Well it looks like Alderman Bob Trane is off the hook this next election cycle – his former opponent decided he will be running for Alderman at Large instead of the Ward 7 seat.  At a recent get together of the so called “Progressives” he announced his plans for the season of fun in 2005 – isn’t that nice.

Apparently former Alderman Kevin Tarpley had to cancel his “focus group fundraiser” due to election laws.  Hopefully he will get it together soon and make the crucial announcement – what seat he will be running for.  We still think he wants his seat back from Alderman Maryann Heuston, but we can’t figure out why, since he practically endorsed her when he resigned.  Maybe he’s got a touch of Pero fever or maybe he’s just like some of the other politicians in this city who think that it’s their god given right to have a seat on the Board of Aldermen.  We think Maryann has done a great job – and not just at election time.

Nice showing at the public hearing at the VNA Thursday the 2^nd over the proposed developers’ plans to build on the Clyde Street site.  Do you think there’s some connection to the Lowell Street bridge being out still in hopes that the developer can get more units in there?  Some of the neighbors think so.  Isn’t one of the developers related to a powerful Massachusetts political family like maybe the Kennedys?  Isn’t that the same developer that is very close to Alderman Bruce Desmond?  Well it will be interesting to see how many units end up being approved for that development.  We are glad that the neighbors on both sides of the bridge are paying close attention to this.

Soon the pods will hatch, and it will be yet another season of lunacy – election time in Somerville. Right after the first of the year the political hopefuls will begin the polling and sooner or later we will find out who is running against whom for certain and what their supposed reasoning is.  That means some political hopefuls will have to make up their minds about what they want to run for – let’s hope that when these people end up getting into office one way or another, they don’t take this long to make up their minds when it comes to important issues.

Co-Publisher Billy Tauro was recently checked into Mt. Auburn Hospital for chest pains and then checked himself out – you just can’t keep a good guy down.  Feel better Billy.

The ERA Real Estate/Somerville News/Able Funding (we want to say Christmas Party) holiday party was held over in Revere at Wonderland Park this past Saturday night with well over 100 people attending – including the people who work for those companies, local business people, politicians and close friends.  Everyone had a blast and some even won – but more importantly it was a good chance to relax and wish each other a happy holiday season.

It looks good for the new Mexican Restaurant opening in January right in the middle of Ball Square.  The Johnson family from East Somerville has been working hard to stay on track for the grand opening and it looks to be right on schedule – the name will be El Guapo from what we gather.  We wish them well in this venture and hopefully it will be a huge success.

The Somerville Home is nearing the completion of its large renovation project and is also seeking items which will make the Home a better place for the over 50 elderly who call this “Home”. Call Administrator Alyson Toole at 617-776-0260 or Director Bob Publicover at 617-290-6842 to make a donation.  The home needs household items like a snow blower, storage shed, furniture, a new sign, etc.  If you can offer help on any of the items on the list, they will be truly grateful.  Special contributions will even allow the donor to affix their name or the name of a loved one to their gift.  Thanks.

Nearly 100 Somerville folks spent the evening of Nov. 30 at Somerville Night at Lion King and had a wonderful time.  From Mayor Joe Curtatone to residents of the Somerville Home, the attending crowd loved the play and the chance to be there with other theater loving Somerville

folks.  Bob Publicover, who plans these events, has announced that A Night at Phantom of the Opera (at the Opera House) will be held on April 12th.  Tickets are expected to go fast so you should call and reserve yours today.

Bob also notes that there will be at least l and probably 2 "Somerville Nights at the Red Sox’ and a spring night at the Boston Pops in June.  You can reserve for any of those exciting nights out now. Call Bob at 617-666-4130 for ticket info.

We will be announcing our Christmas Gifts to our favorite local politicians and local well knowns including city department heads in the next edition of the paper – look for it – you will like it, we promise.

The first edition of Neil McCabe’s new North Cambridge Newspaper “The Alewife” is being delivered this week to every house in North Cambridge – we wish Neil the best with the paper.