Happy Thanksgiving!

As we give thanks for the blessings of family, friends, and a meal to share with them, we must also remember the least fortunate among us this Thanksgiving.

Area soup kitchens and food pantries are always in need of food, volunteers, and monetary support. If you are able to help, please consider contacting a food pantry or soup kitchen in your neighborhood.

Food pantries in Cambridge:

(Please call food pantries before visiting, as their hours vary significantly)

Cambridge Senior Center
806 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-349-6060

Cambridgeport Baptist Church
Food Pantry/Clothes Closet
459 Putnam Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-576-6779

CEOC Food Pantry
11 Inman Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-868-2900

Common Care / St. Peter's Episcopal Church
838 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-547-7788

East End House
105 Spring Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-876-4444
Information about the East End House turkey basket giveaway

Helping Hand Food Pantry
St. James’s Episcopal Church
1991 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-876-4381

Margaret Fuller House Food Pantry
71 Cherry Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-547-4680

Project Manna
Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church
146 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-868-4853

St. Paul A.M.E. Food Pantry
85 Bishop Allen Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-661-1110

Salvation Army
402 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-547-3400

Western Avenue Baptist Church
299 Western Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-441-6959

Zinberg Clinic Pantry
The Cambridge Hospital
1493 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-665-1606

Food pantries and soup kitchens in Somerville:

Hearty Meals For All (HMFA)
Somerville Community Baptist Church
31 College AvenueSomerville, Ma 02144
917-826-5298

Project Soup:
Saint Benedict’s Church
(rear basement)
15 Franklin Street
East Somerville, MA 02145

West Pantry
1 Davis Square
Mon - Fri 9:00 - 5:00 PM

Community Suppers
First Congregational Church of
Somerville
89 College Avenue, Davis Square
Monday - Beginning at 5:00 PM

Dollar-A-Bag
Saint Benedict’s (rear basement)
15 Franklin Street
East Somerville, MA 02145

Somerville Cambridge Elder Services
61 Medford St. Somerville, Ma 02143
617-628-2601
617-6281705-TDD

I hope that you are able to spend this Thanksgiving in the company of your loved ones, and that you are blessed with a happy and safe holiday.

All the best,

Tim

ECBA Celebrates One Year Anniversary

The East Cambridge Business Association is an exciting, young organization that is designed to unite and strengthen local businesses, while giving them new opportunities to engage the East Cambridge community and give back to their neighborhood. On November 9th, I had the opportunity to attend the ECBA's one year anniversary celebration, and will hopefully have the opportunity to attend many more!

The following is an East Cambridge Business Association press release that was published on the Cambridge Chronicle website on November 12:

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, members and guests of the East Cambridge Business Association gathered at the Multicultural Arts Center to celebrate the organization’s one-year anniversary at its annual meeting.

Association president Carl Fantasia of New Deal Fish Market delivered the presidential report highlighting the many accomplishments the ECBA has made during its first year.  An impressive list of community building events such as outdoor movie nights, Cambridge Street clean-ups and “East Cambridge In Bloom,” the ECBA has spent its first year focusing on making visible impacts in East Cambridge and uniting residents, business, and the city together.

Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi and State Representative and City Councilor Tim Toomey commended the ECBA for being able to bring the community together and make positive impacts in the neighborhood. 

“The Rib Fest was a unique event that brought long-time residents and new residents together, and people are still talking about it” said Toomey.

Andy Montone of Cambridge Art and Frame highlighted the ECBA’s plans to improve on these events in the coming year and encouraged everyone become more involved in 2011.  “We have accomplished a lot in the first year with a relatively small group of people, if we all get involved, the sky is the limit”.

Before the closing of the meeting, Teodora Silva of Alegria Dental Group, presented “The Smoke This Rib Fest” trophy to Chris Kosinski of East Side Bar and Grille, who is also the vice president of East Cambridge Business Association. As part of the award, the ECBA made a donation on Chris’s behalf to the East Cambridge Scholarship Fund for wining the Rib Fest in its first year.

 

Tim presents ECBA President Carl Fantasia with a citation in recognition of the one year anniversary of the ECBA's founding.

Your Craigie Comments

Now that we are more than a week and a half into the first phase of Craigie Drawbridge construction and repairs, I'd like to use this space to encourage you to post your comments, questions, suggestions, and concerns about how the project is going, and what could be done better. Because this is an ongoing project and will require the bridge to be closed to traffic inbound to Boston for 15 weeks, we have the opportunity to change things that aren't working.

Please feel free to leave a comment to this post with your ideas, or as always, call my office at 617-722-2380.

Reminder: Craigie Drawbridge Closes to Boston-bound Traffic Tomorrow

Tomorrow, November 6th, will mark the first day that the Craigie Drawbridge will be closed to traffic bound for Boston from Cambridge. I strongly suggest planning your commute in advance, as there will be significant delays and heavy traffic in the area, especially as drivers become accustomed to the altered traffic patterns in the first days of the bridge closing.

Detour information from MassDOT:

Vehicular Detours

Effective November 6, 2010, MassDOT will close all inbound travel lanes on Route 28 southbound at the intersection of Land Boulevard as part of the Craigie Drawbridge Rehabilitation Project. Outbound traffic leaving Boston through Leverett Circle will be unaffected during this period.

Traffic trying to access I-93 and Storrow Drive will be detoured east over the Gilmore (Prison Point) Bridge towards Bunker Hill Community College/City Square. Traffic heading to  I-93 Northbound will be directed left through Sullivan Square, while traffic trying to access I-93 Southbound and Route 1 (Tobin Bridge) will be directed to turn right.(see attached map) Traffic traveling to the Charles Circle Area will be detoured westbound down Land Boulevard to the Longfellow Bridge to cross the Charles River. (see attached map)

Access to the Museum of Science will not be restricted but patrons are advised to approach the Museum from Boston to avoid anticipated traffic congestion on the Cambridge side of the project.

