Fresh from recent victories in the WFNX FM “My Song is Better than Your Song” Battle of the Mayors, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has accepted a Superbowl challenge from Somerville, NJ Mayor Brian Gallagher.  Gallagher has offered to wear a New England Patriots jersey at one of his city’s official public meetings “if the Patriots could somehow win this game,” said Somerville, NJ Administrator Kevin Sluka.  In return, Mayor Curtatone is expected to wear a New York Giants jersey if New York prevails in Sunday’s NFL championship game.

“Game on,” said Curtatone, who is a long-time volunteer assistant football coach at Somerville High School.  “This is a friendly wager, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. I appreciate Mayor Gallagher’s spirit in issuing this challenge.  Somerville, New Jersey is a fine community, to be sure, but Mayor Gallagher knows full well that our town is better than his town and our team is better than his team.”

“And I’m grateful that it wasn’t Mitt Romney who called to make one of his so-called friendly bets: I don’t have that kind of money,” Curtatone said, adding “Go Pats!”

Both mayors have agreed that the loser must wear the other team’s jersey at a public meeting that is broadcast on local cable in order to provide conclusive video evidence.  Curtatone indicated that, in the unthinkable event that the Giants won, he would appear in a Giants jersey at a regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen.  “But that’s not what’s going to happen,” Curtatone said.  “Mayor Gallagher will reap what he’s sown.”

The program “Riflessi di sole”, which translates to Reflection of the Sun, will include early 20th century Italian art song as well as arias from the Italian opera, such such Boheme, Rigoletto, and more. The performers are:

Anton Belov – baritone,  Heather Gallagher – mezzo-soprano, Giovanni Formisano – tenor, Yuriko Nonaka – soprano, Eric Mazonson – piano

To learn more about the performers, please visit: www.riflessidisole.com

Museum of Modern Renaissance
115 College Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144
By subway: red line, Davis Square; free street parking

Friday, February 17, at 7:30 p.m.
Donation $20; Seniors/students $10; Children 12 and under Free

Artists’ Biographies

	Anton Belov, BaritoneThe voice of baritone Anton Belov was described as mellifluous by the New York Times and that of an emerging star by the Philadelphia Inquirer.  His appearances at opera houses throughout the United States earned him critical praise for portrayals of Count di Luna (Il Trovatore), Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Don Giovanni, Figaro and Eugene Onegin.  He is a winner of eight vocal competitions including George London Foundation and Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.  A native of Moscow, Dr. Belov holds degrees from New England Conservatory, Boston University and the Juilliard School.
	Heather Gallagher, Mezzo-SopranoAmerican mezzo-soprano Heather Gallagher’s work has been called “standout”, and is characterized by its “care and sweetness”. She studied with Marcello Giordani at the Academy at the Teatro Bellini in Sicily. She has received awards from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation and the Metro West Opera Competition.  Ms. Gallagher was a Presidential Scholar at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. She is a graduate of New World School of the Arts and the University of Florida.
	Giovanni Formisano, TenorTenor Giovanni Formisano, born in Torre del Greco Naples, Italy began his vocal studies in Boston with Anton Belov. Giovanni is noted for his performances in such roles as Cavaradossi (Tosca), the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto) and Nemorino (LElisir dAmore).  He is achieving wide recognition as a master of Italian vocal style.
	Yuriko Nonaka, SopranoSoprano Yuriko Nonaka, first prize winner of the International Madama Butterfly Competition, currently enjoys an international career. Ms. Nonaka has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North, Opera Brooklyn, Commonwealth Opera, Opera Providence and The Key West Symphony Orchestra. A native of Japan, she holds a BA in vocal performance from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Opera from Longy School of Music.
	Eric Mazonson, PianoEric Mazonson’s playing has been described by New York Newsday as full of technical sparkle.  Mr. Mazonson received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Boston University, where he studied piano with Anthony di Bonaventura and coached chamber music with Leslie Parnas, Eugene Lehner, Louis Battle and Walter Trampler.  He has been heard in many solo, chamber music and vocal recitals in the United States, Canada and Europe.  Mr. Mazonson has served on the faculties of the University of Rhode Island, Roger Williams University, Providence College, Framingham State University, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School.

