Lost dog at Chester and Orchard

[kikicabell.livejournal.com]

A six-month-old black lab mix was lost at Chester and Orchard yesterday about 11:00 am. It is believed that a woman picked her up in her car and was driving around with her. The dog's name is Molly. If you know anything about it, please, please respond.

Celebrate New Year's Day on Prospect Hill

[ron_newman]

On New Year's Day each year, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission celebrates the raising of the first American flag to feature thirteen red and white horizontal stripes. Know as “the Flag of Grand Union,” it was first raised by George Washington over the Continental Army’s encampment on Prospect Hill during the siege of Boston in 1776.



The event begins at 11:30 am at the City Hall parking lot, where re-enactors, fife and drum players, and local elected officials assemble for a short procession. The parade reaches Prospect Hill Park at noon, where there will be a ceremony that includes raising a replica of the First Flag onto the top of Prospect Hill Tower. Coffee, hot cider, and other refreshments will be available. In past years, people have been allowed to climb to the top of the tower, but I can't guarantee you'll be able to do it this year.

I've been going to this event for a few years and have always enjoyed it. To get there from Davis Square, take the #88 or #90 bus from Davis Square at 11:31 am, and get off either at City Hall (if you want to join the parade) or at the first bus stop on McGrath Highway (if you just want to walk up the hill yourself to the ceremony). Sometimes the bus ends up driving behind the parade.

Here's a flyer for the event, and the official press release.

New Space Opening Up

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

Today I noticed that the dollar store on Highland Ave in between (formerly) La Contessa and Blue Shirt Cafe is totally emptied out. No obvious sign of what's going in next. Just thought I'd mention this in case anyone knows someone who's looking for a cute storefront to rent. Of course it might already be spoken for.

Bus stops blocked with snow.

[squonk.livejournal.com]

I've just moved to the Davis Square neighborhood this year. I've seen a lot of discussion about the state of the sidewalks, but particularly upsetting to me is that when the city plows the streets, the snow is piled right in front of the bus stops. I'm blind and have balance issues, so climbing over massive snowpiles is difficult, and waiting in the street is plain unsafe (not that these things aren't difficult and unsafe for everyone!). From whenever there's a storm until the point when the snow melts, I'm essentially blocked from safely accessing the bus--which, I don't know, there must be an ADA violation in there somewhere.

I'm trying to figure out whom to talk to about this. I called the Somerville DPW a couple days ago, and they said they would call the MBTA to put in "an urgent request" to clear my stops on both sides of the street, and that I should give them "a couple of hours" to get it done. I kind of laughed at this, knowing that there was no way anything would happen within a couple hours--and indeed, nothing happened at all. Is this actually a city issue or an MBTA issue? The city is the one creating the barrier, but the MBTA, I would assume, is responsible for maintaining its stops and ensuring access to same.

Right now a lot the snow has melted, but I'd like to try to address this somehow before the next major storm. I've thought of calling the DPW again; my alderman; the MBTA general line; the MBTA disability access coordinator (or whatever their title is). I'd really rather not go around in circles, though, so I'm hoping someone here might have some more concrete ideas about where to direct my energy. (I'm also really hoping not to be told there's nothing that can be done; it doesn't seem possible that living here means that I just won't be able to safely use the bus all winter. Because seriously, I would have to move.)

Thanks so much in advance for your help, and happy holidays to those who celebrate.