It’s the end of summer and Labor Day weekend is almost here. No one can honestly say Somerville didn’t have things going on every single week, which seemed to make the summer go very fast. It’s been nice and cooler in the past few years, but you can’t say Somerville is boring. Doors are shutting in N.H., Cape Cod and Western Mass, and everyone is heading back home. The fall season starts and, although only three months away, we thought we would mention that Christmas and New Year’s is just around the corner. Aren’t you excited?
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By the way, we made a huge mistake last week and quickly got corrected. Alderman-at-Large Mary Jo Rossetti did submit an order not to long ago to the Board of Alderman regarding the low flying planes over our city, especially the ones flying from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Alderman Rossetti is heading this and won’t rest until they at Massport listen to us here in Somerville. She tells us that calling them each time you hear one of the low flying planes has made a huge impact so far. Massport is saying that the phones are ringing off the wall with callers from Somerville. Keep it up, Somerville. Every time you hear the planes call 617 -561-3333 and let them know you are not happy and want the planes to stop going over the city so low. We suggested last week that maybe Congressman Mike Capuano can help us out and call the FAA for and complain. By the way, not that we read The Journal (the cost is $2 and it’s hard to find), but rumor has it they did a story on this. Copying us again, it seems.
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Condolences go out to the family and friends of Louise Scott here in Somerville. She was the wife of long time political guy Lenny Scott who himself passed away a while ago. Mrs. Scott was well known here in Somerville. Her husband was a local political activist. Our deepest sympathy to the family and especially to our friend Paula Leblanc, Louise’s daughter who works at O’Donovan & Dwyer Law office.
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We attended the Subway neighborhood meeting last week. Only a couple of businesses showed up, along with Alderman At Large Bill White as well. Maybe if the neighborhood meeting was in the actual neighborhood it might have been different. The plan is to have a Subway franchise go in at the laundry place in the small strip mall corner of Wheatland and Broadway. We still can’t figure out why someone one would buy a sub franchise and place it in the middle of Winter Hill across from Leone’s and Mama Lisa’s, two of Somerville’s most popular places. We wish them luck, but we’re still wondering about the old Star Market that’s been vacant for what 10 years. We can have major development in Union Square, put in an entire new neighborhood in Assembly Square, but we can’t do anything with Winter Hill. Why?
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It looks like the comment in last week’s paper regarding the many different banks that have come to our town struck a nerve with one of the out of town banks. They called our office and tried to justify why they are here. It seems that they didn’t realize we are for local grown business only. We made sure the person representing that bank knew how we felt about Winter Hill Savings, Middlesex Savings and Century Bank. We’re LOCAL and we encourage everyone to shop local all the time. If were nothing else, we are local – Somerville only. We did hear that one of the out of town banks is doing a brisk business with the City of Somerville. It’s just a rumor, we’re sure, but we will let you know if someone makes one of those anonymous calls. We heard it was in the millions. We also heard that the same bank from out of town was maybe being investigated for funny loans, but that’s just a rumor that we can’t verify, at least right now. We’ll keep you posted.
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Happy Birthday to a few of our good friends here in the Ville. First of all, we forgot to say Happy Birthday last week to Dorothy Fess Harkins, who also recently became a grandmother as well. We wish her the very best. And this week her daughter, the new mother Leigh Harkins Gerow, is celebrating. Wow! All three in a short span of a couple of weeks. It looks like no one in that family should mess up the dates! We wish all a Happy Birthday. Another well-known person and family from the city for generations is celebrating this week, Richard Pye. He’s a great guy and living the life with lovely Carol up north. We wish Richard a Happy Birthday. Local contractor and family man Johnnie Steve Dalrymple (Steve and Sons) is celebrating this week as well. Happy Birthday. To all those we might have missed, we wish them a happy day and many more with health and happiness.
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Happy anniversary to our good friend and writer here at the paper. Donald and Patricia Norton were married September 1, 1967 in Columbia, South Carolina. 47 years of memories – some good and some bad – but time marches on. Although Pat is going through some medical problems, at least they’ve got each other!
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Cam Toner of Ms. Olio fame is doing so much better these days. We’re hoping she’s going to return real soon. It’s been a long time and we miss her at her desk.
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Ever thought about getting into the real estate business? A real estate course is being offered again this coming semester at the high school, sponsored by the School Department. Hands-on teaching and you can’t beat the price, half of what it normally costs at other places. Call the City of Somerville High School Adult Evening School at 617 625-6000.
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The Greek Music & Food Festival is coming up, running Friday, September 5, from 5-11 p.m., Saturday, the 6th, from 12-11 p.m., and Sunday, the 7th, from 12-9 p.m. Free admission. It’s great fun and food for the entire family, at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 29 Central Street, Somerville. For more information go online to www.dormitionchurch.org.
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Grab your instrument and your dancing shoes, and get ready to help the city celebrate the latest installment of its SomerStreets series with Strike Up the Bands @ SomerStreets on Sunday, September 7 on Holland Street. From noon to 4 p.m. between Davis Square and Teele Square. Free, family-friendly activities and entertainment will include live music at Johnny D’s Uptown and Rudy’s Café, as well as children’s activities, family-friendly programming, and student-friendly fun (welcome back, students!) throughout the afternoon. SomerStreets is the City of Somerville’s take on the internationally renowned Open Streets concept, closing busy city streets to vehicles and opening them up for cycling, walking, dancing, running, and other modes of activity. Through SomerStreets, the city and its community partners aim to promote and encourage easy access to physical activity, fresh foods, and reconnecting with neighborhoods and businesses and their unique cultural elements in a thriving urban environment.
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Attention all Winter Hill Post Office customers: Please come back. Things have changed. You’ll be happy. That’s all we will say. Only people who have been to the Winter Hill Post Office will understand and they will immediately, upon going in, will know what we mean. We think the ladies down at the Post Office deserve a medal. What nice people they are.
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The Community Path is going all the way to Boston and to celebrate, the City of Somerville and the Friends of the Community Path are throwing a zero-waste community party that aims to create little to no trash. The “Party on the Path” is planned for Saturday, Sept. 6, from 2 to 6 p.m., with music, refreshments, and children’s games all afternoon, along the Path in front of Lexington Park. This celebration is free and open to the public. Keeping with the City’s commitment to sustainability and a healthy community, the celebration will also be “zero-waste,” with the goal of creating little to no trash by using re-useable plates and silverware, and including a composting component for food products. For more information, or to RSVP to the party (not required), visit the Friends of the Community Path Facebook page: www.facebook.com/FriendsoftheCommunityPath.
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