Representatives from the Somerville School Committee, the administration, and the Somerville Teachers Association met recently to map out a plan for exploring the option, which provides educators with a unique opportunity to create in-district or charter-like schools while keeping school funding within the district. The Achievement Gap law, passed in 2010, provides the framework for establishing an Innovation School within a public school district.

“This is a truly collaborative effort involving the Somerville Public Schools and the educators of our city represented by the Somerville Teachers Association,” STA President Jackie Lawrence said. “This is a chance for all of us, educators and administrators, to use our own expertise, experience, and experience from the frontlines, to develop inventive and creative strategies to address the issues facing our students and give them the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.”

The Somerville School Committee endorsed the initial meeting with key stakeholders to come together to explore and examine the issues relating to a new Innovation School.

School Committee Chairman Paul Bockelman, SPS Superintendent Tony Pierantozzi, Assistant Superintendent Vince McKay and Lawrence all attended the initial meeting on Monday, January 23.
Later that week and this week, Lawrence, Pierantozzi and McKay met with faculty and staff from city elementary schools as well as the middle grades. The Innovation School concept will be on the February 8 agenda of the Somerville School Committee.

Innovation Schools offer greater autonomy in a number of areas, providing schools with more control and increased accountability.  This greater autonomy allows educators and other stakeholders to better tailor policy and plans based on the specific needs of the school.

“More local autonomy will help to accelerate and broaden the programs that are already in place for our high-risk students,” Pierantozzi said. “It will also help us formalize innovative approaches and, ultimately, improve student achievement for all students.”

“It is clear that a one-size-fits-all model does not work,” Bockelman said. “This is an opportunity for all of us to work together to get to the heart of the issues facing our students.”

“Our educators work in Somerville because they are truly dedicated to the students in their classrooms and understand the importance of urban education,” McKay said. “This is a chance for these educators to draw on their own expertise and wisdom to make a difference for the students of Somerville.”

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

The Republican primary elections are giving us a preview of the hateful name-calling that will characterize the general election. Name-calling is as old as civilization. But over the last quarter century, political “leaders” have made it the most potent weapon in what has become electoral warfare.

We are not strangers to name-calling in Somerville. You hear insults screamed by frustrated drivers. In so many casual conversations, anyone who does not agree with the speaker is a moron. You read hateful epithets in too many Somerville News blog posts. And the Journal’s Speak Out section seems to be dedicated to promoting vitriol.

The incidence of name-calling in Somerville has declined somewhat since people who make their living as processionals have become a larger share of the population. Overt name-calling is counter-cultural to them. And because of their limited involvement in Somerville life, they encounter few conflicts. But I do hear name-calling in the debate over the proposed Somerville Progressive Charter School.

We seem to have more things to be angry about these days, but fewer apparent opportunities to do something about them. Name-calling only worsens this situation.  It is a symptom of felt powerlessness, and it recreates the conditions of powerlessness by undermining our ability to work together.

Learning to focus anger in a way that actually makes things better is an essential element in becoming a mature human being. Aristotle wrote, “Anyone can become angry—that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not so easy.”

“In the right way” is the most important element. It focuses on conditions and behavior rather than assaulting the person. It assumes that the person is a human being whose personal experience is as authentic as yours is.

Name-calling provides two fleeting satisfactions. It gives us the opportunity to discharge some small fraction of our anger. And it gives us an illusory sense of power. It is the power to hurt and define those who we believe have hurt us. These delusions are as old as language.

Now, name-calling seems to be the primary bludgeon used in a war to achieve political dominance. And it is dividing the nation beyond the possibility of reconciliation.

