We're just busting with new business openings this spring. Dogma and Catma Too opened in February at 321 Somerville Avenue to serve furry friends. Owner Dilys Burke offers a self-serve dog wash, with special tubs and supplies to have Fido looking great. She sells all-natural dog and cat food and treats as well as toys, collars, leashes and more.

An enclosed room in the back of the store with a nice window from the shop is a recreation and classroom area. Zen Dog Training's Gordon Fontaine offer a regular schedule of training and obedience classes here so your puppy will have good manners and welcome everywhere you go.

Sure signs of spring here in Union Square are the appearance of Ricky, back in his office ordering up plants for his Ricky's Flower Market, and the Annual Big Boil of Somerville Maple Syrup.

The Big Boil takes place Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Avenue, between Summer and Highland Avenue on the edge of Union Square. Volunteers from the Friends of the Community Growing Center, Groundwork Somerville, Somerville Public Schools, and Tufts University - Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service have already been tapping trees and the gallons and gallons of syrup will be boiled down before your very eyes into maple goodness you can sample.

The project sponsors wish to thank Cambridge Landscape Co., Somerville Public Schools Food Services, Somerville Public Schools Metal Fabrication Shop, and When Pigs Fly Bakery for donations to support the project. .

The event is free and open to all. For more information contact Chris Mancini at chrismancini@gmail.com or 617-909-6667

The Executive Office of Transportation has concluded this round of public workshops to discuss siting of the proposed stations along the Green Line extension from Lechmere. Comments from the USMS/STEP meetings were formally submitted to supplement the meeting held by EOT specifically to discuss the Union Square stop.

At the March 3 meeting of the Community Advisory Group, EOT presented a draft of the Station Site Selection Criteria Matrix. This matrix incorporates the many comments submitted from workshop attendees. The matrix includes issues of Station Access such as ADA consistency, transit connections and pedestrian and bicycle routes, Transit Operations such as ridership, track configurations and intermodal connections, Land Use Compatibility such as impact on abutters, economic development opportunities and service to environmental justice communities, as well as Project Costs. In the next couple months EOT will make all the comments from the workshops available and will compile data according to this matrix for evaluation of each station location.

The Union Square station, since it has a different alignment, is being considered separately from the other Green Line station locations. These conversations are expected to take place later in the spring.

Currently on-line is a large number of materials from those workshops such as aerial maps. Also available is a 22-minute video of the entire corridor.

We're toddlers! The Third Birthday Bash for Union Square Main Streets was held on Wednesday, February 27 at Machu Picchu Restaurant Turistico on Somerville Avenue. About 50 guests enjoyed the great Peruvian food and live musical performance by the local klezmer band Garlic and Onions.

Special guest speaker at this year's event was Meri Jenkins, Manager of the
Massachusetts Cultural Council's John and Abigail Adams Arts Program, a creative economy initiative. The Adams Program is a major funder of ArtsUnion. ArtsUnion has sponsored festivals such as the "What the Fluff" event, craft markets, street furniture, and lighting installations.

The event launched a special raffle in honor of Joe Thompson, founding board member of Union Square Main Streets. A resident of Prospect Hill and owner of FiDough over on Beacon Street, Joe Thompson often rode his beloved motor scooter around Somerville. Joe sadly passed away last fall and in celebration of his life and work USMS is raffling off a new scooter with the assistance of Riverside Motorsports. Joe's partner Tony Membrino attended the Annual Meeting to talk about Joe and how much improving the neighborhood meant to him. Raffle tickets for $10 will be on sale until the drawing on Saturday, June 14, opening day of the season at the 2008 Union Square Farmers Market. Details to come soon on sales locations.

This year Union Square Main Streets presented awards to area businesses that through their individual efforts improved Union Square overall. Nominations were made by people in the community via the Union Square Main Streets on-line forum. Deanna Waddell created wonderful one-of-a-kind trophies handed out at the event by Executive Director Mimi Graney and by Monica Lamboy, Director of the City of Somerville's Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.

Ken Richardson and CJ Heyliger of Richardson Heyliger Photography in Union Square took wonderful portraits of the business owners. You can see the whole collection on-line.

