Tonight, Dec. 16, there will be another hearing on the Green Line by DOT, but this time its only about
the MBTA Maintenance Facility and where they will put it. The hearing starts at 6pm and goes to 8pm at will be held in Cambridge at the Multicultural Arts Center (41 2nd Street – one block from Lechmere Square). All residents should be concerned about where the faculty is going to be built – make sure you are there and your voice is heard.
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The 13th annual Illuminations Tour will be on Saturday, Dec. 19th. Tours leave at 4:30pm, 5pm, 5:45pm, 6:15pm, 7pm, 7:30pm, 8:15pm, 8:45pm and 9:15pm. If there is bad weather, the rain date will be Sunday, Dec. 20th. Tour guides lead trolleys past the city's most spectacular residential displays of holiday pomp, sharing stories about the families that decorate and local historic trivia en route. Tours begin and end at City Hall at 93 Highland Ave. Tickets are $10, $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 60 and up, and are available at Blue Cloud Gallery at 713 Broadway in Ball Square.
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Send us your favorite photo of your choice of "The Best of Somerville – Best Decorated House for Christmas" Send your photos to photos@thesomervillenews.com and share it with the rest of the 'Ville!
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There will be a community meeting held by the Mayor, Alderman Pero, and the Mayor's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development to discuss the Mystic River Reservation Recreational Path Extension (Wellington Undercarriage). The meeting will take place on Thursday, December 17th beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Mystic Activity Center, 535 Mystic Avenue. The path extension will connect under Route 28 at the Mystic River to link Ten Hills and Assembly Square. A boardwalk will be constructed under the bridge that will connect to recreational paths on either side of Route 28.
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Celebrate the spirit of winter and its various holidays through the winter concerts in the Somerville
Public Schools. High school musicians and singers will take the stage on Thursday, December 17th at 7pm in the auditorium of Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue) – the concert is free and is featuring student singers, musicians and other performers.
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On Thursday, December 17th, Teen Empowerment will hold a youth holiday gathering from 7pm to 9:30pm at the Somerville Youth Program (165 Broadway). The event will feature original poems, songs, skits and speeches, written and performed by Somerville teens that reflect on 2009 and focus on hopes for 2010.
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Don't forget about the new permit parking regulations going into affect for the entire City, you have until January 4th to get to Traffic and Parking to get your permit…. they will be out in force ticketing those without the permit.
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The 234th annual "Grand Union" flag raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Friday, January 1, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. The ceremony commemorates the raising of the nation's first official flag,featuring thirteen red and white horizontal stripes, atop Prospect Hill Tower by General George Washington and his troops during their encampment in the Revolutionary War in 1776. The ceremony will actually begin at
City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue, at 11:30am with a procession to Prospect Hill, led by "General Washington" on horseback. The day's program will also include songs, readings, and participants from the Charlestown militia, as well as the Ancient and Honorable Company (first chartered in 1638). The American Legion
Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower at noon.
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Speaking of Traffic & Parking…we wish Jim Kotzuba the best of luck in his new job over at Harvard, he did a great job here in Somerville these past few years. We hope that Assistant Director Larry Murphy gets the nod for the job, he always has done a great job in whatever he does here in Somerville…
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The new tax rate has been voted on for the city, for residential homes it's up to $12.30 (was $11.71) per every thousand dollars of assessed value, and commercial is up to $20.44 per thousand. There is a substantial residential exemption – around 30% – but you have to apply for it at the Board of Assessors at City Hall.
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The Somerville Police are on the lookout and are asking residents to keep and eye out for a man going around in a red car, wearing a Verizon shirt posing as a Verizon worker…he's not, so be careful who you open your door to.
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All the various charities here in Somerville are having a rough time of it…especially the Somerville Homeless Shelter, we are very fortunate to have a large variety of worthy charities like them, please do what you can and support them by making a donation.
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The annual Somerville High School musical is looking for advertisers and donations to perform their
annual musical which this year will cost around $12,000. More than 40 actors, musicians and technicians from Somerville High School will stage Disney's Beauty and the Beast from February 4th to 6th in the auditorium of Somerville High (81 Highland Avenue). Show times are: Thursday and Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm. Ticket prices are $7.00 – $6.00 for senior citizens and youth ages 12 and under.
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Don't forget the Somerville Schools annual Christmas Tree sale at Foss Park, help support the various programs.
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Happy Birthday to one of our own – Bobbie Toner – she is without a doubt the best…she never says no when asked to do something and we can't say enough good things about her. We know that she recently
got her real estate license, and if there was someone who would make a great real estate agent, she's the one. If you know her and didn't know she does real estate and you need to buy or sell – give her a call you won't be disappointed. Happy Birthday Bobbie from your friends at The News and ERA not to mention at Pat's Auto Body…
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Upcoming musical events happening at various public schools in the city:

Arthur D. Healey School – Dec 17th and 18th @ 9am; WHCS – Dec 18th @ 9:30am; ESCS – Dec 18th @1pm (grades 1-4) at the Edgerly School and Dec 21st @ 9am (united performance) at Somerville High; WSNS – Dec 22nd @ 10:15am; John F. Kennedy School – Dec 22nd @ 6:30pm; Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center – Jan 29th @ 9:15am; Beginning Instrumentalist Concert – Jan 28th 2010 @ 7pm in the SHS Auditorium.