More than any other single person, Newt Gingrich is responsible for this state. When he first entered politics, he studied the military strategies articulated by the ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu, the Prussian war scholar Karl von Clausewitz, and the Nazi general Heinz Guderian.

The Republican political action committee, GOPAC, was the army that Newt found to be general of. His greatest weapon was what his troops affectionately called “Newtspeak.”

A 1990 GOPAC memo instructed its recipients to memorize a list of “Optimistic Positive Governing Words” such as “common sense,” “freedom” and “principled” to describe the Republicans, and a list of “Contrasting Words,” such as “excuses,” “pathetic” and “stagnation” to disparage their opponents.

Every week, GOPAC mailed cassette tapes to over 400 Republican office holders and candidates, from local to national levels. They contained new words to use and directions on how to use them. This phalanx of local- and mass-media messaging had a devastating effect on Democrats. It was an essential element in Republicans gaining control of Congress in the 1994 election.  Democrats’ responses were, and remain, feeble.

Now Newt is employing the same strategy. He calls Mitt Romney a “vulture capitalist.” and worse. Responding in kind, Mitt calls Newt “Goldilocks,” and worse.

Ron Paul, a man of integrity who seeks to persuade through reason, has the tiniest chance of becoming the nominee, even though he is the truest to historically conservative principles.

Don’t imagine that the Obama campaign will remain above the slime fest. Its consultants and opposition researchers are busily deciding how to best attack its most likely opponents.

Analysts predict that electoral campaigns will spend $3 billion on television advertising this year. I predict that most of it will be devoted to name-calling. The great majority of it, donated anonymously, will come from the super-Pacs that were made possible by a 2010 Supreme Court decision. The 5-to-4 decision overturned a century of established law.

Few things are as effective at making someone stop listening as insulting them. Doing so in a public forum hurts more than the victim’s feelings. It undermines mutual trust, discourages participation, keeps us separated, and deepens a sense of collective futility.

There is a lot to be justly angry about. Expressing it can be the first step toward making things better. But as Aristotle suggested, some expressions are more effective than others.

Offering verifiable evidence that supports your complaint calls attention to real conditions. Even simply stating why you are angry, in terms of your own personal experience, leaves the possibility of interaction. It allows others to see your humanity and maybe even take your complaint seriously.

Could we have more of that and less name-calling? To quote Rodney King and paraphrase Martin Luther King, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Somerville Reads 2012, the Somerville Public Library’s third annual community reading program, will occur this spring.

By Cathleen Twardzik

Somerville Reads 2012, the Somerville Public Library’s third annual community reading program, will occur this spring. This year’s the program theme is food, therefore they would like your help with two things: recipes and stories.

A community cookbook will be compiled, so that people may share their favorite dishes. Several recipe ideas that may inspire submissions include: cooking for a crowd, children’s favorites, local roots or ingredients, and family heritage.

The submission deadline is March 1.

“Somerville voted for the delicious theme of food, and the Somerville Reads committee selected the featured book Farm City by Novella Carpenter. Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman and Judy Pedersen, illustrator, is the featured children’s book,” said Maria Carpenter, Director of the Somerville Public Library.

“We are leading with a theme. The past two years Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried and Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake were selected.  The themes of war, Vietnam, service, remembrance, family, and the immigrant experience came from those works,” said Carpenter.

Printed copies of the cookbook will be sold at the program’s kickoff event on March 31 at 1 p.m. in the central library in Somerville, at which there will be a potluck meal. The local band Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library will perform.

“The plan is for the community cookbook to be unveiled and sold at this program. We hope that cookbook contributors will make a sampling of their recipe and bring it to the kickoff,” she said.

Proceeds from the sale of the books will go toward future programming at all of the branches of The Somerville Public Library, such as museum passes, children’s performances, and author talks.

Three ways to submit your recipe are possible. Drop it off at any Somerville Public Library

location, send via Ellen Jacobs’ e-mail to ejacobs@minlib.net, or mail it to: Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143, Attention: Ellen Jacobs.