Bike and Pedestrian Access during Construction
Full bike and pedestrian access in each direction will be maintained during construction.  During Phases 1 and 3 of the drawbridge replacement, only one side of the bridge will be opened and must be shared by inbound and outbound bike and pedestrian traffic.  A manned and signalized crossing area will be placed at the mid-point of the roadway at the Museum of Science during these phases.

For more information about this project, click here to read my previous blog posts, or visit the MassDOT Accelerated Bridge Program website here.

Election Day is Tomorrow, November 2nd

November 2nd is election day! Tomorrow, voters will choose who will serve as the state's governor for the next four years. In addition to the hotly contested governor's race, voters will decide who will serve terms in the rest of the state's constitutional offices, and will have the option of approving or rejecting three ballot initiatives.

If you are unsure of where to vote, or if you would like a preview of the ballot that you will receive at the polls, you can visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth's election information page here. If you have trouble with the site, you may call the state elections office at 617-727-2828.

The voter registration deadline for tomorrow's election has passed, but if you would like to register so that you may vote in future elections, please click here for information on how to do so.

Remember, in Massachusetts the cutoff for registration is 20 days before an election, so plan ahead!

For additional information about voter registration or where to vote in tomorrows election, Cambridge residents may visit the Election Commission office at 51 Inman St., or call 617-349-4361. Somerville residents may visit the Somerville Election Commission office at City Hall (93 Highland Ave), or call 617-625-6600.

See you at the polls!

Career Family Opportunity Program Launched in Cambridge

CHA Pisani Center, Cambridge - map

On Thursday, October 7th 2010, I attended and gave brief remarks at the grand opening of the Career Family Opportunity (CFO) program in Cambridge, operated in partnership by the Crittenton Women’s Union (CWU) and the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA). The event, which was held at the Cambridge Housing Authority’s Pisani Center, celebrated the start of an exciting and innovative social program available to single parents who are in the CHA system.  The goal of CFO is to give single parents the tools they need to become financially self-sufficient, allowing them to become independent from government assistance within 5 years of enrollment.


Beth Babcock, President and CEO of the Crittenton Women's Union, speaking about Career Family Opportunity's successes.

20 Cambridge families currently residing in CHA public housing have applied and been chosen to participate in CFO. CFO will help each participating parent find a job that pays enough to provide for their family, and will provide the participant with a $10,000 savings account to use for their family’s expenses. Getting families back on their feet quickly is a priority for the Cambridge Housing Authority, and as CHA Deputy Director Michael Johnston pointed out, necessary for CHA if it hopes to provide adequate housing to those who need it. There are currently 13,000 people on the CHA’s waiting list for housing, and at the current rate it will take 24 years to completely clear that list. With so many needing affordable housing now, I am very excited to see the CHA taking an innovative step forward that will help families leave public housing faster, easing the strain on an already overburdened system without imposing term-limits on residents. The CWU has operated this program with high levels of success in Boston, and I see no reason why it won’t be just as successful here in Cambridge.


CHA Deputy Director Michael Johnston speaking about how innovative programs like CFO will improve Cambridge public housing.



I spoke about how I feel that CFO and programs like it are critical for sustaining our communities in tough times.



Tricia Berry, a CFO program participant, (foreground, second from left) gave a moving speech about how CFO has helped her and her son.

The CFO program will undoubtedly have far-reaching effects for our neighbors and neighborhoods. By helping single parents, it will help their families, and with more families becoming independent faster, more of the people who need safe, affordable housing will get it when they need it.

Coming Events: Rib Fest, Somerville Ave Celebration

ECBA Smoke This Rib Fest - 10/17:

 

This Sunday, October 17th, from 12pm to 4pm, the East Cambridge Business Association will be holding its "Smoke This Rib Fest" on Cambridge St. between Fulkerson Street and Sixth Street. Rib tasting tickets are sold out, but there will still be plenty of food and fun to check out for those who do not have a ticket. Click here for more information!

SomerStreets Somerville Ave Grand Reopening Celebration - 10/24:

You're invited to come celebrate the grand reopening of Somerville Ave! The celebration will take place on Sunday, October 24 from 12pm to 4 pm. See the flyer below for more information:

Craigie Bridge Detour Information

New detour information from MassDOT:

Vehicular Detours

Effective November 6, 2010, MassDOT will close all inbound travel lanes on Route 28 southbound at the intersection of Land Boulevard as part of the Craigie Drawbridge Rehabilitation Project. Outbound traffic leaving Boston through Leverett Circle will be unaffected during this period.

Traffic trying to access I-93 and Storrow Drive will be detoured east over the Gilmore (Prison Point) Bridge towards Bunker Hill Community College/City Square. Traffic heading to  I-93 Northbound will be directed left through Sullivan Square, while traffic trying to access I-93 Southbound and Route 1 (Tobin Bridge) will be directed to turn right.(see attached map) Traffic traveling to the Charles Circle Area will be detoured westbound down Land Boulevard to the Longfellow Bridge to cross the Charles River. (see attached map)

Access to the Museum of Science will not be restricted but patrons are advised to approach the Museum from Boston to avoid anticipated traffic congestion on the Cambridge side of the project.

Bike and Pedestrian Access during Construction
Full bike and pedestrian access in each direction will be maintained during construction.  During Phases 1 and 3 of the drawbridge replacement, only one side of the bridge will be opened and must be shared by inbound and outbound bike and pedestrian traffic.  A manned and signalized crossing area will be placed at the mid-point of the roadway at the Museum of Science during these phases.

Somerville Craigie Drawbridge Meeting Later this Month

The Somerville Board of Aldermen and the Somerville State Legislative Delegation are hosting a public meeting to provide an overview of the construction plans and traffic impacts for the replacement of the Craigie Drawbridge, which will impact traffic patterns in Somerville for the duration of the project. Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT) staff will lead the discussion and answer questions.

This project includes the complete replacement of the bridge superstructure and bridge deck as well as the machinery and electrical components. During construction temporary bridge structures will be utilized to carry traffic. Work is expected to begin in early November 2010 and conclude in April 2011. The Craigie Drawbridge Rehabilitation Project is part of the $3 billion Patrick - Murray Accelerated Bridge Program, which aims to restore and repair structurally deficient bridges across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Contact Tim Snyder in Representative Toomey’s Office for information regarding this meeting at Tim.Snyder@MAHouse.Gov or 617.722.2380.

