![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
pruning grape vines?
May. 3rd, 2015 04:57 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
pch1.livejournal.comHey kids, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a local service that can take back some unruly, unmaintained grape vines? Thanks!
pch1.livejournal.comfrancescadavis.livejournal.comI received this email today. This is the fund collected from the property tax surcharge. Those monies will be dispersed and if you have thoughts, now is the time to be heard.
Good evening,
The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) received 15 applications for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds totaling $8.8 million in December and wants to hear from you about which should receive funding. Please send your comments to Emily Monea at emonea@somervillema.gov or Emily Monea c/or SomerStat, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143.
You can review the project proposals HERE as well as the applicants’ presentations from the community meetings. Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31st.
Please forward this email to anyone who may be interested in joining the CPA conversation.
Best,
Emily
Emily Monea
Community Preservation Act Manager
Mayor’s SomerStat Office
City of Somerville
617.625.6600 x2118
somervillema.gov/cpa
Sign Up Now for CPA News
For Email Newsletters you can trust.
mem-winterhill.livejournal.comA quick report on my take about this meeting. I will try not to editorialize, but just report on the content. Anyone else who attended should feel free to add further detail, correct my perceptions, or discuss further. Full version below the cut.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
mem-winterhill.livejournal.comVia: @MysticMyRWA, tweetable version here: https://twitter.com/MysticMyRWA/status/525646351322075137
WYNN RESORTS DEVELOPMENT ON THE MYSTIC RIVER:
Presentation & Discussion Forum on Environmental Issues
WYNN RESORTS DEVELOPMENT ON THE MYSTIC RIVER:
Presentation & Discussion Forum on Environmental Issues
October 28, 2014 - 7:00 p.m.
Winthrop Street Functional Hall at Tufts University, 51 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA.
Register: http://mysticriver.org/wynn-resorts-presentation/
(I don't know if registration is required for attendance)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ron_newmanFour years ago, I began making a Google Map of obscure stairways, ramps, paths, and shortcuts in and near Somerville. Since Google Map URLs are quite long, I gave this map a shorter one that's easy to remember:
http://TinyURL.com/ObscureSomerville
Please look at the map and let me know of anything you think should be added to, removed from, or changed on this map. You can comment here or send e-mail to the address on my LJ profile page.
I post this notice once or twice every year. Here are links to the earlier posts:
June 2013 | April 2012 | April 2011 | June 2010 | May 2010
Notable changes from last year:
(Even though I'm tagging this "bicycle", many of the places marked on the map are suitable only for pedestrian use.)
http://TinyURL.com/ObscureSomerville
Please look at the map and let me know of anything you think should be added to, removed from, or changed on this map. You can comment here or send e-mail to the address on my LJ profile page.
I post this notice once or twice every year. Here are links to the earlier posts:
June 2013 | April 2012 | April 2011 | June 2010 | May 2010
Notable changes from last year:
- a new pedestrian/bike underpass below Route 28 between Ten Hills and Assembly Row
- the Gilman Street underpass is closed to both pedestrians and vehicles due to McGrath Highway bridge construction
(Even though I'm tagging this "bicycle", many of the places marked on the map are suitable only for pedestrian use.)
ron_newmanSome time in the past few days, the Community Path extension was fully paved from Cedar Street to just beyond Lowell Street. They've taken away the chain-link gates and the "Construction Area - No Trespassing" signs at the Cedar Street end, so people are now walking (and walking their dogs) on the new pavement.
The path entrances from Maxwell's Green are still blocked by chain-link fencing, but there are gaps in the fences that appear to have been deliberately left open.
The path currently dead-ends past the Lowell Street bridge, because they haven't yet built the U-turn ramp up to the bridge. (Are they also planning to build a stairway? I can't quite tell.) There is no fence or railing yet to protect you from walking off the edge and tumbling down the hill to the railroad tracks. Also, no lighting has been installed yet, and a lot of landscaping is still in progress.
The path entrances from Maxwell's Green are still blocked by chain-link fencing, but there are gaps in the fences that appear to have been deliberately left open.
