SUNDAY 10/22

[beforeigo.livejournal.com]

Contact me for info!

GirlsNQueers First, Tuesday, Oct 17

[girlsnqueers.livejournal.com]

( J*me, Toni Amato, Kit Yan & more. Oh my! )

Car Insurance?

[foxalbers.livejournal.com]

As a reward for my long move up from Pennsylvania, the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts is requiring me to get my car registered and insured... and while I'm more than satisfied with my current insurance company, they informed me today that they won't even bother insuring cars here in MA.

It looks like I'll need to pursue a different route for this -- can anyone recommend a good local insurance agent?

Boston Bicycle Film Fest, this Friday & Saturday

[ron_newman]

The Boston Bike Film Festival will happen this Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 7 pm, at the Somerville Theatre. (That's "bike" as in bicycle, not motorcycle.)

Tickets are much less expensive if you buy them online in advance.

(I have no connection to this event, other than as someone who has met the organizer and who enjoyed last year's festival.)

Rehearsal Piano Accompanist Needed

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Do you play piano? Theatre@First is in need of a rehearsal accompanist for a few November rehearsals of our December Cabaret.

( Can you help us, and be part of the fun? )

Unanimous Board of Aldermen Rejects Increased Competition and Consumer Choice in Wine Sales

[dominic-santos.livejournal.com]

At the October 12, 2006 meeting of the Board of Aldermen, a unanimous Board of Aldermen (Ward 4 Alderman Walter Pero was absent from the meeting) sponsored a Resolution that was ultimately approved “support[ing] the efforts of Somerville Cares About Prevention to defeat Question 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot, to allow supermarkets and convenience stores to sell wine, resulting in a 77% increase in liquor licenses in the city.” For the minutes of the October 12, 2006 meeting click here. This unanimous show of opposition against Question 1 clearly expresses the tenor of the current Board of Aldermen: legislate to protect entrenched and well-connected interests, and forget about the resident consumer. As Yes on 1 states (this is the organization leading the public relations campaign in support of Question 1, their website is here), “The facts show there’s no legitimate reason to prohibit consumers from buying wine at grocery stores.” With increased competition, consumers will pay less for wine, and those that care about supporting local businesses (I am among that crowd) can still visit their local liquor store. By supporting this Resolution against Question 1, the Board of Aldermen has declared that no choice is better for consumers.

I assume, without any factual support, that the Board of Aldermen is attempting to pander to the local liquor store population. Certainly, Question 1 does not present an issue of increased underage drinking. The spokesperson for the Massachusetts chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving told the Lowell Sun that Question 1 “is about . . . a battle for market share, and we don't have a dog in that fight.” Source: http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_4500491. MADD understands that this issue is about increasing competition and consumer choice, and not about underage consumption of wine. The progressive members of the Board of Aldermen should be ashamed the most. Instead of increasing competition and consumer choice, the progressive members of the Board of Aldermen are supporting a monopoly system that is prone to corruption and abuse. This Resolution is truly a sad day in Somerville history.