Craigie Bridge Rehab to Cause Traffic Disruptions

Healy Public Safety Facility, Cambridge - map

On Wednesday, September 29th, I hosted a community information meeting to discuss the upcoming Craigie Drawbridge rehabilitation project and the impact that it will have on the East Cambridge neighborhood. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended the meeting and made their suggestions and concerns heard.

Representatives from MassDOT came to the Robert Healy Public Safety Facility on 6th Street in Cambridge to present an overview of the upcoming project and to receive feedback from the community about their plans. They made it very clear that the commute in, around, and through East Cambridge will be ugly this winter. The Craigie Drawbridge, which carries the McGrath O’Brien Highway from Land Boulevard in Cambridge to Leverett Circle in Boston, will be closed to traffic traveling from Cambridge to Boston for a total of 15 weeks this winter. Beginning on November 1st and continuing through April, an extensive restoration and rehabilitation of the Craigie Drawbridge will be undertaken as part of the Massachusetts Accelerated Bridge Program. Because the bridge is a drawbridge serving an active waterway, work on the bridge must be conducted under a Coast Guard permit which requires it to be done during the winter months when boat traffic is at its lightest. Due to this time constraint, the work will be performed on the bridge around the clock for the duration of the project.


View Larger Map

The bridge repairs will be undertaken in three phases that will bring varying degrees of traffic disruption to the area. From November 6th until the end of November, Phase 1 of the project will require that two lanes on the bridge be closed. Only the outbound lanes from Boston to Cambridge will be open. During Phase 2 of the project, which will stretch from the end of November until mid-January, 4 lanes of traffic will be open, with two going in each direction. The third and final Phase will begin in mid-January and continue through April, and will require the two lanes inbound from Cambridge to Boston to be closed in the same manner that they will be during Phase 1.

In order to limit the impact to traffic in the area, MassDOT has put together a plan that includes detours and advanced signage to warn drivers of the lane closures and direct them to alternate routes. Light timings and lane striping will be adjusted in the area to optimize traffic flow to the extent possible. MassDOT has said that they will be monitoring the traffic issues created by the lane closures closely with cameras and on-site observers, and will have a command center set up at the district headquarters to monitor and resolve issues surrounding the project.

With that said, I am disappointed that MassDOT has chosen a traffic plan that will disproportionately impact commuters and residents in Somerville and Cambridge, and that the majority of the increased traffic burden will be suffered on our side of the river. I, along with my fellow City Council members, had expressed to MassDOT our hope that they would implement a traffic plan that would allow one lane of traffic to flow in each direction during the phases of the project in which the bridge will be cut down to two lanes. Although I understand MassDOT’s concerns about keeping Leverett Circle clear of excess traffic on the Boston side of the bridge, I feel that a solution that would have spread the traffic impact more equally to both sides would have been better, and I am unhappy that they will be continuing with the plan that will close the bridge to traffic from Cambridge.

As the start of the project looms closer, I will be continuing to monitor the preparations being made to ensure that the negative impacts to our community are limited in every way possible. My office has set up a third public information meeting about this project so that residents of East Somerville, and anyone else who may wish to attend, may be able to learn about the impact the bridge replacement will have for them, and that they may voice their questions and concerns about the project to MassDOT. The meeting will be held with members of the Somerville state delegation and the Somerville Board of Alderman, and will happen on October 26th from 6pm to 8pm at Somerville City Hall. For more information about this meeting or the Craigie Drawbridge Rehabilitation, click here to download an informational flyer, or contact my office at 617-722-2380.

I will be posting more information about this project as its start date gets closer, so stay tuned.

MIT Holds Community Brainstorming Sessions for New Kendall Square Space

MIT is soliciting ideas for a new public space in Kendall Square. Public meetings will be held in order to give members of the community an opportunity to voice their ideas for the space. For more information, see the letter below:

MIT is exploring concepts for its properties in Kendall Square and would like to get your input.  Please sign up for a community brainstorming session in order to share your ideas with us!

Kendall Square is known throughout the region for its innovative businesses and start-up companies.  What has long been missing from Kendall Square – a critical location at a gateway to Cambridge from Boston and accessible by the Red Line – are enough of the types of publicly accessible spaces that make it an enjoyable gathering place for employees, community members, students, and visitors to the region. 

MIT is in the process of exploring new ideas for its properties surrounding the Kendall/MIT MBTA station.  Although full plans have not been developed, one of the goals of the effort is to enliven the ground floor of current and future buildings with a wide range of uses that will generate excitement and create an enhanced sense of community.

We are hosting a series of community brainstorming sessions to discuss ideas and opportunities for the publicly accessible space in Kendall Square.  Among the suggestions we have already heard are patios for outdoor dining, retail shops, public art, and interactive exhibits celebrating technological innovations.  But we want to know what you think!

All of the sessions are the same, so please choose whichever one is most convenient for you.  In order to help with our planning, we are requesting advance registration.  Each session will be approximately 75 to 90 minutes long and held at the Cambridge Marriott.

·         Tuesday, September 28, 7:30 pm

·         Wednesday, September 29, 8:00 am

·         Wednesday, September 29, 7:30 pm

·         Register:

E-mail your name, contact information and selected session to kendallsquare@MIT.edu to register.  You will receive confirmation of your participation in your selected session.  Your contact information will not be used for any other purpose.

·         Feedback:

Whether or not you can attend a session, please feel free to send an e-mail with your thoughts to kendallsquare@MIT.edu.

