School vacation is this week and we hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather. During school vacation the Somerville Public Library has lots of activities for kids, preschoolers and teens, including a puppet show at the East Branch this Thursday. Visit their website to learn more: http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/programs-events.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy birthday to Donna Alibrandi, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a great day. Celebrating this week is our good friend Denise Racicot-Kallis. We wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to Lauren Daddio, a nice lady who we hope gets some hot chocolate on her special day. Happy birthday to an old friend, Roberta Reid Powers. We hope she enjoys her day. Happy birthday another popular lady, Celia Taylor, who is looking good with her Florida tan. We hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to Sammy Alves, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to retired Somerville Police Officer Scott Gamble. He’s enjoying retirement and we hope he enjoys his birthday this week. Happy birthday Kelly Hanley Callinan, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday as well to Sam Natale. We hope he is having a great day. Happy birthday to Robert Lomanno, a nice guy with a great personality. We wish him the very best. Former Spring Hill resident and good guy Brian Barton is celebrating his birthday this week. Big time happy birthday to a real good guy, Elio LoRusso, who is celebrating this week as well. To all those that are also celebrating this week, we wish you a happy birthday.

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We read on Boston.com that $23M in funding has been approved for a proposed walking/bike bridge between Assembly Square and Wynn Casino. It will span 780 feet over the Mystic River. It will be the most expensive and largest walking/bike bridge in in the Greater Boston area. The Department of Conservation and Recreation is building the bridge. Imagine, $23M for 780 feet. Once again, money is no object. One final note, of course, it will be the most expensive bridge.

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Demets Donuts in Medford is getting very busy, but those donuts and the large variety are like the old Day’s Donuts, huge and tasty. Almost a sin facing you when you come in for just coffee. It’s hard to not get that jelly or lemon, not to mention the coconut donuts. The Somerville Times is available every Wednesday at the donut shop. Stop in, get a coffee and few of those delicious donuts, or maybe the real – and we mean real – egg sandwiches, from real eggs.

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Don’t forget, if you miss the Board of Aldermen meetings on Somerville City Cable (Comcast 22, RCN 13) or online at https://www.somervillema.gov/video every other Thursday night, you can view them in their entirety by going to http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens. Watch your city at work and see how these dedicated members of our community are serving you, the public.

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The mayor wants to institute a transfer tax on those wishing to sell their homes, anywhere from 1% to 2%. which will go to the City Treasury (probably to buy some more city vehicles – doesn’t it seem like everyone working for the city has one?). Did you know the city already gets a piece of the sales tax? Check that DD slip next time you get a cup of coffee. We hear that the new current Board is excited to pass this tax on to us, the taxpayers. It seems like the city has never done a tax cut, not even once, but looks like it is in the hands of the Board of Aldermen. One wonders about the constitutionality of it.

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Another thing to watch and make sure your voice is heard is the new zoning proposal as this Board of Aldermen is taking another look at the proposed changes. They will affect everyone in the city in all parts of the city. You can go online to the city website and view the suggested changes. We will keep you notified of the public hearings. As of now, March 3 at City Hall is the next scheduled public hearing. We ran a story on it a few weeks ago, so go back and read it if you haven’t already.

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During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood. The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed to help those rely on blood products. Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

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Infrastructure work on Powderhouse Blvd. completed this fall. Now they need to plan the re-paving and discuss traffic dampening ideas. A meeting will be led by the Director of Traffic & Infrastructure, City Engineer on Monday, March 12, 6:30 p.m., at the West Somerville Neighborhood School cafeteria.

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The City of Somerville is hosting a Taza Chocolate Factory Tour on Thursday, March 1, 11:00 a.m., 561 Windsor Street. Find out how Taza Chocolate grew into the amazing business it is today and why they chose Somerville as a business location. Explore the growth and harvesting of cacao, where and how the beans are sourced, and how it’s turned into stone ground chocolate. Go here to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taza-chocolate-factory-tour-tickets-43102065438.

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The Somerville Theatre’s film series Something of Value: Sidney Poitier on Screen runs from February 23 – March 18, bringing together 15 of Poitier’s greatest performances, all shown from 35mm prints. More information about these films can be found at: http://somervilletheatre.com/repertory-programs.

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The City of Somerville is accepting applications for the 2018 Urban Agriculture Ambassador Program class. Each year 20 residents get free urban agriculture training from Green City Growers in exchange for 30 hours of volunteer work in gardens around the city. If you’re interested in learning how to grow food in the city, visit somervillema.gov/urbanagambassador. Applications are due March 1 and training will be held on Saturday, March 24, 31, and April 7, and 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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The Kennedy Pool has lots of lap swim and family swim hours. Visit their website to learn more. City-wide swim meet for Somerville students in grades 1-8 is coming up on March 3, so don’t miss the opportunity to get some practice in. http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/district-departments/swimming-pool