The path currently dead-ends past the Lowell Street bridge, because they haven't yet built the U-turn ramp up to the bridge. (Are they also planning to build a stairway? I can't quite tell.) There is no fence or railing yet to protect you from walking off the edge and tumbling down the hill to the railroad tracks. Also, no lighting has been installed yet, and a lot of landscaping is still in progress.
Somerville Canyon
Sep. 9th, 2014 07:04 pmrmd.livejournal.comA big sinkhole opened up over at the intersection of Medford and Pearl streets, near City Hall and down the hill from the main branch of the library. Medford and Pearl streets are closed between School and Walnut streets at the moment, if you're wondering why there's been crazy deadlock traffic this afternoon - I'm not sure how far Davis-ward the traffic extended.
( pictures behind the cut )
( pictures behind the cut )
ron_newmanLast week, Ian Judge walked by the long-abandoned function hall on Broadway in Powderhouse Circle, and took these four photos, touching off a long Facebook discussion thread. (The thread is public, and I'm posting this here with Ian's permission.)
Both the "Garden Room" and "Cabot Farms" signs have been taken down, the awnings are gone, and some construction seems to be going on inside. The "Cabot Farms" sign is now lying in the back yard; I don't know what happened to the "Garden Room" sign.
According to Doug Orleans, who lives there, the city ordered the property owner to remove the signs and awnings, claiming that they were eyesores.
If anyone knows more about the property owner's plans, please comment here!
(Earlier DSLJ posts about this place: September 2007 | June 2009 )
( Ian Judge's photo of the Cabot Farms sign )
Both the "Garden Room" and "Cabot Farms" signs have been taken down, the awnings are gone, and some construction seems to be going on inside. The "Cabot Farms" sign is now lying in the back yard; I don't know what happened to the "Garden Room" sign.
According to Doug Orleans, who lives there, the city ordered the property owner to remove the signs and awnings, claiming that they were eyesores.
If anyone knows more about the property owner's plans, please comment here!
(Earlier DSLJ posts about this place: September 2007 | June 2009 )
( Ian Judge's photo of the Cabot Farms sign )
ron_newmanDoes anyone know why it is taking so long to repair the exterior of the building at Elm and Chester streets? The scaffolding has been up since last November, causing the MBTA to move the bus stop down to in front of Anna's Tacqueria. The Dunkin Donuts is probably losing some business from people who can't tell whether it's actually open, or who just prefer not to walk under a whole city block of scaffolding.
getting City tree trimmed?
Jul. 29th, 2014 07:19 pmjd-science.livejournal.comLooking for advice... I put in a request to 311 over two months ago to have a City tree in front of my house trimmed. I've followed up 3 times to 311 and once to an individual DPW employee. The only responses I've gotten are that my request has been sent to DPW.
Has anyone ever had a situation like this and dealt with it successfully? It's apparently not allowed to have a private company come trim the tree, so I'm a bit stuck. 311 has generally been helpful, but in this case I'm getting pretty frustrated.
Thanks!
Has anyone ever had a situation like this and dealt with it successfully? It's apparently not allowed to have a private company come trim the tree, so I'm a bit stuck. 311 has generally been helpful, but in this case I'm getting pretty frustrated.
Thanks!
gingicatThis is just over the line into Medford on a major road leading to Davis from I-93 and Wellington Circle etc.
http://medford.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/if-you-dont-like-the-highwinthrop-rotary-youre-not-going-to-like-this
Have you been avoiding the High Street/Winthrop Street rotary due to the construction?
Well, you may want to add Harvard Street to your list – at least during the day.
Harvard Street will be one-way westbound from Main Street to Boston Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays for the next two weeks, as construction on the road’s storm drains was expected to start Tuesday, June 3, according to the Tufts University Police Department.
The internal link goes to https://www.facebook.com/TuftsPolice/posts/10152443457530446:
Tufts University Police Department
June 2 at 7:10pm ·
Traffic Pattern change for Harvard Street in Medford. Please take note and plan accordingly.
The University received information this afternoon of a traffic pattern change affecting Harvard Street between Boston Avenue and Main Street in Medford for approximately the next two week period. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday June 3rd, due to a construction project replacing a 30“ storm drain, Harvard Street will be restricted to ONE WAY westbound traffic, from Main Street, Medford to Boston Avenue from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM each weekday. Those that travel to or from work via Harvard Street or that work at or frequent the Science & Technology building on Colby Street please plan accordingly.
http://medford.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/if-you-dont-like-the-highwinthrop-rotary-youre-not-going-to-like-this
Have you been avoiding the High Street/Winthrop Street rotary due to the construction?
