VOL. 3 NO. 2 SOMERVILLE, MASS. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS Inside: SHS plays ‘Good City to reassess Sports’ in Boston snow removal policies By Jim Clark A number of concerns and complaints that have been voiced by Somerville residents over the updated snow shoveling policies announced by the city last month has compelled members of the Board of Aldermen to conduct a public hearing to solicit feedback and suggestions from the public. Fighting the Speaking in favor of the hearing, Alderman good fight at Large Mary Jo Rossetti said at last week’s page 5 regular meeting of the Board, “The majority of communications I’ve received – and I’ve actu- ally called and spoke with most of these peo- ple – after explaining to them further some of the assumptions. After I spoke with them they seemed somewhat satisfied. The remaining tone was the time frame. The 10 o’clock in the morn- ing time frame may be a bit too harsh. And I must say as one member now, I do agree.” According to the new policies, property own- ers are responsible for shoveling sidewalks abut- ting their property of snow and ice. To further ensure that sidewalks remain accessible for all The Somerville High School Boys’ Basketball team participated in the TD Garden’s Good Sports High residents, particularly senior School Basketball Invitational on Saturday. Story and pictures are on p.14. — Photo by Claudia Ferro Continued on page 3 Meet the Christmas Poets page 6 Junior Brown comes to town By Jim Clark Regular patrons of Johnny D’s Uptown Restau- rant and Music Club may have already had the good fortune of witnessing guitar-slinging leg- end Junior Brown in action. He has played the venue countless times throughout the years. But if you have not yet taken the opportunity to see for yourself then there can be no better place to be this coming Saturday night than Johnny D’s, experiencing a concert by one of the world’s pre- mier singer-songwriter-performers. The unique song stylings that Brown offers Kennedy School feature dry wit, often laced with biting irony or Artists satirical overtones, served up lavishly alongside pages 12–13 his dazzling guitar virtuosity. Those familiar with Brown are well acquaint- Newstalk . p .2 ed with his use of his trademark “guit-steel” gui- The Week in Crime . p .4 tars, which he developed himself. Consisting Commentary . p .10-11 of a conventional electric guitar connected to a Beacon Hill Roll Call . p .8 lap steel “slide” guitar below it, Brown effortless- ly switches between the two throughout each TV Logs . p .22 number in a mind-numbingly spellbinding dis- Off The Shelf . p .23 play of instrumental mastery. Continued on page 6 The one and only Junior Brown is coming to blow the roof off of Johnny D’s this coming Saturday night. 2••JANUARY 14, 2015 TheSomervilleTimes.com Comments of the Week Response to: A hub of hope for the homeless community S.J. Peterson says: Former Ward 1 Alderman James “Jim” McCarthy passed The SHC does good things, however, what we need is an emergency adult shelter. Their adult shelter only has away suddenly from a heart attack today while being rushed about a dozen beds and once in you can stay as long as a year. That means the few beds there are mostly unavail- to Somerville Hospital. Jim leaves behind his lovely wife Louise and three grown children and grandchildren. Our able. Also, in order to be considered for a bed you need to call them every single day to see if one is available. How condolences to his family and many friends, he will be many homeless people have the means to do that. I’d like to see them do more practical things to house the home- missed. Jim was very active locally in the politics, currently less on a nightly, emergency basis. as the Treasurer of the Somerville Redevelopment Author- ity. Jim knew the city better than most and was the kind of Uncle Rocco says: guy you could have a conversation with and always walk away smiling. What a great and giving guy he was, for he truly The City has a number of buildings that they could convert at least part of to help the homeless, like the Powder loved Somerville, both past and present. He had a wonder- House School or the Homans Building. Boston just did it on short notice with an old Fire Department building ful sense of humor and anytime you met up with him around down by South Bay. But Curtatone is not going to do anything like that, when he can finagle those properties over the city he would always have something to say that would make you smile and feel good. Arrangements are going to to his campaign contributors instead. be set after we go to