The soon to be former site of East End Grille at the corner of Broadway and Glen St. has been approved for a multi-use development to include retail, residential, and parking spaces.— Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Rob Carter

Somerville’s Planning Board voted unanimously allow construction of a five-story multi-use building to replace the East End Grille on the corner of Broadway and Glen Street at an Aug. 3 meeting.

Goodfood Restaurant Group LLC plans to replace the restaurant with a new building with retail space on the first floor and 24 housing units, of which four will be inclusionary housing. The special permit also includes construction of a parking garage with up to 20 spaces.

Candidate for Alderman in Ward 1 Elio LoRusso had his fundraiser/campaign kickoff last night at Casey’s on Broadway. It was a packed crowd to capacity, at one point going out the door. Ward 4 Alderman Tony Lafuente introduced Elio by saying how much we need to get back to what’s going on in East Somerville and listening the residents like Elio said he would because he is part and parcel of East Somerville. Also present was former Alderman Bill Roche, who is also supporting Elio. Mayor Joe Curtatone was present and received a huge welcome. Various other aldermen were present, but frankly it was nice to see Gene Brune, a supporter of Elio as well. East Somerville is not only Elio’s home, he is also raising his lovely family (can’t forget to mention little Maria, his daughter – maybe someday she’ll be mayor). Elio lives and grew up in East Somerville. He employs several people in his business on George Street (Somerville Ornamental Iron Work Inc.). A family man, homeowner and business man right here in Ward 1. He’s invested in the community. We would once again have an alderman who is responsive to the needs of all the residents, not just one group. Yeah, we like Elio. He’s a good man and we’re going to follow him to victory. P.S.: to the candidate who was present for another office, everyone knew you were texting the competition. The crowd gave you something to text, didn’t it?

On Thursday, August 3, the Youth-Police Walking Dialogues took place in Ward 2 and Ward 3 with Alderman Heuston and Alderman Bob Mcwatters. The youth during the walking dialogue interview random residents on the street and they ask various questions ranging from what issues impact their lives in Somerville and what are the positive things going on in the city and what are the issues concerning them. The youth also inform the residents they are walking the neighborhood with the police to establish a collaborative relationship with them and are fostering better communication and dialogue with one another. The next Youth-Police Walking Dialogues event is scheduled for Thursday, August 10, 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Trum Field.

The Somerville Retirement Board’s plans to divest from the fossil fuel industry has hit a roadblock in the form of compliance concerns raised by the office of the state Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission.

By Colby Cunningham
Fossil Free Somerville

Somerville’s push to divest its retirement fund from the fossil fuel industry has been set back over a process concern raised by the state.

The Somerville Retirement Board (SRB) decided in June to move $9.2 million in assets, representing 4.5 percent of the system’s total funds, into a fossil fuel free index fund. The move is the first part of a four-part plan to move the retirement system’s assets out of funds that include the top 200 fossil fuel companies.

Come join the party this Saturday night at Winter Hill Brewery and wish local brewer and musician Jeff Rowe safe travels as he kicks off his European Tour right at home. Log onto bostonfreeradio.com at 9:00 p.m. to listen to a live broadcast of The Villens Den from the show hosted by Chris Haskell and watch the livestream on the Boston Free Radio Facebook page.

Eagle Feathers #135 – Middlesex

By Bob (Monty) Doherty

Twenty years ago, on July 11, 1997, the Massachusetts State Legislature abolished Middlesex County as a government entity with the exception of the Registry of Deeds and the Sheriff’s Office. Between then and 2000 during cost-cutting measures, seven other counties were similarly affected. Today, historic Middlesex continues but is primarily distinguished by its boundaries.

We have to be fair and admit that upgrades and maintenance of our city’s infrastructure is important – even more important than our own temporary comfort might wish to allow for.

An obvious case in point the recent Union Square traffic pattern change at Prospect St. and Webster Ave., which was converted to accommodate two-way vehicle and bicycle traffic as a key component of the city’s Union Square Early Action project.

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I sent this small piece to the Somerville 175th Birthday History Project and it will be on display with many others at the Somerville Public Library, and possibly on their website…

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Paul Marion has been a writer and community activist since the 1970s. He is the author of several collections of poetry as well as the editor of the early writings of Jack Kerouac, Atop an Underwood, and other titles. His recent book, Mill Power, tells the story of the innovative national park in Lowell, Massachusetts, and the city’s acclaimed revival, a model for small industrial cities everywhere. His work has appeared in anthologies and literary journals such as Alaska Quarterly Review and The Massachusetts Review. In 1978 he created Loom Press, a small publishing company that promotes writing from the Merrimack River Valley. Among other accomplishments on the community front, he co-founded the Lowell Folk Festival and Lowell Heritage Partnership, an alliance of people and organizations whose mission is to care for architecture, nature, and culture. His latest collection of poetry is Union River. I interviewed Paul on my show Poet to Poet/Writer to Writer at the Somerville Media Center studios.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro
The 37th Annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic was held Wednesday, August 3 at Powderhouse Park. It was a great day filled with dancing, music, food, entertainment and prizes.