·         Learn:

For more about MIT in Kendall Square, please visit http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/kendall-update.html

Sincerely,

Sarah Gallop

Co-Director, Government and Community Relations

MIT

YouthBuild Just-A-Start Seeks Volunteer Mentors

To anyone who may be interested please have a look at the information below, and to anyone who may know someone who might be interested, please pass the information along. This is a great opportunity:

Volunteer Mentor Opportunity

YouthBuild Just-A-Start is looking for mentors to work with students aged 17-24 who are enrolled in our program.  This program provides out of school youth with education, job skills, leadership skills, and a chance to get their lives headed in a positive direction.  YouthBuild mentors will provide support to their mentees as they go through the YouthBuild experience, as well as ongoing support to graduates in order to ensure their continued educational, personal, and professional success. Mentors are a key part of the YouthBuild community, supporting the learning, development, and exploration of the students.  

Skills Needed

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Enjoy working with adolescents
• Caring, dependable, and a good listener
• Supportive, flexible, open and approachable
• Resourceful in helping their mentee achieve their educational and career goals.

Responsibilities & Time Commitment

• 12 month commitment, with approximately 4-6 hours/month (combination of in-person meetings, group activities, phone calls, emails, etc.)
• Focus attention on the student’s Life Plan (short and long term goals)
• Attend program ceremonies, e.g. a Matching Ceremony and a Celebration at the end of the program
• Communicate twice a month with Mentor Coordinator, who will provide support for these relationships.

Eligibility Requirements

• 25 years of age or older
• Successful completion of full application process and training
• Acceptable CORI and SORI.

Benefits of Volunteering as a Mentor

• Become part of a dynamic, youth focused agency
• Experience the fulfillment of watching a young person grow, develop skills, and gain confidence
• Opportunity to learn about different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Chance to guide a young adult towards their education and career goals
• Become more involved in your community.

If interested, please contact:

Kati Chase, Mentor Program Coordinator

YouthBuild Just-A-Start

Phone: 617-492-1460 x20

katichase@justastart.org

CitySprouts Celebrates 10th Anniversary

CitySprouts is a community organization that partners with Cambridge Public Schools in order to educate students about their health and the environment. It operates a district-wide school garden program that serves over 4,000 children, with a garden at each K-8 school in Cambridge. The integration of these school gardens into the class curriculum creates a valuable opportunity for children to learn about agriculture, sustainability, and where the food they eat comes from.

On Saturday, October 2nd from 11am-3pm, CitySprouts will be holding a Harvest Festival at the Tobin School. Come share the harvest grown at public schools throughout Cambridge, while enjoying crafts, games, and cooking activities. Tours of the CitySprouts garden at the Tobin School will be given, as well, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about this exciting program! More information is available at citysprouts.org.

Health and Nutrition Services Available to Elder Residents

At the beginning of last month I wrote about an upcoming series of blog posts that will focus on the unique challenges facing our elder citizens. The goal of these posts will be to examine elder issues in depth, and to offer information about services available to elders that will help them thrive. In part one of the series I will discuss some of the complex health and nutrition-related issues that aging has created for many members of The Greatest Generation.

---

The right to choose where and how we live and the right to live with dignity are values that I believe our society should uphold and dearly respect. For all adults, young and old, the ability to be independent day-to-day can greatly influence quality of life. The ability for many elders to remain independent hinges heavily on their ability to stay healthy.

Staying healthy requires, first and foremost, access to quality, affordable healthcare. In some cases, the most appropriate health care services for elders are those that are performed in the home. Home Care allows many elders who have difficulty with mobility to remain in their homes while being provided with truly essential medical and social services. At present, The Executive Office of Elder Affairs has the ability to provide Home Care to 45,000 elders each month through 27 different Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) located throughout the Commonwealth. ASAPs provide a wide variety of services to elders, ranging from medication-dispensing and grocery delivery to in-home healthcare and protective advocacy.

In the cities of Cambridge and Somerville, Home Care services are provided by Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES). Eligible elders (click here for eligibility information) can receive assistance with tasks such as bathing, dressing, housework, laundry, grocery shopping, medication reminders, meal preparation, or medical transportation. The services are state-subsidized, and co-pays are determined on a sliding scaled based on income.

These services are essential to improving and maintaining the quality of life of many elders and persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, whenever Massachusetts needs to tighten its purse-strings, these are the types of programs that tend to suffer, limiting the choices that our elders have, and in some cases, forcing them to move out of their homes and into long-term care facilities. Earlier this month, however, the federal government approved $450 million in state aid for Medicaid in Massachusetts, meaning that a large amount of funding for state health programs that was cut during this year’s budget process will be restored. 

Eating balanced, nutritious meals is essential to remaining healthy, and as a result, remaining independent. It may sound simple, but this is one of the toughest challenges facing elders, especially those with low incomes or limited access to transportation. Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services provides a number of services that help elders eat a healthy diet for a cost they can afford. For those who need meals delivered to their homes, a meals-on-wheels service is available that provides a hot lunch and a cold bag supper Monday through Saturday, as well as frozen meals for the weekends. SCES also operates Community Cafés which serve hot meals Monday through Friday at senior centers and senior/disabled housing in Cambridge and Somerville. These programs are available for a small suggested donation to those eligible and for a fee for all others. To learn about who is eligible, visit the SCES web page by clicking here or call 617-628-2601 for more information.

For those who are able to prepare their own meals but may have trouble acquiring the ingredients necessary for a healthy, balanced diet, SCES and the Greater Boston Food Bank operate a “brown bag program” which provides eligible residents with a 10-15 pound bag of healthy groceries. The bags typically contain things such as milk, cheese, pasta, rice, ground beef, tuna, green beans, peanut butter, and oatmeal. The program is open to residents of Somerville and Cambridge who meet certain age, disability, and income requirements. For more information on the program’s eligibility requirements and how to register, click here.

SCES also offers nutritional counseling at local senior centers, and private counseling is available for SCES clients. For those who have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through solid food, SCES offers nutritional “boost shakes” at their office, or for delivery to SCES clients. EBT (food stamp) cards are accepted as payments.

For more information about these services, you can call Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services at 617-628-2601, or visit their website at http://eldercare.org/ContactUs/ContactInfo.shtm. You can also request information in person by visiting their offices at 61 Medford St. in Somerville.

