Sousa's Market opens near Union Sq. in East Somerville

Sousa's Market
201 Somerville Ave, Somerville map

Somerville News - "Somerville welcomes new business"

At a time when it seems like too many shops are closing up or jobs are being lost, it was exciting to join Mayor Joe Curtatone, Senator Patricia Jehlen, Alderman Dennis Sullivan, and other members of the community for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Sousa's Market on Somerville Ave, near Union Sq. Sousa's Market will be a family-owned convenience store and market run by long-time resident of Somerville and Cambridge Walter Sousa and the Sousa family.

Cheryl, Joseph, and Walter Sousa. ~Photo by Bill Tauro

This is the kind of local community business that will help revitalize the local economies across the country and get us back on the right track. I know the Sousa family will work hard, and I wish them all the best of luck!

Walter Sousa was also honored by the Legislature and Governor this month on the 25th annual Day of Portugal celebration at the State House for his contribution to the Portuguese communities of Massachusetts. Full story from the Somerville Journal:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/homepage/x702328027/Walter-Sousa-honored-at-25th-annual-Heritage-Day-of-Portugal-event-at-State-House

Lechmere Station / Green Line Extension Community Meeting

Wednesday May 20th 2009
6 – 8 PM
Kennedy-Longfellow School Auditorium
158 Spring Street Cambridge

The Executive Office of Transportation, the City of Cambridge and City Councilor and State Representative Tim Toomey are sponsoring a community meeting to discuss the relocation of Lechmere Station and the Green Line Extension Project. The meeting will feature presentations on the overall Green Line Extension as well as specifics about the new Lechmere Station and associated roadway changes including multiple new pedestrian crossings of McGrath/O’Brien Highway.

For questions, please contact:

Bill Deignan –Transportation Program Manager
Cambridge Community Development Department
344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 – by e-mail at: wdeignan@cambridgema.gov
(617) 349-4632 TTY (617) 349- 4621

or

Regan Checchio
contact Regan Checchio by email at rchecchio@reginavilla.com or phone at 617-357-5772 x14.

Additional Assistance
The City of Cambridge Community Development Department does not discriminate on the basis of disability. Community Development will provide auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative format, and reasonable modifications in policies upon request.

Patriots Day Celebrations Monday April 20, 2009

Somerville - Foss Park - 10:00am
Cambridge - Cambridge Common - 10:45am

This Monday April 20th marks the 234th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Cambridge and Somerville both share a very proud history that put us at the forefront of our nation’s battle for independence. Come and join in the remembrance and reenactments organized by our Veterans Services departments and share with your family a big piece of our local history.


For information on the Somerville Celebration at Foss Park
http://www.somervillema.gov/NewsDetail.cfm?instance_id=1435

For information on the Cambridge Celebration at the Cambridge Common
http://www.cambridgema.gov/VET/NewsDetail.cfm?story_id=2099

SPRING CLEANING PART II: RECYCLE

Cambridge

In addition to cleaning out your closets this spring, perhaps it time to go through the garage and basement. Some of the items that residents would typically throw away on trash day could now be very easily recycled or much more safely disposed of.

At the DPW yard at 147 Hampshire St the city maintains a top notch recycling yard that accepts a variety of items from scrap metal to old computers. So if you find yourself rummaging through the dark corners of your basement wondering how your going to make some room, take a look at the various items you might be able to recycle at the drop off center.
http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/Dropoff.html

Additionally the City hosts a number of Hazardous Waste collection days at the Concord Armory.
This year the first one is being held on April 25th. It’s a great opportunity to get rid of chemicals that you may have accumulated over the years. Just load up your trunk and drive through the line, you don’t even have to get out of your car. Workers will unload you and you are on your way in no time.
For information about the items collected please visit
(http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/schedules/hseHazard.html)

It important that we all contribute to a better environment and proper disposal of harmful chemicals and keeping our recyclable out of landfills can have a tremendous impact on our community.

Some other useful information:

Separate yard waste collection begins the week of April 6th
(http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/yardwaste.html)

Multi-family buildings with 6 units or more are eligible for free wheeled recycling toters. DPW will label them for “paper/cardboard” and “containers” and deliver them to your building. To request recycling toters, visit
http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/toter_request.html.

SPRING CLEANING PART I: DONATE

Cambridge /Somerville

Spring is here and that means its time for Spring Cleaning. This year in particular keep in mind the many options that you have instead of sending your old treasures to the trash heap. As you sort through your closets, attics and storage bins please realize that many of these items would be welcomed donations at a variety of local charities. The Cambridge Public Works website has a list of local charities that would be happy to accept a variety of donations. Just give your local non profit a call and see if one of your items could enjoy a second life in a new home. Being part of a community means that we all do our part in the times we are facing

For a list of Charities accepting donations please visit
http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/departments/recycle/donaterecycle.html

Budget Forum April 1st

Century Bank, 400 Mystic Ave, Medford map
right off Route 93, near Somerville
7-9pm

For anyone curious about the budget process going into the 2010 fiscal year, Senator Patricia Jehlen's office has organized an informational event in Medford, right near the Somerville border. Representatives Paul Donato, Jim Dwyer, Sean Garballey, Jason Lewis, Denise Provost, Carl Sciortino and myself are sponsoring the event as well.

The budget itself is a complex process, and if you would like to learn more, this forum will provide some answers. The speakers will include:

David Sullivan, Legal Counsel to the Governor's Office of Administration and Finance
Noah Berger, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Judy Meredith, Executive Director of One Massachusetts

Public Safety Committee Meeting

Wednesday January 21, 2009 @ 6pm in the Sullivan Chamber (Cambridge City Hall).

The Public Safety Committee will be having a public meeting to hear an update from the Police Commissioner on recent crime trends, and also to discuss the Hazard Mitigation Plan with the Commissioner of Public Works.

Please join us and share your thoughts.