By Bob Katzen

The House 153-0, Senate 40-0, approved and sent to the governor a bill that would make major changes to the oversight and governance structure of the state’s veterans’ homes in Holyoke and Chelsea. The proposal follows the deaths of 77 veteran residents in 2020 as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke facility. A key provision would elevate the Department of Veterans Services to a cabinet-level executive office with direct reporting to the governor and the ability to hire and fire superintendents.
Continue reading SOLDIERS’ HOMES OVERSIGHT BILL →

By Bob Katzen

The House 153-0, Senate 39-0, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would accelerate improvements to local and regional public health systems across the state to address disparities in public health services by requiring the Department of Public Health to enshrine a set of standards for foundational public health services. The measure creates minimum public health standards for every city and town; incentivizes municipalities to share services; creates a uniform data collection and dedicates state funding to support local boards of health and health departments. Continue reading PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS →

By Bob Katzen

The House 151-2, Senate 36-4, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill that would legalize sports betting on professional and college sports for Massachusetts residents over 21 years old. Betting on Massachusetts colleges and universities would not be allowed unless the school is playing in a tournament like March Madness. The betting would be regulated by the Gaming Commission, the same commission that regulates the state’s casino gambling.
Continue reading SPORTS WAGERING →

By Bob Katzen

The House 137-16, Senate 40-0, approved and Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a bill designed to further protect reproductive health care and those who perform abortions in the Bay State. The measure specifically declares that both reproductive health care and gender-affirming care are rights secured by the constitution or laws of Massachusetts and would shield providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care and their patients from out-of-state legal action. The measure would ensure that patients over 24 weeks of pregnancy are able to receive an abortion in Massachusetts because of a grave fetal diagnosis that indicates the fetus is incompatible with sustained life outside of the uterus without extraordinary medical interventions and requires that those decisions are made between the patient and their treating physician. Continue reading REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE →

Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

   I just spoke to you sent to you the Letter and Petition signed by Clarendon Hill Towers Tenants and other Citizens from Somerville and surrounding areas.
     Due to the MBTA’s arbitrary deadline for letters, etc. of July 31,(which falls on a Sunday) we made sure the Petition was sent in July 30th…same day mail postage (very expensive.) Continue reading Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line: Clarendon Hill Towers Petition →

The Skating Club of Boston’s The Skating Academy Opens Registration for Fall Classes on August 3rd

The Skating Academy Offers Classes for All Ages Across Nine Locations

BOSTON (August 1, 2022) – The Skating Academy, The Skating Club of Boston’s Learn to Skate USA program, will open their fall registration on Wednesday, August 3rd. As New England’s premier ice skating school, The Skating Academy offers top-quality instruction and small group ice skating lessons for children and adults using the Learn to Skate USA curriculum endorsed by U.S. Figure Skating and USA Hockey. Continue reading The Skating Academy Opens Fall Registration at Founders Memorial Rink on Aug. 3rd →

The following is a brief summary to incident/investigation (s) #22041832/#22036749.

Members of the Somerville Police Department have been investigating an Armed Car Jacking that occurred at 460 Mystic Ave in Somerville Ma, on July 01, 2022. During the course of this investigation Detective Cicerone and I, were able to Identify two males that were involved in this incident. One male was identified as Daniel Vivas Miguel (DOB XXXX). I would note that Daniel Vivas Miguel is known to carry firearms. Continue reading Real Life Somerville Police Stories: (FIREARM, CARRY WITHOUT LICENSE, COCAINE, POSSESS TO DISTRIBUTE, DRUG VIOLATION NEAR SCHOOL/PARK) (Somerville Warrant) →

Residents of Clarendon Hill Towers
1374, 1370, 1366 Broadway
Somerville MA 02144

July 26, 2022

MBTA

Re: MBTA REDESIGN – BUS ROUTES PROPOSAL

The tenants of Clarendon Hill Towers, a 501 Unit, multi-family, low-income apartment community, as well as thousands of Somerville residents, strongly oppose the pending MBTA bus route eliminations and redesign proposal.

Clarendon Hill Towers is located adjacent to a thriving bus terminal. This terminal has been the main source of transportation for the multitude of Clarendon Hill Towers tenants. The diverse population of Somerville residents as well as the multitudes of people in surrounding neighborhoods and communities wholeheartedly support this terminal and its tried-and-true bus routes. Continue reading MBTA REDESIGN – BUS ROUTES PROPOSAL PETITION →

Our registrar is taking everybody for a ride on the taxpayer’s expense. It’s time for Maria Curtatone to leave office. “It’s time for Change!” Getting rid of two Curtatone’s for the price of one! Stay tuned!
Continue reading Letter from the Editor: Why is the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds still partially shut down? →

Join the Somerville Public Library and writer Amy Johnson on Thursday evenings in August for 2-hour online cowriting sessions. Continue reading Write Together – Thursdays in August →

This August, start your Tuesdays off right with a yoga class hosted by the Somerville Council on Aging. This community-oriented program will offer low-impact movements at a pace that’s easy to follow to support your physical and mental health. Continue reading Yoga Classes – Tuesdays in Augusta – Y →

Last month, as part of the ongoing Citywide Parking and Curb-Use Study, the team leading the project shared a slate of proposed recommendations to better use curb space in Somerville. The recommendations include strengthening parking administration and operations, reallocating curb space, changing regulations to better manage parking demand, and revising the permit program. Continue reading Take a Survey About Parking & Curb-Use Policies A Somerville streetscape with a No Parking sign in the foreground →

Continue reading Carbonneau Insulation, LLC (603)598-3491 →

Kirkland, Paul W. – Of Somerville, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2022 after a long battle with Alzheimers. Continue reading Somerville/Medford Remembering Paul W. Kirkland →

Build your ideal version of the 90 Washington Street redevelopment at a design workshop next week. 90 Washington Street is a 4-acre site near the East Somerville Green Line station envisioned as the future home of a new Public Safety Building and a range of civic, commercial, and residential uses. Continue reading Design Your Ideal 90 Washington Street →

At-home COVID-19 tests are a quick, convenient way to reduce transmission of the virus and protect friends and loved ones. Stock up now if you’re running low. Free test kits are available at the following locations (one kit per family member): Continue reading Stock Up on Free COVID-19 Tests →