BEST WINDOW DISPLAY honored the business that presents the most enticing face to the street. The Nominees were Sherman Café, Union Boot and Moda Brazil. Winner, for windows deemed "sharp, hip, clean and attractive" was Union Boot and Elizabeth LeFavour and Seth Lamoreaux.

FANCY FLOWER POT: This past summer businesses and residents sponsored flower pots around the square and volunteers with help from various corners, particularly Ricky's Flower Market, filled the pots with blooms. Other businesses maintain their own planters, nurturing beauty on their doorstep. This award honors those who have been stewards of natural beauty amidst the concrete. The Nominees were Gemini Goodyear Auto Service, Jerry's Liquors, Sherman Café, and Union Square Acupuncture. Winner was Unio n Square Acupuncture and Sheryl Sarokas.

GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD: Sometimes it's the less intangible and visible things that make a big difference -- a smile and spirit of helpfulness, a timely donation of snacks for hard working volunteers, some solid advice. Nominees were Union Smoke Shop, Pao de Acucar, Midnight Convenience, PA's Lounge, Taqueria La Mexicana, Jerry's Liquors, Sherman Café, Bloc 11, and The Independent. Winner was Pao de Acucar Market and Eduardo Rosa.

BEST TRANSFORMATION honors the historic restoration, renovation, or a fresh coat of paint that changed a once sad spot into a community jewel. The Nominees were:
Bloc 11 - Jen Park and Tucker Lewis transformed the empty former bank building into a happening café. Nominees exclaimed that the building has gone from "horrendously disfigured to fantastic!" Folks noted the exposed brick, center counter, windows that open to the street and are awaiting spring with the new courtyard.

Master Printing - Before they opened their business, Master Printing owners Jim Lima and Nilson Rigonatti lugged out literally dumpsters full of old equipment and trash. New ceiling and painting, a open front desk to greet customers and bright windows now greet the street.

Machu Picchu. Rosy Cerna already had a successful Peruvian restaurant around the corner when she decided to expand with a second location in the former home of Lino's restaurant. In nominating Machu Picchu, writers spoke of the happy diners she brought to the once lonely space.

Grand and Brian Healy Architects - 374 Somerville Avenue was once the Star movie theatre, one of three cinemas that used to exist in Union Square. Over the years it held a dry goods store, and then a Salvation Army store. Luzia's Brazilian Restaurant had been on the second floor but was closed for a number of years. Champagne Auto Glass was most recently on the ground level. Brian Healy Architects purchased the building in 2007 and they, and their tenant Grand, brought their design sensibilities to the long neglected building. Sadly, none of the architectural elements like the tin ceiling or curled back wall of the old theatre could be salvaged but the transformation, still moving forward, is dazzling nonetheless.

Winner was Bloc 11 and Jen Park and Tucker Lewis. With an honorable mention to Grand and Brian Healy Architects.

CONSCIOUS BUSINESS CHOICES AWARD honors the Union Square business that demonstrates responsible stewardship of the community and the environment through their business choices. The business recognized with this award does more than use recycled paper products. Sherman Café and owners Ben Dryer and Karyn Coughlin think local and independent, purchasing ingredients from Massachusetts farmers and selecting other small businesses as their vendors. They support efforts to make Somerville a healthier place to live by taking part in Green Streets and Shape Up Somerville programs and investigating composting and other environmentally sensitive efforts. Even the planter in front of their business - brimming with fresh herbs - speaks to their care for all things healthy and green.

FRIEND OF UNION SQUARE AWARD goes to The Independent. The friends of Union Square at the Independent have said yes to every request, no matter how strange, towards making Union Square ever hip. Electricity for the bounce house? Run a hose and scrub the parking lot to remove marshmallow fluff? Take over the night club for a day long craft market? Cover your façade with sheets for a movie projection? Host an end of season brunch for the vendors at the farmers market? How about last minute dressing rooms for the Flufferettes? The folks at The Independent have been the solid neighbor you can always depend on. Special thanks to owner Ken Kelly, general manager Jess Willis and chef Paul Oberhauser.

THE GOLDEN SHOVEL to honor exceptional sidewalk shoveling. The Nominees were Capones, Sherman Café and Taqueria la Mexicana.Winner was Taqueria la Mexicana and Robert and Carolina Rendon.