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.25¢ www.TheSomervilleNews.com Vol. 40 No. 44 • NOVEMBER 23, 2011 Somerville’s only independent community newspaper [email protected] Inside: Coalition wants rollback of Walmart plans Neighborhood Market planned for Assembly Square By Elizabeth Sheeran A coalition of labor, small business, and other community groups have banded together to do something about Walmart's plans to open a gro- cery store in Somerville. But they are not sure what that “something” should be. The Somerville Coalition for a Responsible Hiring ordinance Walmart began to take shape after the retail gi- un-rapped ant first signaled its intent to convert the former Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran page 5 Circuit City store on Mystic Avenue into a Wal- mart Neighborhood Market. The smaller for- mat store - about one fifth the size of a typical Walmart big box superstore - will sell mainly groceries and pharmacy items, and will be the first of its kind for Walmart in Massachusetts. The Coalition held a community meeting on November 16, to share information and discuss alternatives, and it was clear from the start that Photo courtesy of Walmart Walmart did not have many fans in the room, if any. The audience broke into spontaneous ap- Walmart plans to turn the vacant Circuit City store on Mystic Avenue (above) into a Walmart plause when speaker Maureen Barillaro of Neighborhood Market, like this one (below) in Kansas. Somerville Climate Action Continued on page 15 Sports page 14 Eugene C. Brune to retire By Cathleen Twardzik Mayor of Somerville from 1980 to 1989, Eugene C. Brune, current Register of Deeds, has an- nounced that he will retire soon. As register, he serves the Middlesex County Southern District, which is comprised of 44 cities and towns. Mid- dlesex South is the largest registry in the state and, possibly, the eighth largest in the country. “Perhaps the most rewarding part of my job as register was in 1989,” said Brune. Interestingly, he “brought in a digital imaging system, newly designed by Wang Laboratories, into our reg- istry.” That enabled images of recorded docu- Christmas is ments to be captured. collectible The process involved utilizing document scan- page 21 ners, which resembled and worked similarly to photocopiers. Images were then saved on optical Newstalk . .p.2 disks. Importantly, imaging made a one-step The Week in Crime . .p.4 process possible. Commentary . .p.8-9 The previous traditional technique required Beacon Hill Roll Call . .p.10 “searching through the computer index and then TV Logs . .p.22 physically locating the appropriate record books Off The Shelf . .p.23 for review. With imaging the index search and image display can be done Continued on page 15 Eugene C. Brune, current Register of Deeds, will be retiring soon. 2 NOVEMBER 23, 2011 TheSomervilleNews.com Comment of the Week Response to Fire violation shuts down VFW Post in Somerville sue says: I think the violation was of a little-known, but becoming popular, statute: Firstly, all of us here at The Somerville News wish everyone ‘Old men and women, i.e.‘townies’,using very valuable land which use does not benefit city gov- a very Happy Thanksgiving. Donald and Patricia Norton, ernment, or Davis Square as a whole, and which use does not include one up-scale restaurant, Billy and Marissa Tauro, along with Cam Toner, Bobbie million dollar condo, or public bar.’ Toner, Jim Clark, Andrew Firestone, and all the writers of The News hope everyone is spending it with their families robofifi says: and friends this special day to give thanks for all our bless- ings, especially our families. Fire safety is no joke, and not being up to code is a major risk and disservice — not only to the guests of events that are held there, but also to the veteran members themselves (who are likely ********************** to be the ones most frequently in attendance)! This week we are announcing the 2011 winners for the “Best It’s shameful for the Post’s administrators to put fellow veterans’ safety on the back burner — this of Somerville” award.This year we had an overflowing amount should have been a priority addressed years back. of ballots submitted by our readers as their choices for “Best of…”We thank everyone for voting and we certainly congratu- I hope they are able to put the proper precautions in place and get back up on their feet. late all of those who won. The winners demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, value, and professionalism by The General says: their fellow 'Villens here in Somerville. lets “Occupy Dilboy”.Come on down and set up a tent. ********************** Log onto TheSomervilleNews.com to leave your own comments This past Tuesday the annual Tri-club meeting was held at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant by the many members of the Somerville Rotary Club and joining them were members of the Somerville