News:
Somerville Times Interview with Jeff (10/14/2020)
Our very own Ball Square District Association organizer Jeff Shwom made the front and 11th page of the Somerville Times this week! He talks about the www.ballsquaresomerville.com website, facebook page, the Ball Square District Association, what we have all been doing in our neighborhood, and bringing attention to our square.
Thank you to all of the people mentioned, like Lori, Jo-Ann Smith, Laura Pitone, Lindsay Griffin, Jennifer Dorsen, Jim Silva and unmentioned (neighbors on Boston Ave. who organized the Community Bulletin and Josephine Ave Email Group) whose work is so important.
Thank you to all of the people mentioned, like Lori, Jo-Ann Smith, Laura Pitone, Lindsay Griffin, Jennifer Dorsen, Jim Silva and unmentioned (neighbors on Boston Ave. who organized the Community Bulletin and Josephine Ave Email Group) whose work is so important.
Outdoor dining to continue through 2021 (10/05/2020)
In an effort to continue to support local businesses in Somerville, the City administration and the Somerville City Council will continue to allow approved businesses to operate outdoor dining accommodations through the end of 2021. Ball Square businesses directly impacted by this good news include Taco Party, Avenue Kitchen + Bar, Ball Square Cafe, Sound Bites, and True Grounds.
The program, which was slated to end on November 1, has helped a lot of food businesses survive this tough year, with COVID-19 and the Broadway Bridge closure impacting business.
Restaurants will have to contend with some rule changes, specifically around snow removal and snow emergencies. According to a Somerville Times article, "the City will reserve the right to require the immediate removal of temporary installations during snow emergencies. Licensees will be responsible for clearing and maintaining their outdoor seating area (sidewalk or street) of snow."
Please order food directly through these businesses and skip GrubHub and other food delivery/ordering sites, which can take up to 30% per order. Use www.somervilledelivers.com/ to find Ball Square and other Somerville restaurants this fall, winter and beyond!
The program, which was slated to end on November 1, has helped a lot of food businesses survive this tough year, with COVID-19 and the Broadway Bridge closure impacting business.
Restaurants will have to contend with some rule changes, specifically around snow removal and snow emergencies. According to a Somerville Times article, "the City will reserve the right to require the immediate removal of temporary installations during snow emergencies. Licensees will be responsible for clearing and maintaining their outdoor seating area (sidewalk or street) of snow."
Please order food directly through these businesses and skip GrubHub and other food delivery/ordering sites, which can take up to 30% per order. Use www.somervilledelivers.com/ to find Ball Square and other Somerville restaurants this fall, winter and beyond!
I Spy Somerville- Week 8 and 9 Updates (09/29/2020
Food Drive raises more than $6,000(!) and continues with Apoyo Mutuo- Eagle Hill (09/23/2020 + 09/4/20)
In continuing to help the Eagle Hill Food Drive organized earlier this summer, our neigborhood has raised over $6,000 to support continued food operations. Thank you to all! This money will go directly to purchasing wholesale shelf-stable food for 120 families in need. Neighbors on Josephine Ave (headed by Susie Husted) organized this food drive back in June. Most of Eagle Hill's residents are first and second generation families living together under one roof, and other residents who are fighting low wages and high rents.
The GoFund Me page is still open and donation can continue here- http://gf.me/u/yvq58n.
Monetary Donations
Any amount, big or small, helps. $50 helps support food donations for one family for a month, $100 two families, $12 one family for one week. The donations will continue!
Food donations
In-kind donations are still accepted at boxes located at 10 Josephine Ave, 32 Josephine Ave, and 104 Josephine Ave. Items include: Maseca (masa, yellow corn flour), Masarepa (precooked, ground corn flour), Canned tomatoes, Shelf-stable milk, Sugar, Instant coffee, Chicken broth, Beans - dry or canned (black beans, Central American red beans, pink beans, lentils), Rice, and Vegetable oil. Buying a few extra items with your weekly grocery shopping will go along way!
In continuing to help the Eagle Hill Food Drive organized earlier this summer, our neigborhood has raised over $6,000 to support continued food operations. Thank you to all! This money will go directly to purchasing wholesale shelf-stable food for 120 families in need. Neighbors on Josephine Ave (headed by Susie Husted) organized this food drive back in June. Most of Eagle Hill's residents are first and second generation families living together under one roof, and other residents who are fighting low wages and high rents.