Well, you may want to add Harvard Street to your list – at least during the day.
Harvard Street will be one-way westbound from Main Street to Boston Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays for the next two weeks, as construction on the road’s storm drains was expected to start Tuesday, June 3, according to the Tufts University Police Department.
The internal link goes to https://www.facebook.com/TuftsPolice/posts/10152443457530446:
Tufts University Police Department
June 2 at 7:10pm ·
Traffic Pattern change for Harvard Street in Medford. Please take note and plan accordingly.
The University received information this afternoon of a traffic pattern change affecting Harvard Street between Boston Avenue and Main Street in Medford for approximately the next two week period. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday June 3rd, due to a construction project replacing a 30“ storm drain, Harvard Street will be restricted to ONE WAY westbound traffic, from Main Street, Medford to Boston Avenue from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM each weekday. Those that travel to or from work via Harvard Street or that work at or frequent the Science & Technology building on Colby Street please plan accordingly.
ron_newman[This is the park at Highland Ave and Grove St, across from Rite Aid]
an e-mail from Luisa Oliveira, landscape planner for the city of Somerville:
Dear Friends of Kenney Park,
Thank you for your continued participation in the Kenney Park renovation project. Construction is scheduled to begin next week on Monday, May 5, 2014. Please help us spread the word around the neighborhood. The park will be closed and fenced off. If you see any unauthorized people in the construction area, please call 911.
Thank you in advance for your patience with the construction process. Remember that you can find updates on the City website:
http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/kenney-park
an e-mail from Luisa Oliveira, landscape planner for the city of Somerville:
Dear Friends of Kenney Park,
Thank you for your continued participation in the Kenney Park renovation project. Construction is scheduled to begin next week on Monday, May 5, 2014. Please help us spread the word around the neighborhood. The park will be closed and fenced off. If you see any unauthorized people in the construction area, please call 911.
Thank you in advance for your patience with the construction process. Remember that you can find updates on the City website:
http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space/kenney-park
Tree planting in Somerville this spring!
Apr. 25th, 2014 06:33 pmfefie.livejournal.comThe City of Somerville will plant about 600 trees this spring, about three times as many as it has in previous years. You can help by recommending locations; you can request one for your street by calling 311 or (617) 666-3311. The trees will be planted by a contractor and come with a three-year warranty that includes maintenance and care by the contractor.
The City will try to fulfill tree-planting requests as quickly as possible. Please be aware that not all tree-planting requests can be met; sometimes things like sidewalk width, utility work, and other nearby trees mean the City can't plant a new tree in a particular location.
[Announcement comes from the latest Resistat newsletter and from Ward 5 Alderman Niedergang's newsletter.]
The City will try to fulfill tree-planting requests as quickly as possible. Please be aware that not all tree-planting requests can be met; sometimes things like sidewalk width, utility work, and other nearby trees mean the City can't plant a new tree in a particular location.
[Announcement comes from the latest Resistat newsletter and from Ward 5 Alderman Niedergang's newsletter.]
genevra-mcneil.livejournal.comI have long admired the lovely sculptures that line the bikepath near the garden just out of Davis. That said, where a few dotting the undergrowth are quirky and interesting, I feel like maybe we've passed into crowded and junk-yard-esque. Am I the only one who feels this way? Does anyone know the artist (if there is only one artist)? Perhaps she or he can do a little curation on the collection -- a rotating set of five or ten sculptures with the others in storage?
Clearly this is just one woman's opinion. I was just curious what other people felt?
ETA: I actually suggested the middle-of-the-road solution -- a more curated garden -- because I WORRY that the new, more crowded aesthetic is going to get some phone calls to 311 and maybe get cleaned out entirely. I've lived here for more than 15 years and I love the garden, I'm just asking for a touch of restraint. There's a large space between "sanitized" and complete anarchy. Neighborly compromise is at the heart of city living.
Clearly this is just one woman's opinion. I was just curious what other people felt?
