Rebekah Gewirtz

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Spring (finally!) 2009

Dear Friends,
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the beginning of spring after such a long, cold winter. There are many upcoming events and activities that may interest you and I've included them in this newsletter.

I've also continued the new section "Constituent Corner" in this email. As always, I'm looking for your feedback. Part of how I effectively do my job representing you is when I hear from you.. so please don't be shy and let me know what you think!

If you have information you'd like me to share with others through my e-newsletter, send me an email to rebekah@rcn.com.

Best wishes and happy spring,
Rebekah

Ward 6 Fun Fact!

The Burren

Did you know The Burren was named one of the top 10 Irish pubs in the United States by Gayot.com? With the entire Board of Aldermen signing on, we will present a resolution congratulating The Burren at the April 23, 2009 Board of Aldermen meeting.

Constituent Corner

In this new section of my e- newsletter, I'm looking to hear from you on important issues facing the city. Click on the link at the end of each question and let me know what you think! Getting your feedback on these issues is very important to me, and I hope this new feature of my newsletter will encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. As always, feel free to contact me via email at rebekah@rcn.com or 617-718- 0792.

New preliminary proposal for Summer St...reasonable or not?
The developers of the parcel at the controversial site at 343 Summer St, otherwise known as the Summer St shaft site, have come forward with a new concept. This concept includes the possiblity of 30 new units on that street and the VFW moving to a much smaller VFW building to be built on the Summer St lot. What do you think of this preliminary idea? Click here to send me your response.

Animals in the circus...what do you think?
Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche and I have proposed an ordinance that would ban wild animals in travelling circuses through Somerville. Cruelty to these animals has been widely documented. While circuses don't often come through this area, other neighboring cities and towns have passed similar resolutions. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this issue. Click here to send me your response.

Neighborhood Meetings of Interest

Davis Square Task Force meeting, April 27, 2009 7-9pm 167 Holland St, Tufts Administration Building
The Davis Square Task Force has been meeting for more than 25 years to discuss development initiatives in Davis Square and to talk about general community issues. The group is open to the public - all are welcome to attend. If you have an item you would like to put on the agenda for this meeting, please send it to me rebekah@rcn.com or to Monica Lamboy at mlamboy@somervillema.gov.

Neighborhood discussion "Persevering Up Heartbreak Hill:A Panel to Address Racism and White Privilege in the Communities and Congregations of Somerville and Beyond" April 30, 2009 7-9pm
Sponsored by First Congregational Church of Somerville and taking place at 89 College Ave in the church, this panel discussion will explore the issue of racism in Somerville. Panelists will include Somerville Police Chief Tony Holloway, Peggy McIntosh, Elena Latona, and Edith Guffey. All are welcome to attend.

Davis Area Resident Business Initiative (DARBI) meeting, first Wednesdays of the month. Next meeting: May 6, 2009 at 7pm at The Green Tomato II
This group provides a great opportunity for residents and business people in Davis Square to come together to talk about what's happening in the square and issues that are important to you. For more information, contact Dan O'Sullivan at medfield99@hotmail.com or Thalia Tringo at tctringo@rcn.com.

Ward 6 Resistat Meeting, Wednesday May 20, 2009 7-9pm at the First Congregational Church of Somerville, 89 College Ave.
Mayor Curtatone and I invite you to a discussion of city services and neighborhood concerns at this neighborhood meeting in Duhamel Hall of the church. The meeting will include a discussion of how the City's administration and the Board of Aldermen are grappling with a spending gap of almost $12 million dollars in the upcoming fiscal year's budget, which starts July 1st. Please come and have your opinions heard. Contact me at rebekah@rcn.com or Stephanie Hirsch for more information or with questions: shirsch@somervillema.gov, 617-625 -6600 (ext. 2103).

HONK! Neighborhood meeting, May 28th, 2009 7-8:30 PM at the West Branch Library in Davis Square, 40 College Ave.
The HONK festival returns October 9-11th in and around Davis Square. This community meeting will be about how you can get involved in helping to make HONK happen again. Check out www.honkfest.org.for more information and for updates on the festival or contact Rand Wilson for questions about the community meeting: rand@mindspring.com.

Community Events

All America City Fundraiser sponsored by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, April 16, 2009 6-9pm at the Holiday Inn in East Somerville Somerville has been selected as a finalist for the All America City contest. This fundraiser is to help raise money for community members to attend and participate in the event where the winner will be selected in Tampa, Florida. Click this link for details. Hope to see you there!