The GoFund Me page is still open and donation can continue here- http://gf.me/u/yvq58n.
Monetary Donations
Any amount, big or small, helps. $50 helps support food donations for one family for a month, $100 two families, $12 one family for one week. The donations will continue!
Food donations
In-kind donations are still accepted at boxes located at 10 Josephine Ave, 32 Josephine Ave, and 104 Josephine Ave. Items include: Maseca (masa, yellow corn flour), Masarepa (precooked, ground corn flour), Canned tomatoes, Shelf-stable milk, Sugar, Instant coffee, Chicken broth, Beans - dry or canned (black beans, Central American red beans, pink beans, lentils), Rice, and Vegetable oil. Buying a few extra items with your weekly grocery shopping will go along way!
Mail-In Ballot drop off boxes around town! (08/22/20)
The City of Somerville has recently installed 10 Ballot Drop Boxes with a city seal attached to each box, both front and back, to allow mail-in ballots to be accepted. Applications to apply for mail-in ballots must be received by August 26. Thanks to Mary Jo Rossetti, Counselor-at-large for this information.
Two closest to Ball Square:
· Front of The Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue
· 269 Highland Ave, next to Fire Engine 7
Others in the city:
· Front of City Hall, top of concourse
· Glen Street entrance to the East Somerville Community School
· Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street entrance
· Winter Hill Community School, 115 Sycamore Street entrance
· Summer Street in front of St. Catherine’s parking lot, nearby corner of Spring Street
· Near 351 Summer Street, front of the Dilboy Post
· In front of the Tufts Administrative Building, 167 Holland Street
· In front of the West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powder House Blvd.
Otherwise, early voting has started at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. See City of Somerville calendar for dates and times. Please vote!
The City of Somerville has recently installed 10 Ballot Drop Boxes with a city seal attached to each box, both front and back, to allow mail-in ballots to be accepted. Applications to apply for mail-in ballots must be received by August 26. Thanks to Mary Jo Rossetti, Counselor-at-large for this information.
Two closest to Ball Square:
· Front of The Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue
· 269 Highland Ave, next to Fire Engine 7
Others in the city:
· Front of City Hall, top of concourse
· Glen Street entrance to the East Somerville Community School
· Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street entrance
· Winter Hill Community School, 115 Sycamore Street entrance
· Summer Street in front of St. Catherine’s parking lot, nearby corner of Spring Street
· Near 351 Summer Street, front of the Dilboy Post
· In front of the Tufts Administrative Building, 167 Holland Street
· In front of the West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powder House Blvd.
Otherwise, early voting has started at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. See City of Somerville calendar for dates and times. Please vote!
Diaper Drive Organized by The Beautiful Stuff Project (08/10/20)
The Beautiful Stuff Project (Magoun Square) has pivoted its business model and has organized a diaper drive during COVID-19. According to an email on the Josephine Ave Email Group, "Diapers are not covered by any federal, state or local subsidy programs such as SNAP, WIC, EBT or P-EBT, and cost a family on average $100 per month, per child. The need has hit Somerville’s immigrant and low-income families the hardest." Currently, they are working with Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) to get diapers and other supplies to families in need.
Sizes most in need: 3, 4, 5, and 6 (size 6 is especially needed). Any brand will do.
To help, you can either order diapers online from local sources if possible and have them delivered to Laura de la Torre Bueno, 83 Belmont Street, Somerville, MA 02143, OR leave the diapers on the porch at 83 Belmont Street, Somerville, MA 02143. Diapers cannot be delivered to The Beautiful Stuff Project store at this time.
Monetary donations can be made at www.thebeautifulstuffproject.org and donate through PayPal.
The Beautiful Stuff Project (Magoun Square) has pivoted its business model and has organized a diaper drive during COVID-19. According to an email on the Josephine Ave Email Group, "Diapers are not covered by any federal, state or local subsidy programs such as SNAP, WIC, EBT or P-EBT, and cost a family on average $100 per month, per child. The need has hit Somerville’s immigrant and low-income families the hardest." Currently, they are working with Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) to get diapers and other supplies to families in need.
