By Greg Karczewski
President of US2

You may have read the Green Line is coming.  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Governor Baker and other state and local officials broke ground on the Green Line Extension in June right in Union Square.

The extension of the Green Line to Somerville, and Union Square in particular, is a catalyst for economic development that will create an employment hub and the daytime foot traffic needed to keep our small (and big) businesses thriving.  It’s a substantial step toward realizing many of the community’s SomerVision goals through the Union Square revitalization project (USQ).

Those in public service to our state must be ready willing and able to rise to the occasion when called upon to do so. Each one of us, whoever we may be supporting in this year’s statewide election, is searching our heart to determine whom we feel will best fill those roles.

Most of us seem to be very confident that our favored candidates are up to the task. Others bemoan a lack of integrity or skills required to do the job well among those who are running.

Eagle Feathers #159 – Longfellow

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, on February 27, 1807, when Maine was still part of Massachusetts. He was a favorite son of the city and its residents still applaud anything Longfellow. He held a Chair at Harvard University and received degrees from England’s University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan offered valuable safety tips to Somerville YMCA campers this summer.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan recently visited campers at the Somerville YMCA to teach them about how they can keep themselves and others safe this summer. District Attorney Ryan was joined by Chief of the Somerville Fire Department Charles Breen.

District Attorney Ryan spoke to campers about water, car, window, bike and fireworks safety; highlighting important tips for children including: never swim alone, call 9-1-1 or notify an adult if you see a child alone in a car, never play near open windows, always wear a bike helmet, and never play with fireworks or sparklers. District Attorney Ryan also talked about good decision making, and offered tips on how to avoid dangerous situations.

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Heather Sullivan’s work has appeared in numerous print and online journals, most recently Chiron Review, Paper and Ink Literary Zine and Trailer Park Quarterly. Her debut collection, Waiting for an Answer (Nixes Mate Books 2017), is available both through the publisher and Amazon. She is also the co-editor at Live Nude Poems. She and novelist Rusty Barnes live with their family in the area.

(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)

MEPA waiver filing

To the Editor,

I would like to make sure that you and your readers are aware of an important recent waiver filing which was made by Union Square Station Associates (US2), the city-designated master developer for the massive redevelopment planned for the Union Square area.  US2 has applied for a “Phase One” waiver from regulations specified in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), which, if granted, would enable that organization to start construction at a time of their choosing on the parcel of land referred to as “D2,” located at the intersection of Somerville Ave. and Prospect Street immediately adjacent to the new MBTA Green Line station presently under construction, with no further public review.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is awarding more than $6 million over the next four years to prevent nicotine use and improve public health. The funding will strengthen capacity in 182 cities and towns to enact and enforce policies, systems, and environmental changes that reduce tobacco use, protect the public from secondhand smoke and youth from exposure to tobacco and vaping industry tactics.

Arrests:
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Carlos Rivera, of 165 Cottage St., Chelsea, July 31, 10:18 p.m., arrested at Mystic Ave. on warrant charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, shoplifting by asportation, forgery of document, larceny from a building, utter false prescription, larceny under $1200, and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor.

Dante Quinn, of 260 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, August 3, 4:47 p.m., arrested at Middlesex Ave. on charges of distribution of a class B drug and possession of a class A drug.

Please join Somerville Commissioner of Veterans’ Services Bryan Bishop, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, and project design team CBA Landscape Architects on Tuesday, August 21, for the final community meeting to discuss the redesign of Henry Hansen Park. The community meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell Street. The design team will present the final design concept for the park redesign. For more information, please contact Somerville Veterans’ Services at 617-625-6600 x4700 orveterans@somervillema.gov.

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