Valentine’s Day is around the corner — a perfect time to give someone special a day at Kaya Beauty Spa.

Actually, scratch all that about “someone special.” You need this for yourself. Our Scout Deal will get you $50 worth of services, ranging from massage to facials, for only $30.

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Photo by Ian Vestrand

BY NANCY BERNHARD

In the spring of 2010, Dolores Porziella assigned her class of seventh- and eighth-grade English-language learners at the Winter Hill Community School (115 Sycamore St) The Diary of Anne Frank, the classic story of a young girl hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The students adored the book, but one day, one of them said, “What does a Jew believe, anyway?”

Porziella asked Assistant Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz, 39, of Temple B’nai Brith (TBB, 201 Central St) to visit the class. Jacobowitz answered the children’s questions about Jewish belief, but her stories about her own family’s history in the Holocaust riveted them. “She made the history come to life,” Porziella says. “It allowed them to draw it to their own home countries,” many of which were also torn by war and disaster.

One of the stories Jacobowitz told was about how her grandparents found one another again after the war, when each thought the other was dead. Her grandmother, Marisha, had been in a concentration camp, and returned home to Lodz, Poland to look for family. She found her husband Tuvya’s brother Shlomo, who had fought in the Jewish Brigades of the Red and British Armies. They heard that Tuvya was dead. But then as they walked down a street, they met someone who told them that he had just seen a man who looked exactly like Shlomo at a nearby address. They went to the house and found Tuvya there.

The children wrote letters to their new friend afterward. One girl wrote, “I think it was magical that your grandparents found each other. It’s like a fairy tale and they were very lucky. I’ve learned a lot of things. And I think that it was unfair to Jewish people to be treated like that just because they believed in something different.”

This ability to connect with everyone, whether they are just learning about Judaism or have been practicing their whole lives, is Jacobowitz’s great strength. Longtime TBB member Debra Weisberg participated in a Kehillat (community) service Jacobowitz created in November, and enjoyed how the Rabbi drew people in using the weekly Torah reading. Abraham was wandering in the desert, so she invited anyone “who doesn’t know where they’re going” to say a blessing. He was also having trouble leaving his possessions behind. “Everyone who needs to throw out a few things, it’s your turn,” said the Rabbi.

Jacobowitz’s own spiritual journey has not been a straight line from A to Z. But her blend of learning, warmth and creativity has proven irresistible to the city’s only synagogue at an important crossroads in its history.

To make the world a better place

Jacobowitz was born in Tel Aviv, the oldest of three children. When she was five years old she urged her secular parents to light candles on Shabbat. They politely refused.

She was a child when Israel made peace with Egypt in 1978, and became captivated by the idea that peace was possible between Israel and its neighbors. Her brother Leon, now a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University, remembers her leadership in political youth movements, even meeting members of the Knesset as a teen. She was “always trying to make the world a better place, not through religion, but through politics,” he says. Her family moved to the suburb Ra’anana, where she went to an arts high school, concentrating on graphic design. She also began reading about Jewish mysticism. When she was 18 – and began her mandated stint in the Israeli army – she flashed a bit of her rebellious, art-school side. She was thrown out of her first Army unit for staging The Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with men in corsets. When her army years were done, Jacobowitz wanted to go to art school or none at all; her parents insisted she learn a profession. To please them, she enrolled in law school, but also enrolled in fashion design school at the same time.

Meanwhile, her hopes for a peaceful Middle East grew, embodied by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo Accords he signed in 1993. But those hopes were soon dashed; she was present at the Tel Aviv rally where Rabin was assassinated by a fellow Israeli in 1995. “Sadly, many of us felt our hopes for making a difference in the Middle East and for bringing peace died too,” she says. Her path toward a spiritual life, at this point, was still not clear. It was not exactly smooth sailing for a woman to become a religious leader. Throughout her life, Jacobowitz was told that when women pray out loud, God cries in sadness. In Israel, where organized Judaism is largely controlled by Orthodox sects, women are not allowed to set foot on the bima, or pulpit, in most traditional synagogues — let alone become rabbis. These divisions manifest themselves in basic consumer interactions, too: On one occasion, a bookstore refused to sell her a religious book, telling her it was out of stock even though she could plainly see it on the shelf.

When she was 26, during her final year in law school, Jacobowitz took a hiking trip to the Rockies. She met an American man who was working on an Indian reservation, got married, and moved to Colorado Springs.

Backyard treasure

Her interest in spirituality and mysticism was rekindled in the mountains by Native American practices. She attended community college and then the University of Colorado, doing office work, teaching Sunday school and flipping burgers to pay for her degrees. One day, while reading a book about Jewish spiritual practice, she thought, “Instead of trying to understand intellectually, why not just light Shabbat candles?” She did and found it ineffably powerful. After all her seeking, she remembered that she’d been born with a religion. She cites the revered Jewish teacher, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: “We travel the world looking for a distant treasure that is buried in our own backyard.” But her path was still not clear, because of what she’d been taught about the role women were supposed to play in Judaism. It took years before Jacobowitz believed that she could be a practicing Jew without having to surrender the inclusive – and innovative – parts of herself.

Moving to Boston

Her marriage ended after three years. She moved to Boston for two reasons: She was familiar with the city (and loved it), having frequently visited her sister, who’d lived here in the early 2000s; and she’d decided, all things considered, to become a professor. She came to Boston University to study medieval Jewish mysticism, initially intent on getting a PhD. But once she spent time in academia, she realized it wasn’t a fit; she wanted to practice spirituality as a leader, as opposed to teaching it in a classroom. She finished her studies with a Master’s degree in 2005. Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, provided crucial support in her decision to dive more directly into spiritual life; she was accepted to Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Newton.

Her background differed profoundly from those of her 12 classmates: She was fluent in Hebrew and knew Jewish history, but had never touched a Torah scroll or stood on a bima – and she had difficulty praying out loud. By contrast, her American classmates had grown up with women rabbis. (In the United States, Reform Judaism began ordaining women in 1972, Reconstructionist Judaism in 1974, and Conservative Judaism in 1985. Today more than half of seminary students are women.) One classmate taught her to breathe deeply and sing out, while another would bump into her when she was praying too softly.

A groundbreaking temple

In her third year of rabbinical school, she saw an opening for an education director at TBB. From the very first interview, the match was clear. “It resonated with how I feel that a Jewish community should be selfdefined, that it should encompass and mirror the town that it serves,” she says. A snapshot of TBB makes it clear what she means: Like Somerville, TBB has a diverse population and an independent spirit – so independent, that it has been unaffiliated with traditional Jewish sects – Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist – since the 1978 retirement of Rabbi Leo Shubow. (TBB had been Conservative.) The community has a comeas- you-are informality and progressive social beliefs, while still adhering to traditional observance.

Few members grew up in the congregation; most chose it. This self-chosen mix represents the future of American Judaism, according to Ellen Smith, Associate Professor at Brandeis and co-editor of The Jews of Boston. “The congregation is a strong example that given opportunities, this diverse Jewry can and will choose Jewish life.”

