Somerville firefighters have responded to four house fires this week. None of these fires is considered suspicious. Somerville firefighters were kept busy during a six hour period on November 3rd and 4th responding to two porch fires. The first fire was reported at 9:02 pm on Sunday evening. Firefighters responding to 45 Kidder Avenue found fire burning in mulch which had spread to a first floor, front porch. Part of the porch siding had to be removed to complete extinguishment of the fire. The second blaze was reported at 1:56 am on Monday morning at 11 Oakland Avenue. Firefighters extinguished a fire on a second floor porch that had spread into an exterior wall. Firefighters had to open up several walls to complete extinguishment. At 1106 pm on Tuesday night, November 5th, an electrical fire broke out on the third floor of 72 Line Street. Firefighters had to open a section of ceiling to extinguish the fire and electrical power had to be shut down for the apartment. A third porch fire broke out this morning, November 6th at 848 am at 99 Porter Street. The fire was confined to a second floor rear porch and exterior wall. Improper disposal of smoking materials is suspected as the cause of all three porch fires.

The Somerville Fire Department would like to remind residents to properly dispose of smoking materials outside of their homes. Porch and deck fires have increased as smokers move outside instead of smoking in their residences. A metal container with sand is the best way to dispose of cigarette butts. Never use a potted plant or a plastic or combustible container to dispose of your smoking materials. These potted plants often contain peat and dead plant material which are very combustible. Never toss cigarettes into mulch or other vegetation around your property. It is also recommended to keep mulch at least 18 inches away from the base of your home. Pea stone or crushed rock should instead be used up against the building.

Photos courtesy of Somerville F.D.

Both photos are of firefighters completing extinguishment of the porch fire at 99 Porter Street on November 6th

Somerville joins prestigious group, now comprised of 18 member cities and 12 affiliate members nationwide. Somerville recognized for excellence in sustainable transportation, street design and transportation policy.

SOMERVILLE – The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)added the City of Somerville, MA to its affiliate member list last week, including Somerville in its prestigious list of just 18 member cities and 12 affiliate members nationwide that includes Boston, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., among others. In a press release, NACTO officials lauded Somerville for its “[commitment] to sustainable transportation initiatives, aiming to strengthen cities and improve quality of life through better street design and transportation policy.” Earlier this month, Somerville was also recognized by the League of American Cyclists with a Silver level Bicycle Friendly Community Award, recognizing a significant step up from Bronze in only two years. Continue reading SOMERVILLE ONE OF FOUR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE INDUCTED TO NACTO FOR EXCELLENCE IN TRANSPORTATION ISSUES →

The City of Somerville received a 3.29 rate on its $13 million Municipal Purposes loan after Moody’s assigns City’s highest ever credit rating to borrowing

SOMERVILLE – Reaping the benefits of the City’s highest ever credit rating in the City’s history, the City of Somerville will now receive a low interest rate on its previously approved short-term 20-year Municipal Purposes loan. After Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed the City’s Aa2 long-term rating earlier this year, the credit rating agency recently also assigned the City’s more than $13 million in short-term borrowing the same high credit rating. Continue reading CITY RECEIVES LOW BORROWING RATE AFTER HIGH CREDIT RATING →

Committees would advise the city on strategic planning decisions and development in both squares over the next two years
SOMERVILLE – The City of Somerville is seeking residents, property owners, members of the business community and other community representatives to serve on two advisory committees for Union Square and Gilman Square that will advise the city on strategic planning decisions and development in both squares over the next two years. Continue reading COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES FOR UNION AND GILMAN SQUARE NEEDED →

At noon on Friday, November 8, the City of Somerville will join the New England Patriots, Lowell Spinners baseball team, and 14 other Massachusetts municipalities in establishing a POW-MIA chair at City Hall. This chair will remind the public of the 42,000 American servicemembers who have taken as prisoners of war and the 83,000 servicemembers who have declared missing in action since World War II. The display will consist of a chair, American and POW-MIA flags, and a plaque.

The dedication ceremony will begin promptly at noon on the main floor of City Hall, opposite the City Clerk’s office. Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Alderman Jack Connolly, and Joseph D’Entremont of Operation Rolling Thunder are expected to speak. Operation Rolling Thunder is the organization of Vietnam veterans that originally proposed the idea of such displays. The public is invited to the ceremony.

Captain Charles Femino current Chief of Detectives, with
department since 1984 SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone
announced today that Somerville Police Captain Charles Femino has
agreed to serve as the Interim Acting Chief of Police beginning on
Dec. 1, 2013, until a permanent replacement is found for departing
Chief Thomas Pasquarello. Femino is currently Chief of Detectives
for the Somerville Police Department, a position he has held since
2011 and previously held from 2005 to 2009. He served as Deputy
Chief of Police in 2010 and has been an officer with the Somerville
Police Department since 1984. Femino has also performed in a
variety of progressively responsible positions in his career in the
Somerville Police Department and has

Continue reading FEMINO NAMED INTERIM ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE →

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by Neil W. McCabe

Have you tried to explain to younger people that being a Red Sox fan was not always about World Series championships, runs at the playoffs and the swagger of invincibility?
In the summer of 1975, a nine-year-old me wandered into my mother’s kitchen and announced: “Mom, I have decided that I am a Red Sox fan.”
“Don’t do it,” she replied.
“Why not?”
“They will only break your heart,” she said. “Every time.” Continue reading Today’s Red Sox fans have no idea what we went through →

Ward 1 Alderman- Matthew Mclaughlin beat Elio LaRusso Ward
3 Alderman- Bob McWatters beat Suzanne Bremer Ward 5 Alderman- Mark
Niedergang beat Courtney O’Keefe Alderman-at-Large- All Incumbents
undefeated Mary Jo Rosetti beat Sean Fitzgerald Ward 7 Alderman-
Katjana Ballantyne beat Joe Capuano