|
|
Workshop
to
Review
Zoning
Proposal
Scheduled |
 |
|
The
Board
of
Alderman
are
beginning
to
review
a
zoning
proposal
that
has
been
in
the
works
for
more
than
a
year.
ArtsUnion
began
the
process
to
amend
Somerville's
zoning
code
and
ordinances
in
the
summer
of
2005
with
a
series
of
public
meetings.
With
funding
from
the
Massachusetts
Cultural
Council
a
zoning
consultant
helped
to
draft
the
document
and
make
revisions
in
response
to
initial
community
feedback.
The
zoning
proposal
would
create
two
overlay
districts
in
Union
Square
to
spur
economic
development
in
Union
Square
--
an
arts
district
and
a
Planned
Urban
Development
(PUD).
The
proposed
changes
respond
to
the
fact
that
Union
Square,
while
approximately
the
same
size
as
Davis
Square
generates
only
about
half
the
tax
revenue
of
Davis.
The
proposal
recognizes
Somerville's
artist
community
as a
resource
to
be
nurtured
and
a
valuable
partner
in
advancing
the
neighborhood.
Mayor
Joseph
Curtatone
and
Aldermen
Thomas
Taylor
and
Maryann
Heuston
are
sponsoring
a
community
workshop
to
review
the
Union
Square
Zoning
Amendments.
The
workshop
takes
place
on
Monday,
November
20th,
at 6
p.m.
at
the
Public
Safety
Building,
Academy
Room,
220
Washington
Street,
located
behind
Ricky's
Flower
Market.
|
|
Clean
Up
Day
November
11 |
|
|
|
It's
been
a
long
and
fun-filled
summer
of
special
events
and
the
Saturday
farmers
market.
The
Design
Committee
of
USMS
is
gathering
helpers
to
sweep
up
the
litter,
weed
the
flower
pots
and
plant
beds
and
get
the
neighborhood
looking
tidy
before
the
chill
of
late
autumn
descends.
We're
looking
for
50
volunteers
to
join
us.
With
this
size
crew
we
can
do a
comprehensive
clean
up
of
the
entire
business
area.
Union
Square
Clean
Up
Day
is
Saturday,
November
11
from
10
am
to 1
pm.
Meet
on
the
central
plaza.
Tools,
lunch
and
good
cheer
will
be
provided.
RSVP
to
usms@unionsquaremain.org
so
we'll
be
prepared
for
you.
|
|
Loans
for
Small
Businesses |
|
|
|
Two
initiatives
are
available
to
help
small
businesses
secure
essental
start-up
funding.
One
is a
microfinance
initiative
sponsored
by a
student
group
at
Harvard
University.
Loans
of
about
$2,000,
free
business
tutoring
and
technical
advising
are
provided.
An
informational
meeting
on
Thursday,
November
9 at
7 pm
can
fill
you
in
on
all
the
details.
For
more
information
contact
the
Cambridge
Microfinance
Initiative
at
cambridgemfi@gmail.com
The
other
initiative
is
sponsored
by
the
City
of
Somerville.
Somerville
4
Business
is a
free
database
of
available
grant
and
loan
funds,
advisory
bulletins
and
more.
See
all
the
details
at
the
city
website.
|
|
Awaken
Your
Energy
on
Thursday
Nights |
|
|
|
Feeling
sluggish?
If
it's
Thursday
there
are
two
classes
at
Third
Life
Studio
that
will
revive
you
and
give
you
tools
for
life.
Sun
Do
Taoist
Yoga
and
and
Meditation
is a
Taoist
energy
building
yoga
that
was
begun
9,800
years
ago
in
Central
Asia.
Working
with
breath,
instructor
Rich
Kramer
helps
his
students
to
balance
mind,
the
body
and
the
emotions
while
slowly
developing
flexibility.
Tantric
Kriya
Yoga
is
based
on
the
work
of
Bodhi
Avinasha
and
Sunyata
Saraswati.
Glenn
Hughes
works
with
breath,
symbol
gazing,
posture,
movement
and
meditation
to
clear
blockages
in
the
energetic
system.
|
|
Last
Word
on
Fluff |
|
|
|
The
party's
over.
The
Durkee-Mower
Fluff
factory
tour
is
scheduled
for
the
winner
for
late
November.
All
the
rest
of
us
will
have
to
wait
until
next
year
to
get
another
mega-dose
of
Fluff.
