Union Square - Somerville Community Blog

Here at Mike's, we wanted to do something special for the Holidays. We wanted to give away something not just good, but great! And then it hit us - a new TV! Not just a new TV. A new Toshiba 40" LED TV!

During the month of December, anyone that came in for service was entered into a drawing to win the TV. And on December 22nd we congratulated Linda Thorsen for winning the TV. Check out this great pic of Mike presenting the TV to Linda:

It felt great to give such a special gift to someone in our community. And it's something that we Somerville auto repair guys will definitely do again! Happy New Year! 

Can you believe it? This week Mike's Automotive turned 32! Yes, I said 32! It feels like yesterday I was writing our 30th anniversary post. Time flies when your...okay, I'm not going to say having fun. It's not always fun when you have to tell people how much it is going to cost them to repair their vehicles. But I've got to say, we still love what we do!

Granted, we love cars. And we love fixing them. Getting to work with the latest technology in a cutting-edge industry is truly amazing!

Even though we enjoy fixing cars, that's really not the best part of what we do. The best part is that we help people. Technology is great - but helping people is what keeps us going every day. When we wake-up each morning, we know that our day's work is going to get someone out of a jam. Now, that's more motivating than any cup of Joe!

What makes it even better is that we've been helping people in the same community all these years - so this means a little more to us than just Somerville auto repair - it's about taking care of our neighbors. Whether it be by repairing cars or partnering with our friends at Groundwork Somerville, community has always been a priority here at Mike's. I like to think that's why we're still here, while so many others have come and gone.

So, the next time you're in for service, or just grabbing a bite in Union Square, stop by and see Mike and wish him a happy birthday!

Here's to many more years! And community!

While perusing the Wicked Local news site - the Somerville version, of course - I came across an interesting video clip about celebrity endorsements. I just got back from Savannah, GA, so the mention of Paula Deen gave me a chuckle, seeing that I ate at her (fried-filled) restaurant. The clip highlights how we Americans are being herded like sheep!

We're just Somerville auto repair guys - and that's how we like it! You won't see any celebrity endorsements here. We've got better than that - a great crew of locals spreading the word about Mike's!

What do you think about these endorsements? Are these people sleazy, or just smart enough to take the money and run?

It's almost New Year's! The start of a new year means something different to everyone. Often it invokes feelings of joy and optimism. Here in Somerville, New Year's Day carries a special meaning. For on that day we celebrate one our local treasures: the Grand Union flag.

Many of you may know that our beloved Grand Union flag - our nations's first flag - was raised by George Washington on Prospect Hill, on January 1, 1776. But did you know that it is still celebrated by those who love our city most?

In fact, since she took helm at the Historical Preservation Commission, Brandon Wilson has worked to return the "grandness" of celebrating the Grand Union flag. A major celebration is prepared for New Year's Day, with a procession starting at City Hall, and finishing at Prospect Hill.

What a great opportunity to experience a profound piece of history, right here in Somerville! We often forget what we have right here, in our own backyard. The first shot fired during the American Revolution may have occurred in Lexington, but the battle lines were drawn here in Somerville, with the raising of the Grand Union flag.

At our Somerville auto repair shop, we look up and see the Grand Union flag every day, waving proudly, as if it's wathcing over us.

What are you doing New Year's Day? Why not get out and see the procession? Stop by Prospect Hill, and think about what the new year means to you. And how if it wasn't for George Washington and the Grand Union flag, it might mean something entirely different.

Life here in Union Square can be a little hectic, to say the least. The place we call home is basically the crossroads of Somerville and Cambridge. You would think this would mean that things are always moving slowly. But that's not the case....

The truth is Union Square is akin to a runway! Cars fly through this place like it's the autobahn, and have no regard for who or what is in their way.

This culminated in tragedy this past week. A 55 year-old Somerville woman was struck and nearly killed, right in the heart of the Square.

An investigation is in process, but regardless of the outcome, this incident should give us all pause. And we should demand that something be done in Union Square!

How much longer are we going to allow this traffic situation to exist? What if this woman had died? Would we make ourselves heard then?

This isn't about who is at fault. It's about a situation that has been allowed to worsen over the years, without consequence. Somebody needs to take a stand.

Today, we take a stand! We demand that our elected officials do something, before we really do lose a member of our community.

Are we in this alone? Drop us a comment and tell us if you're on-board!

There's something exciting going on here in Union Square. At our Somerville auto repair shop we have a new neighbor. And we're psyched that it's another food spot!

Owner, Jose Garcia (of Blue Fin fame) has setup shop right next to us, with his new restaurant Ebi Sushi. That's right - come in for an oil change and grab a volcano roll next door for lunch. That's just too easy!

Jose told our friends at the Somerville Arts Council that he had been looking for a spot for a while. He realized that he had many customers from Union Square - but there was no sushi here. Well, the bells went off and the rest is history....

Ebi Sushi is more than just sushi. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Japanese cuisine, from tempura, to teriyaki, to noodle soups - there's something for everyone at Ebi.