Constituent Tours offered by the State Library

State House, Boston - map

The State Library is inviting the general public to come and tour its extensive collection! This may be of special interest to anyone who is looking to arrange a tour for a school group with a desire to learn more about their city or town's history.

Anyone who would like to set up a tour can contact Pamela Schofield at pamela.schofield@state.ma.us or call 617-727-2590. You can also contact the reference department directly using the above number or by e-mailing reference.department@state.ma.us.


For more information, visit the library's blog here.

Tim Appears on SCATV's Greater Somerville

On August 3rd I appeared on "Greater Somerville" with Joe Lynch and KyAnn Anderson to discuss some of the hot issues being debated on Beacon Hill and beyond. You can watch the complete show below.

Lesley Uiversity/CPSD Compass Program Visits State House

State House, Boston - map

On August 12, 2010, faculty and students from the Lesley University/Cambridge Public Schools Compass Program came to Beacon Hill for a visit of the State House. The children enrolled in the program are K-6 students from all over Cambridge. Supervised by student teachers and their mentors, the students spend their summer in the Compass program engaged in various enrichment activities and academic studies.

After their guided tour of the State House, I got a chance to meet the group and speak with them about their experiences. I also spoke with the students about the legislative process and how a bill becomes a law. They were such a bright, inquisitive group, and a pleasure to have!

 
Tim with the Compass Program group.

If you have a group that would like to schedule a State House tour, please give my office a call at 617-722-2380.

Flood Assistance Update

The deadline for picking up a Small Business Association disaster loan application at Somerville High has been extended to Thursday, August 12, at 5:00pm. If you have not done so, please do so as soon as possible. The address for the high school is:

Somerville High School
81 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143

For a map, click here.

Flood Assistance for July 10th Storm

The US Small Business Association has declared the flash flooding that affected many parts of Somerville and Cambridge on July 10th a disaster. This declaration allows eligible parties to apply for low interest loans in order to recover from physical damage and economic injury caused by the flooding. Applications for a physical damage loan are due by September 27, 2010, and applications for an economic injury loan are due on April 27, 2011.

A disaster loan outreach center is open at the following location:
Somerville High School (Atrium at the Field House)
81 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143

It will be open at the following times:
Friday July 30, 2010 from 9:00AM to 5:30PM

Saturday July 31, 2010 from 9:00AM to 1:00PM
Monday August 2 through Thursday August 5, 2010 from 9:00AM to 5:30PM

To learn more about this program, please click here.

Additionally, the Home Improvement Program at Homeowners Rehab have available affordable financing, free construction and project management to repair the flood damaged homes of those who qualify. To learn more about this program, please click here.

Once again, those who have questions or concerns about the flooding earlier this month may call my office at Cambridge City Hall at 617-349-4278 or my office at the State House at 617-722-2380.

Flash Flooding Hits Cambridge and Somerville

Cambridge and Somerville - map

As many of you know, Cambridge and Somerville were hit with heavy rain and some severe flash flooding last Saturday (July 10th). According to officials from the City of Cambridge, the severity of the flooding was caused by rainfall totaling 3.58” within a one-hour period in Cambridge, and 4.3” in the same hour in Somerville. An inch of that rainfall occurred within 10 minutes—a truly incredible rate that exceeded the capacity of the Cities' drainage systems.

I am aware of the fact that a number of homes and businesses were damaged by the flooding, and I would like to take this opportunity to offer my support to those who have been impacted, and to make available some important information that may be helpful during this stressful time.

If your home or business was damaged by the flood and you have not yet reported this to your City's Department of Public Works, please do so! The Cities need to reach a certain damage threshold in order to receieve disaster assistance, and the Cities' abilities to accurately assess damages is critical to this process. If you are inside Somerville, you can dial 311 to reach the DPW. Cambridge residents should call 617-349-4800 to report damage. Please document any damage to your home or business, and save any receipts that you have from your cleanup.

At the moment, officials from the City of Cambridge and the State are working with FEMA and MEMA (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency) to coordinate an appropriate response for the victims of the flood. Though it has not yet been determined whether or not disaster assistance funds will be available for the community, it is certainly a possibility.

The Cambridge Department of Public Works has set up a website with information for victims of the flooding: http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/news/FloodingJuly2010.htm

The City of Somerville has set up a similar website for Somerville residents who have been affected: http://www.somervillema.gov/alert.cfm?alert_id=295

I encourage anyone with questions about the flooding last Saturday to call my office at City Hall at 617-349-4278, or my office at the State House at 617-722-2380.

Service to Elders the Focus of Student's Prize Winning Essay

State House - map

On May 20, 2010, Angela Ward, an eighth grade student at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, was honored at the State House for winning the Grand Prize in the 2010 Credit Union Student Essay Contest. The contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts Credit Union League Inc. and the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation, asked students this: “if you had unlimited time and money, what aspect of community service would you volunteer for and why?” Angela’s thoughtful and impressively written essay was judged to be the best among more than 1,200 entries from around the Commonwealth.


Tim presents a citation to Angela at the State House.

In her grand prize-winning essay, Angela writes that given unlimited time and money, she would use it to improve the quality of life of our senior citizens. “For five years I have had the privilege of living with my 93-year-old Granddaddy,” she writes. She goes on to describe how her Grandfather has needs, but requires the support and love of those around him to meet those needs. She recognizes, however, the fact that not all seniors have the help that her family is able to give to her Grandfather, and instead require the support of the community in order to have their needs met. What an insightful young woman!

Angela concludes her essay by saying this: “helping elderly people is an investment in their future and ours.” I couldn’t agree more, and in that spirit I will be writing a series of blog posts highlighting the issues our elders face, what services are available to them, and how to volunteer in order to make a difference in their lives. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for this important information.

Click here to read Angela's complete essay.

Good Jobs in Higher Education Forum Held at State House

State House, Boston - map

As you surely know, Cambridge is recognized across the globe as a center for academic study and technological advancement. The prestige that MIT and Harvard bring to the city is something that Cambridge should certainly be proud of, but equally worthy of our City’s pride and recognition are the thousands of people who work behind the scenes to keep these institutions running at full steam.