The best estimates put the city’s Jewish population between four and five percent, or 3,000-4,000 Jews, which mirrors the percentage in Massachusetts. For most of the 20th century, the Jewish community was made up of Eastern European immigrants. It centered in Magoun Square and up Broadway to Winter Hill. Founded in 1903, TBB built its Byzantine revival-style Central Street building in 1922. But in the decades following World War II, many of Somerville’s Jews moved to the suburbs. The congregation lost a generation. By the late 1970s, only a couple of dozen elderly members remained, joined by the occasional student.

In 1980, a philosophy graduate student named Phil Weiss began attending Shabbat services at TBB. Morris and Ada Kleiman, longtime officers of the congregation who owned a pharmacy on Walnut Street, were the heart and soul of TBB. They were struggling to keep it going in the face of the suburban drift and Shubow’s retirement. Weiss had grown up in a Conservative congregation, taken courses at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and studied in Jerusalem. The Kleimans saw in him a leader that he did not yet see in himself. Morrie Kleiman asked

Weiss to read the Torah during Shabbat services. Eventually, Weiss was leading almost all the services. Thirty years later, he says with characteristic understatement, “no one has asked me to stop.” Weiss goes by the title darshan, or teacher, but everyone calls him “Phil.” During the day, he teaches philosophy and religion at Wheelock College.

By the mid-2000s, the congregation had stabilized around 170 families, but the young people who – along with Weiss – had helped to revive the congregation were now entering their fifties. TBB needed another youth infusion. One other issue troubled the TBB community: The beloved old building had three floors separated by steep stairs, and no easy place to add an elevator. The lack of handicapped access was increasingly untenable. To afford an elevator, the congregation would have to grow, raise dues, and fundraise. The Board of Directors committed to raise the money in 2008, just as the recession began.

Into this climate stepped Jacobowitz, who was hired in the summer of 2008 to lead the congregation’s Sunday school and adult education programs.

Traditional enough and free-thinking enough

As she approached her graduation and ordination in 2010, the Board of Directors decided to hire Jacobowitz full-time, believing that she would attract new congregants – and perhaps, down the line, the increased membership would help TBB afford an elevator.

New members have indeed come. Enrollment in Sunday school has doubled. Davis Square resident Katia Green tried a children’s service with her daughters two years ago and was delighted to find a young woman rabbi who is “smart, vibrant, funny, and has an edge to her.” Green says that Jacobowitz creates events that neither “dumb down” adult content nor bore kids. The synagogue feels like a seamless part of her family’s Somerville community, always nimble and reinventing itself.

Jacobowitz – today more than capable of praying out loud – leads children’s services on the High Holidays free of charge to the community, and hundreds of people attend. She has helped start support groups for new parents, a social group for teens, and created a weekly Friday night prayer service. TBB member Morissa Wiser is particularly grateful that Jacobowitz has helped create a venue to “talk about parenting, talk about life, get to know one another, make a connection.” Her two-year-old daughter Yaela gets excited when she hears they’re “going to see Eliana!”

Congregant Abby Laber feels an intellectual affinity with Jacobowitz that helps her better connect with Jewish practice. In her Yom Kippur sermon this year, the Rabbi talked about God’s judgment in a refreshing way. Laber remembers her saying that, in dreams, “you visit God, and you judge yourself in the presence of God.” This aligned with Laber’s understanding of dreams, and made Yom Kippur more accessible and meaningful to her.

An informal formality

In a 1988 oral history of TBB, Weiss was asked about the advantages and disadvantages of hiring a rabbi for such an unconventional synagogue. He said that rabbis often bring formality to a congregation, and TBB’s great strength is its informality. “The question is whether they make rabbis who are informal enough and innovative enough and ‘socially wonky’ enough, and also traditional enough and free-thinking enough to fit us.”

It took a few decades, but just such a rabbi has arrived.

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*FRIDAY, FEB. 3

BLENDER THRILLS An odd mixture of country and metal from Burlington, Vermont’s Waylon Speed comes to Somerville. After that, switch gears with Bombay Jim and The Swinging Sapphires at 10 p.m. Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m. Cash cover at the door. Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant & Music Club, 17 Holland St. www.waylonspeed.blogspot.com

IT’S IN THE SAUCE Black Helicopter, Cortez and 13 Billion (their debut show) light up Union Square. Feb. 3, 9 p.m. Tickets $10. 21+.  Radio, 379-381 Somerville Ave. www.radiobarunion.com

*SATURDAY, FEB. 4

I AM STEVEN SPIELBERG Join this exciting Super-8 filmmaking mini-course, taught by filmmakers Tara and Gordon Nelson. The course starts this Saturday and meets three more times (Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 3) before Sundance comes calling. Students will use a Super-8 camera to shoot films and be allowed room to experiment, as well as edit their films. Somerville Community Access TV will hold a screening at the end of the course. Feb. 4, Noon—2:30 p.m. Members $60, Non-members $100. Somerville Community Access TV, 90 Union Sq. www.access-scat.org

PUMP IT UP Five local DJs pump up their jams for this Dance Matinee fundraiser for the Somerville Arts Council. The show features one hour sets from D-Lux, Fuse, MetalKT, DJ Cousin John and batwings. Feb. 4, 2—7 p.m. Tickets $10 with all proceeds going to SAC. P.A.’s Lounge, 345 Somerville Ave. www.somervilleartscouncil.com

HALLUCINATIONS (ON FILM) Hear the newest compositions from Alloy Orchestra played against the backdrop of forgotten surrealist films of the early 1900s. Some films included are The Cameraman’s Revenge (1912), Filmstudie (1926), Dreams of a Rarebit Fiend (1906), and Princess Nicotine (1909). Feb. 4, 7:30—11:30 p.m. Tickets $24. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq. www.somervilletheatreonline.com

*SUNDAY, FEB. 5

KID ‘N’ PLAY Grammy award winners Dan Zanes and Friends spread their age-appropriate music across the halls of the Somerville Theatre. They mix all musical genres for a family-friendly experience everyone can enjoy. Feb. 5, 3—5 p.m. Tickets $24. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Sq. www.somervilletheatreonline.com

DO I KNOW YOU? New exhibit, “Familiar Faces: Family and Self Portraits,” curated by Lois Fiore, has its opening reception. Artists include Sandra Allik, Sherry Autor, Bill Chisholm, Michael Crockett, Fiore, Cynthia Frost, Lou Gippetti, Cynthia Maurice, Susan Schmidt, and David Sholl. Runs through March 3. Feb. 5, 5—7 p.m. FREE. Brickbottom Gallery, 1 Fitchburg St. www.brickbottom.com

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By Michael Schulman
Photos by Kelly MacDonald

Union Square lost a beloved and colorful denizen in late spring when James Welborn, owner of Hub Comics (19 Bow St), died unexpectedly at age 37.

Welborn grew up in Nevada. Like many boys of his era, he got hooked on comics almost as soon as he could read. The closest comic store was a two-hour roundtrip from his boyhood home. “He worked all week, saved his money, and the store became a real destination for him,” says Hub manager Jesse Farrell.

