Midnght Parades and Inaugural Invites

[tomchampion.livejournal.com]

I thought DSLJ readers might be interested in our most recent Connect CTY call script, delivered last night by Lesley Delaney Hawkins to the homes and businesses directly adjacent to the route:

"Hello, this is Lesley Delaney Hawkins from the City of Somerville with important information about a scheduled overnight NSTAR equipment move through your neighborhood. Beginning at midnight on Thursday, January 3rd NSTAR will be transporting a transformer along Willow Ave and Broadway to Alewife Brook Parkway. Residents can expect a convoy of public safety and utility vehicles with flashing lights moving slowly along the corridor. We expect the move to last approximately six hours. If you have any questions or need additional information please call 311."

So, if you see a slow-moving procession of flashing lights in the early hours of Friday morning, you'll know why.


ALSO, here's a Community Note from the city:
"Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has announced that the 2008 Inaugural Ceremony will be held on Monday, January 7th at 6:00 p.m. in the Centennial Auditorium at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue. A reception will immediately follow the formal ceremony, at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street. The event is free and open to the public, and formal attire is suggested. For more information, please call 311."

You are all most welcome. I am required to wear a tux, but you don't have to.

Comments

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

the 2008 Inaugural Ceremony will be held on Monday, January 7th at 6:00 p.m.

During the BCS National Championship game?!!?!?

** GASP! **

;-) I kid, I kid. I know there are like 12.5 people who even care about this game.

In any event ...

Geaux Tigers!!!!!!!!

[ron_newman]

I'm from Columbus, so I care a little bit. But isn't the game at 8 pm? I sure hope the ceremony doesn't last two hours.

The city charter requires the inauguration to be held on the first Monday of January, which means it has sometimes occurred on New Year's Day, or on a January 2 that is otherwise observed as an official holiday.

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

city charter requires the inauguration to be held on the first Monday of January

How the hell do you know that Ron? More importantly, why do you know that??

[ron_newman]

It came up a few years ago when people were wondering why inauguration was happening on New Year's. I can't remember what year.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the game's not 'til 8. But pre-gaming activities start Friday :).

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Well poo on you.

GO BUCKEYES!

[maeghanbeth.livejournal.com]

It was actually last year (2007). Between the historic flag-raising in the morning and the state of the city address that evening, it was one rough and work-filled New Years Day!

[ron_newman]

But ... why was there an inauguration last year? There was no city election in 2006.

[maeghanbeth.livejournal.com]

No inaugural, but a swearing-in of new president and vice president of our Board of Aldermen and School Committee, as well as the annual address (alternatively titled Midterm Address or State of the City Address) by the Mayor. Newly-elected Lt. Gov Tim Murray also brought greetings from the Commonwealth.

[ron_newman]

I didn't even know this event happened. That must have been one lonely ceremony last year.

[tomchampion.livejournal.com]

It was packed -- and I have the video to prove it.

Way off topic and way nerdy

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Poo on O. S. YOU! :)

I have no idea what to predict about the outcome of this game. Seeing as LSU is favored, there's tons of hype, and they lost this game to an SEC school last year, under-the-radar OSU will be playing with a bid ol' chip on it's sholder.

On the other hand, LSU will (FINALLY) be playing with a healthy defense, including a healthy Glenn Dorsey. And it's essentially a home game.

I wouldn't put money on it, myself. Well, maybe I'd take the under. But I am putting my entire spring and summer on it, emotionally!!!

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

Today's Jan. 2. So isn't midnight, Jan. 3rd, tonight at midnight? If it begins on Friday morning, isn't it Jan. 4th?

[ron_newman]

This is why things like bus and train schedules sometimes try to avoid scheduling a departure for exactly midnight.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I live on Willow Ave., and I thought that I had figured out that the procession begins tonight, but now I'm just confused.