On Wednesday, June 16th, I co-hosted a forum with SEIU Local 615 at the State House to discuss the state of jobs at higher education institutions across Massachusetts. Wayne Langley, the higher education director at SEIU Local 615, joined John Collins, an employee of MIT, and Juan Gutarra, an employee of Harvard, in expressing their concerns about how the endowment crisis has impacted workers and local communities.

Wayne Langley discusses the findings of the white paper.

Mr. Langley discussed the findings of a white paper that was commissioned by SEIU Local 615 to study the effects that the financial downturn has had on endowments at institutions in New England. The paper’s findings point to the need for higher education institutions to pursue more responsible investment strategies in order to protect the livelihoods of their workers. It is my hope that these findings will help start a productive dialogue within the legislature about how to ensure that the communities of the Commonwealth that depend on higher education jobs can survive times of economic instability.

John Collins speaks to Tim after the event.

Mr. Collins, a long time resident of Somerville and active member of SEIU Local 615, gave a powerful speech about his recent experiences as an employee of MIT. He explained that as he has watched MIT expand, he has also seen friends, co-workers, and neighbors lose their jobs at the institution. He stressed that many parts of Cambridge and Somerville depend heavily on MIT for good, reliable jobs, which have become harder and harder to find in recent years.

Juan Gutarra described how his experience working at Harvard has changed during the economic downturn.

Mr. Gutarra, speaking through a translator, explained that he has faced a similar situation at Harvard, where he has worked as a janitor for the past decade. He described how his hours have been cut and altered, making it harder for him to get by, and asked that more oversight be exercised over universities to ensure that endowments are invested responsibly.

It was a great honor to co-host this important discussion with SEIU Local 615, and to hear the concerns and challenges of our community’s workers firsthand. I believe that this forum has helped raise awareness in the legislature over what is a critical situation to so many, and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to tackle this complex issue. Above all, I will continue to stand by the workers of Cambridge and Somerville in the months and years to come.

Positive Steps Forward for Green Line Extension

East Cambridge & East Somerville - map

After years of countless meetings, public hearings, letters and tireless advocacy from so many involved community members, I’m pleased to announce that the Commonwealth has reached a major milestone in the extension of the Green Line through Cambridge, Somerville and Medford with the release of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA).

The Green Line Extension will vastly improve the state of public transportation in the City of Somerville, making our community easier to access for residents and visitors. As this project moves forward, however, we need to make sure it is done in a way that is right for the people who live near it and the people who will use it when it is completed.

Before a project of this magnitude can be undertaken, it is important that we study the potential impact on the environment, the safety of the community, and the quality of life for the Green Line Extension’s immediate neighbors. Last year, EOEEA released a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR/EA) detailing the effects of the proposed extension.

In January, I sent a letter with my comments regarding the DEIR/EA to Secretary Ian Bowles of EOEEA. I used my comments to express many of the concerns that members of the community had voiced to me. On June 15th, the FEIR was released, and I am happy to say that many of the changes to the DEIR/EA that our community advocated for have been included in the final report.

First and foremost of these changes is the decision about the location of the new Green Line maintenance facility. In the letter that I sent to the Secretary in January, I expressed my concern that the use of Yard 8 for the maintenance facility (which was at that time the favored option) would negatively impact the residents of the Brickbottom area, and would potentially stifle future economic development within the Inner Belt. In my comments, I stressed that Option L, one of the two alternatives presented in the report, was a far better choice for the location of the maintenance facility. Thanks to the active participation among members of the community, including elected officials, the Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) and the residents of Brickbottom, I am pleased to report that MassDOT has chosen Option L as the preferred site for the maintenance facility.

This is a victory for the residents of East Somerville and East Cambridge for a number of reasons:

• Option L will create more separation between residential areas and the maintenance yard.

• It will not preclude road construction between Brickbottom and the Inner Belt, meaning that future economic development in the area will not be hindered.

• The Brickbottom Artist Building, Hampton Inn Hotel, Glass Factory Condominiums, and future developments on Water St. will experience no more than one decibel of additional noise from the Option L maintenance yard.

• The placement of the facility in an existing industrial area will mean that the local environment will not be substantially altered.

• The yard will comply with all state and federal air quality regulations, and will reduce the amount of storm water drainage at the site.


Option L (center in blue) would produce less noise for Brickbottom residents than Yard 8 (bottom left in blue).

In my January letter, I also expressed concerns over the design of the proposed Lechmere station overhaul. These concerns were echoed by the East Cambridge Planning Team (ECPT), and I am pleased to see that the redesign includes better door access from the north and south sides of the station, as well as fare collection and other amenities that are now fully inside the station, shielded from the elements. The bus drop-off/pick-up area will now be directly connected to the station by a door, and the station will be fully handicap accessible.

One of my most pressing concerns about the Green Line Extension project is that it will move Lechmere station to the opposite side of the Monsignor O'Brien Highway, creating a potentially dangerous situation for the thousands of commuters that will now need to cross a wide, busy street to access Lechmere from East Cambridge. The layout that has been proposed since the DEIR includes accommodations for a wider pedestrian crosswalk, and the FEIR makes the recommendation that a median no less than 20 feet wide be constructed on the O’Brien Highway in order to shield pedestrians from turning traffic. Although this is not an ideal solution for the commuters travelling to the station from East Cambridge, it is a vast improvement over earlier proposals. I will continue to fight both in the State House and City Hall to make pedestrian safety a top priority as the project moves forward.



The proposed Lechmere station layout found in the June 15th FEIR.

Finally, I want to share with you my excitement at seeing the Green Line Extension moving closer to becoming a reality. The release of the Final Environmental Impact Report marks a significant step forward for a project that will be crucial to the future of East Somerville. Affordable and efficient transportation is critical to any urban area, and the latest numbers indicate that the Green Line Extension will increase daily ridership by 52,000 people by 2030. That means that each day, 25,000 fewer miles will be travelled by cars through our communities! Now that, my friends, is a breath of fresh air.