In high school, Welborn wrote two issues of a comic called The Henderson Nerd Posse. “Which was me and my geeky friends, driving around, fighting crime,” he explained in a YouTube video (see the link at the end of the article). His own experience trying to create and market a series is one reason he was so supportive of local artists.

Welborn’s first job after college – he attended the University of Nevada at Reno on a scholarship – was as a reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. Having learned computer programming as a hobby, he became the paper’s webmaster once it began publishing online at Vegas.com. His high-tech savvy brought him to the Boston area in 1999, where he became a software engineer for Akamai Technologies in Cambridge. In 2003 he got married and in 2004 he had a son. At the time of his death, he was in divorce proceedings, several sources told the Scout.

“He was a good friend,” Farrell continues. “I was surprised and sad, but I’m glad the place is remaining as his legacy.” Farrell has provided the continuity to keep Hub open without interruption. New owner Tim Finn, a professor of animation and comics at the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, discovered Hub during visits to Bloc 11 (11 Bow St). Its appeal for him was the diversity. “Not just the diverse product but the store’s diverse readership,” he says, pointing to shelves with classic Batman and Superman, Donald Duck, Manga, Maus and even a graphic novel about Auschwitz. “The store’s personality was based on the owner’s tastes,” which included “horror, action, and non-fiction genres—unusual for a comic store. It’s usually superhero A to Z. That’s also part of James’ legacy.”

“One of the things that made Hub different from the beginning was having the sections categorized by genres,” he continues. Finn intends to keep it that way. Some sections, though, will be thinned out: He plans to stop selling DVDs and toys and will focus on adding new inventory of graphic novels and comics, especially superhero comics. Wooden bookshelves will replace the wire ones that have been in the store since it opened.

Finn bought the store in a private sale from Welborn’s family, who became the owners after his death. Finn shared how it happened with Scout in an e-mail:

“A year ago when the store was in trouble (sales to raise cash, e-mail and Facebook appeals to customers), I made a casual inquiry about becoming a silent partner,” he wrote. “Nothing came of it, and I put it out of my mind. When James died, Jesse recalled the offer and asked me on behalf of the family…seeing an opportunity to carry on James’ legacy for the neighborhood – someone who might run the store as James had, rather than it all shutting down. So buying the store was technically my idea, but feels more like Jesse’s since it was a surprise when he brought up the topic in May.”

Hub’s neighbors and even its business competitors have fond memories not only of Welborn, but also of how his store was a warm presence in the neighborhood. “People went there to hang out on his couch,” says Sheryl Sarokas, owner of Union Square Acupuncture (21 Bow St). “You could always find someone to talk to. If we needed something, he’d always lend a hand—with a smile.” People who read comic books are “all part of a small community,” adds Mike Burke, owner of Comicazi in Davis Square (407 Highland Ave). He says that the two stores often called (and still call) each other to fill special requests for customers. He first met Welborn when the latter was a customer of Comicazi – before Welborn opened Hub in January, 2008. “I always respected his stance on the local artist scene,” says Burke. “He was doing something he loved. I’m glad his dream is continuing with other people at the helm.”

Hub’s regulars have been asking about Bub, Welborn’s beloved and faithful dog – known as “the grinning dog” because of his constant smiling. Bub has a new home. His owner, who wished to remain anonymous, is a Union Square resident. Now, like other neighborhood dogs, Bub often stops by the store on his walks to say hello. The new owner is an acquaintance of Farrell, who was Bub’s temporary custodian after Welborn’s death.

As for the store’s future, Finn isn’t worried about losing readers to electronic media. The appeal of a comic, he says, is that it’s “a concrete object. You want it in your room on your bookshelf.” Finn promises Hub will continue to “serve Union Square with a safe, fun, inspiring environment that nurtures reading and buying comics,” just as Welborn did. Farrell adds that the store has “built a community. People come in for comics but a lot of friendships have been formed here. There’s a reason they call it the Hub.”

“People will continue to walk their dogs and stop by for a doggy treat,” Finn says, smiling. “I think this is beautiful,” he says, pointing to a shelf full of D.C. and Marvel graphic novels—which would never had found their way to Union Square if not for James Welborn.

For more on the life and legacy of James Welborn, you can watch an 18-minute YouTube film of his June 4 memorial, which took place at Hub Comics. The video includes testimonials from Welborn’s sister, Dara; friends, relatives and customers; and footage of Welborn himself inside the store. The filmmaker, Dante Luna, also made a short movie about Welborn in 2009.

The Memorial: tinyurl.com/3cojaxb

Dante Luna’s 2009 film on Welborn and Hub Comics: tinyurl.com/4xdru23

Emergency personnel discovered Welborn in his apartment at 32 Summit Ave on May 16, according to reports on Boston.com, Somerville Patch and the Somerville Journal’s Wicked Local site. Seven days later, Welborn died at Massachusetts General Hospital. Sources have told Scout it was a suicide.

According to the obituary in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Welborn “was preceded in death by his parents, Jim Welborn and Sharon Welborn-Haproff. James is survived by his son, Max; wife, Karrie; stepfather, William Haproff; brother, Matthew Welborn and sister, Dara Welborn of Henderson; sisters, Donna Welborn, Toni Hawkins and Carol Faust of Missouri; and many beloved nieces and nephews.”

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For Dan Blakeslee, one of New England’s premier singer-songwriters, the Somerville connections spread far and wide

By Adam Vaccaro

For the month of October, Dan Blakeslee goes by Doctor Gasp. He spends 25 days on the road, playing gig after gig between New England and New York, dressed in a makeshift Halloween costume built from a shoestring budget at thrift stores, performing an original and beloved set of ghost and goblin tunes. Having been raised on a farm in Maine as a self-described “Halloween kid,” Blakeslee relishes his time as Doctor Gasp. “I have my Master’s in disguise,” he says, smiling.

But now that spooky season has come to an end, Blakeslee, 40, is back to doing what he’s known for in the area. The Teele Square resident has lived across New England and toured all along the Atlantic coast, releasing five full-length albums in becoming a mainstay on the independent folk scene. His last two albums, including July’s ten-track Tatnic Tales, were released by Peapod Recordings out of Portland, Maine.

Even if Halloween is over, Blakeslee’s music still has the capacity to send shivers through an audience. In terms of genre, the songwriter can be placed in the folk category, which he partially attributes to his rural upbringing. But it’s not a perfectly neat fit. Despite a hearty Johnny Cash diet in his upbringing as an artist, Blakeslee’s slow melodies and occasional soft bellows resemble less the Man in Black than they do Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. At his Sept. 15 show at TT the Bear’s in Cambridge, he performed without his band. The petite Blakeslee (5’8, 155 lbs.) seemed to sink into the stage with his eyes closed. Surrounded by the vacant equipment of the bands he opened for, the sounds of his voice and acoustic guitar overpowered even his own image before the microphone. “People have said my music’s more in the realm of haunting or mysterious,” he says.

