Rebekah Gewirtz

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Springtime 2010

Dear Friends,
It's starting to feel like Spring (minus the rain and wind!) and with it there is a lot coming up in and around Ward 6. For those of you who are new to my newsletter, welcome. In this version of my e-newsletter you will find information about events and happenings all around the neighborhood and some events in other parts of the city that might interest you, too.

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!
Rebekah

Ward 6 Fun Fact - Water

Did you know that the theme for Art Beat this year is WATER? Art Beat is a unique, inspiring, and fun festival that has a new theme each year. This year the festival returns to Davis Square July 16th and 17th. Applications for craft vendors are due March 29th. If you'd like to showcase your work or you know someone who is an artist who would like to participate in Art Beat 2010, don't delay! See: http://somervilleartscouncil.org/programs/artbeat/

Constituent Corner Constituent Corner

In this 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 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.

1. Off Leash Recreation Area (OLRA) in West Somerville
   I have received a lot of requests from residents of Ward 6 and other areas in West Somerville to work on creating an off leash recreation area for dogs. As the chair of the Parks and Open Space Committee of the Board of Aldermen I have been having meetings over the course of the past two months to try to determine a good location for a West Somerville "OLRA". We have recently been talking a great deal about the Dilboy Stadium area as a good possibility but there has also been a recommendation for an area of the community path near Willow Ave and Cedar Street. I'm curious to hear your thoughts - would you like an OLRA in West Somerville and if so, where would you like it to be located? Send me your thoughts to: rebekah@rcn.com.
2. Charter Changes
   The Board of Aldermen is currently considering many changes to the City Charter recommended by a task force convened by the mayor. We are taking this issue up in the Legislative Matters Committee of the Board of Aldermen. Do you have strong feelings about the city charter? Is there a particular area that you would like to see strengthened or changed? All meetings are open to the public but there will also be a public hearing where you can make your opinions heard. The date for the public hearing will be announced soon. Let me know your thoughts by emailing me at rebekah@rcn.com.
3. Looming Cut to Local Aid
   It seems likely that state aid to Somerville will be cut this fiscal year due to the ongoing recession and because the impacts of dramatic and permanent tax cuts (largely for wealthy corporations and individuals) during the late 1990s are finally being realized. We will be taking up how to address a possible local aid cut of as much as 5% in the Finance Committee. If you had to cut something out of the budget, what would it be? To see the FY2010 budget, click here.

Community Events

DARBI Networking Lunch, Wednesday March 17, 2010 at 1:30pm at Johnny D's
DARBI stands for the Davis Area Resident Business Initiative and it is a group dedicated to bringing residents and businesses together for the advanacement of Davis Square. DARBI has regular networking lunches where anyone in the area is welcome to attend and meet other people who live or work in the area that you may not meet any other way. For more information on DARBI or to get on their newsletter list, go to: www.yourdavissquare.com

Fundraiser for Memorial Day Parade, Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7pm in the Somerville High School Auditorum, 81 Highland Ave
The office of Veteran's Services presents the 6th Annual fundraiser for the Memorial Day Parade. The evening will include live entertainment by Strictly Sinatra: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. For tickets or more information contact me at Rebekah@rcn.com or the Office of Veteran's Serivces at 617-625-6600 x4700. Donation is $20 per person.

Somerville Homeless Coalition's "Under the Roof", April 24,2010 at Arts at the Armory 191 Highland Ave. Somerville
This event marks the 25th anniversary of the SHC and honors their tremendous work to house the homeless. For more information or to buy tickets click here.

Spring Clean Up, Saturday, May 8, 2010 10am-2pm
Spring Clean Up happens in every neighborhood in Somerville on this day. Residents are invited to come out and lend a helping hand to clean up the neighborhood. In Ward 6, we meet in Statue Park in Davis Square to get clean-up tools and a free T-shirt! Ward 6 School committee member Paul Bockelman and I are there starting before 10am and we'll give you everything you need to go out and help make Somerville even more beautiful. For more information, contact me at rebekah@rcn.com or Paul at: pbockelman@aol.com.