MAPS Director Honored at 26th Annual Heritage Day of Portugal

State House - Boston map

On Tuesday, June 1st, 2010, members of the House, Senate, the Massachusetts Portuguese community, Lt. Governor Murray, and others gathered in the House Chamber to celebrate the 26th Annual Heritage Day of Portugal. The Heritage Day of Portugal was founded in 1985 as a way to honor the contributions that Portuguese immigrants, those of Portuguese decent, and friends of the Portuguese community make to their neighborhoods, the Commonwealth, and the nation.


Recipients of the Portuguese Heritage Award were honored in the House Chamber.

Each year I have the great honor of recognizing an individual member of the Portuguese community in Cambridge and Somerville who has enriched the lives of those around them. This year was certainly no exception. It was with great pride that this year I nominated the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS), Paulo R. Pinto, for the Portuguese Heritage Award.

Paulo is a native of Portugal, and was raised in Mozambique. He immigrated to the United States in 1980 and has spent his career working on behalf of the Portuguese community in the health and social service fields. Before joining the MAPS in 1994, Paulo served as Executive Director of the Immigrants Assistance Center, Inc. of New Bedford for four years. Paulo also coordinated the Governor’s Urban Teen Service Corps and Youth Council for the Center for Health and Human Services in New Bedford.

Paulo began his career at MAPS as Program Administrator for Disease Prevention in 1994, and then moved up to Deputy Executive Director in late 1995. In 2000, he was appointed to the position of Executive Director of MAPS by the organization’s board of directors. For the last 10 years, Paulo has led the organization with the vision of improving the lives of the Portuguese-speaking residents of Massachusetts. MAPS helps members of Portuguese-speaking communities become active participants in American society while maintaining a strong cultural identity. MAPS also seeks to increase the Portuguese-speaking community’s access to essential services, such as health and education, through advocacy and outreach.


Tim with award recipient Paulo R. Pinto

Paulo Pinto is a shining example of an individual who understands what it means to be an effective advocate. His service to our community’s Portuguese-speaking immigrants has been essential in building a thriving and engaged Portuguese community in Cambridge and Somerville, and it was an honor to have had the opportunity to recognize him.

ESMS Birthday Bash Showcases Rich History and Future of East Somerville

SOMERVILLE - Cafe Belo, 120 Washington St. map
East Somerville Main Streets

East Somerville Main Streets celebrated its third birthday with a big bash and a big crowd at Cafe Belo on Washington St. across from Buddy's Diner. ESMS has come a long way in three short years, to the benefit of the entire area. The group has worked tirelessly to connect the residents with municipal government, state government, local businesses, and each other. True to form, this birthday bash connected residents, businesses, law enforcement, and elected officials over good food and good conversation.


East Somerville residents enjoyed food and met their neighbors at Cafe Belo
*Photo credits to Renee Polcaro

ESMS wasn't the only birthday: lifelong Somerville resident and dedicated volunteer Fred Caruso also celebrated his 79th birthday. Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche, and Aldermen-At-Large Dennis Sullivan, Bill White, and Jack Connolly were on hand to celebrate the evening and to present the "Mayor of East Somerville" with a resolution from the Board recognizing his hard work and dedication to East Somerville. Fred has been a great friend to me and to all of East Somerville over the years, and it was touching to see how humbly and graciously he received recognition from the Aldermen and from the crowd.


Fred Caruso receives a citation from the Board of Aldermen
(left to right: Alderman Connolly, Alderman White, Alderman Roche, Fred's son John Caruso, Alderman Sullivan, and myself)

Some of the highlights of the evening:

* Volunteers from the ESMS committees for some of the most popular community events in Somerville spoke on behalf of the work their committees have organized, including Renee Polcaro on First Tuesdays Neighborhood Afterhours, Matthew Martino on International Movie Nights, Christian Waeber on Cleanup Day, and Laura Vivenzio on the Savoring East Somerville Cookbook and Neighborhood Guide.


East Somerville resident and ESMS member Renee describes the First Tuesdays event

* A presentation from ESMS member Eric Barry on the first ever ESMS survey, commissioned to provide a snapshot of the neighborhood's visitors and residents as a starting point for the group's work. A followup will be done in ten years to provide insight into how the neighborhood has changed and gauge how closely ESMS goals have been met.


The assembled crowd of local residents, elected officials, business owners, and law enforcement watched on as the presenters described the ESMS projects.

* Acting police chief Michael Cabral spoke about the neighborhood policing efforts the police force has undertaken, especially since the introdcution of the East Somerville police substation.


Acting Somerville Police Chief Michael Cabral

* State Senator Patricia Jehlen spoke on the long history of neighborhood involvement and the successes she has seen over the years living in and representing Somerville.


State Senator Pat Jehlen offers up a history of successful community involvement in Somerville

* Monica Lamboy from the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development in Somerville spoke on behalf of Mayor Curtatone to describe some of the big changes coming soon, including upcoming construction on Washington St. and Assembly Sq.

* Dorie Clark, an East Somerville resident and communications expert, is stepping down this year as Vice President of the ESMS Board and was honored for her work. President Susan Fontano and Executive Director Carrie Dancy described how valuable she has been helping them get ESMS up and running.


Outgoing Vice President of the ESMS board Dorie Clark receives congratulations from board President Susan Fontano

From the size of the crowd and the energy of the people, it is clear the ESMS staff, board, volunteers, and neighbors have done a lot of groundwork to bring the organization to where it is now. East Somerville Main Streets has done excellent work engaging, connecting, and bringing out the best from the people of East Somerville.

Little League Tryouts: East Cambridge March 13th, Somerville March 21st

CAMBRIDGE - Frisoli Youth Center, 61 Willow St, Cambridge map
East Cambridge Little League Baseball

SOMERVILLE - Cousens Gym, 161 College Ave at Tufts, Somerville map
Somerville Little League Baseball

Baseball season is almost here! Don't miss the chance to get your kids on the field for tryouts this Saturday, March 13th at 9am in East Cambridge and Saturday, March 21st from 10am-4pm in Somerville.

