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$293 million FY23 budget delivers on urgent needs and lays foundation for longer-term progress across all departments. Major investments include largest increase in history for Somerville Public Schools, nearly $8.3 million for affordable housing, and $1 million for participatory budgeting
The City of Somerville is entering the new fiscal year with an ambitious slate of funding priorities for the next 12 months and beyond. In late June, the Somerville City Council passed a $293 million Fiscal Year 2023 budget, delivering on Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s historic investment in Somerville Public Schools and transformative programs supporting youth, affordable housing, climate resilience, and quality of life improvements. The budget also seeks to improve City systems and services that undergird all municipal operations, laying a foundation for a more inclusive, accessible government and stronger, more equitable Somerville.
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Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte
I was blessed to be on the radio for over twenty years. In that time I met some very interesting stars. I realize that the bigger they are the nicer they are, for the most part. What made me want to do a story about these folks was the fact that my friend Larry Storch, a.k.a. Sergeant Agharn from F Troop, passed away in his sleep yesterday at 99 years old.
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By Blake Maddux
“Been a while now since I’ve seen my friends. Don’t know when I’m gonna see them again,” sings Sarah Borges on the opening track of her new album, Together Alone.
This is, of course, not the first time that a someone has taken to song to express a combination of longing and uncertainty.
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By Michael McHugh
Forty years ago, in the Spring of 1982, Somerville Police Officers arrived at the intersection of Webster Avenue and Newton Street to a chaotic scene of residents and journalists crowded around a crashed vehicle. The bloodied, bullet-ridden car contained the body of Turkish diplomat and businessman Orhan Gündüz, assassinated in broad daylight during his drive home.
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By Mina Rose Morales
On Thursday, July 7, at approximately 6:00 p.m., there was a community webinar via Zoom regarding the Henry Hansen Park project. The online meeting was hosted by Arn Franzen, the Senior Project Manager, D.J. Chagnon, the landscape architect, and Ted D. Louis-Jacques, the director of veteran services for the city of Somerville. The webinar was open to the public and a Q&A was held at the end. Multiple community members expressed concerns and asked questions.
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By Raga Chilakamarri
An older woman sporting a shiny, grey bob cut and dark sunglasses grooved to the music, her right hand bumping up, clasped around a can, her red lipstick loud like the guitar riffing, and her leopard-print bag thumping against her side. She wore a dark blue jean jacket and a denim skirt to match; her fishnets ended in edgy Vans. She was rocking out.
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The Red Cross’s regular blood drive returns to the Armory. The blood drive will take place today, July 13 from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Please consider donating. For more information visit www.redcross.org
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(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)
By Klaus Schultz
A few days ago, I read this “pro/con” piece about housing in The Nation and it immediately reminded me of the fierce housing debates that some of us get into on Somerville social media. Like so many of these things, I doubt that anyone will read it and immediately change their mind on the issue, but I think it’s useful to see the cases for building more market rate housing versus not doing so laid out side by side.
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