Somerville Sunsetters Auditions, Monday May 17, 2010 at 6pm at the West Somerville Neighborhood School 177 Powderhouse Blvd
All Somerville residents in grades 6 - 12 are eligible to audition for the 25-member Sunsetters group. The Sunsetters is a traveling performance troupe, which performs classic show tunes and modern musicals in Somerville neighborhoods throughout July and August. All residents who'd like to audition are asked to come prepared to sing "You're the One That I Want," from the musical Grease! to be considered for the group. If selected, all individuals must commit to Monday- Thursday night rehearsals and performances from June 1st through August 20th. Rehearsals will be held at the West Somerville Neighborhood School from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Monday - Thursday evenings, with performances beginning on Thursday, July 1st during the City's Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field.

Summer Youth Program 2010, Open Enrollment happening NOW.
The full-day 40 hour per week program is open to Somerville kids ages 5-13 from June 28 - August 13, 2010, and youth may register for one to six weeks of the program. This program is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Eighty children per week are accepted into the program. The Program is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday- Friday, at the West Somerville Neighborhood School and it incorporates arts & crafts, private swimming, sports and games, as well as additional field trips. For more information contact Danielle Palazzo in the Recreation Department at 617-625-6600 x2980.

Neighborhood and Alderman Meetings

Housing and Community Development, Tuesday March 16, 2010, 6:30pm, Alderman committee room 2nd floor, City Hall
At this meeting, we will discuss two orders submitted by Alderman White: the first dealing with whether information required by Applications for Special Permits is reviewed for factual correctness as part of the review conducted by the planning staff; and the second is the state of business in Somerville and ways to gather input from businesses on the impact of the recession. We will also receive an update on the extension of the Green Line with special attention paid to the Route 16 terminus and the siting of the maintenance facility. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, contact me at rebekah@rcn.com.

Public Health and Public Safety Committee meeting, Monday March 22, 2010, 6:30pm, Alderman committee room 2nd floor, City Hall
This regularly scheduled meeting is chaired by Alderman White and issues range from safety at the MaxPac site to other concerns in the community around the health and safety of all residents. If you're interested in learning more, please contact Alderman White or city hall at 617-625-6600.

Parks and Open Space meeting, March 22, 2010, 8pm, Alderman committee room 2nd floor, City Hall
At this meeting we will take up three issues in particular: 1) The administration's request to approve amendments to the 2008-2013 Open Space & Recreation Plan, to extend the effective date of the Plan to 2015. 2) An order by Aldermen White and Sullivan that the Administration apply for a fruit tree planting grant sponsored by the Fruit Tree Planting Foundation. 3) And Off Lease Recreation Areas in West Somerville including a report to the committee on the parameters of the Dilboy Stadium lease.

Powderhouse School Neighborhood Meeting, March 31, 2010 7-8pm at the Tufts Administration Building 167 Holland Street.
This meeting is hosted by neighbors and will provide an opportunity for the community to learn about the City's planning process, discuss how redevelopment might impact the neighborhood, and discuss ways to ensure that this property will be reused to benefit our neighborhood and the City. For more information contact Rachel Heller at Rachel.Heller@gmail.com or Lou Ann David at louanndavid@comcast.net.

Davis Square Task Force meeting, April 20, 2010, 7-9pm at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.
The Davis Square Task Force is one of the oldest and longest standing community groups in the area. All meetings are open to anyone who wishes to participate and there is an organizing committee of the Task Force that meets the Wednesday before each meeting to set the agenda. Task Force meetings are typically bi-monthly. For more information or to get on the Yahoo groups mailing list for the Task Force, please send an email here.

Davis Square Visioning Meeting, April 28, 2009 at 6:30pm at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St.
This will be the second meeting of a visioning process for our neighborhood. Staff at the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development will be on hand to strategize with us and help facilitate this important discussion. What would you like to see happen in our neighborhood in the years to come? If you have questions or would like more information please send me an email to: Rebekah@rcn.com.

Spotlight on a Local Business:

Sunshine Lucy's
Vintage Furniture with Character
93 Holland Street.

This brand new locally owned and operated furniture store offers a wide variety of used and custom made furniture as well as upholstery, mattress sets, and accessories. The owners work in the store and you can check out the website here: www.sunshinelucys.com. I went into the store recently and was impressed with the wide variety of furniture and accessories. Check it out for yourself!