Blakeslee hasn’t worked what he calls a “real job” in years, last popping up at a seafood restaurant up north, but 160 gigs a year, album sales and occasional performance underground in MBTA stations aren’t his sole sources of income. He supports himself with his visual artwork. Blakeslee’s drawing hand has been contracted for book covers, beer labels, album art, and show flyers. His talents have also allowed him to produce his own album art and to sculpt the octopus design adorning his guitar. Supporting himself with his creative endeavors, Blakeslee says, is both liberating and exhausting. “It’s definitely nice but everyone says the grass is greener on the other side,” he says. “I have my freedom but I make myself work way too hard.”

He’s lived in Somerville three separate times, amounting to five years total. His connections to the city spread wide. He served the first ever residency at Arts at the Armory (191 Highland Ave). When asked to name some of his favorite musicians, he lists Somerville acts like Township and Audrey Ryan. More than half of his visual artwork in the last three years has been produced in evening sessions at the Diesel Café (257 Elm St). In September 2009, he hosted his first art show, putting 112 of the show fliers he’s produced on display at Bloc 11 (11 Bow St). He often leaves his apartment at two in the morning to sneak into a stone chapel at Tufts and practice his music there. Even his lyrics play local, highlighted by a melancholy love tune titled “The Somerville Line.” “Somerville,” he says, “is the only place I’ve lived around Boston that really feels like home.”

Fame has never driven Blakeslee, and he feels “very fortunate to do what [he does] for a living.” But he said the last year and a half, including the release of Tatnic Tales, may represent a starting point for him – as if up to now, it’s all been warm-ups. “I kind of just feel like this album I just made, like it’s my first,” he said. “I’d say this is my start.” Touring the United States and getting more music online are his short-term goals.

And when Blakeslee travels the country, Somerville will travel with him – at least in name. “When I play in New York City and someone asks me where I’m from, I don’t say Boston. I say Somerville, Massachusetts. That’s where I’m from.”

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By Martha Spizziri

In the last Scout, we took a look at what might happen if a Wal-Mart grocery store opened in Assembly Square. Recently, we spoke with Somerville Local First (21 Properzi Way), which supports locally owned and independent businesses.

Not surprisingly, the group has concerns. “In three and a half years in being active and supporting local businesses in the community, Somerville Local First has never opposed a business opening in Somerville. But we felt Wal-Mart, through their long, documented history of operation, is such a threat to a strong local economy, that we felt we needed to take a stance,” says SLF Executive Director Joe Grafton.

“Our position is not a straight ‘no Wal-Mart under any circumstances’ position,” he continues. “We are working in a coalition of many different groups around the community, and our approach is going to be to outline what’s called a ‘community benefits agreement’ — although we may call it something different — that  outlines the sort of operational circumstances where we feel we would be okay with Wal-Mart being here.”

With that in mind, we present a list of possible pros and cons of Wal-Mart moving into the neighborhood.

PRO: Consumer options for East Somerville.

“There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the need for affordable fresh food for people who live in the East Somerville/Winter Hill area of the city,” says Michael Meehan, Somerville’s director of communications. “It’s one of the reasons why we’re doing the Mystic Market.” (Mystic Market is a weekly farmer’s market at the Mystic Housing Development that sells fresh produce to low-income residents at subsidized prices.) In other words, East Somerville could already use another grocery store; this need will increase as housing units are built in Assembly Square.

CON: Unfair employment practices and lower wages.

When a Wal-Mart opens in a community, existing jobs are often replaced with lower-paying ones, according to a December 2007 study by the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Berkeley. “There’s a long documented history of Wal-Mart not treating their employees fairly, of paying low wages, of not developing a workforce or building transferrable skills in their employees,” says Grafton.

CON: Fewer businesses owned by locals.

A 2009 study of a Wal-Mart discount store in Chicago by Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Urban Research and Learning showed that nearly a quarter of the retail businesses located within four miles of a West Side Wal-Mart went out of business during the two-year study period. The closer a store was to the Wal-Mart, the more likely it would close. But again, it’s worth noting that the store in the study was a discount store, which would carry general merchandise and therefore compete with a wider range of businesses than would the Wal-Mart grocery store proposed for Somerville.

PRO: Competition yields lower prices.

A 2009 study in the Journal of Economics & Management Strategy found that prices at competing supermarkets fell by 1 to 1.2 percent when Wal-Mart opened a Supercenter. So chances are Stop & Shop (775 McGrath Hwy) might have to lower its prices, which could further benefit East Somerville grocery shoppers. (Stop & Shop spokesperson Suzi Robinson declined to say whether the chain would cut its prices to compete.) One footnote on the Journal report: The significant price cuts came from smaller-scale competitors. Cuts by larger chains – Albertson’s, Safeway and Kroger – were less than half that size.

PRO: New jobs – and job training – for residents.

The Circuit City location Wal-Mart is considering has been vacant for two years. The sooner a tenant moves in, the sooner hiring can start. Before IKEA moved in, it signed an agreement with the City to give Somerville residents — in particular, East Somerville residents — first crack at jobs. Both Mayor Joe Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Bill Roche told us that they hope to get a similar jobs agreement from Wal-Mart. If the city negotiates an agreement with Wal-Mart similar to the one inked by IKEA, Wal-Mart would contribute to a job-training program for Somerville residents — providing training for many different types of jobs, not just Wal-Mart jobs. Wal-Mart has indicated it’s at least open to suggestions from people who are interested in creating jobs.

CON: Overall jobs loss.

A 2006 study by economist David Neumark at the University of California, Irvine, found that for every retail job created by Wal-Mart, 1.4 retail jobs are lost, which amounts to a 2.7 percent reduction in average retail employment. Wal-Mart openings were found to result in a 1.3 percent reduction in payroll earnings. One caveat here: The study reported on openings of Wal-Mart Supercenters and discount stores, both of which are larger and carry a different range of merchandise than the proposed Neighborhood Market grocery store.  u

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The candidates get specific on Wal-Mart and their ideas for shaping the city

By Adam Vaccaro

With City elections set for Nov. 8, we wanted to hear from the candidates one last time about the issues most central to Somerville, as well as the issues most central to themselves.

We asked the candidates to tell us how they felt about the proposed Wal-Mart opening in Assembly Square, and we asked them to elaborate on what they told us in the September/October Scout about what they would change about Somerville.

The Sept. 13 Ward 7 aldermanic preliminary election eliminated Joan Whitney Puglia from the field, narrowing the list of candidates for that seat from three to two. In the Nov. 8 election, residents will choose between two aldermanic candidates not only in ward 7, but also in wards 3 and 4. Incumbents in the other four wards – 1, 2, 5 and 6 – are running unopposed. In addition, residents will elect four of the seven candidates for alderman-at large. Then there’s the mayor, who’s running unopposed.

All told, that makes 18 candidates. And we asked each one of them: “What is your opinion of Wal-Mart’s plan to open a 34,000 square foot grocery store on the site of the old Circuit City in Assembly Square?”

Their individualized questions – following up on their comments in the last Scout – are listed beneath the Wal-Mart responses in their profiles.