[tomchampion.livejournal.com]

Ron: It wasn't an inaugural, but it WAS a midterm, so it was still a big deal. Any time I have to rent a TelePrompter and the Lt. Governor shows up, it's a big deal.

Pearly: C'mon, you wascally wabbit. You know what we MEANT.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

No, seriously, I don't. Is it tonight?

[tomchampion.livejournal.com]

Oops. I thought you were shining me on. It starts tomorrow night and runs into the early hours of Friday morning. And it promises to be well worth sleeping through. I just know, however,that the 311 switchboard is going to light up with callers who think we're experiencing either a natural disaster or a military coup.

[ron_newman]

Yeah, it's not like you're moving old houses down the middle of the street. Hopefully it will be silent -- no police sirens, and not so much vibration that it sets off car alarms.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

that rocked to see, though.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

It must be pretty big, however, if it takes six hours to go a few miles. Maybe it's worth staying up to see. I wonder if it's going Broadway to Willow to Beech to Mass Ave to Rindge to Alewife?

[ron_newman]

From Tom's post, I assumed the opposite -- going north on Willow then left on Broadway to Route 16.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

I thought of that, too. But where would it be starting from?

[ron_newman]

I believe the large building at the SW corner of Willow and the bicycle path is an NStar power substation.

[pearlythebunny.livejournal.com]

That must be it then. I was thinking that building had something to do with RCN.

[ron_newman]

They might share it. I recall some coöperation between RCN and Boston Edison (predecessor to NStar) back when RCN was first building out Somerville.

[elements.livejournal.com]

As long as it's not loud, I'm happy :D.

[ron_newman]

Too late now, but in hindsight I would have made this absolutely clear by saying something like "from midnight Thursday to about 6 am Friday morning". Redundant but unambiguous.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info, Tom. My robocall went to voicemail, but for whatever reason, wasn't smart this time enough to restart at the beep, so I only heard the last six words or so. I meant to look into what it might be about, but completely forgot.

Thank you for once again averting disaster!

[ron_newman]

If you have caller ID and you return the call, you'll hear the entire message. At least that has worked for me in the past.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

As it happened, I did (accidentally, I think?) call the number back before checking my voicemail, and the message was the Notorious Tommy C. letting us know the snow emergency had been lifted.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

You are all most welcome. I am required to wear a tux, but you don't have to.

Now you're just toying with us. Tom Champion in evening clothes? Be still, my foolish heart!


And, yes, in future, it's a good idea to follow Ron's suggestion and say "Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday" rather than doing the "midnight on Thursday" thingie. Avoids all possible confusion. And it's NSTAR, so the likelihood that they are going to get going at 2400 hours on the dot is pretty minimal ;)

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

He wears the supersuit spandex underneath, like Clark or Peter.

[ron_newman]

The event is free and open to the public, and formal attire is suggested.

I liked it better when it was next door in the High School auditorium, with no formality required. Think that was two years ago, but maybe it was four.

[ron_newman]

I meant, next door in the gymnasium.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Why do people these days try to avoid dressing up at all costs?

Ringe?

[ladypeter.livejournal.com]

Does anyone know if this convoy went down Ringe Ave? I saw a lot of flashing lights during the night. It's not mentioned in the announcement, but it _does_ go to Alewife...

Re: Ringe?

[zmgmeister.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was wondering where it went. I'd posted an account of the event as it was happening in my area, but some felt it was largely redundant to the original (this) post, and it was deleted, but discussed further at:

http://community.livejournal.com/davis_meta/9408.html

[ron_newman]

A few photos are posted here and here. Can't really see much in them, unfortunately.

NSTAR Parade Encore

[bigfatwhale.livejournal.com]

I guess NSTAR had to return this thing. I took better photos (http://blog.bigfatwhale.com/2008/01/11/return-of-the-somerville-mystery-object/) this time.

[tomchampion.livejournal.com]

Actually, they had to take out the old transformer that had been replaced by the newer unit shipped in overnight on January 3-4.