By Andrew Firestone

Sometimes the best news in a budget is very little news at all. That is perhaps why the biggest event that took place at City Hall Monday, June 13, was not what was in the budget, but what was not in it. The Mayor unveiled his $169,732,903 budget for 2012, representing a $4.2 million increase from fiscal year 2011. There were no massive cuts, only three layoffs in all, and a $4.5 million budget gap filled.

A very special street dedication will take place this Saturday the 18th at 1p.m. at the corner of Pearl Street & Myrtle Streets in East Somerville. Seven Ciampa brothers of Somerville who were born and raised at 66 Pearl Street, five of which became veterans of WWII, one of Korea, and one who became a well known local Doctor. The Square will honor Ottavio, WWII Army; Dante, WWII coast Guard; Albert, WWII and Korea Navy; Ubanldi, WWII Army; Robert, WWII Navy; Edward, Korea Army’ and Dr. Frank Ciampa MD, a distinguished surgeon and a physician here in Somerville for 45 years. The Ciampa’s family also had two daughters, Carmela and Eleanor, for a total of 9 children at the Pearl Street home. This family has a long history here in Somerville, one that has contributed to the city in many ways. Come and join the entire Ciampa family and friends this Saturday.

Members of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) are hoping that the “Local Hiring Ordinance” will soon be adopted and passed as official policy by the City of Somerville.- Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

While the local workers’ amendment to the Somerville Responsible Employer Ordinance may have been defeated in the DIF debate, its spirit lives on in the Alderman’s chambers. Concerned with the prospects of Somerville jobs for Somerville workers, members of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) urged the introduction of a new ordinance to guarantee local parity.

The proposed “Local Hiring Ordinance” which is being championed by Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) might be a fine idea in principle, although a test of its constitutionality may yet be in the offing.

Simply put, the amendment is intended to assure that local residents are offered a substantial share of jobs (30%) for projects which are either wholly or partially subsidized by the city, as well as meaningful participation by organized labor.

By Bill Rogers

From the Officers and members of King Solomon’s Lodge AF & AM created in 1783 we rededicated the Bunker Hill Monument on June 14, 2011.

Several SHS track standouts traveled to Burlington, VT, last Saturday for the spring New England Championship meet, having previously qualified at the Mass All-State meet last week at Bridgewater State.

It was a long, rainy day but it was a successful one for Andre Rolim. As was the case last week, the officials changed the heat assignments, this time acknowledging that they made an error, and had Andre in the wrong heat. He was ready for anything, though, and led from the gun in his 3rd heat of 5 and placed 6th overall (49.81).

By Jim Clark

A Somerville Police officer responded to a reported hit and run incident last week at Florence Street. The owner of the struck vehicle reportedly gave the officer a partial license plate number and a description of the vehicle, and also insisted that it could not have gotten far away due to damage that it must have sustained in the incident.

Precinct Chef Wesley Smith's take on Redbones: "good stuff." - Photos by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

Chocolate fountains. Pulled-pork sandwiches and frosty cupcakes. Delicious wine, sumptuous shepherd’s pie. No, this isn’t heaven. This is Somerville.

The thirteenth annual Taste of Somerville was a cornucopia of restaurants serving up samples at the Holiday Inn, June 7, to benefit the elderly through Door2Door. Mayor Joseph Curtatone and Congressman Mike Capuano were on hand to share in the deliciousness.

I am always a sucker for a food poem. Poet Deborah Finkelstein, a colleague of mine at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston and Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. sent me an evocative one recently.  Finkelstein has an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Her poetry has been published widely, both online and print.

A singer/songwriter in the Paris of New England
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Well, Audrey Ryan thought I meant that the “Paris of New England” is meant for Boston – but of course I meant Somerville, Mass. But I can see her point. And this multi-talented artist fits well into our creative milieu on the banks of the Mystic River. On Ryan’s website it states:

“Audrey Ryan is a one-man-band multi-instrumentalist whose music is quirky and genre-bending. She tours regionally, nationally, and internationally supported by Folkwit Records (UK). She has opened for Suzanne Vega, They Might be Giants, Josh Ritter, Ra Ra Riot, Grace Potter among many others.”