00pm. Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/29/events/senator-kerry-townhall-at-somerville-high/>



Aldermen Raise Meals and Hotel
Taxes<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/announcements/aldermen-raise-meals-and-hotel-taxes/>by
Barry
Rafkind

On Aug 27th, the Board of Aldermen raised taxes on meals by 0.75% and on
hotels by 2% effective Oct 1st. These taxes will generate an estimated
$620,715 in revenue. One wonders why this item did not appear on the meeting
agenda. Read more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/announcements/aldermen-raise-meals-and-hotel-taxes/>



Somerville Garden Club Plant
Sale<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/events/somerville-garden-club-plant-sale-2/>by
Columbine

The Somerville Garden Club holds one of the best plant sales in the
Bostonarea. Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/events/somerville-garden-club-plant-sale-2/>




The Cuban school system and a Somerville 14 year
old<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/schools-and-youth/the-cuban-school-system-and-a-somerville-14-year-old/>by
Kira

Cuba had the highest literacy rate in the world in 2007. The United
Stateswas seventeenth. So even though some people think
Cuba is doing something wrong, it seems pretty obvious to me they are doing
many things right. Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/01/schools-and-youth/the-cuban-school-system-and-a-somerville-14-year-old/>




Welcome back from the Superintendent of
Schools<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/27/schools-and-youth/welcome-back-message-from-the-superintendent-of-schools/>by
Gretchen Kinder

Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi provides advice to families as they prepare
for the new school year. Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/27/schools-and-youth/welcome-back-message-from-the-superintendent-of-schools/>



FossFest 2009<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/27/events/fossfest-2009/>by
nanio

Bring a blanket and a picnic and listen to five fantastic local bands Read
more <http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/27/events/fossfest-2009/>



30-Day Comment Period on MPO Transportation Improvement
Plan<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/23/events/30-day-comment-period-on-mpo-transportation-improvement-plan/>

Everyone who wants the Green Line extended into Somerville and a T-Stop
built at Assembly Square should send testimony to the MPO supporting those
proposals. The Green Line Extension is not currently in the draft MPO plans,
and if it is not put there, it will not receive federal funding and will not
be built. [You can go directly to the MPO site via this
link<http://www.bostonmpo.org/bostonmpo/index.html>
.]



Aldermen Are More Than Just Overpaid 311
Technicians<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/politics/aldermen-are-more-than-just-overpaid-311-technicians/>by
Barry
Rafkind

Almost half of the Aug 27th BOA meeting agenda consisted of 311 service
requests like orders to fix potholes and sidewalks. The other half contains
some interesting items including these highlights: Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/31/politics/aldermen-are-more-than-just-overpaid-311-technicians/>




89 Bus Route: Declaring
Victory<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/29/transportation/buses/89-bus-route-declaring-victory/>by
Greg

My chief complaint was that there was no easy return trip from Davis
Squareafter
7pm on weekdays and no service on weekends. Earlier this year the route
changed for the better, and I'm declaring victory.  Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/08/29/transportation/buses/89-bus-route-declaring-victory/>




Celebrating Local Harvests in the Somerville Public
Schools!<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/02/events/celebrating-local-harvests-in-the-somerville-public-schools-on-september-24th/>by
Gretchen Kinder

The Somerville Public Schools is celebrating local farms and farmers on
Thursday, September 24th with fresh corn on the cob served at lunchtime. Read
more<http://www.somervillevoices.org/2009/09/02/events/celebrating-local-harvests-in-the-somerville-public-schools-on-september-24th/>
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