You
can
see
all
the
final
details
of
"What
the
Fluff?
A
Tribute
to
Union
Square
Invention"
on
the
USMS
website.
There's
a
big
collection
there
of
videos,
photo
collections,
and
audio
clips.
You
can
even
get
the
recipe
for
the
winning
whoopie
pies
and
the
Erupting
Fluff
Volcano.
If
you
ordered
"What
the
Fluff?"
t-shirts
at
the
festival
on
September
30
you
should
have
received
them
by
today
--
they
were
mailed
on
October
27.
If
you're
still
waiting,
contact
USMS
at
usms@unionsquaremain.org.
Additional
"What
the
Fluff?"
T-
shirts
are
now
on
sale
at
Sherman
Cafe,
257
Washington
Street
in
Union
Square
in
kid's,
women's
and
men's
sizes
and
styles.
All
for
$15
each.
Ryan
Hassell
of
Somerville
Community
Access
Television
created
a
half
hour
documentary
that
captured
all
the
event's
merriment.
You
can
watch
it
on-line
or
you
can
order
a
DVD
from
SCAT.
For
info
on
purchase
contact
SCAT
at
info@access-scat.org
|
|
Become
a
Member
of
Union
Square
Main
Streets |
|
|
|
Union Square Main Streets, a non-profit organization, is a partnership of local businesses, residents and the City of Somerville to enhance the Union Square business district through active community collaboration. Become involved in making Union Square a more vibrant neighborhood.
Join us for an upcoming event, participate in one of our committees and become a member.
Memberships are $50 for Union Square businesses and $25 for residents and general supporters. Members receive: Free "Attracting Attention" Discount Card providing discounts with Union Square businesses; Tokens to spend at the Union Square Farmers market; Invitations to Special Events and Reduced Costs for USMS Programs; Recognition for Business Members in USMS materials.
Become a Member On-Line! |
|
|
|
Bring the Green Line to the Heart of Union Square
|
|
|
|
We're
making
progress
on
the
Green
Line
extension.
The
State
has
filed
the
mandatory
first
step:
an
environmental
planning
document
called
the
Expanded
Environmental
Notification
Form
(EENF).
This
document
sets
the
scope
for
a
study
that
will
detail
all
the
various
elements
involved
in
building
the
extension,
from
access
under
the
many
bridges
along
the
route,
to
assessing
electricity
demands,
to
the
placement
and
design
of
each
station
--
every
little
thing
that
will
be
affected
by
the
construction.
It's
a
great
step
forward
but
there's
one
big
thing
we're
concerned
about.
The
EENF
says
there
will
be
two
extensions
from
a
relocated
Lechmere
stop:
one
extension
along
the
west
side
of
the
Lowell
commuter
rail
line
to
Medford
Hillside
and
another
extension
to
the
Union
Square
area
along
the
north
side
of
the
Fitchburg
rail
line
--
likely
near
the
underside
of
the
Prospect
Street
bridge.
The
study
would
not
evaluate
the
feasibility
of
bringing
the
Green
Line
into
the
square
itself,
for
example
at
the
corner
of
Prospect
and
Somerville
Avenue.
Such
a
station
would
better
serve
the
area.
Union
Square
Main
Streets
has
drafted
a
letter
to
send
to
the
Executive
Office
of
Environmental
Affairs
-
the
state
department
overseeing
the
EENF.
We
encourage
all
interested
parties
in
Somerville
and
in
Union
Square
in
particular
to
also
contact
the
MEPA.
We're
most
concerned
that
the
EENF
as
written
omits
any
study
of
the
feasibility
of
bringing
the
Green
Line
into
the
center
of
Union
Square.
There
are
possible
cost-effective
ways
of
doing
this
but
without
evaluating
these
options
a
centralized
Union
Square
station
will
be
effectively
precluded
from
ever
being
built.
The
deadline
for
comments
has
been
extended
to
November
24
so
it's
not
too
late.
Address
for
comments:
Secretary
of
Environmental
Affairs,
100
Cambridge
St.,
Suite
900,
Boston,
MA,
02114.
Attention:
MEPA
Office,
Re:
Project
#
13886.
Or
send
your
comments
by
email
to:
deirdre.buckley@state.ma.us
Read
more
on
this
report
and
the
Green
Line
|
Thanks
for a
great
Farmers
Market
Season!
See you
next
Spring
|
