Off-leash Dogs in Foss Park Threatened with a Gun

Somerville Police Chief Anthony Holloway confirmed today that a man walking a small dog on leash in Foss Park on Tuesday morning pulled out a handgun and threatened to shoot two large off-leash dogs. The man had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Permits to carry a concealed weapon are issued by the town of the individual's residence. Chief Holloway is contacting the Chief of Police in the town where the individual lives and is asking that the permit be revoked.

The Chief emphasized that, along with Mayor Curtatone, he wants Somerville to be a safe place to live, work and play: He is not going to tolerate people pulling out their guns in our town. He said, if the person were a Somerville resident, he would already have had the permit revoked.

Chief Holloway also advised me that the Police and Animal Control Departments will be stepping up enforcement of the leash law in Somerville and issuing citations.

The owner of the off-leash dogs has described the incident on the discussion group for the Middlesex Fells Dog Owners Group (FellsDOG).

Saxton J. Foss Park is located on McGrath Highway at Broadway. The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Dogs must be on leash in the park.

State Police K9 Demo at National Night Out

Every year since 2005, the Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit has performed a demonstration in Foss Park for Somerville's National Night Out. Don't miss them tonight!

The festivities begin at 5:00 with activities for youth including an obstacle course sponsored by the Somerville Recreation Departmen, face painting, bike rides and Child ID kits by the Somerville Police Department. The State Police K9 Demonstration is at 6:30 and the Somerville Sunsetters perform at 7:30.

As a courtesy to the K9s and the K9 Officers, please keep civilian dogs clear of the Demonstration area.

Foss Park is located on Broadway at McGrath Highway.

Veterans Day Park Clean Up

Eleven volunteers from Groundwork Somerville and the Somerville Dog Owners Group cleaned up Foss Park on Veterans' Day. We filled twenty-seven bags with trash. The carcass of a large bird was one of the items we removed from the Park. We found half a bag of Doritos and an empty twelve-pack of beer by one of the ball fields. We also found a half-used pack of oral contraceptives.

Ward Four Alderman, Walter Pero, and a resident take pride in the accomplishment of the Foss Park Clean Up. Alderman Pero joined us after attending a Veterans' Day memorial service at the George Dilboy VFW Post. Aldermen at Large Dennis Sullivan and William White also stopped by the Foss Park Clean Up.

Refreshments for clean-up volunteers were generously donated by Mystic Avenue House of Pizza (362 Mystic Avenue, 617-629-2000) and Stop and Shop (779 McGrath Highway).

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation supported the Foss Park Clean Up by providing clean-up supplies and trash removal.

The Somerville Dog Owners Group's third annual park clean up was co-sponsored by East Somerville Neighbors for Change, the Foss Park Neighborhood Association and Groundwork Somerville.

See more photos on flickr.

Third Annual Park Clean Up at Foss Park

UPDATE 11 November 2006: Thanks to Stop and Shop (779 McGrath Highway) for their generous donation of a $50 gift card and to Mystic Ave House of Pizza (362 Mystic Avenue, 617-629-2000) for their generous donation of four pies to refreh clean-up vounteers!

The forecast for Saturday is

Partly cloudy, with a high near 62. South wind between 6 and 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

The Third Annual som|dog Park Clean Up is TODAY at Foss Park!

The Somerville Dog Owners Group is delighted that East Somerville Neighbors for Change, the Foss Park Neighborhood Association and Groundwork Somerville are co-sponsoring our third annual park clean up at Foss Park on Broadway at McGrath Highway, Saturday, November 11, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Meet East Somerville neighghbors, friends of Foss Park, Groundwork Somerville volunteers and Somerville dog owners by the entrance ramp to the Latta Brothers Memorial Pool House.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will be providing some clean up supplies as well as trash pick up. Volunteers are encouraged to wear work gloves and to bring any of the following implements: rakes, push brooms, garden trowels, small plastic bags, flat-head shovels, dust pans.

Leashed dogs are allowed at Foss Park, but please consider making other arrangements for your canine companions so that you can direct your full attention to cleaning up Foss Park!

For more information, contact somdog * at * somervilledog.com.

Second Annual som|dog potluck picnic on National Night Out

Pack up your picnic basket (with something to share - optional), grab a blanket, and join the Somerville Dog Owners Group for our second annual potluck picnic, Tuesday, August 1, in Foss Park (Broadway and McGrath [dog|map]) on National Night Out - Somerville. Bring something non-alcoholic for yourself to drink, and remember to bring water for your dog! Meet at 6:00 at the som|dog booth.

As part of the City's National Night Out festivities, the Massachusetts State Police will offer a Police K-9 demonstration. Please be considerate of the officers and K-9s and do not allow your pets to interfere with the demonstration.

Leashed dogs are allowed in Foss Park.