The program may not be able to print all of the recipes because that depends on how many submissions are received and whether there are duplicates. However, as many of them as possible will be included.

If a recipe is not yours, then, the program reminds you to properly accredit each one. For example, according to them, it is essential for you to say, “[I] found this recipe in my mother’s old “Fanny Farmer,” if that is where it originated.

The program supports literacy, as well as community engagement, by “encouraging” individuals throughout Somerville to read and talk about the same book.

Discussions about the books, urban gardening and food will also take place at the event.  Jessie Banhhazi from Green City Growers and Cathy Piantigini, Head of Children’s Library Services, as well as Jim Boyd of Somerville Community Garden will lead them.

“We learn so much as a community by discussing books: about history, politics, socioeconomics, various cultures, universal values [and] what it means to be human,” she said.

Additionally, Somerville Reads would like to encourage you to share your stories. An open-mic night, at which individuals may tell food-themed stories which will range between five and 10 minutes, has been planned to take place on April 11.

“I saw a program like this out in San Francisco, and it was so much fun,” said Carpenter.

If you have a good story, such as a personal experience about trying an interesting dish in a foreign country, a recollection of learning to make a family favorite with a grandparent, or a familiar folktale that you’ve always loved, then tell the tale at the event and hear other people tell their stories as well.

A distraught woman showed up at the Somerville Police station, complaining that a man had stolen her laptop computer out of her car near Dunkin’ Donuts last Friday.

The woman reportedly gave the name of the alleged thief, as well as that of his alleged accomplice, police said

Shortly thereafter, a call came in to police from a Melvin St. resident who reportedly observed two men hiding something in a neighbor’s yard under the porch.  The caller stated that she went to see if something was taken and noticed a laptop case under the porch, police said

Thanks to witness descriptions, the two suspects were shortly located and questioned.

Adam Leal, 28, reportedly confessed to taking the laptop and was placed under arrest for daytime breaking and entering of a vehicle or boat and receiving stolen property.

The other man, Jeffrey Elias, 29, was placed under arrest and charged with daytime breaking and entering of a vehicle or boat, possession of a burglarious instrument, and receiving stolen property

Athol farmer David Graham (center) and Tai Dinnan of Groundwork Somerville (upper left) talked to Mary McClellan's third grade class at East Somerville Community School as part of a Meet The Farmer program. – Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

East Somerville kids learn about farming from the source

By Elizabeth Sheeran

In their classrooms, Somerville students learn about healthy food choices, including the benefits of locally-grown food. In their schoolyard gardens, they see firsthand how food can grow. And in their cafeterias, they taste fresh local produce.

Now East Somerville school kids can also put a face behind locally-grown food, since Athol farmer David Graham visited their classrooms last week, as part of a state-funded “Meet-The-Farmer” program.

“When the kids hear the word ‘farmer’ they picture someone with the pitchfork and overalls, so it’s kind of nice for them to see this is what a farmer really looks likes like,” said Brooke Yingling, a nutritionist who teaches about good eating habits in Somerville schools. “It’s important to know where food comes from and they’re going to appreciate it more coming from a farmer who’s actually in there doing all the work, than if I just tell them about it.”

Tai Dinnan of Groundwork Somerville, which runs the school gardens and helped obtain the Agriculture-in-the-Classroom grant, said introducing kids to a local Massachusetts farmer is a logical next step in connecting them to locally-grown foods. She said it gives students the bigger picture of what they see in the school gardens.

“Part of not understanding the current food system includes not understanding what it’s like to be a farmer today. It’s different than maybe the stereotypical movie image or picture book image,” said Dinnan.

She estimated that the majority of Somerville school kids have probably never been to a farm, and that urban kids can be at a disadvantage when it comes to things like MCAS questions about farm animals, because they don’t experience agriculture in their everyday lives.