For Mayor

 Joseph A (Joe) Curtatone
130 Ten Hills Rd
Somerville, MA 02145
Aide: oboukil@somervillema.gov

On Wal-Mart: A Wal-Mart fresh food market in Assembly Square will get the same level of consideration and scrutiny we would give any other fresh food market at that location. We are still awaiting a formal submission from Wal-Mart. There are those in our community both strongly for and against it, with both sides making social justice arguments, but we will not know what all of the issues are for Somerville until we see a concrete proposal.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of making Somerville a great place to work, play and raise a family…despite constrained revenues. In an atmosphere where you have to compete with other mayors for state and national funds, how will you do this?
Comment: Somerville has an abundance of advantages when competing for state and federal dollars. The city is a vital node in our regional transportation network. Also, given our population density, projects here can have a positive impact for a greater number of people. On top of that, we have thriving city squares plus award-winning schools, parks and public housing projects. Somerville is recognized far and wide as a healthy city, a great place to raise a family and an innovative city. Demonstrated success and clear vision play a big role when competing for state and federal funding. Plus, Somerville rocks.

For Alderman at Large

John M (Jack) Connolly, Jr
17 Winslow Ave
Somerville, MA 02144
aldermanconnolly@gmail.com

On Wal-Mart: The reuse of the Circuit City building for a grocery store is a great concept. I support the idea wholeheartedly. I understand it will also include a pharmacy, which also works well. The sooner the better!
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of continuing fiscal oversight of the city and local corporations. What will you personally do differently to pursue this oversight, than you have done in previous terms?
Comment: Fiscal oversight techniques are more thorough now than in years past since technology has given us many more tools. I can spend more time reviewing specific or detailed fiscal matters; because of the internet and different search engines for comparative data, I can compare more communities similar to Somerville than ever before.

Bruce M Desmond
220A Summer St
Somerville, MA 02143
brucemdesmond@yahoo.com

On Wal-Mart: Somerville certainly needs to boost its commercial tax base. I have always believed that the city and our business community are partners working together to make Somerville a better place. However, in our rush to enhance our commercial revenue we must be selective of who we partner with. We need businesses offering good paying jobs with good working conditions and who will give Somerville residents a hiring preference. Wal-Mart doesn’t fit that description.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of getting more commercial business into the city. What will you do, personally, in pursuit of this goal, that you have not done before?
Comment: It’s not about what I have or haven’t done personally. It’s about being part of a team with the common goal of attracting good businesses to this great city. As a potential business partner Somerville has re-zoned our business areas, made huge investments in physical improvements to our squares, streets and sidewalks by redesigning traffic flow, improved lighting and resurfaced pavements. We have enhanced our restaurant licenses with extended hours of operation and the ability to seasonally operate outdoors. Now we need to inform the world of our philosophy and our commitment as a business partner.

Dennis Michael Sullivan
138 Ten Hills Rd
Somerville, MA 02145
aldermansullivan@aol.com

On Wal-Mart: I have serious concerns regarding Wal-Mart’s treatment of workers, especially female workers. Wal-Mart should be given a fair opportunity to make their case. If Wal-Mart moves forward, I will work to make sure they are a responsible employer and corporate neighbor.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned working on a domestic violence policy for city workers. What actions will you take to make this plan a reality?
Comment: Approximately one year ago, I passed a resolution for a creation of a Domestic Violence Policy for the city of Somerville. The purpose of this policy is to create an awareness of domestic violence and provide guidelines for addressing domestic violence by assisting victims in finding appropriate resources, and by assisting abusers in finding treatment programs. I will continue to advocate for this needed policy.

William A (Bill) White, Jr
16 Browning Rd
Somerville, MA 02145
william.a.white@verizon.net

On Wal-Mart: The Special Permit for the Circuit City site excluded supermarkets as a use. Therefore, if Wal-Mart is serious, it must apply for a Special Permit with Site Plan Review under zoning law. The Planning Board, not the Board of Aldermen, will decide whether Wal-Mart will open. Personally, I do not favor Wal-Mart’s treatment of employees. I would, however, solicit opinions and listen to the public prior to taking any formal position before the Planning Board.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of fostering further civic participation by Somerville residents. What actions can you take in the next two years to fulfill this goal, especially when it comes to participation by ethnic minorities?
Comment: I will continue the practices I have followed for many years. The simplest one is having an “open phone” and “open door” to respond to resident concerns. Other practices include bringing government to the people by holding Aldermanic Committee meetings in those neighborhoods that are impacted by the issues under debate. Also, when issues are important, I have asked that the Board hold public hearings to allow the public to speak. I have encouraged our many resident groups, including those of ethnic minorities, in their missions by sponsoring such groups before the Board and appearing at meetings held by those groups.

Todd E Easton
35 Hudson St
Somerville, MA 02143
todd4somerville@gmail.com

On Wal-Mart: This isn’t about whether we want Wal-Mart in our city or not. It’s about the fact that we need to serve the members of our community who need access to affordable food. East Somerville is experiencing an issue with food access. Star left and the space has yet to attract another supermarket. The key is to create an environment to attract businesses that share the community-minded values of Somerville.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of making the schools “the best they can be” and, specifically, preventing school flight. What actions can you take as alderman in pursuit of these goals?
Comment: First, I would like to clarify that I was misquoted in the last issue. The concern I mentioned was preventing school “flight.” (Scout had erroneously reported Easton as saying “fight.”) Our children attend Somerville Public Schools. In contrast with the current aldermen, none of whom have school-aged children, I am in the schools every day talking with families, teachers, and administrators and volunteering my time. I know firsthand that Somerville loses families every year because of concerns with the academic strength of our schools. As alderman, I will work with the School Committee to focus on improving student achievement; build stronger partnerships with universities, businesses and the arts community; introduce foreign languages in the earlier grades; and foster greater community volunteerism in ours schools.

Sean J Fitzgerald
46 Garrison Ave
Somerville, M 02144
seanjfitz@comcast.net

On Wal-Mart: I am strongly opposed to Wal-Mart opening a grocery store in the Assembly Square complex. Put simply, Wal-Mart prices smaller competitors out of the market, and in many instances, out of existence, see K B Toys. Their onerous business practices include, but are not limited to, low wages and benefits, predatory pricing, traffic congestion, environmental concerns, public safety issues, absentee landlordism, and extremely poor public relations. Somerville should follow Boston’s lead and reject this project.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you said you’d “join the growing call for the immediate start to the extension of the Green Line.” What steps will you actually take to pressure the State to move faster?
Comment: I would ask the State Delegation to aggressively lobby the Governor to reconsider the decision to delay, yet again, the Green Line extension into Somerville. This community stood with the Governor in 2006 and 2010, when the Green Line extension was part of his transportation platform. I would rally the community by staging a high-profile media campaign to garner as much attention to this issue as possible. One example might be human chain of hundreds of residents linking arms from Lechmere all along the proposed Green Line extension route to the proposed terminus. That should certainly get the media’s attention!

