Federal Realty Investment Trust, with the City of Somerville, is celebrating the future of Assembly Row with the fourth annual Riverfest event on Saturday, September 17th, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The event will feature music, performers, family activities, and food. Riverfest will conclude with a fireworks display along the Mystic River. All Riverfest food sales will benefit Not Just Lego, a new after school program launching at Somerville’s Arthur D. Healey School.

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Happy Birthday to some ‘Villens here – A big Happy Birthday to School Committeewomen from Ward 1 Maureen Cuff-Bastardi this week. She is very popular down in East Somerville. We wish her well and hope she is having a great day. Also, Matt Ferreira. Ward 7 Alderman Bob Trane turns 50 this week. Wow! We thought he was older – LOL. Finally, this week HB to Vivian Quinlin and Gary DeCicco, and to everyone who is celebrating this week. We wish you a great day for yourself.

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Our good friend Bob Publicover is recovering over at Beth Israel from some very serious surgery. Send your regards to him by email bobpublicover@aol.com. He’s a great Somerville guy with a lot of history here and many friends. Another good friend and well known individual is Richard (Dick) Hart who fell recently and has been spending the better part of the last three weeks in the hospital. He is fine now and heading home to rest and get some good home medicine, thanks to his wife and nurse Mary who works down at the clinic here on Somerville Avenue.

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On the mend and driving already is (we even hear he bought another motorcycle) is Steve Dalyrample of Steve’s and Sons. He’s driving around the city in his little pickup. Also on the mend is Bill Chambers from Oxford Street. He’s out and about. Both of these guys had some severe injuries in accidents earlier this year.

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There was some criticism after last week’s Newstalk mentioned that candidate Christine Barber didn’t use a Somerville Bank. We guess that means we were wrong if you count Eastern Bank that took the place in Davis Square of Wainwright Bank. Funny how there is no comment from her campaign defending why she raised so much money outside of the city and a lot outside of Massachusetts, considering she’s running for the first time for a Ward Alderman’s seat. We continue to ask who is this person Christine Barber who is new here, who rents an apartment and raises money, thousands of dollars outside of Massachusetts, mostly from San Francisco, and works for a nonprofit and probably never had a private sector job since high school, if ever. We don’t think she would represent Winter Hill like the present incumbent or other candidate for the seat. We do know that Alderman Ward 6 Rebecca Gerwitz has endorsed her through Rebecca’s Web site.

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Monday, September 19, at Twin Cities Mall the NEW unveiling of the McDonald’s will see a re-opening and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9a.m. Everyone is welcomed.

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The Italian Feast of St. Cosmos and Damian on Warren Street in East Cambridge were very successful. Each year the parade for the feast runs through the streets in Somerville. A great time with a concert by Aylla Brown, daughter of Senator Scott Brown. Also, famous 50’s singer Bobby Rydell made it a perfect event, and our own Senator Sal DiDominico, through good planning, made it a successful weekend event that many Somerville and Cambridge residents enjoyed.

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Don’t forget about Fluff Weekend coming up on the 24th down in Union Square. For more information go online to unionsquaremain.org

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Thanks for all the support to those who both contributed and participated in the “John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund” golf outing down in Falmouth recently. A nice crowd from Somerville joined the Forcellese family for the day at the Falmouth County Club this past Saturday.

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Next Tuesday, September 20, at the High School on Highland Avenue, an informational meeting on the Grounding McGrath Study determining the future of Rte 28 corridor will take place. For more information go online to www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/GroundingMcgrath.aspx

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Congratulations to our good friend Joey Lacey of Jenny’s Pizza in Charlestown (best pizza in Charlestown, but could also be best hamburger). He is being installed as Master of King Solomon’s Lodge on Highland Avenue this Saturday, September 17, at an open installation. This is open to the public. We wish him well. He’s a real nice guy and his entire line of officers is young and eager to be involved in various local charities.

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The Westin Copley Place in Boston, together with FOX25, are giving one deserving member of the United States Armed Forces an all-expense paid wedding to take place on Veteran’s Day (11-11-11) in Boston. Somerville natives Keith  O’Donnell and his girlfriend Rebecca have been chosen as one of the   three finalist to win a military wedding of a lifetime. Keith is now serving in Afghanastan, he is due to be home the end of this month.  To vote, go to  www.militaryweddingtoremember.com and check of Keith and Rebecca.   You are able to vote once a day through the 24th of this month.   You are able to vote  once a day through the 24 th of September.    It will only except 1 vote per internet server.

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Join the Somerville Museum Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m.  for  a  rousing lecture on the Siege of Boston and the role of our city in the first victory of the Continental Army during the Revolutionay War. Admission to members is free, all others $5. RSVP to admin@historicsomerville.org or 617-666- 9810.