Don’t forget the annual first flag ceremony this Saturday January 1 at Prospect Hill, 11:30a.m. The ceremony starts at City Hall, marching with General Washington on horseback to the Hill.  Great historic event that happens every year here in the city. A real civic, community event we can all be proud of. Mayor Joe has done a great job of making this a family event and educational as well.

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There’s a rumor going around town that Mayor Joe could be appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to fill out the term of the late sheriff James DiPaola. Seems far flung to us and we hear Mayor Joe isn’t even lobbying for it. We also hear some aldermen are nervous that if Mayor Joe is appointed, Ward Six Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz will be acting mayor. Seems the thought of Mayor Rebekah has some in the city nervous. Of course Mayor Joe doesn’t necessarily have to resign if appointed either.

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Speaking of the Middlesex Sheriff’s office, we also heard that memos and bulletins are going out at all of the offices and branch locations asking Sheriff’s Department personnel to volunteer to take furlough time and pay cuts to help out during hard times so that other vital emergency programs can be saved. We heard it was done by the Acting Sheriff and we applaud him for doing so, this hopefully should help to cut payroll and spending.

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According to sources, two Boston Celtics players have been working out on a regular basis at the Gold’s Gym located at the Twin Cities Plaza. Somehow the duo blend into the crowd of the patrons that work out there regularly as well and most times goes unrecognized. Rumor also has it on good sources that they are going to have Shaq himself make a surprise appearance there at the gym as one of his 15 chosen spots around the state for a media blitz for our team in green.

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Best wishes goes to Dorothy Kelly Gay whose brother Tommy back in Ireland is in the hospital, a lot of us here at Newstalk know Tommy and our thoughts and prayers go out to him for a speedy recovery.

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A big get well greeting goes out to our good friends Ben and his son Eric Miele.  Most of you might remember Ben and his son as the “Bird Man” who used to train homing pigeons and other exotic birds next to the old Bradlees, now Target, store on Somerville Avenue. Ben, while at an area hospital, was getting a check up and suffered a heart attack. Ben and his wife Marie just arrived back from Seattle to see their daughter and later flew to see their son in Florida for the holidays, but all hell broke loose when they got home in Somerville as well as in flying to Florida. Ben’s wife Marie took Ben in for a cat scan to see if his cancer had spread. While he was there Ben had a heart attack at the hospital itself, it turned out that he needed open heart surgery via an emergency bypass done on him immediately.    Not only Ben, but also his son Eric had to have an emergency surgery while they were in Florida to be with him. They are both at home resting and starting to feel a little better as well.

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Next Monday night at City Hall, the Mayor along with the Board of Aldermen and the School Board will be installed into office and afterwards a state of the city address by the mayor, will be in the Aldermen’s Chambers as well as on local access TV.  A lot of budget cuts this coming year on the state level will affect the city level, so the speech by the Mayor should be very interesting and informative for a lot of people here in the city.

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Please join the Somerville Police Department in supporting Detective Mario Oliveira who was injured in the line of duty in November and is on the path to recovery. On Friday January 28 at 7p.m. at the Somerville City Club,  located at 20 Inner Belt Rd. a DJ will provide the entertainment, a buffet will be available and raffle tickets will help support Mario in his recovery. Entry is $20 per person.

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Somerville’s favorite comedian (even though he’s from Cambridge) Jimmy Tingle is at the Regent Thetare in Arlington with his incisive political commentary and humor. Tingle performs twice on New Year’s Eve and once on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. Check him out this week and buy tickets online at JimmyTingle.com.

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Winter Learn-To-Skate classes are currently being offered at 12 Greater Boston Rinks for children ages 4 ½ through adults. Separate skill classes are held at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Skaters can wear either figure or hockey skates. Each class includes a small group lesson and supervised practice. Instructors are professional and patient!
Locations include Brookline, Cambridge, Hyde Park/Dedham, Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, South Boston, Waltham, West Roxbury and Weymouth. Gift Certificates are available! Register online at www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org. Or call Bay State Skating School (781) 890-8480.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Shape Up Somerville are pleased to announce the launch of the Somerville winter farmers’ market. The winter farmers’ market is an initiative of Shape Up Somerville, designed to increase access to healthy and local foods for all Somerville residents during the winter months. The market will take place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., January 8 through March 26 at the Center for the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue in Somerville. Somerville residents will find an array of produce, meat, bread and specialty vendors at the market.  For the first time ever, residents will be able to sample and purchase wine from Massachusetts farm wineries. EBT, debit and credit will be accepted at market to increase payment options for residents of all income levels.  Residents can stay updated on the products that will be available each market day by following the winter farmers’ market Facebook page which will be launched shortly.

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Help out the cell phone donation drive from December 1 through February 28, to support The Network/La Red, an organization that works to end partner abuse in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer communities in Massachusetts.  Boxes can be found at City Hall (outside Mayor’s office, second floor) and the City Hall Annex (front door). Donated used cell phones are collected, emptied of all personal information and donated to a local phone provider who dismantles phones and gives proceeds to The Network/La Red. The Network/La Red is a survivor-led social justice organization that works to end partner abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities throughout Massachusetts including Somerville. They provide a bilingual hotline, emergency shelter, support groups, safety planning, and advocacy.  For more information, go to thenetworklared.org or call their hotline at 617.742.4911 (TTY 617.227.4911). You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.The City of Somerville and the Somerville Commission for Women work together with the community to end violence by supporting local initiatives, collaborating with allies for programs, and developing new projects. To learn more on how to get involved, please contact the Office of Somerville Commissions at scw@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600, x2400.