Michael D Nionakis
30 Mansfield St
Somerville, MA 02143
mdionakis@yahoo.com

On Wal-Mart: I am definitely for it. It would expand the city’s business tax base, possibly create jobs for Somerville residents and create competition for Somerville consumers. I am in favor of Wal-Mart’s plan to move into the now vacant Circuit City property before it turns into another Star Market fiasco.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you said you did not condone fiscal recklessness. What actions can you take, personally, if elected, to make the city more fiscally responsible?
Comment: I would try to act, along with other board members, to set forth initiatives that would thoroughly examine departmental budgets to insure that each department is making the most of taxpayer dollars. For instance, the school budget is approximately 1/3 of the city’s overall budget and among some of the highest in the state, and yet, according to the state’s MCAS reports the elementary school results are in the lowest ten percentile statewide. To me, that is a totally unacceptable result. I would also like to create a yearly review, and job justification policy, of the city’s administrative employees.

For Alderman Ward 1

William M Roche
17 MacArthur St
Somerville, MA  02145
aldermanroche@comcast.net

On Wal-Mart: First of all Wal-Mart would need zoning relief to open in the former Circuit City location and that is a public process where residents could speak in favor or against. Their concept is interesting and I am willing to speak with anyone looking to operate in that location. Wal-Mart would bring competition to Somerville’s other food markets and that is a good thing. Wal-Mart has indicated that they want to be a community partner in ongoing initiatives and also has indicated interest in a local hire agreement. There are many residents in East Somerville in need of a job and Wal-Mart could bring that relief to the neighborhood. However, Wal-Mart does bring some baggage regarding their labor policies.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned high-end development at Assembly Square as a top priority. What steps can you take, as an alderman, to lure and speed up high-end development?
Comment: Assembly Row at Assembly Square is the next great neighborhood in the greater Boston area. Authorizing the $25 million bond was the first aggressive step to assure high-end development would take place at Assembly Row. This will result in a total of 405 housing units, and a hotel.

For Alderman Ward 2

Maryann M Heuston
115 Beacon St
Somerville, MA 02143
mheuston@hotmail.com

On Wal-Mart: I do not have any detail on what is being proposed, but on the whole, the concept of a grocery store in the old Circuit City space seems like a reasonable idea, bringing new jobs to the city and an additional option for food shopping for residents.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned plans for the Green Line and future of the Brickbottom area were a priority for you. Specifically, what leadership role do you plan to take regarding either or both of these priorities?
Comment: Regarding the Green Line extension, I continue to be a strong advocate questioning aspects of it that would negatively impact the neighborhoods in my ward, as I did with the maintenance facility: attending meetings where MassDOT provided noise and shadow analysis to residents of Brickbottom; participating in meetings regarding station design; signing on to petitions where we have protested the delay of the extension; and continuing to follow this very closely both in terms of the impact on economic development in Union Square and diligence in making sure that the State’s commitment and mandate are met.

For Alderman Ward 3

Thomas F Taylor
32 Vinal Ave
Somerville, MA 02143
tftald@aol.com

Taylor was unable to answer Scout’s questions as he remains in the hospital. In the September/October Scout, Taylor said stabilizing the City’s budget and addressing the lack of parking spots in and around Union Square were issues he would prioritize.

Stephen A Delani
43 Berkeley St
Somerville, MA 02143
sdelani@rcn.net

On Wal-Mart: I am open to Wal-Mart coming into the vacant building of Circuit City. It should create some well-needed jobs. It also generates some capital for local contractors and potential tax revenue. If I am correct on the vacant building we can only collect property tax. Now this will change.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you lamented the raising of city fees. In a fiscal climate like this one, what would you do to help the city to stay afloat without raising existing fees or creating new ones?
Comment: In regards to the fees, I was and still am opposed to their being increased. We could look at new ways to create revenue. How about increasing penalties for offenders who are avoiding these fees? How many dogs are in the city? How many do not have a dog license? Why not enforce this? The fines would offset the increase and not penalize those who abide by the law. Somerville has just started to enforce and check on expired registrations. This willalso create new capital. But we should also look at the spending in the city. In this tough economic time why did the city budget for 2012 increase over 2011?

For Alderman Ward 4

Christine P Barber
87 Thurston St
Somerville, MA 02145
Barber4Alderman@gmail.com

On Wal-Mart: I am opposed to Wal-Mart’s proposal. Wal-Mart historically has paid its employees poorly and provided them with few benefits. It has also been found to discriminate against women employees. I am very concerned that Wal-Mart will compete with Somerville’s local businesses and has an unfair advantage. In assessing the Wal-Mart proposal, we need to think carefully about the kind of businesses we want in our city, and how to provide the best jobs for residents.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of making sure your neighborhood stays affordable. How would you define “affordable,” and what actions can an alderman actually take in pursuit of this goal?
Comment: One way of ensuring our neighborhood is affordable is by creating and keeping good jobs for local residents so people can afford to stay here. We have opportunities in Ward 4 to do this – by filling empty storefronts like the Star Market building with businesses that will benefit the community, and holding developers accountable to provide jobs for residents. As alderman, I will work with officials, owners and developers to keep housing affordable and the community livable for people here. This means maintaining the affordable housing options in our neighborhood, and expanding the availability of housing for the middle class.

Tony Lafuente
137 Sycamore St
Somerville, MA 02145
tony@tonylafuente.com

On Wal-Mart: Competition is healthy – especially among food stores. My concerns about Wal-Mart are shared by people all over Somerville – namely the way they treat employees. As a small businessman in the city with 15 employees, I know firsthand how important it is to treat employees fairly – with dignity and respect. If Wal-Mart can satisfy the community that they will treat their employees properly, I would be in favor of Wal-Mart applying to do business in Somerville.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned talking to the owners of storefronts and getting them involved in city renovations. What sort of participation are you seeking and, if it’s fiscal, how can you feasibly motivate cash-strapped small business owners to subsidize what ought to be the city’s responsibility?
Comment: Fortunately, the city has available funds for small businesses throughout the city to improve storefronts. Businesses with new storefronts not only look good – they help make individual businesses and business districts more profitable by encouraging commerce. And they increase property values in the surrounding neighborhoods. Ward 4 has not taken advantage of the Storefront Improvement Program like other parts of the city. If elected, I will take a proactive approach to this program. I’ll encourage local businesses to take advantage of the grants available – and work with owners to get these grants.

For Alderman Ward 5

Sean T O’Donovan
30 Warwick St
Somerville, MA 02145
sean@odonovanlaw.com

On Wal-Mart: It was always a storefront and I know some people object to it coming to the City. I don’t like to see empty storefronts. I like to see activity and jobs for the community. So having nothing there doesn’t help anybody. We’ll have to work with the alderman for Ward 1 and see what the neighbors and the people around there feel is best for the people around there, and also the administration, but I’m a pro-business person and think that there might be some jobs there for some people from Somerville.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of stimulating economic growth in the ward’s square. What concrete steps will you actually take in pursuit of this goal?
Comment: I think we need to work with the shop owners, the landowners, the residents and the city planners to come up with a game plan and a vision going forward for how to economically stimulate Magoun Square. The Green Line extension is something that will have an effect, but it’s not in the square, it’s down the road 100 yards to the Lowell Street bridge.

