It’s the day after the primary election in Wards 1, 3 and 5. Check the results on our website. Now on to the final election for various other wards and Alderman at Large. Three long-term incumbents are being challenged by four candidates. For Alderman at Large you can vote for as many as four. Congratulations to the winners yesterday in the primary and best of luck in the finals.

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Happy Birthday to Ida Azzolino, who turned 101 this month. Wow! There has to be something in the water here. Earlier this year she suffered a broken hip and is now back in the swing of things, going to Bingo games and getting around like she was never hurt. We say, “God Bless Ida.” Whatever it is we want some of that, don’t we?

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Congratulations to newcomer here in the Ville, Jeffrey Harrington, who was installed as the head of the local Masonic Lodge, along with Luis Domenech, another local, and Kevin Dickinson. They will make a great team. They are having an Open House at the lodge hall, 125 Highland Avenue, October 19, 9 a.m. to 3p.m. Come down and check it out. Meet the three of them plus other officers and find out what Freemasonry is all about. Great young guys. King Solomon’s lodge here in Somerville has over 200 members most from Somerville and is growing leaps and bounds.

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Happy Birthday too many of our fans and local Villens here and elsewhere: Joe Bordonaro, formerly of Winter Hill, celebrates this week. He works for Freddie Mac in Washington. The local head of the Somerville Homeless Shelter and immediate Past President of Somerville Rotary, Mark Allston-Follansbee, is celebrating. We send greetings. Our very good friend and great CPA, Wayne Snow, is celebrating this week. We wish him the best. What a nice family he comes from here in Somerville! A very good friend of ours, Joe Bolognese, who is nationally one of the top salesmen for Val-Pak here in MA, also celebrates this week.

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You know, we have noticed an old time favorite has been revived here in the city. Many years ago each neighborhood would have block parties to get to know each other and meet and greet. We think  it’s a great idea to see these happening all over the city. More and more, those events make neighbors get to know new and old residents alike. A great idea.

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By the way, we can understand the confusion when it comes to the name change here at The Times. The News boxes out there don’t belong to the Somerville Times. We’re in the process of putting our own boxes out on the streets very quickly. Look for the tall red, distinguished styled new boxes for The Times shortly. Meanwhile, the paper is still being deliver to over 100 locations here in Somerville. All public buildings and elderly buildings, as well as stores, restaurants and other places where you can still get copies of the paper.   We hope you enjoy the new Times. We’re online www.thesomervilletimes.com as well as over 5000 likes on Facebook and Twitter. We are soon to have new personnel to help make the paper even better. We’re still the only local truly community newspaper in Somerville. We’re from here!

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Congratulations to Rick and Jamie Hart who recently received great news with the help of Congressman Mike Capuano’s office.  With the assistance of Bob McWatters and Mike’s office staff, a Veterans Services decision that has taken over 14 months has been sped up. We have a great congressman who knows constituent services. And, of course, a sincere and thoughtful Bob McWatters helped a lot.

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Speaking of the Hart Family, it seems like younger – one of the twins – Maureen Hart Maguire gave birth to a bouncing baby girl last week named Allison Mary. Congratulations to Maureen and her husband John and, of course, to grandma Mary and grandpa Dick who can start their own small little city with all the children and grandchildren.

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Somerville Adult Evening School Registration, Tuesday and Thursday nights on: September 10, 12, 17, & 19, 2013, from: 6:00-8:00 p.m. at: Somerville High School Main Office, 81 Highland Ave, Somerville. Register for Somerville Adult Evening School courses including a 5 week Drivers Ed for the teen in your life. Classes will start September 24 and run for 10 weeks on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and include: Ballroom Dancing, Zumba, Sewing, Knitting, Choral Workshop and show tunes for the American Idols. Also, Jewelry Making, Pastels or Watercolor Art and Acrylic Painting, Computers, Culinary, How to Manage Multi Family Homes, Casting and Mold making, Furniture Making, beginner Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, French and ESL (English as a Second Language). Or if you already speak another language, why not consider The Art of Medical Interpretation. New Resume and Professional strategies, Real Estate Licensing, Know Your Legal Rights (A DIY dealing with Civil or Criminal Issues), Hypnotherapy or YOGA at a bargain. Pick up course catalog at any school, library or coffee shops while they last. Register in person at SHS or online. Contact: Principal Sophia Carafotes @617-628-2594 or register now online at with your credit card at: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningschool.

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Sidekick Soccer Academy’s “Kick with Care” program – powered by Somerville Recreation and the Mayor’s Office – began its six-week fall session on Saturday, September 14, at Draw Seven Park. “Kick with Care” is an outreach program whereby modifications to the game of soccer are provided so that children with special needs or anxiety and adults with disabilities can enjoy the world’s most popular game on a weekly basis. The six-week Saturday program has rolling admission for both kids and adults and will end on October 19. The kids’ program will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m. The adults’ program will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. There is no cost to play. For more information, visit sidekicksocceracademy.com.

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Are you ready to celebrate Halloween – on ice? Then join in on the City of Somerville’s second annual LGBT Skate Night on Saturday, October 26 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Skating Rink, 570 Somerville Ave. All ages and allies are welcome, and costume prizes will be awarded. Tickets are $10 and include skate rental. Play It Again Sports, located in Stoneham, is offering a 10% discount on skate purchases when you mention Somerville’s LGBT Skate Night. The event is sponsored by the LGBT Liaison to the Office of Somerville Commissions in the City’s Health Department, in partnership with Shape Up Somerville and the Somerville Council on Aging. For more information, contact the City’s LGBT Liaison Elizabeth Field at 617-625-6600 ext. 2400.

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The Duhamel Education Initiative will hold its 18th Annual Fundraiser Supper on Saturday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall of the First Church Somerville, 89 College Avenue (Enter on the Francesca Avenue side of the church). Donation is $10 for adults, $8 for Seniors, $5 for children, $25 maximum per family. The annual Supper is a great way to see old friends and meet the Duhamel Education Initiative supporters, as well as financially support the work of drop-out-prevention programs in our schools. The drop-out rate in our schools has significantly dropped and our administration and our teachers are to be congratulated on their efforts to accomplish this. But the work must continue until students all elect to complete their education. Reservations are requested. Come and bring family and friends. Any questions about the supper or the Duhamel Education Initiative may be directed to Doris McDaniel at 617-623-3168.