Cigarette Butts

[lusciousnichols.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why I'm even posting this, perhaps it's just to vent or maybe, just maybe, someone has an idea?

I think we live in the coolest Square there is, and I'm really proud of it. But it makes me incredibly sad to see thousands of cigarette butts littered all over Davis Square. And to me, it's disgusting. It smacks of trashy, ill mannered and anti-green. And I don't need to go into the reasons why it hurts the environment, right?!

I read recently that 19% of Massachusetts smokes, which is better than the national average of about 25%.  I know this can't be true, but it seems like all 19% are doing their smoking in Davis Square. And I've never, not even *once*, watched a smoker dispose of their cigarette butt anywhere but on the ground. Smokers throws their butts to the ground, wherever they are, and whenever they like. Why is that okay? I guess I don't see this as any different from regular trash. Litter is litter.

I'm expecting the backward good old fashioned 'people-have-been-doing-this-forever-so-just-get-over-it' responses, but if we really were an unprogressive people, there would still be smoking indoors in public places and children would still be chewing lead paint off of window sills.

I'm not looking to denigrate smokers, I'm looking for solutions. Does anyone have any ideas to alleviate the litter?

It's just a game.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Where does a reluctant 20-something who tends to spend more time reading at Diesel than drinking in the bars in the area go to watch the game tonight?

Boston Free Films Oct. 22nd to Oct. 28th

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Boston Free Films, Vol. 4

 

BOSTON FREE FILM HINT OF THE WEEK:  To get invitations to special screenings, sign up for the Independent Film Festival of Boston mailing list at http://iffboston.org/global/list.php .   There are two free screenings this week and usually at least one per month. 

 

 

Here’s a look at the free films showing in the Medford-Somerville-Cambridge-Boston crescent from Monday, October 22nd to Sunday, October 28th.  If there are any changes I discover, I will post them here. 

 

( Coming attractions... )

Affordable Housing candidates' forum 10/24

[elements.livejournal.com]

The Somerville Affordable Housing Organizing Committee (AHOC) is holding a forum on affordable housing for alderman candidates to discuss their visions for addressing critical affordable housing needs in the city.

Candidates' Forum on Affordable Housing
Wednesday, October 24, 7 - 9 PM
The VNA, 259 Lowell St., 3rd floor
(some parking available; also walkable from Davis and on the 88 bus)

Candidates expected to attend include:

At large candidates: Fred Berman, Jack Connolly, Bruce Desmond, Tony Lafuente, Dennis Sullivan, Bill White
Ward candidates: Joe Lynch (5), Rebekah Gewirtz (6), Rachel Heller (7)

Language interpretation and childcare available, but must be arranged beforehand. Call 617-776-5931, Ext. 230.

(I don't have more details on this; just passing the info along.)