For Alderman Ward 6

Rebekah L Gewirtz
131 Morrison Ave
Somerville, MA 02144
rebekah.gerwitz@gmail.com

On Wal-Mart: Wal-Mart has a lot of explaining to do about the poor treatment of workers in their stores before we should even consider their application to come to Somerville. Additionally, one of my priorities in office has been making sure we protect and support our locally owned and operated, independent businesses. Wal-Mart stores have historically made it difficult if not impossible for small businesses, which pay good wages and create unique communities, to thrive.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned promoting transparency and openness in local government. What is one example of something in Somerville’s government that you wish were more transparent, and what steps will you take in pursuit of that transparency?
Comment: To me, part of transparent government is community members having access to the best and most up-to-date information about important decisions at city hall. One way I help to foster this is through my quarterly e-newsletter where I also ask people for their feedback on important issues facing the city. Government works best when community members are engaged in the process as it’s happening and not after it’s too late.

For Alderman Ward 7

Robert C Trane
70 Hooker Ave
Somerville, MA 02144
roberttrane@aol.com

On Wal-Mart: I have concerns with Wal-Mart and the numerous issues they have had as employers. Wal-Mart has been sued by female workers for substandard pay and they have a dismal record with labor: everything from forced overtime without overtime pay to a low pay scale compared to other retail operations. I would be open to hear what Wal-Mart would be offering the City before I could even consider any support for a Somerville location.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of implementing community policing. What steps will you personally take in this effort?
Comment: As the current ward alderman I have been a longtime advocate for community policing and Somerville has already begun implementing it. An important component of community policing is bringing officers into our neighborhoods. I am very proud of our success in this area through the opening of the Teele Sq police station, a new deployment plan of police officers to ensure better response times and allowing officers more time to interact with our residents.

Katjana Ballantyne
49 Russell Rd
Somerville, MA 02144
katjana@katjana.org

On Wal-Mart: As alderman, I will support new businesses that make positive contributions according to the following three questions: Will the business provide good jobs that are open to residents? Will the business provide goods and/or services that benefit both residents and existing businesses in Somerville? And will the business pay taxes or make contributions that will pay the cost of the city services required by their operations? Businesses that provide positive responses to these questions deserve our support.
Scout: In the September/October Scout, you mentioned the goal of keeping Ward 7 affordable. How would you define “affordable,” and what steps can you take, as an alderman, in pursuit of that affordability?
Comment: Sustainable affordability in Somerville requires that our residents have access to good jobs and that residents can afford the cost of living here. As Alderman I’ll work to increase office space and new businesses that will provide good jobs for Somerville residents. New businesses in Somerville will help to pay the cost of city services, so that Somerville will be more affordable for residents. I’ll promote efforts to create affordable business space and housing options in Somerville, and I’ll keep working to help residents find access to job training and good jobs.

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(L to R) Lattimore, Wood, Maloney, Moore, Lubelski play Somerville Theatre Jan. 31
Photo by Eli Jace

     Last night marked a sort of return to The Somerville Theatre (55 Davis Sq) for Sonic Youth guitarist and vocalist Thurston Moore. The feedback-and-drone rock band last played the theatre early in their career in the 80s. On that night Moore threw a temper tantrum, left the stage thirty minutes early and locked himself in their van. “I’m back exorcising that demon,” he said with his typical smirk.
This time around, the scene was different. Moore played in support of his third solo album, last year’s, Demolished Thoughts, with his new backing band. Christened Demolished Thoughts, the ensemble includes Keith Wood on acoustic guitar, Mary Lattimore on harp, John Maloney (former Burren employee) on drums, and Samara Lubelski on violin. A surprising split from Kim Gordon, his wife of twenty-seven years and co-founder, bassist and vocalist of Sonic Youth, threw the fate of the band in permanent jeopardy last year. No announcement has been made on their future.
In his newest musical incarnation Moore is much calmer than that night in the 80s. Gone is the distorted destruction and wall of feedback from his previous work and in place are spiraling acoustic crescendos. The song structure is still mostly the same with long-winded outros that melt down and disintegrate in acoustic noise. Clearly there’s still a soft spot in his heart for Sonic Youth that this band only hints at, but this project follows its own meandering path.
The group played songs from all of Moore’s solo discography, even reaching back to 1995’s Psychic Hearts. “Circulation” from Demolished Thoughts, roared out of control but was pulled from the static bog by Lattimore’s plucked harp strings. The addition of violin and harp created a constant classical drone that led the audience down stereophonic hallways of dread. Moore’s vocals are still the vocals of warning, deadpan and off-putting.
Moore was friendly with the audience and patient as they shouted senseless one-liners for attention. Between a few songs he offered his own beat-up poetry streaming free from his mind. Sentence fragments were mashed in a sweaty electrical pulp offering an angulated glimpse into life with his new band. One poem reflected on a beer-fueled heavy metal practice they had.
Kurt Vile, who released the full-length Smoke Ring For My Halo and the EP So Outta Reach last year opened the evening. He brought his usual sleepy songs drenched in soft reverb and highlighted by his fishtail mumble. He stood mostly alone, center stage, with acoustic guitar, but was joined every few songs by Lattimore on harp.
It was a casual show, a laid-back affair, the soundtrack to those final moments of a deep sleep and so, the rest of the night was spent in a perpetual awakening. Moore takes his Demolished Thoughts to The Allen Room at Lincoln Center in New York City tomorrow night.
View more photographs from the show RIGHT HERE.

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By Ilan Mochari

John Crowley’s novel Little, Big (1981) is about many things, but one of its themes is how tiny spaces are windows to larger (imaginary) worlds. There’s something of Crowley’s creation in Somerville, a 4.1 mile city whose scope, at times, seems global. Not long ago, Assembly Square brought to mind a Loews movie theater and the Good Time Emporium. These days, the 145-acre area is making headlines because of worldwide corporations like Ikea and Wal-Mart. In case you missed the Wal-Mart news, the $419-billion retailer intends to open a 34,000 square-foot supermarket where Circuit City used to be. Is that good news? Opinions will vary, but your take on the matter will be more informed after reading Martha Spizziri’s report.

Corporations are not the only big fish in small cities. Unbeknownst to many, Somerville is home to three world-class martial arts instructors. Mark DellaGrotte of Sityodtong USA (100 Broadway) has trained mixed martial arts fighters such as Kenny Florian and Stephan Bonnar; Andrew Haynes of Corpbasics (73 Bow St) is a member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame; and William Gleason of Shobu Aikido (34 Allen St) is a 6th degree black belt who studied in Japan with the actual founder of aikido. These biographical facts are just the beginning of their stories. You can find out more in Meghann Ackerman’s feature, “The Fight Club”.

On September 13, the first round of Somerville elections takes place, with three Ward 7 alderman candidates vying for two spots on the November 8 ballot. This fall, the city will also see heated races for Ward 3, Ward 4 and aldermen-at-large. To learn about these contests, see Matthew Korb’s extensive breakdown of the candidates, including those for school committee. And if you’ve ever wondered what the school committee does, Matthew’s second article is a primer on the topic – and the final chapter of our four-part series on Somerville schools.

You might be hard pressed to find a resident who can not only name her alderman and school committee member, but also describe their positions on issues. But if you know realtor Thalia Tringo, you know she just happens to be one of those people. To even call her a realtor is a misnomer; it’s her profession, but a more accurate description of her role in the community is “advocate/expert on local issues and fundraising/networking impresario.” She’s also an artist. You’ll get to know her a little better in Jason Rabin’s profile.