ETA: I actually suggested the middle-of-the-road solution -- a more curated garden -- because I WORRY that the new, more crowded aesthetic is going to get some phone calls to 311 and maybe get cleaned out entirely. I've lived here for more than 15 years and I love the garden, I'm just asking for a touch of restraint. There's a large space between "sanitized" and complete anarchy. Neighborly compromise is at the heart of city living.
underground streams/rivers
Apr. 23rd, 2014 10:22 pmsomerfriend.livejournal.comDoes anyone know of a map that would show where the underground streams and rivers in our general area are (for example Miller's River) Before buying a house, I'm curious to know the potential for basement flooding.
Yard Work?
Apr. 23rd, 2014 04:03 pmbc1994.livejournal.comHi all,
Any recommendations on a person or a company to do yard work? We have a fairly small lawn, but also have bushes to trim, mulching needed, raking, etc. We are located near Powder House Sq.
Thanks!
Any recommendations on a person or a company to do yard work? We have a fairly small lawn, but also have bushes to trim, mulching needed, raking, etc. We are located near Powder House Sq.
Thanks!
kgradow1.livejournal.comThis Sunday March 30 from 12-4, Parts and Crafts is putting together a balloon mapping trip to photograph the proposed Union Square MBTA development site. We're looking for people who live nearby who would be interested in letting us set up in your yard or driveway to get closer shots of the area! We'll likely be 5-10 people with one balloon and a tank of helium, photographing between 12 and 2 pm.
If you live along Windsor, Newton St, Somerville Ave, Washington, or any side streets in between and want to host us, let us know! It's fun and low-impact and will hopefully result in some pretty cool maps of the area. Email katie@partsandcrafts.org or call 617-207-8016
If you live along Windsor, Newton St, Somerville Ave, Washington, or any side streets in between and want to host us, let us know! It's fun and low-impact and will hopefully result in some pretty cool maps of the area. Email katie@partsandcrafts.org or call 617-207-8016
aliothsan.livejournal.comhttp://mysticriver.org/myrwa-blog/2014/1/30/grow-native-ma-wildness-in-our-midst-the-middlesex-fells.html
Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
Free and open to all.
The Middlesex Fells Reservation (located in the Mystic River Watershed!) has an impressive diversity of 30 different habitat types that spring from its unique geology, topography, hydrology, soil, and climate. These habitats support a rich diversity of flora and fauna that is unusual for a metropolitan setting. Come learn about the exceptional biodiversity of this urban forest, first set aside as a reservation in 1894. We will focus on only some of the more than 500 species of native plants that grow here. And we will look for lessons about how these local plant communities might also inform the design of our own gardens.
plus, more Grow Native MA events on first Wednesday evenings of the month, through June: http://grownativemass.org/programs/eveningswithexperts
Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
Free and open to all.
The Middlesex Fells Reservation (located in the Mystic River Watershed!) has an impressive diversity of 30 different habitat types that spring from its unique geology, topography, hydrology, soil, and climate. These habitats support a rich diversity of flora and fauna that is unusual for a metropolitan setting. Come learn about the exceptional biodiversity of this urban forest, first set aside as a reservation in 1894. We will focus on only some of the more than 500 species of native plants that grow here. And we will look for lessons about how these local plant communities might also inform the design of our own gardens.
plus, more Grow Native MA events on first Wednesday evenings of the month, through June: http://grownativemass.org/programs/eveningswithexperts
Tree controversy hits the Globe
Jan. 20th, 2014 09:24 pmbobobb.livejournal.comI found this commentary interesting and it's right in Davis Square!
http://www.boston.com/community/blogs/askthepilot/2014/01/a_somerville_tree_saga_redefin.html
As a landlord who had to cut back a dying tree or have my insurance cut off (as a letter from the insurance company threatened), I have mixed feelings about this commentary and the author's suggestions. At the same time, I have three other healthy trees in my backyard I wouldn't touch.
http://www.boston.com/community/blogs/askthepilot/2014/01/a_somerville_tree_saga_redefin.html
As a landlord who had to cut back a dying tree or have my insurance cut off (as a letter from the insurance company threatened), I have mixed feelings about this commentary and the author's suggestions. At the same time, I have three other healthy trees in my backyard I wouldn't touch.