Lions Club as well as Somerville Kiwanis TheSomervilleNews.com poll of the week Club. Each year all three service clubs raise and donate thou- In addition to breaking news, sports and opinion, TheSomervilleNews.com also features a daily poll sands of dollars back to the community here.The clubs have in which you, the reader, tell us where you come down on local issues. Last week’s poll concerned your gotten together for many years now and we salute each one views on whether or not you feel the economy is doing better or worse for this year's upcoming holi- for its work here on behalf of many Somerville residents. day season and whether or not you support the Casino Bill. If you don’t agree with the results, simply ********************** log onto TheSomervilleNews.com. Get well soon wishes to our good friend and Somerville Lions President Paul Carroll who is back in the hospital. Paul is a great guy and we wish him well for a speedy recovery. ********************** Get well also out to our good friend Anthony Cataldo who has been in and out of the hospital Continued on page 8 699 Broadway Somerville, MA 02144 [email protected] thesomervillenews.com 617-666-4010 • Fax: 617-628-0422 Publisher – Prospect Hill Publishing Publisher Emeritus – Robert J. L. Publicover Editor – Andrew Firestone Copy Editor – Jim Clark Advertising Director – Bobbie Toner Business Director – Patricia Norton Executive Assistant – Cam Toner Assignment Editor – Bobbie Toner Arts Editor – Doug Holder Creative Director – Jim Clark Writers: Julia Fairclough, Lauren Ostberg, Cathleen Twardzik, Ashley Taylor Contributors – Jimmy Del Ponte, William C. Shelton, Ashley Troutman, Peta Jinnath Andersen, Charlie Lynch, Jim Clark The Somerville News is published every Wednesday NOVEMBER 23, 2011 3 Dilboy Post fracas belies broken neighborhood Summer street controversy claims first casualty By Andrew Firestone swap, allowing them to build 31 condos on the plot, leasing it for Last week, the Dilboy VFW 99 years at the rate of $1. The Post 529 at 371 Summer St. in post would be rebuilt in their Davis Square was shut down current parking lot, in a new due to being out of fire regula- building at the cost of around tions, according to Fire Chief $1.6 million. Photo by Andrew Firestone Kevin Kelleher. The dilapidated “I think that the developer has building was finally put out of divided this neighborhood, it commission when city and state doesn't make any sense to me inspectors found out that there that they would insist on push- was no sprinkler system, and the ing forward with this proposal occupancy level was too high at when it has caused so much re- over 100 people. Despite efforts sistance in the neighborhood,” to limit space, such as walling up said Ward 6 Alderwoman Re- game rooms with concrete in the bekah Gewirtz, who said she basement, city inspectors de- wanted to see the post reopened clared the building unfit for as- and a new post built, a sentiment sembly. If the occupancy is shared by many neighbors. lowered to 95 with the aid of an “It's my understanding that all architect or experienced planner, of the developments they've built then the building can reopen. have structural problems,” she Commander Bill Hardy of VWF George Dilboy Post #529 was all smiles last year when the new post’s design was publicly unveiled. However, the real issue lies be- said, saying that she had heard hind this. It is a story of a devel- Arista's former development at developer intentionally withheld biased, and does not believe they auditorium and photographed oper, a veterans post and a 1188 Broadway needs a roof re- environmental reports in a 2010 act as an independent arbiter. each of them. Palatano denied neighborhood. placement after only three years. planning application, and were Proakis said he has also never this. Brady then delivered a For the last year, the veterans of The battle has played out large- favorably treated by the Zoning seen the aggressiveness of a legal speech from a letter he wrote, de- the Dilboy Post have felt they are ly before the planning board Board of Appeals by being al- counsel, Ed Brady, a retired manding the neighbors cease and engaged in a war with their with many twists and turns, with lowed to resubmit.They also say lawyer who represented the veter- desist their continued resistance neighbors. The reason: some of a few incidents that City Planner that the proposed new post, ans in October at a ZBA meet- and protest or risk being slapped the neighbors believe Roberto George Proakis called “unprece- which would include a bar, is ing. In a bizarre evening, neighbor with a lawsuit. He would later be Arista, the developer behind dented.” Proakis says that he has within residential zoning and Nancy Iappinni claims she saw seen roaming the neighbor- Strategic Capital Partners, is never seen this level of resistance thus an illegal proposal.

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