The Somerville Grocery Dilemma

Boston Globe Correspondent Taryn Luna recently reported on the obstacles and now Danielle Dreilinger takes us through the key points in the debate on the opening of a WalMart Market in Somerville; complete with awesome Somerville infographic!

By Danielle Dreilinger, Globe Correspondent

In Somerville, it's not just Mayor Joe Curtatone who has an opinion about Walmart's interest in opening its first grocery store in New England. Everyone is talking. Let's outline the key points of debate: - But they don't allow unions - But affordable organic food is a good thing - But it's so close to the Stop & Shop - Why didn't Walmart look into the vacant Star Market space in Winter Hill? - It will help the local economy - It will destroy the local economy

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Image borrowed from http://www.cepro.com

SOMERSTREETS: “SEIZE THE SUMMER” SET FOR SUNDAY, JULY 24TH ON HIGHLAND AVE.

SOMERSTREETS: “SEIZE THE SUMMER” SET FOR SUNDAY, JULY 24TH ON HIGHLAND AVE.

2nd SomerStreets Event to Include Outdoor Yoga, Kidical Mass Bike Ride, Sand Castles, Live Music and More!

SOMERVILLE- The City's 2^nd SomerStreets celebration of 2011, "Seize the Summer!" will take place on Sunday, July 24^th along Highland Avenue, from Walnut Street to Cedar Street.

For this unique event where "roads are closed to cars and open to you!" programming will extend along Highland Ave. from noon - 4 p.m., and will include activities such as a "Kidical Mass" bike ride to Davis Square, various kid activities health workshops, arts and crafts, live music and more. SomerStreets is the City's Open Streets Initiative, which closes sections of roadways one Sunday per month to promote and support active living - walking, biking, running, dancing, etc.

"Carnaval @ SomerStreets drew record crowds of over 5,000 last month along East Broadway, thanks to a partnership with East Somerville Main Streets and FossFest, and we're excited to bring our Open Streets Initiative to a new area of Somerville this month with Seize the Summer," said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. "These events encourage community members of all ages to get outside and be active, but also to experience new areas of the community and learn about the businesses and organizations that call our City home. We have a lot of wonderful things to offer, and I'm excited at how popular the SomerStreets trend has become in just one short year."

Along Highland Ave., local businesses and organizations including Cambridge Health Alliance, the Somerville Fire Department, Kidical Mass Arts at the Armory and the Somerville YMCA, among others, will partner with the City to provide activities for children and adults of all ages. Activities will include, but are not limited to:

• Farmers Market

• Outdoor Yoga

• Live music

• Family swim at the YMCA

• Bike decorating & "Kidical Mass" bike ride

• Face painting

• Sand castle building

• Arts and crafts

• Health fair

• Dance demonstrations

Additionally, at 4:00 p.m., attendees are invited to continue the fun with a walk down Vinal Ave. to a family friendly concert at the Community Growing Center.

The remaining 2011 SomerStreets schedule is:

• Seize the Summer - Sunday, July 24 on Highland Ave. from Walnut St. to Cedar St.

• Going Green on Rte. 16 - Sunday, August 21 on Alewife Brook Parkway from Dilboy Field to Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge

• Rolling on the Mystic - Saturday, September 10 on Shore Drive

• Fall Festival - Sunday, October 23 on Somerville Ave. from Union Square to Porter Square

SomerStreets builds on the Shape Up Somerville healthy living initiative. Similar open streets events take place all around the world, providing space normally taken up by automobile traffic for people to be more active. Special attention this year is being paid to providing fresh food at SomerStreets.

All SomerStreets events will run from 12-4 p.m., rain or shine.