Please join the Somerville Chamber of Commerce’s next Business After Hours at Olde Magoun’s Saloon, 518 Medford Street, 5–7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 7. Free appetizers and excellent networking. Bring your business cards for the drawing. Members and their guests welcome. RSVP with name(s) and affiliation(s) of you and your guests to smackey@somervillechamber.org, or write to Stephen V. Mackey, President/CEO Somerville Chamber of Commerce, 2 Alpine Street, P.O. Box 440343, Somerville, MA 02144, or phone 617-776-4100. www.somervillechamber.org.

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Congratulations to a great Somerville guy, Medford Lions Club President John Steve Dalrymple, who was awarded the Presidents Award Certificate of Appreciation over the weekend at the Lions Club International District 33k Convention that was held in Dedham. Dalrymple, who is the President of Steve & Sons Home Repair of Somerville as his regular day job and Medford Lions President and Lions Club Zone Chair by night, was recognized for his kindness and his generosity for helping a Medford family in need over the summer. The Lions President’s Award is the fourth highest award a Lion can receive from the Lions Club International (LCI) President in the organization.

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We want to wish our good friend Bert Gay a big get well soon. He has been in and out of the hospital and has undergone surgery and is now resting and on the mend. Bert is a nice guy and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

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Save the date, Tuesday, March 12 for the Annual Somerville Lions Club St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Mount Vernon Restaurant, located at 14 Broadway in Somerville, beginning at 6:15 p.m. This will prove to be a great time. Live Irish Music performed by Rainbow’s Edge, a corned beef and cabbage dinner and raffles. It will be a fun time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with Somerville, Cambridge, Charlestown, Medford, and Boston Chinatown Lions Clubs, and any and all other clubs are welcome to attend together under on roof, $25 per person Don’t miss it and please email us at Wmtauro@aol.com or call Somerville Lions President Gene Brune or Past President Billy Tauro at (617)293-2016 with your RSVP ASAP.

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Join the Somerville Kiwanis St. Patrick’s Day Gala Thursday, March 14 at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street, at 12 noon. Price pp $23. RSVP Jay Lynch at jay@garrettlynch.com or the club President Isaac Machado at Isaac@machadolawfirm.com. Your timely RSVP will allow us to provide the hotel with a proper count. Lunch is traditional corned beef and cabbage. Door prizes and special entertainment by Sean O. Singer, the latest talent out of West Ireland. Also joining Kiwanis this week will be members of the Somerville Rotary Club.

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Ward 3 might be exciting this year. We hear that former campaign manager for Rep. Denise Provost, Lea Ericka Palmer, is strongly considering a run, either against the incumbent Alderman Tom Taylor, if he’s running, or whoever may be running. Even more exciting for fans of former Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay, as we hear she’s getting a lot of people pressuring her to run for Taylor’s seat. We would think she wouldn’t consider it if he’s running, but probably would if he steps aside, like all the rumors are out there indicate. The possibility of Dot running could be exciting to a lot of people here in Somerville.   How weird would that be? Tony Lafuente, former candidate for mayor, against Dot, and Joe as the Mayor. They would have to seriously smoke that peace pipe, wouldn’t they?

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Now we hear from reliable sources that about 75 people showed up for candidate Mark Niedergang’s fundraiser at the Armory Sunday night. One of the speakers there was State Representative Carl Sciortino, who gave what some called a rousing speech for his friend Mark. A well rounded crowd, about half from Ward 5. We heard this from our spies. You’d call that gossip.

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Also please save the date to help preserve a big piece of Somerville History in our city. Freemasons worldwide donate over $4,000,000 per day to help local charities and children around the world. Now the Highland Masonic Temple Association (HMTA) in Somerville needs your help to assist the King Solomon’s Masonic Lodge to help preserve the landmark historic church located at 125 Highland Avenue in Somerville. The association for the members of the lodge is hosting a HMTA 1st Annual Night Out Comedy Night at Giggles Comedy Club at Prince Pizzeria located on Rt. 1 in Saugus on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. For $25 per person you get a standup comic show performed by world-class professional comedians, all the pizza that you can eat, a silent auction, drawings and a fun time for all. More importantly, you will be helping to preserve the historic lodge building for generations to come. So come on all you Somervillens out there, please be a part of history and enjoy a fun night out at the same time. For more info and tickets, Facebook message Billy Tauro or call him at (617) 293-2016 or email him at Wmtauro@aol.com and help preserve a piece of Somerville history.

