Spare Change Faker

[xjustquietx.livejournal.com]

Nearly a year ago someone posted this here.

Recently I saw the guy, at least I am 99% sure it is him, and managed to snap a photo with my cellphone camera. I've seen him before and tried, but it was always too obvious.

I'm wrestling with the ethics of this. He's never swindled me, but I'm pretty sure I've seen him swindle others. But that was a long time ago, and I'm beginning to question my memory. It seems like it's been awhile since he's caused any problems, and I'm wondering, does someone have the latest on this story? I don't think I should post the photo here, if it turns out he is just some random guy.

Otherwise I plan on just sending the photo to the Spare Change people, but I'm wondering if there's any more I should know or a better course of action, especially given that I can't ID the guy as someone who conned me personally.

Madoff fraud impact in Somerville - an update

[ron_newman]

Last month, nvidia99999 asked what impact the Madoff investment fraud would have in Somerville. Since people generally don't read new replies to old posts, I'm making this new post to draw people's attention to this week's Somerville News article:

Madoff scandal may take toll on Somerville organizations

The two organizations named: Youthbuild USA and our own beloved Somerville Arts Council, specifically its Books of Hope program, a creative writing workshop for local teens.

Really good seamstress in the area?

[tealegirle.livejournal.com]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a seamstress to make the dress I have in my head for me.  Has anyone had good experience with any locals in making a garment start to finish, from a description and/or pictures from you?

because I'm sure nobody ever says this: I love the Traffic & Parking Department!

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

For sheer novelty value I will share a happy story about the Traffic & Parking Department here.

With a few days over "enough" notice (ie, probably 25 days in advance when they said to allow 21 days in advance), I mailed off my parking permit renewal information in early January. The permits in our neighborhood expire at the end of January. January 31 came and went and I hadn't gotten my new permits.

So on Wednesday I remembered to check whether the check had been deposited (it had), and then called 311, who connected me to someone at the Traffic & Parking Department, who took my name, said that it had been mailed a full week beforehand, and we both agreed that it ought to have been delivered by now, but I would check my mail for a few days and hope it turned up.

Today, before mail delivery arrived, I found an envelope from Traffic and Parking addressed to me, with no stamp on it, left on my doorstep, containing the permits! I don't know if the originals got lost in the mail, or found in a batch that they forgot to mail out somehow, or what.
But the net result was - I made a call, talked to someone pleasant, and someone in some way went slightly out of their way to make sure I had my parking permits. Yay! Thank you, friendly traffic and parking employee!

Homeschoolers?

[peregrinehill.livejournal.com]

Hi.

I'm considering homeschooling my child. Is there anyone nearby who'd be willing to share their experience of getting started with me? I'm particularly interested in the process of making the transition from Somerville public schools to schooling at home, and in any local groups.

If you'd rather contact me by email, my address is peregrinehillATcomcastDOTnet.

Hopefully, thanks!

Special Event Tomorrow: Magpie & The Sampler

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

Magpie is having a special event tomorrow (Saturday Feb 7) with a wonderful local business called The Sampler (well, local being South Shore in this case).

Details behind the cut if you are interested!

( Read more )

today in long shots

[jovianconsensus.livejournal.com]

Did anyone lose a pair of glasses on Holland St., left sidewalk going north? Because I just found one.