Sizes most in need: 3, 4, 5, and 6 (size 6 is especially needed). Any brand will do.
To help, you can either order diapers online from local sources if possible and have them delivered to Laura de la Torre Bueno, 83 Belmont Street, Somerville, MA 02143, OR leave the diapers on the porch at 83 Belmont Street, Somerville, MA 02143. Diapers cannot be delivered to The Beautiful Stuff Project store at this time.
Monetary donations can be made at www.thebeautifulstuffproject.org and donate through PayPal.
Somerville Shared Streets & Curbs Interactive Map
Shared Streets and Shared Curbs comes to Ball Square (07/31/20)
On July 28, The City of Somerville has started to roll out the Shared Street and Shared Curbs program in our area. Highland Road, starting at Boston Ave, will connect to a local system of shared roads (Morrison, Hancock, Lexington) as well as a larger network, which connects Ball Square to Central Hill, Porter Square Shopping Center and more! The connection of Highland Road Shared Street to the Somerville Neighborway and the Somerville Community Path.
This is the third phase of the rollout, as parts of E. Somerville, Union Square, Davis Square and W. Somerville have already had some street alterations. All routes are noted on the above map.
Starting this week, according to the City's website, they will start "install the shared street entry treatments (sawhorse pairs with “Local Access Only” and “Shared Street” signs)." The city will then "take a little more time to plan out appropriate traffic calming approaches on each street with flex posts, paint, and signage" over the next few weeks. You may have seen some of this work already in your neighborhood.
To ask a question of the city or to give feedback, please use this tool.
On July 28, The City of Somerville has started to roll out the Shared Street and Shared Curbs program in our area. Highland Road, starting at Boston Ave, will connect to a local system of shared roads (Morrison, Hancock, Lexington) as well as a larger network, which connects Ball Square to Central Hill, Porter Square Shopping Center and more! The connection of Highland Road Shared Street to the Somerville Neighborway and the Somerville Community Path.
This is the third phase of the rollout, as parts of E. Somerville, Union Square, Davis Square and W. Somerville have already had some street alterations. All routes are noted on the above map.
Starting this week, according to the City's website, they will start "install the shared street entry treatments (sawhorse pairs with “Local Access Only” and “Shared Street” signs)." The city will then "take a little more time to plan out appropriate traffic calming approaches on each street with flex posts, paint, and signage" over the next few weeks. You may have seen some of this work already in your neighborhood.
To ask a question of the city or to give feedback, please use this tool.
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Sign on the Somerville Community Path
at Hancock and Highland Road
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Broadway Bridge Update (07/24/20)
The City of Somerville has released a draft of the Broadway Bridge design, which features two semi-protected bike lanes (wahoo!) and one traffic lane in each direction. The design has removed the previous parking and turning lanes and continues the bike lanes to connect Powderhouse Circle to Sullivan Square. The bike lanes will have 1.5 feet wide striped buffer going over the bridge, with no word on protective pylons.
In an update from city officials, "the diagram is based on the last drawings the City (of Somerville) has received from the MBTA/GLX team. The City is in the process of working with a consultant to add a crosswalk on Broadway. Location is still to be determined." Transit and mobility advocates and businesses in the area have been pressing city officials for more information for months. Currently, pedestrians from the Somerville side of Boston Ave/Rogers Ave have to cross once at Josephine and then twice more across Boston Ave on the station side of Broadway.
In regards to the cross-Broadway crosswalk, Mark Niedergang, Ward 5 counselor, has stated that it "is important, esp(ecially) with the T station coming in, (that) people have to be able to cross Broadway safely. This has been an issue for various parts of Ball Square and further east up Broadway as well."
Public design discussions can be heard at the Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) meetings, which is held at 6:30 pm on the Third Thursday of the month (August 20, September 17).
The City of Somerville has released a draft of the Broadway Bridge design, which features two semi-protected bike lanes (wahoo!) and one traffic lane in each direction. The design has removed the previous parking and turning lanes and continues the bike lanes to connect Powderhouse Circle to Sullivan Square. The bike lanes will have 1.5 feet wide striped buffer going over the bridge, with no word on protective pylons.