It was not long ago that the members of hip-hop group DC FAM were walking the hallways of Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave). These days, when they’re not recording one of their many outstanding videos on YouTube (bit.ly/ooTpsc), you might find them at Middle East in Cambridge, opening for former Wu-Tang Clan members Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck. Maja Orsic has the DC FAM lowdown. These guys will make you get up and dance.

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Wal-Mart announced plans to open a supermarket on the site of the old Circuit City (65 Mystic Ave). See our story here.

DAVIS SQUARE

Dave’s Fresh Pasta (81 Holland St, 617-623-0867, davesfreshpasta.com) is still in the early stages of planning a 45- seat wine and antipasto bar, to be located where Black & Blues (89 Holland St) used to be. The new restaurant, as yet untitled, is a joint venture between Dave’s owner Dave Jick and Dave’s wine buyer, Felisha Foster. Jick and Foster have a five-year lease on the new space. Jick says the lease is contingent on his getting a serving license (to serve alcoholic beverages) from the city. “We’re basically at a standstill,” says Jick. “These things take time.” Asked if he thought the new joint would be open sometime in 2011, Jick replied, “I have no idea. I hope so. If I had more info I’d tell you.”

Five Horses Tavern (400 Highland Ave, 617-764-1665, fivehorsestavern.com), located where Sagra used to be, will open in early September with 36 rotating draft beers and more than 80 varieties of bottled beer. Hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week. There will be 30 seats at the bar and 80 seats in the house. Owner Dylan Walsh is formerly a manager at Bukowski Tavern in Inman Square. This is his first venture as a restaurant owner. His head chef, Aaron Parsons, is someone he initially hired at Bukowski. Walsh aims to make Five Horses Tavern a place where diners can sit and take their time. “So many places focus on turning tables, and when you stop eating or drinking the server ignores you,” he says. “I’m going to focus on hospitality and make sure people don’t feel rushed.”

Flatbread (45 Day St, 617- 776-0552, flatbreadcompany.com) still plans to offer delivery via bike during lunch hours (11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.), but has not set a timetable for the rollout. “I honestly don’t know how long it’s going to take,” said Managing Partner Evan Fetras.

Imagine an ice cream truck… for cupcakes! Kickass Cupcakes (378 Highland Ave, 617-628- 2877, kickasscupcakes.com) has made this dream a reality in Boston. Will there be a truck in Somerville? “Right now, I’m working on getting a Medford permit so I can take the truck around Tufts,” writes owner Sara Ross in an e-mail. “I am open to bringing the cupcake truck to special events in Somerville, but so far, do not have any scheduled.”

 EAST SOMERVILLE

Mudflat Studio (81 Broadway, 617-628-0589, mudflat.org) has moved from its old home at 149 Broadway. See our story here

The basement of the Edgerly Education Center (11 Otis St) will be the new home of the Somerville Youth Development & Boxing Club. Alderman-at- Large Bruce Desmond, who is on the SYDBC board, told Scout that he expects the club to be up and running by the third week of September. All told, there will be 15 heavy bags, eight speed bags and two rings. It will be staffed by volunteers. Anyone under the age of 21 can use the club at no cost, as long as they commit to performing two monthly hours of community service. Anyone over the age of 21 can use the club for a $25 monthly or $250 annual fee. Former boxer Alex Rivera will run the boxing component, while Somerville Youth Programming Coordinator Nancy Bacci will oversee the community service and youth development component.

 INNERBELT

In mid-August, discount store CW Price moved next door to Target into the former location of A.J. Wright (176 Somerville Ave). CW Price is owned by a privately held corporation called Conway Stores Inc, which runs 45 stores in nine states.

 SPRING HILL

The debut novel of Scout editor Ilan Mochari, Zinsky the Obscure, is due out this fall from Fomite Press. Stay tuned to this space for updates.

3LittleFigs (278 Highland Ave, 3littlefigs.com, 617-623- FIGS) plans to open a bakery and espresso bar by October 1 in the former location of Café Aroma and Café Lola and Café Rossini. “The neighborhood has an attractive energy,” wrote owner Katie Rooney, 30, in an email. “The name 3LittleFigs represents myself, my mother and my Greek grandmother, as three generations of strong Greek women working and bonding in the kitchen. I started the business when my yiayia passed away, so I was inspired to honor her and keep her memory close.”

TEELE SQUARE

Masala (1127 Broadway, 617-718-0703), a new Indian and Nepali restaurant, opened in late August in the former location of Tip Top Thai. Co-owner Binoj Pradhan, 27 is also the proprietor of the Subway in Union Square. The other owners are Janak Gauchan and Paramjit Singh.

 UNION SQUARE

Calling their restaurant a “modern interpretation of the Spanish Caribbean,” the owners of Casa B (253 Washington St, casabrestaurant.com) plan to open by October 15. The husband-wife team of Alberto Cabré and Angelina Jockovich are also architects; the Casa B interior will bring “a new aesthetic to the block,” says Jockovich, referring to the restaurant’s clean lines, ornate carved woods and simple Caribbean colors. Formal dining will take place downstairs, while the ground level will be a lounge with a counter or mostrador displaying menu items. There will be 22 seats downstairs and 20 on the main level. As for the food itself, expect treats like bacalao (codfish wrapped in banana leaves) and shark nuggets (breaded shark meat) served with criollo sauce. At press time, Casa B had no plans to do either takeout or delivery.

Journeyman (9 Sanborn Ct, 617-718-2333, journeymanrestaurant.com) reopened August 4. It had closed after a June 18 accident when a vehicle slammed into the right side of the building, causing the roof to collapse. Now the restaurant plans to expand by mid-October, building a cocktail bar at 7 Sanborn with 36 seats: 12 at the bar proper and 24 at tables. “We feel Somerville needs more cocktail culture,” says Meg Grady-Troia, general manager and co-owner.

Somerville Grooves (26 Union Sq, 617-666-1749), a record store in the former location of Moda Basil, opened August 13. The store has been the darling of the local media, warranting mentions in the Boston Herald and Weekly Dig. Just remember: Scout was first with the Grooves scoop in our July-August edition. Owner David Plunkett eagerly attended the August 21 Rock & Roll Yard Sale, buying records and handing out his business card.

 WILSON SQUARE

Artisan Asylum (10 Tyler St, artisanasylum.com, 617-863- 7634) moved to the former Ames Envelope building, a 25,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. “This is an opportunity to finally create an environment as professional as we’ve always wanted,” president Gui Cavalcanti wrote in an e-mail. The move will allow AA to expand its shop spaces, increase its class offerings and lease out more than 100 studio rental spaces to artists, artisans, entrepreneurs and small businesses. At press time, AA had found tenants for all of its studio spaces. A highlight reel of tenants includes: Sindrian Arts, which recently raised $21,000 on Kickstarter to develop a new type of computer controlled router; Wobbleworks, a startup developing low-cost robotic toys; and The Uncommon Green, a furniture/furnishing designer that recently relocated from Boston.

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