The SOS (Somerville Overcoming Addition) 2nd Annual Candlelight Memorial Vigil will be held Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Somerville High School. The vigil program starts at 7:00 p.m. Reflect with friends, visit resource tables, and get trained for overdose prevention/Narcan from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. For more information and to read more about this go to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/somervilleovercomingaddiction.com.

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This Saturday September 12th, the 15th Annual John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund Golf Tournament will be held at the Falmouth Country Club. To get more information go online at www.johns-team.org. A great event every year and a worthy cause. Get a group together and spend a nice day down on the Cape. It’s too late to sign up but not to give a donation, and we wish all those who participate in the event a great time.

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We heard that several unions including the local city employees union (SMEA) endorsed a candidate in Ward 6, Lance Davis. According to his own literature he had nothing to do with unions, and even works at a company that shipped many of its jobs out of the country. The one candidate who was a union official, Charles Chisholm, was overlooked and never considered. We smell something fishy here. It makes you wonder, maybe something is wrong and unions just endorse for special reasons. Why would the SMEA endorse in a primary? What benefit does it do for the membership? What if the endorsement doesn’t work?

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Saturday, October 17 at the Holiday Inn, the SHS Scholarship Foundation will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Over the years, the foundation has been responsible for handing out thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving high school graduates. The Foundation idea was started by local publisher Robert J. L. Publicover, Tony Fedele, the headmaster at the high school, former Mayor Gene Brune and several other dedicated and committed community people. A Foundation that started with very little and has now grown to over $1M in scholarships. Call or go online to the Foundation’s Facebook site for reservations and cost of tickets.

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Happy birthdays this week to some of our Villen friends as well as friends of The Times: Happy birthday to Pat Roberto, owner of the ERA Millennium over in Everett. Pat grew up here in the city. Happy birthday to former slderman and good guy Bob Trane up in Ward 7. Speaking of aldermen, another good guy, Ward 4 Alderman and, of course, well known throughout the city, Tony Lafuente is celebrating this week. A good friend of ours and a local guy, Sergio Deassis, who owns his own construction company also celebrates this week. Happy Birthday to Dan Hurley of the local cable access show. We wish him a great day. We also wish a big happy birthday to a dedicated city worker and strong voice for many of the youth programs here in the city, Nancy Gaudet Bacci. A great gal we’ve all known, originally from Winter Hill, Judith Medeiros is also celebrating this week. Local Realtor for Life, Stephen Bremis is celebrating this week as well. And the official voice of Somerville, who has now moved on but is still very active here in the community, Tom Champion is celebrating his birthday as well.

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Last week our paper’s photographer had a birthday and we didn’t mention it. A total oversight and we apologize to her. Happy birthday to Claudia Ferro, a wonderful lady and a true professional who’s always a step ahead of us on her picture taking. She’s a great lady, with an equally great husband, Sal, who’s also been known throughout the city these many years.

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There’s a new web site in town. Check it out at www.somervillema.com. The Somerville Times is on the site. Also check out www.medfordma.com.

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Somerville Adult Evening School Registration is September 8, 10, 15, and 17. In person at Somerville High School, 83 Highland Ave., SHS Main Office From 6:00–8:00 p.m. or check it out online at: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningschool. Classes begin Tuesday, September 29 and/or Thursday, October 1, 6:00–9:00 p.m. Classes include: Academic Recovery, Drivers Ed. Sewing, Computers, Spanish, ESL, Real Estate License, and Medical Interpretation. Special Zumba or YOGA classes are also being offered. 5 classes for $25 or walk in for $7. Why not enroll and begin your fall learning something new?

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What is going on with the local Building Department here in the city? We are hearing more and more about delays in issuing permits to both businesses and developers alike. It seems like the city has made it almost impossible to get a permit. Could it be that the city has now become anti-business? One business slated to open has stated they are still waiting approval now after over 60 days. Another business has been told it is in progress and has been waiting for over 30 days. Maybe it’s the morale in the department or the leadership, but Somerville has to be more business friendly. If you’re waiting for the necessary permits to open and you’ve already hired people and purchased supplies then it’s not just the wait. It’s costing the business person more money having employees just sitting around. We started to ask what is going on and we were told its simple, new procedures are being put in place. Next week we will have more on this. Maybe some of our bloggers know what’s going on?

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The primary in Ward 6 is coming up and make a note it’s on Thursday the 17th, not the usual Tuesday. We heard that the Board of Aldermen bowed to pressure from one alderman to get it changed for the first time because of a religious holiday. Don’t forget to vote in the only primary in the city this year, in Ward 6. Don’t let a small minority pick the wrong candidates for the final election in November. Your vote counts.

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The $17,000 slide has been ordered we hear, just in time for fall maybe. Hopefully, everyone will be on top of the slide including the Ward 1 Alderman.     Some other parks have weeds and need a little cleaning as well, but not Prospect Hill Park. Have you seen the beautiful manicured lawn up there? On a hot night sitting on the hill catching a nice breeze. Alderman McWatters is on top of his Ward.

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The Somerville Garden Club Annual Plant Sale is Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. –1 p.m., rain or shine, at Davis Square, intersection of College Ave. and Holland St. Discover the perfect plant to enliven your garden or windowsill at this popular yearly sale. Perennials for sun and shade, plus a wide variety of houseplants, will be featured, as well as herbs, shrubs, and groundcovers. Choose from hundreds of plants donated by both Somerville Garden Club members and community friends of the Club. Visit the Connoisseur Table for that unique specimen or find a tried-and-true favorite—there’s something for everyone! Horticultural books, decorative containers, and garden tools will also be for sale. Experienced gardeners will be available to answer questions and assist with plant selections. And the littlest gardener will enjoy the Children’s Table. Proceeds benefit the educational programs and public plantings of the all-volunteer, non-profit Somerville Garden Club. For additional information visit www.somervillegardenclub.org.

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The Brickbottom Artists Building Yard Sale will be held this Staurday, September 12, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (rain date September 13). Multi-family, with lots of amazing stuff. A portion of the sales will help support the Brickbottom Artists Association. Brickbottom Yard, Somerville.

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Somerville’s Historic Bike Ride: Enjoy a fun bike ride exploring Somerville’s new “green” initiatives with the theme Food, Flowers, and Farming: All Flourishing Anew in Somerville. The ride is geared for all ages and riding levels, and it will be escorted by the Somerville Police. There will be a few rest stops as well. Sunday, September 13, 1:00–4:00 p.m., City Hall, Somerville.

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Rhode Island natives, Chris and Jennifer Daltry of What Cheer Records, will bring their unique brand of shopping to Union Square with the Somerville Rock & Roll Yard Sale. Sunday September 13, 11 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in Union Square.