Patriot's Day and Paul Revere's Ride through Somerville, April 20, 2009 10am, Foss Park

The city's Patriot's Day celebration will be on Monday, April 20th beginning at 10 a.m. The events of the day are co-sponsored by the Preservation Commission, Historic Somerville, Somerville Museum, East Somerville Main Streets, Foss Park Neighborhood Association, and Shape up Somerville. There will be colonial games and songs, light refreshments, speeches, and a visit from Paul Revere on horseback on his historic ride from Boston to Lexington through Somerville. Attendees are also encouraged to dress in traditional Colonial attire. For more information contact Brandon Wilson with the Historic Preservation Commission at 617-625- 6600.

Homeless Coalition Fundraiser "Under the Roof", Saturday April 25, 2009 6:30pm at the Armory on Highland Ave.
This annual benefit known this year as "Under the Roof" is to support the amazing work of the Somerville Homeless Coalition. The night's honoree will be Mark Winkeller of Caritas Communities and food is care of Red Bones. For tickets and to learn more, click here.

Save our Homes Walk to benefit the Somerville Community Corporation, Sunday April 26, 2009 2pm at City Hall
This annual walk benefits the Somerville Community Corporation and is organized by the Affordable Housing Organizing Committee of the SCC or AHOC. For more details or to join in the walk, click here.

Living Green Festival organized by Somerville Climate Action. Saturday, May 16, 2009 10am-2pm at Somerville High School
Join fellow Somerville community-members to learn skills and techniques for going green, including making your home more energy-efficient, reducing what ends up in your trash, growing food in small spaces, maintaining and fixing your bike, the ins and outs of properly insulating your house, and more!

Celebrate Somerville going green through food, music, presentations by local school children and community groups, and a raffle filled with great earth friendly prizes! Lots of kids activities and games including the Earth-pinata. For more information contact vanessarule@gmail.com.

Upcoming Alderman Committee Meetings

Tree Preservation Ordinance will be taken up before the Board of Alderman Legislative Matters Committee on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 7pm at City Hall, 2nd Floor committee room.

Last year, working with the administration and members of the Legislative Matters Committee, we filed a Tree Preservation Ordinance that would protect healthy street trees throughout the city. The proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance would require more adequate notice to neighbors and a replacement tree planted when a healthy tree is removed. Another key provision is that a tree preservation committee would be created to advise the city on the trees that make the most sense to plant in our urban environment and to provide guidance on how to preserve already existing trees. If you're interested, I encourage you to come to this meeting. To learn all of the specifics of the legislation send me an email to rebekah@rcn.com.

Housing and Community Development Meeting about Maintenance Facility, Green Line Extension, and the 2008-2013 Open Space Plan, Tuesday April 21, 2009 6pm at City Hall
We will continue to explore the issue of the green line extension and the location of the maintenance facility at this meeting. Expected at this meeting are representatives from the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development and other interested members of the public. We will also be voting on approval of the city's Open Space plan. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting and I'd encourage you to come if you'd like to learn more. For more information contact me rebekah@rcn.com.

Surveillance Cameras meeting of the Board of Aldermen committee on Public Health and Public Safety...
The public hearing on this issue happned on March 31st and was very well attended. Many commuinty members provided insightful comments and concerns about the program. The next meeting of the Public Health and Public Safety committee where we will take up this issue will be scheduled and I will let you know when that date will be. Stay tuned!

Announcements

Home Energy Savings for Renters: FREE Energy Saving Seminar offered by The City of Somerville and Somerville Climate Action Tuesday April 14th, 6:30 PM Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue

-Want to reduce your home energy costs?
-Looking for cheap, do-it-yourself solutions?
-Interested in energy savings rebates and tax credits?
You'll learn about all this and more by attending a FREE Seminar: Home Energy Savings for Renters.
Presenters will illustrate hands-on tips, indicate which actions are most cost effective, and provide free educational materials for everyone attending. For more information, please contact David Lutes at 617-625- 6600, x2106 or dlutes@somervillema.gov.

B2Green Expo, Thursday May 7, 2009 4-5:30pm at the Holiday Inn in East Somerville Washington St.
Organized by GoGreen Somerville, the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Somerville.
-Find out what businesses in Somerville are doing to go green
-Meet green service providers
-Make new connections with other businesses and non-profit to make Somerville a greener community!
This is a business to business event. For more information contact Vanessa Rule at vanessarule@gmail.com.

Committee to Elect Rebekah Gewirtz | 36 College Ave. #53 | Somerville | MA | 02144