Happy Birthday greetings to long time Somerville business owner ED LYNCH founder of Wayside Trans Corp, who just celebrated with his club members at a recent Somerville Lions Club Dinner, his 90th birthday – and the celebration of 75 years in a business that he started here in Somerville!  Ed opened Wayside Trucking on Somerville Avenue in 1933, the same year FDR was inaugurated as our 32nd President, which also just happens to be the same year as the founding of the Somerville Lions Club. Congratulations Ed – best wishes from all your friends and us as well. Also congratulations to the Somerville Lions Club members, who do great work in the city – one of the three services clubs here in Somerville.    

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Seems that Mayor Joe was pretty excited with the recent elections and wanted to show his appreciation by taking ALMOST everyone on the Board of Aldermen to dinner after the last meeting on Nov. 8. Everyone that attended Limoncello Restaurant in the North End that night enjoyed themselves.   

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A group of Somerville and Cambridge sponsors from the organization “The Cambridge Project” are helping out the Special Olympics by hosting a Holiday Party on Saturday, December 1 at the Masonic Hall located at 125 Highland Avenue Rear, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The party is to help spread holiday cheer for the many autistic children in the area and to promote the charity to help turn disabilities into capabilities! Any contributions of gift-wrapped toys are always appreciated and all are welcomed to attend and help out! We hear Santa will make a special appearance.

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The Somerville Detective Bureau has done it again and has another undesirable off the streets of Somerville! The unit has captured the alleged juvenile rapist that attacked the girl on lower Broadway this past September after acquiring a Grand Jury warrant and a green light to apprehend the villain – another job well done.

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Well, did anyone wish for “trains” for Christmas this year? Apparently the state has recently appropriated the funds and placed the order for the new trains that are going to be used on the new Somerville Green Line Extension here in the city! The train manufacturer requires a five-year advance notice in order to build the cars that are supposed to be hitting the area in the very near future! We’re just wondering what color they ordered them in?

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You heard it here first back several weeks ago Рthe Paddock Restaurant on Pearl Street, a long time favorite of a lot of people here in Somerville Рis closed and will re-open under new management/ownership. The opening is supposed to be the first week in December. In recent times the business has slipped badly, but with new ownership we’re confident that the old business will be back.

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In Newstalk last week, we mistakenly mentioned that Kat Powers was the Editor of both the Somerville Journal and the Cambridge Chronicle – she used to have dual-duty for CNC – but in reality the Editor of the Cambridge Chronicle is now David Harris. Sorry Kat and David – as you can probably understand, we were so ramped up about the Neil McCabe thing that we inadvertently got “McCabe-ish” for a moment there.

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To all our friends out there from the staff, writers, editors and contributors and especially Newstalk, we wish everyone a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving Day. A special safe trip to our own Doug Holder – who is traveling for the first time to Israel.

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It‚Äôs the holiday season and we hear some of the best shopping to be had isn‚Äôt at the mall or on a computer screen. Nope, the place to pick up gifts this year is, get this, Union Square. On December 1 Union Square Main Streets is hosting an all day holiday affair featuring craft markets and local artisans showcasing handmade products such as sculpture, jewelry, knitwear, photography, handbags, unique electronic instruments, greeting cards, wreaths, and more. There will even be coal for your stockings — naturally black soap in clove and vanilla scents. Shoppers will also be treated to live musical performances all day from The Doctors Faux, and Farmers Market favorites Chris Mancini and The Pretty Pennies. It sounds like a fun and festive shopping experience for all.

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Another Somerville holiday treat is being provided by the Somerville Arts Council. Their illuminations tour takes sightseers on a guided journey through the city’s most decorated holiday homes and neighborhoods. Tours begin Dec. 15 and promise a happy holiday time for all (we hear cider is served). The arts council even has a book out on the city’s most festive holiday home decorators, “Somerville: City of Lights” features some great pictures and essays on the city’s holiday culture and costs only $5. Pick one up for yourself and you’ll see what we mean.