The state and the MBTA “are doing everything possible to hit targeted dates” for the opening of the Green Line Extension in the face of deep MBTA financial issues, a Mass. Department of Transportation spokeswoman said.

The MBTA decided on a plan to settle its fiscal year 2013 budgetary deficit earlier this month, with fares likely to climb and some service to be cut this summer, but that does little to solve the T’s long-term deficit.

The T’s troubles to maintain even its current service has some in Somerville concerned that the Green Line, which had originally been slated for a 2012 opening but has now been twice delayed, may not even be ready for a 2018 or 2019 opening appears far-fetched.

“I want the Green Line,” said Ward 5 Alderman Sean O’Donovan. “But I don’t see where the $900 million [in project costs] is coming from.”

The extension would be funded by state and federal funds. Mass. DOT spokeswoman Sara Lavoie said in an email. The state is in the process of trying to secure the federal funds, Lavoie said. The state is legally obligated to fund the project to counteract the environmental impacts of the Big Dig project. Lavoie said Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration “is committed to moving it forward.”

Lavoie said construction projects to demolish an MBTA facility along the route and to reconstruct two rail bridges should still be awarded by the end of this year.

At his annual business town meeting April 11, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone spoke confidently that the Green Line would come and said it’s his hope that construction will begin before Patrick leaves office in 2014.

Curtatone added that there is currently enough bond-based funding secured to build the Union Square and Washington Street stations. But he put the onus on those business owners to engage elected officials to make sure it gets started on schedule. “You know it’s important to your business,” he said, urging the business owners in attendance to speak out in support of the project.

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The video, prepared with help from SCATV, features interviews with children who explain the far-reaching effects the loss of the bus would have on their community.

“If you cut the buses,” one interviewee says, “it’s like cutting off the rest of the world.”

The possible service cut is a part of the T’s overall cost cutting proposals that have been unpopular since their introduction last winter to close a projected $161 million budget gap. A final announcement on the plans is expected in April.

In a press release, Mystic Learning Center Group Leader Heather McCormack said the video is being released in the lead-up to a march to the State House on March 29 dubbed “Youth Affordabili(T).”

“Their video is comprehensive, heartfelt, and completely kid-centered, and they need all the public support they can get to convince the MBTA not to cut their community’s lifeline before they make the final decision on April 4,” McCormack said.

Watch the video here:

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Plenty of folks could be seen walking away scarfing down “cutie pies” which were available in cherry, blueberry and pecan and given to each person who successfully stated the first 10 digits of pi — 3.141592653.

Davis Square resident Kevin Harmon correctly recited 100 digits of pi which awarded him one large pie per season and a Petsi Pies pie server.

Kate Ellison, 8, said that she has been training for “three and a half years,” starting off with 30 digits in her first year. On Wednesday Kate recited 60 digits — 10 more than in 2011. She and her father, Glen, who handled 100 digits, came to Somerville from Newton to get in on the action.

Sheila Lee of Davis Square practiced nightly with her roommate, Nate Hardison, and sister, Sasha, who is visiting from San Francisco, to be one of a handful of participants who recalled 300 digits of pi for Petsi’s grand prize, which included the aforementioned prizes and a Tupelo gift card.

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Here's one entry in the recycling-cart photo contest. The competition is tough.

Do you love Somerville’s new zero-sort recycling program? Really love it? So much that you actually photograph your recycling toter?

Well, you’re in luck. The city is running a contest to celebrate the new program, and it has extended the deadline until Tuesday, Dec. 13. Submit a photo of your new zero-sort toter and you could win some loot — and maybe even have your recycling picked up by Mayor Curtatone himself.

The grand prize includes:

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Tips for Rodent Prevention:

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Scout

Attendees enjoyed good food, music and lots of fun!

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———-

Spanish translation by Mark Mazzei

Harvest Fest fue un espectáculo ayer. Fue fantástico conocer a tantos de nuestros lectores. Nos entrego cámaras desechables a varias personas. Arriba son algunas de las fotos que tomo. Gracias!

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