In an update from city officials, "the diagram is based on the last drawings the City (of Somerville) has received from the MBTA/GLX team. The City is in the process of working with a consultant to add a crosswalk on Broadway. Location is still to be determined." Transit and mobility advocates and businesses in the area have been pressing city officials for more information for months. Currently, pedestrians from the Somerville side of Boston Ave/Rogers Ave have to cross once at Josephine and then twice more across Boston Ave on the station side of Broadway.
In regards to the cross-Broadway crosswalk, Mark Niedergang, Ward 5 counselor, has stated that it "is important, esp(ecially) with the T station coming in, (that) people have to be able to cross Broadway safely. This has been an issue for various parts of Ball Square and further east up Broadway as well."
Public design discussions can be heard at the Somerville Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee (PTAC) meetings, which is held at 6:30 pm on the Third Thursday of the month (August 20, September 17).
Eagle Hill Food Drive (07/18/20)
More than 100 families in East Boston’s Eagle Hill neighborhood have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus this spring and summer, and they have been relying on donated food from mutual aid support. Josephine Ave organizers are looking for people to “adopt” a food item and picking it up every time you shop, such as beans, vegetable oil, instant coffee and more. Ball Square Fine Wines, Taco Party, Neighborhood Produce, and Sounds Bites have already pledged to donate! Drops off located at 10, 32, and 104 Josephine Avenue.
Contact genevieve.walsh@gmail.com for more information. Thank you! =)
More than 100 families in East Boston’s Eagle Hill neighborhood have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus this spring and summer, and they have been relying on donated food from mutual aid support. Josephine Ave organizers are looking for people to “adopt” a food item and picking it up every time you shop, such as beans, vegetable oil, instant coffee and more. Ball Square Fine Wines, Taco Party, Neighborhood Produce, and Sounds Bites have already pledged to donate! Drops off located at 10, 32, and 104 Josephine Avenue.
Contact genevieve.walsh@gmail.com for more information. Thank you! =)
Neighborhood Produce coming to Ball Square! (07/06/20)
Owner Matt Grey has indicated that Neighborhood Produce (Winter Hill/Gilman Square area) is working on opening its second location in Ball Square. Yes, a local grocery store! Beloved and strongly supported during the pandemic, the store will be at the former PaperWorks store, 691 Broadway. According to Matt, "Our plan is to first use the space for online orders, and pack orders for both our current store and this store. So, it'll be open to grocery pick-ups (which the store is perfectly set up for with it's vestibule and ATM booth). Then, while the online orders are going on, we'll decide what the inside of the store will look like, and when we'll open to the general public." The opening date is yet to be determined, but could be as early as August.
Though Matt expects most people to walk and bike to the new storefront, The Ball Square District Association has been working with the Mayor's Office in Medford and the City of Somerville to try to get the following along Boston Ave across from the future GLX station:
1. 3 or 4 15-minute temporary parking spots during the day to help with curbside pickup, and;
2. Bike racks in one space, to accommodate bikes for the whole square. This would be a first if located in Medford! Stay tuned!
Follow Neighborhood Produce on instagram at @neighborhoodproduce and on facebook at neighborhood produce.
Owner Matt Grey has indicated that Neighborhood Produce (Winter Hill/Gilman Square area) is working on opening its second location in Ball Square. Yes, a local grocery store! Beloved and strongly supported during the pandemic, the store will be at the former PaperWorks store, 691 Broadway. According to Matt, "Our plan is to first use the space for online orders, and pack orders for both our current store and this store. So, it'll be open to grocery pick-ups (which the store is perfectly set up for with it's vestibule and ATM booth). Then, while the online orders are going on, we'll decide what the inside of the store will look like, and when we'll open to the general public." The opening date is yet to be determined, but could be as early as August.
Though Matt expects most people to walk and bike to the new storefront, The Ball Square District Association has been working with the Mayor's Office in Medford and the City of Somerville to try to get the following along Boston Ave across from the future GLX station:
1. 3 or 4 15-minute temporary parking spots during the day to help with curbside pickup, and;
2. Bike racks in one space, to accommodate bikes for the whole square. This would be a first if located in Medford! Stay tuned!
Follow Neighborhood Produce on instagram at @neighborhoodproduce and on facebook at neighborhood produce.