And with a 4.5 star rating on Yelp, I have a feeling that Jose isn't going anywhere any time soon.

So, the next time you're in for service, or just making your way through Union, stop by Ebi Sushi and say, hello! Let's show Jose that he picked the right spot!

Did you make it to Union Square this past Saturday? We were there in full force for SomerFun - courtesy of Somerville Local First and Somerville Arts Council. It was definitely a little rough with the November-like weather - cold, rainy, and well - yuck! But we Somerville auto repair guys know how to have a good time!

We huddled under a big tent next to our friends from Groundwork Somerville - oh, so kind of them! The turnout may have been low, but it was still filled with great, local people.

We showed up with gifts for everyone! We had some sleek gift cards made that entitle the recipient to $10 off of our green oil change. And yes, they were quite a hit!

It was great to see the dedication of all the local businesses and friends of Somerville. That's what makes our community great!

And though, at the end of the day we were a little tired - and wet - all was well when we raised our glasses at the Independent.

See you next year, at what will hopefully be a warm and sunny SomerFun!

If you've been following us then you know that 2010 was a great year for Mike's - we celebrated our 30th anniversary! We found a couple ways to celebrate our big day and had a lot of fun in the process.

We decided that we were going to offer an amazing value to everyone in the Greater Boston area. What better way to do that than our very first Groupon! People from all sides of Boston purchased oil changes for as low as $10! Now, that's what I call a value! The Groupon was tremendously successful and we've had the privilege to meet hundreds (and counting) of new people and welcome them into the Mike's family.

Next, we made a commitment to sustainability. It's not what you would expect from an auto shop, but we took an environmental pledge. And we laid our Boston sustainable auto repair initiatives online, for all to see.

We didn't stop at our in-house sustainability initiatives - we took our cause straight to the community, and introduced our Boston green oil change. We're the only shop around to offer a more eco-friendly oil change - and we do it for only $4 more than our conventional oil change. We didn't just celebrate our anniversary - we started a local green revolution!

So, 2010 was one for the record books. It was amazing how great it felt to give back to our community. But don't worry - 2011 is going to be a blast too! Community and sustatinability will continue to be at the center of all we do here at Mike's.

Looks like this party isn't stopping any time soon...stay tuned! 

One of our local heroes here in Somerville got some big news recently. Carmelo Mula has been named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the president of France. The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 - we're talking something special here!

Mr. Mula has been bestowed this honor for his noble service during World  War II, during which time he contributed to the liberation of France.

Carmelo Mula served in General George Patton's Third Army. Through his heroic endeavors he was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star for the European Theater of Operations, three Bronze Battle Starts for the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory medal.

He also earned his corporal stripes during the Battle of the Bulge. Now that's something to be proud of!

We are so happy to see a great man like this honored. The Greatest Generation is dwindling in numbers and need to be honored while they are still with us!

This serves as a reminder for our community: freedom isn't free. It seems that many of us have managed to lose that concept.  It's kind of striking when you think about it - we have men and women fighting for us overseas - but collectively, we go on with our daily lives like nothing has changed.

How soon we forgot the horror of 9/11 - just like the terrorists predicted. 

Mr. Mula's service, along with 9/11 is something we should carry with us every day. It's the concept of sacrifice that we need to pass on to future generations. If those before us didn't to it - where would we be?

Next time you're here in Union Square, whether it be grabbing a bite to eat or getting your Somerville auto repair - stop and thank a veteran. After all, if it wasn't for veterans - you wouldn't be here!

Hat's off Mr. Mula! And most important of all - thank you! 

Our Mayor, Joe Curtatone was out in full force recently as he spoke to a very important group: those in their twenties and thirties.

The Mayor was center stage at the Burren, where he gave his State of Young Somerville address. The event was put together by the Young Somerville Advisory Group (YSAG).

Mayor Joe's task wasn't an easy one - trying to convince those aged 21-35 to stay in Somerville.

Curtatone wasted no time acknowledging the white elephant in the room - the cost of living in Massachusetts. He poignantly noted that many young residents are fleeing the state.

This is a problem that we have been dealing with for quite some time - especially here in the city. 

Our young people are leaving in droves! It used to just be for the warmer weather. Now it is also for the wealth of opportunity that exists in the South and West.

Young people can stay here in Somerville with the high cost of living - or head down to North Carolina where a job in the Research Triangle and a house half the price awaits. Maybe go a little more west and snag a great tech job in Austin, Texas. 

But that's where Mayor Curtatone really shined. He didn't just talk about where Somerville is now - he talked about where it's going!

More green space, the community path, assembly square, the redeveloped Inner Belt and the Green Line Extension!

Somerville is a city on the move!

What's more, Somerville is a city rich in character. An historic community with a diverse population. Fabulous restaurants and shopping. An urban oasis at the gates of Boston.

Good luck finding that in the Research Triangle! Not happening!

The antiseptic feel of those other communities will leave you wishing you were right back here eating your BBQ at Redbones.

So, the next time you stop by for your Somerville auto repair, look around and remember something - this place isn't so bad after all!

Keep up the fight, Mayor Joe!