Somerville Little League can be reached at 617.326.7333

From the East Cambridge little league website:

Registration 2010

Returning players, new players, and returning and new farm
league/t-ballers, are requested to pay the registration fee as soon as possible
for the Spring 2009 season. Little League - $60; TBall/Farm - $30.

At 9am, Saturday March 13th, registration will be accepted at the Frisoli Youth
Center (61 Willow St.) during Tryouts/Draft Day.

Please contact President Don "Ducky" Down by email: dfourdowns@msn.com or cell phone: (617.777.7314 ).

Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday at the ESCS at Edgerly

SOMERVILLE - East Somerville Community School at Edgerly
8 Bonair St., Somerville map

For Paula Atwood's first grade class, there can never be too much Green Eggs and Ham on Dr. Seuss day. They started the day with green eggs in the cafeteria and finished it with Green Eggs and Ham in the classroom.



Dr. Seuss' children's books are a national treasure. The beautiful art and simple stories have a message of fairness, acceptance, and social justice. It is always an honor and a joy to get the opportunity to read along with a group as energetic and engaged as this class. Most of them read right along with me, sometimes before the page was turned!


Ms. Atwood's first grade class in hats they made themselves

East Cambridge Business Association Launches

CAMBRIDGE -

East Cambridge Business Association Website
Cambridge Chronicle article: ECBA Hosts first networking event


The East Cambridge Business Association launched this past month with their first networking event on Feb 25th. The event was a big success and drew a crowd of 40 to the East Side Bar & Grill (yelp page) at 561 Cambridge St (right across the street from my office).

The ECBA intends to organize and unite the many varied businesses of East Cambridge. As their website puts it, their mission is:

"To promote and maintain sustainable commerce in East Cambridge; to be a single voice for its members; to promote activities that bond East Cambridge businesses with their neighborhood; and to preserve the historical integrity and importance of East Cambridge."
-ECBA Mission statement

There has already been a lot of interest in the ECBA thanks to a lot of hard work from the early members and organizers. The organization is a great idea and could help East Cambridge come together as a united front to preserve our historic community and face the upcoming economic challenges for local businesses.

The members already include a wide variety of services from familiar East Cambridge spots:
List current as of 3/10/10

Realty
ABG Realty 307 Cambridge St

Dental Services
Alegria Dental Group 1058 Cambridge Street

Dining / Bar

Arams No. 2 345 Cambridge St

Atwoods Tavern 877 Cambridge Street
Courtside Food and Spirits 291 Cambridge St
East Side Bar and Grille 561 Cambridge Street
Pugs Bar and Grill 635 Cambridge Street
Portugalia Restaurante 723 Cambridge Street

Beds

Boston Bed Company 616 Cambridge Street

Framing

Cambridge Art & Frame 101 1st Street

Printing

Cambridge Printing Company 47 Seventh Street

Financial

CPCU Credit Union 251 Hampshire St

Dimesworth 170 Gore St

East Cambridge Savings Bank 292 Cambridge Street

Community Services / Child Care

East End House 105 Spring Street

Groceries / Delis

Mayflower Poultry 621 Cambridge Street
New Deal Fish Market 622 Cambridge St

Law Services

Malis Law 30 Second St

Funeral Services

Rogers Funeral Home 380 Cambridge St


~
ECBA Contact information:

You can contact the ECBA at info@EastCambridgeBA.com

If you would like to sign up for the newletter and special offers click the button below

East Cambridge Business Association

P.O. Box 410386

Cambridge, MA 02141

Harvard Extension Celebrates 100 Years of Continuing Education and Community Involvement

CAMBRIDGE -
Harvard University Extension School
Cambridge Chronicle article: Harvard Extension School Celebrates 100 years

The Harvard Extension School reached a huge milestone and celebrated its 100th year of providing top-notch continuing education. The Extension School has educated thousands of Cambridge residents and countless others from around the world. Here is the cake they brought out for occasion:


51 Brattle St, in cake form

Harvard Extension has been more than just an institution for learning. Over the one-hundred years they have been in Cambridge, they have made it part of their mission to live with and give back to the community. They offer scholarships to Cambridge residents and employees and have helped hundreds of families afford a quality education close to home. Harvard Extension has exemplified the role a large institution should play in a community by going beyond the requirements and looking to do more for the community.


Tim presents Dean Michael Shinagel with a citation in honor of the 100 year anniversary

Green Line Environmental Impact Report Comments

This past Thursday I submitted my letter with official comments regarding the Green Line Extension Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR/EA) to Secretary Ian Bowles of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Over the course of this public comment period, I have heard from hundreds of constituents in the 26th Middlesex District. I have also been consulting with MassDOT, Mayor Curtatone's office, The Cambridge City Manager's office, my colleagues, and a variety of community and environmental organizations to determine the best way to bring the Green Line Extension to Cambridge and Somerville.

The important points:

• Option L for the maintenance facility, not Yard 8 - As I have put forward in a previous post, the decision of where to place a maintenance facility is extremely important to the future development in East Somerville. Yard 8, the current preferred alternative from MassDOT, is an unacceptable option. Instead of placing the facility next to the Brickbottom Artists residence, the facility should be placed next to the existing Boston Engine Terminal as described in Option L.
• Increased pedestrian access - Both the new Lechmere station and Brickbottom should have safe alternatives for pedestrian access. "The relocation of Lechmere station across the McGrath/O’Brien Highway to the Northpoint parcel means that thousands of commuters from East Cambridge will now be required to cross a major, multi-lane highway to access the Green Line. It is imperative that the protection of these commuters is a top priority for the Commonwealth, and that we ensure that pedestrian access from the south of McGrath is consistently and reliably safe."
• Additional mitigation for Glass Factory residents - "Additional planning and mitigation also needs to be considered for the residents of the Glass Factory Condos, where the elevated track will run within feet of their windows."

Full letter below.



Click for full pdf