Graham talked to students about his experience as a farmer, and shared a whole gallery of photos of the farm where he lives and works. He walked them through a mock potato planting, while the kids talked of how potatoes are used to make some of their favorite foods, like french fries.

And he answered all kinds of questions:

How do you get eggs from a chicken if they don’t want to give it to you? Is it hot working on a farm? Do you have to catch the animals to get them on the farm? Does chocolate milk come from brown cows?

“It’s interesting to hear those questions because it does give you a sense that people are farther away from their food than you really expect. Hopefully this program is helping them kind of visualize it a little better,” said Graham. “Letting them imagine that they can be farmers and grow their own food, I think, is really cool.”

Third-grader Justin Davy said he’d never met a farmer before. “It feels good because you get to learn more. You could learn how they can grow the plants and how they can store things away for the next spring or summer so they have more things to grow,” said Davy, who enthusiastically showed Graham a section in his library book that described composting.

Dinnan said that enthusiasm for learning about the farming experience can translate into better eating habits. “It’s making it real how food is grown, which broadens our connection to our food and makes us more willing to try produce,” said Dinnan. “Because we don’t grow corn chips in Massachusetts. We grow fruits and vegetables and grains and meat and cheese. If we can be more open to those foods because we have a connection with them, we’re more likely to pick them over some other unhealthy choice.”

For Graham, part of helping kids to make that connection to fresh local foods is taking some of the mystery out of farming. “The great thing about farming is that anyone can do it,” he told the students in Mary McClellan’s third grade class at East Somerville’s Edgerly site.

And he asked students to list things they would like to grow at school. Common favorites like carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, apples and strawberries made the list. But so did a few more surprising choices, like eggplant and cauliflower.

“Seeing them to be able to make that connection, like ‘I like eating the cauliflower soup that my Mom makes, and we could grow that in my backyard or in my school garden,’ that’s really cool for me to see,” said Graham.

And East Somerville kids could get a chance to test their farming skills in the near future. Current plans for the re-built East Somerville Community School, scheduled to open in 2013, call for 1,500 square feet of planting space, which will make it the largest school garden in the city.

Tomorrow morning, Mayor Curtatone takes on Mayor Rizzo of Revere in the My Song is Better than Your Song competition on WFNX 101.7 FM radio—and he needs your help to win, again.

Tune into WFNX at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Thurs., February 2, to behold the majesty of the song chosen by OUR Mayor and forgettable tune picked by THEIR Mayor and then VOTE for Mayor Curtatone’s choice by 9:30 a.m. (be sure to wait until voting opens after both songs are played!).  

You can vote by Text, Phone, or Facebook..in fact, feel free to vote all three ways.

Here’s how to vote:

Between 9 and 9:30 a.m., either:

 1) Text the Word WFNX and your song choice to 22122

2) Call 781-595-WFNX.

3) Comment with your choice on the WFNX Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/1017wf

(from the city of Somerville)

By Harry Kane

The flow of sap from maple trees at Tufts University was the center of attention for at least 25 kids and as many as 30 adults on Jan. 28.

Twenty buckets of sap were procured from drilling 1 1/2- 2″ deep holes into the trunks of some ten or so maple trees.

It was Meghan Bouchard’s first maple syrup tapping event; she brought her two kids to the event. “There seemed to be a good turnout: parents, babysitters and children, community members, and I even recognized some Tufts Education staff members,” said Bouchard.

Kids participated in measuring the circumference of the maple trees to determine how many times the tree could be tapped, they helped drill the two inch holes in the trees, and hammer in the spiles (taps) and hang the buckets. “By the end of the event they were tree-tapping experts, said Bouchard.

“This year’s season is much earlier than usual, so we are not sure how long the sap will run,” said Tai Dinnan the gardens coordinator for Groundwork Somerville.

“This year there was no snow cover and we had to tap in January because the days have been warm and nights have been cool, perfect for maple sap,” said Cador Pricejones.

