This year’s Memorial Day Parade has become a big hit here in the city, by far the largest in the state at least. We remember the days of living a block from the parade route. We’d rush up to see the parade, and it was over within seven minutes. Congratulations to Joe Curtatone’s administration for doing a great job in organizing this yearly event. The crowd along the route was big as well, and appreciative of the many who marched in celebration of our veterans. Our good little friend Delia and her uncle Bobbygeorge have been long time parade attendees.

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This Thursday at the SHS/City Hall concourse at 2:45 p.m., join Mayor Joe Curtatone in raising the Gay/Straight Alliance’s pride flag in honor of Pride Week.

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Happy birthday this week to some of our fans and friends, both those in the Ville and those with their hearts here. Big time “happy birthday” to our good friend of many years and the matriarch of the Hart family, nurse Mary Hart. She and her husband, Richard, raised 10 kids here in the city. We certainly wish Mary the very best of birthdays; she is a great lady. Another popular lady who grew up here -and who lives and still works here- is Florence Chickie Pero. She is also celebrating this week. Two of our good friends (we don’t use this phrase lightly, like others) are celebrating this week, as well: longtime friend Johanna Webster, a Realtor out of Andover with CBRB; and good friend Nelson Zide, another great Realtor out of Framingham with Key Realty Services. We wish them both a great day for themselves.

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Remember we are on Facebook and Twitter, not to mention now over 12K Somerville print readers (and we can prove it). We carry real stories and are still truly the only locally owned, operated community newspaper here in Somerville, not to mention that our website is visited by up to 1,500 (and sometimes more) people per day, and we can prove that as well.

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The East Somerville Reunion is coming July 12, and anyone who grew up in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s here in East Somerville is invited to the City Club on Lower Washington (across from the Holiday Inn). The time is 7 to 11 p.m. Come and relive old times that are unique to our city. Anyone who grew up in East Somerville knows what that means. East Somerville was a special place, and a lot of your old friends are going to be there. The reunion is thanks in part to Dan Rogovich.

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Another story on our friend Tony Alibrandi in this past issue of Scout. It was nice, but we are not to sure that the picture they used for the front page was complimentary. But hey, they must have gotten the idea from us to do the story since we certainly over the years have known Tony and his generous donations to many of our sports teams here. We salute Scout for the story and can’t think of a nicer guy here in the Ville.

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Congratulations to Paul McGlashing of Somerville (a barber at Alibrandi’s Barber Shop), who is getting married this week to Lauren Huckins, also from Somerville. They will be married and have their honeymoon in Aruba. We wish them a long and wonderful life together.

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There will be a first-time homebuyers seminar for those considering buying a home. With the rates as lows as they are and rents just going out of sight, now is the time to be pre-approved and find out what you can afford. The Norton Group real estate office at 699 Broadway, along with a credit counselor, will be on hand (and for free) to give some insight into credit scores and how banks have changed and have begun using another score to give individuals a line of credit to buy a home. The seminar is 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, at 699 Broadway. There are no obligations and is free to anyone who just wants to find out the process and ask questions. Email johngpratti@yahoo.com or call the office at 617 623-6600 to reserve your seat.

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Welcome home to our own Ms. Cam Toner, who is out of Spaulding Hospital and faring a lot better in her own home with her large family. Cam is an institution here at The Times. We love her and we miss her, and we know a lot of people who love Cam are glad she’s home. Email her (she loves getting emails) at camtoner@yahoo.com. As usual, she will be up to date with new Ms. Cam’s Olio.

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We’re thinking of bringing back an old column that a previous publisher used to write called Bluntly Speaking. Several individuals here at the paper, including our publisher, Ross Blouin, will be speaking out on various happenings here in the city. We know you can’t wait.

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One more thing about our website. We have to tell you we don’t mind posting all the comments that come into the site, but please, if you’re going to attack someone on here for real, then use your real name. And if you’re going to reference another paper here in the city, please don’t expect your post to be printed, or, at the very least, it will be edited without the link to the other paper. We get some pretty nasty posts regarding city officials, and we don’t mind that, but when they get personal, we refuse to post, especially posts from someone commenting under a fictitious name. Just saying!

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The Somerville Disabled American Veterans Post, Chapter 27, will its second annual golf tournament Friday, May 30, at the Billerica Country Club. The cost is $125 per golfer. The event will feature an 18-hole scramble with carts, coffee and doughnuts to start and will be followed by a lobster or steak dinner (included). Thhe first place team will receive 400. Call 617-623-9616.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) invite all interested community members to an informational community meeting to discuss upcoming renovations to the Otis Street Playground. The meeting will be held at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St., on Tuesday, June 3, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. All are welcome to attend, and to share ideas to help shape the design of the new playground to meet the needs of the community. For more information, contact Arn Franzen at 617-625-6600, ext. 2545, or AFranzen@somervillema.gov.

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Applications are now available for the “Pocket Change” pilot program, designed to help low-income young adults, ages18 to 24, gain full-time employment with local employers. On Tuesday, June 3, the city, the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) and The Career Place will host an information session from 6 to 8 p.m. at the SCC’s office at 336 Somerville Ave. (second floor) for those interested in the program.

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Order tickets now at tasteofsomerville.com for the phenomenal Taste of Somerville at Davis Square! 50+ outstanding restaurants, farmers, & breweries with live entertainment, hosted by Jimmy Tingle. 5:30–7:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 4 (Rain dates: 6/11, 6/18), at 50 Holland Street. Buena Vista parking lot will be transformed into a one-day phenomenon, the Buena Vista Pavilion.

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The Duhamel Education Initiative is holding their annual Walk for Education on Sunday, June 1st at Noon leaving from Davis Square at 12:00 noon – Larry (the President) will be wearing a big sandwich board sign depicting education and students walking with us will be carrying posters that they have made. Posters will e collected at the end of the walk and awards for the best posters will be made at our Fall Supper – Goody bags will be given to all students (the posters will depict education) Tables will be set up near “Licks Ice Cream Store”