press, but unofficially they are planning a wake at Doherty’s on Friday with Church services at St. A. Moore says: Ann’s sometime Saturday. Please go to our web site and as Yes, it is so disappointing that the PHS could not have been made use of for these purposes all these years. The soon as we can confirm arrangements we will post them. problem has increased here so much and senior homelessness has really gone way up all over the country. There is ********************* The kick off of the 2015 Business After Hours Series will be no need that people can’t have at the lest the simple basics to stay alive. We are need of a mayor that works for all Thursday, January 15. Join in on the 15th at the Chamber’s the people of Somerville. I watched millions spent on a bike path(as an example) when the use for the homeless next Business After Hours event at Foundry on Elm. This is would have been so much more humane. Some of these are children also. There is no need of it. an excellent networking event featuring free appetizers and a free business card drawing with cash bar. Sponsored by Barbara says: Cambridge Savings Bank. Hosted by Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Chair Dana Iacopucci I think this project to rehab the old Mystic Water Works station and turn it into 25 affordable housing units for of Cubby Oil & Energy. The Foundry is located at 255 Elm seniors and the disabled is a good idea. If you agree, let the Community Preservation Committee know. Street, Davis Square. http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/water-works-12-11-2014.pdf ********************* “This is East” is having a Launch Party for year 2 on Thurs- day, January 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Mudflat Pottery school, 81 Log onto TheSomervilleTimes.com to leave your own comments Broadway. East Somerville is changing. The “This is East” project allows East Somerville voices, stories and history to TheSomervilleTimes .com poll of the week be the catalyst of that change. Kick off our launch party by screening a short and powerful video documentary about In addition to breaking news, sports and opinion, TheSomervilleTimes.com also features a daily poll our community, as told by East Somerville residents and in which you, the reader, tell us where you come down on local issues. Last week’s poll concerned your business owners (produced by SCATV, the Somerville Arts views on whether or not you would like to see the city make use of empty buildings in Somerville Council and East Somerville Main Streets). Then we’ll dis- and build another emergency homeless shelter. If you don’t agree with the results, simply log onto cuss what characteristics of East Somerville are important TheSomervilleTimes.com. to capture and record for generations to come. The conver- sation will inform 1–3 public art Continued on page 11 699 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144 [email protected] www.thesomervilletimes.com 617-666-4010 • Fax: 617-628-0422 www.facebook.com/ @somervilletimes thesomervilletimes Publisher – Somerset Valley Publishing Inc. Editor – Jim Clark Assignment Editor – Bobbie Toner Executive Assistant – Cam Toner Advertising Director – Bobbie Toner Arts Editor – Doug Holder Writers: Jim Clark, Douglas Yu, Tom Bannister, Rebecca Danvers, Ross Blouin, Donald Norton Contributors: Jimmy Del Ponte,William C. Shelton Photographer: Claudia Ferro The Somerville Times is published every Wednesday JANUARY 14, 2015••3 City to reassess snow removal policies CONT. FROM PG 1 citizens, residents with disabili- think we need to think not just school is. If you had it at noon, ties, and young children walking about the time, but I think we that would give people a couple to and from schools, the city has need to think about fines and of extra hours. I don’t see what updated its allowable timeline commercial versus residential. you would lose. And for folks in which property owners must I’ve always said on this Board, who are really pressed for time shovel sidewalks before incur- places tha are commercial es- that might be helpful.” ring fines. The new schedule is: tablishments can afford to, and Co-sponsor of the order, Al- If snow ceases to fall after sunrise should be able to afford hiring derman at Large Dennis Sulli- (during daylight hours), proper- somebody to clear their side- van added, “I know that the in- ty owners must shovel sidewalks walks. They should be held to tent is good. I know that we’ve by 10 p.m. If snow ceases to fall a standard.” had problems in the past. But after sunset (overnight), proper- Ward 5 Alderman Mark Nie- we have to tweak it.