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Our condolences go out to the Dunne family for the loss of their mom Claire. Claire was a wonderful lady and she will be sadly missed many here in the Ville.

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Alderman Maureen Bastardi and representatives from Criterion Development Partners (CDP) invite you to a neighborhood meeting regarding the proposed residential development, part of the Stop and Shop Parking Lot. The developer, their attorney and a representative from the city will be in attendance. When: Monday March 11.  Time: 6:30–7:30 p.m. Where: Cross Street Community Center, 165 Broadway (Corner of Cross Street East and Broadway). Refreshments will be served. For additional information or to voice your concerns please contact Alderman Bastardi at AldermanBastardi@comcast.net or call 617-764-5373.

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Happy Birthday this week to one of our favorite Villens, friends, and the best guys around. Where would we be if we didn’t acknowledge our own Jim Clark, Editor/Cartoonist/Writer, just to mention a few jobs around here and there. Happy Birthday, Jim. We hope you’re having a great day. The hell with it, stretch it into the week for yourself, you deserve it!

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Some notable Villens also celebrating this week are Michael Doherty, who works as an EMT here in the Ville. Eddie Nuzzo’s celebrating big time this week, along with Mike Browne. Both work for the city. We hope they have a great day. This coming Saturday, John Pratti, of the famous Pratti family here in the Ville, who is also a Real Estate agent with The Norton Group, is celebrating and we wish him a good day and weekend. He had a great one last weekend. Happy Birthday and best greetings to Paula Gartland, who works at City Hall in the legal department. To Linda Ferdinand Cardalino, who lives here but works over at the Medford Housing Authority, we hope she has a great day. Another Happy Birthday to Linda Dunbar O’Leary. We wish her our best. Joey Angel Teixeira, who is a an employee of Lowes, is another Villen we wish a Happy Birthday. Finally, this week Edna MacDonald, who works for MacDonald Enterprise, celebrates as well.

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This Saturday, March 9, 4:00–6:00 p.m. at Bloc 11 in Union Square, the 2013 edition of the Pushcart Anthology is dedicated to Hugh Fox (1932-2011) who helped found the prize and start the COSMEP organization. He published more than 60 of his own books of fiction, poetry, anthropology, and mythology, including a memoir Way, Way Off the Road (Ibbetson Street Press 2006). This event will feature poems and reminiscences by family, friends and colleagues including Bernadette Costa-Fox, vocal artist and poet Lo Galluccio, and poet Leonora Smith.

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A Medford teen, Nicholas Joy, with ties to Somerville, who went missing this past Sunday at Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort in Maine was found safe and sound on Tuesday morning. Nicholas, a senior at Medford High School, was reported missing early Sunday afternoon by family members. He had been skiing with his father earlier in the day. Nicholas’ mom, Donna, who works as an employee at the City of Somerville’s Personnel Department, and her family are very thankful and grateful for Nicholas’s safe return. Thank you to all who kept Nicholas and his family in their thoughts and prayers during those trying days.

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This month marks 18 years since Deanna Cremin was murdered in Somerville. Her murder remains unsolved. Maybe your information could help police bring her killer to justice. Villens please like and share: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=465741893495050&set=a.465737263495513.1073741825.456432547759318&type=1&theater

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Due to the Feb. 8/9 blizzard, The Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation, a Dollars for Scholars Chapter of Scholarship America, has rescheduled its Annual Meeting to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2013, in the Gallery 81 Conference Room at Somerville High School for current officers, directors, and members. New members are always welcome. The main purpose of our Annual meeting is to discuss our current By-Laws with emphasis on items related to membership categories. Contact correspondence secretary Noreen Santucci at NFSLEARN@aol.com or at 617-448-0145 with questions.

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Do you know a person who needs to get their drivers license? If so, they can get their drivers license in just five short weeks in time for summer. The Drivers Ed course has been extended one more week. Registration is on Thursday, March 7, at SHS Main Office 6-8pm. $50 registration fee. Classes begin on Tuesday, March 12. Bring a friend and do it together. Don’t miss out. Call Principal Sophia Carafotes at 617-628-2594 for more information.

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Exciting Kids Church begins this Sunday in Somerville. Christian Assembly of Somerville is launching a brand new, high energy Kids Church program specially designed for children ages 5-11. There will be singing, fun video segments, creative lessons and exciting game times. Kids are going to love it. Parents can enjoy the adult service which also has great music and life changing teaching. Join them this Sunday from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.at 9 Cummings St., Somerville. They look forward to seeing you this Sunday.