Sap collector and volunteer coordinator, Hilary Dennis said, “Tai did a great job engaging participants of all ages, especially the kids: sap started flowing immediately after we tapped the first tree (we hardly got the bucket hung fast enough!) and she had the kids dip their fingers into the sap and taste it so they had a sensory understanding of how it’s different from maple syrup.”

The event also involved a simple ecology lesson on how to identify sugar maple trees.

All sap is stored in frozen and refrigerated storage until the Boil Down Festival on March 3 at the Somerville Community Growing Center. The public is then invited back out to see the sap boil down into pure maple syrup!

Keep an eye on Groundwork Somerville’s website, online calendar, Facebook page, or twitter feed to get updates and news about the Somerville Maple Syrup Project. Maple tapping would not be possible without the support of Tufts Buildings and Grounds.

(~Photos by Groundwork Somerville Staff)

By Harry Kane

Congressman Michael Capuano spoke about the local economy, and how Washington’s gridlock is adversely affecting the Somerville residents at the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs breakfast at Mount Vernon Restaurant on Jan. 31.

Congressman Capuano is in his seventh term, representing the eighth congressional district in congress, which includes Cambridge, Chelsea, Somerville and approximately 70 percent of Boston.

“It’s a good forum to be able to get to see your congressman and find out what’s going on and maybe get a couple words in there about where you see some issues and things that you think Washington should be working on,” said Richard Brenner, the Vice President of Commercial lending at Winter Hill Bank.

Like many others, Brenner came to the meeting to hear about the economy from the esteemed congressman and ex-mayor of Somerville from 1990-1998.

“As far as what’s going on in Washington, the truth is, this is the first time in a long time in my opinion that what is being written is pretty accurate: we’re fighting like cats and dogs,” said the Congressman.

Capuano is a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. There is currently a transportation bill on the agenda in the House of Representatives.  According to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica, “This legislation will be the largest transportation reform bill since the Interstate Highway System was created in 1956.”

“Everybody agrees that we need to invest in infrastructure, but on one side they say we want to invest in infrastructure but we won’t add any more money. Now everyone here knows we cannot do anything unless we add more money to the transportation system,” said the Congressman.

He also commented on some of the transportation related programs that were slated for the future but are now looking bleak as budget cuts steamroll the progress made by our city officials.

“I do not know how much the MBTA has to commit to the green line,” said Capuano. “I believe with every ounce of my soul that they want to build the green line.”

With the green line extension being postponed until November of 2016, along with the forecasted Union Square and Washington St. stations opening, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the project.

“I think we have to wake up and figure out how much they [MBTA] have and then grab as much of that as we can to build as much of the green line as we can and to get the most service for the people of Somerville as quickly as we can. If we hang onto some dream that cannot be funded…that will in the long run end up hurting the people of Somerville.”

In the midst of the economic downturn Capuano states that there’s no way to get everything we want. If we had a choice between three things Somerville can only choose one of them.

“Right now we have priority but we run the risk of losing that priority with another administration if we don’t just finally wake up and act like adults, which we’ll know within the next couple of months, I think, how much money we have to spend on it,” said Capuano.

The Congressman said that budgets for community bike path may be eliminated. “We have a cute little bike path, and it works a little bit for some people commuting but the one we want along the green line is not for cuteness it’s not so you can have a nice little jog on the weekend: it’s to get to work.”

Capuano was furious when it came to the possibility of downsizing Amtrak. He noted the importance of traveling between New York and Boston. “They want to reduce Amtrak by 25 percent. It should be improved not cut back. It hurts our businesses, it hurts our tax-base and it hurts this country in competitive nature.”

In the end Capuano feels that the future is uncertain and there will be budget cuts across the board. “Here’s what’s going to happen: over the next ten years every single department in the country will have to cut between seven and ten percent every year, one on top of the other. The first ten percent, yeah sure we could probably suck it up, maybe the second. Do you really think we could take another and another and another?”

~Video by Harry Kane