Last week’s candy controversy article in Newstalk and on the crime page, caused quite a stir from bloggers, some we posted and some we didn’t. Some were in  bad taste and others were just vulgar and libel. We want everyone to post on our site, that’s why we have it, we would prefer to keep it all factual or at least in the “rumor” category and not so nasty.

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Happy Birthday to Deputy Chief Michael Cabral who’s celebrating in Somerville this week. Also, happy birthday to our good friend here Paul Flaherty.  Both are great guys and we wish them many more.

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Happy Birthday to local actor and friend David Olsen (who recently appeared in The Fighter). A special happy birthday to long time friend and great guy Walter Whitney, another nice guy and lifelong resident.

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Now to our friend Maria (Nella to everyone here in the Ville) Nunes also Rollins, who attempted to celebrate her birthday, being taken out to breakfast on Sunday when she went to get in the car and fell and broke her foot, spent the entire day at the hospital and as she would say, she’s “got a big ass cast on” and will be home for a few days. Nella is very popular here in Somerville and we hope all her friends both in the Ville and on Face book , call her and cheer her up, she needs a few laughs. One of us here at Newstalk suggested she might get a lawyer, since there is an overabundance of lawyers out there.     Or she better get Bruce to cook the meals for awhile, we’ll keep you posted.

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Already, there are rumblings from people who are thinking of running for local office this year. Well-known campaign manager and current staffer to the state representative from Lexington, Sean Fitzgerald is going to throw his hat in the ring for Alderman At Large, apparently thinking that the weakest link is Alderman Bruce Desmond.   Haven’t we heard that before? When Tony LaFaunte ran and lost a close election for Alderman at Large few years ago? Sean’s not the only one thinking of running for alderman at large, at least two possible candidates have been rumored ,  we will keep you posted.

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If you’re interested in running for local office this year there is a FREE “candidate forum” held by local Boston radio host Michael Graham on Feb. 12 at 9 a.m. at Ken’s Steak House in Taunton we heard, it’s free and open to anyone doesn’t matter what party affiliation. Go online to his web site or his facebook page.

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Already out of the box and going to be ready for any possible challenger is popular Ward Five Alderman Sean O’Donovan, who is going to be hosting a large fundraiser on February 28 at the Armory. Sean is ready to put his record of accomplishments on the record over anyone.  He’s been a great ward alderman for all his residents, the proof is they keep putting someone in against him and he wins huge, he will again this year.

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42 years of service with the Somerville Fire Department, Lieutenant Mark Wall worked his last tour of duty on Sunday, January 23. Lieutenant Wall worked the vast majority of his career as a firefighter and then lieutenant at Engine 3 in Union Square. His final run was to Box 252 located at Washington Street and Kingman Road, in the very neighborhood where he grew up. Congrats Lt. Wall and we wish you the best and thank you very much for your service and dedication.

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There was a popular SPD Officer who is now a new local celebrity that happened to be noticed for a second time this year on the “Jerry Springer Show” on TV!  And no he wasn’t one of the wacko guests being interviewed and making and ass of himself he was just a guest in the audience enjoying the entertainment.

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Are you for having the city drop the snow piles here in the city into the harbor?  Or at least the river? We have to do something to get rid of all this snow.

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Alan Cunningham, son of Jacqueline and Thomas Cunningham of Somerville was named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2010 semester at Saint Michael’s College. Cunningham is a First-Year Exploratory major at the liberal arts, residential Catholic college located in Burlington, Vermont, one of America’s top 10 college towns. Students who complete a minimum of 12 credits and achieve a grade point average of at least 3.4 at the end of a semester are recognized for their scholarship by inclusion on the Dean’s List. Cunningham graduated from Saint Clement High School before attending Saint Michael’s.

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The Wednesday, Feb. 9 meeting of the Somerville Garden Club will feature a presentation from SGC member Elizabeth Wilde on the “Wildflowers of Tibet”, observed and photographed during her trip in 2010. Each monthly meeting of the Somerville Garden Club includes club announcements, a roundtable discussion to answer gardening questions, a featured lecture or demonstration, and concludes with a raffle of donated plants and horticultural items. The public is always invited to attend, free of charge. The Somerville Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of each month, 167 Holland St., the TAB Building, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Meetings are from 7-9 pm. Please visit somervillegardenclub.org for more information.

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The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) will work with Medford and Somerville over the next year to gather community input on the possibility of extending the Green Line to Mystic Valley Parkway/Route 16, and to study potential land uses and transit-oriented developments in the area. The first in a series of public meetings is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Brooks Elementary School, 388 High St. in Medford.

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Go Ape during School Vacation Week! February 21 – 26, 2011Franklin Park Zoo.
Set off on a tropical excursion during February school vacation week and bring your family to Franklin Park Zoo for an ape-themed getaway! Learn about these incredible animals by visiting the gorilla troop inside the Tropical Forest. Children of all ages will have the opportunity to learn more about these incredible creatures through a variety of educational ape-related activities. To celebrate the birth of the newest member of the gorilla troop, a female born Nov. 3, 2010, guests are invited to help name her. Visitors to Franklin Park Zoo may submit name entries for the baby gorilla at a submission box set up inside the Tropical Forest. Name submissions will be accepted through February 25. The winning name will be selected by the gorillas on February 26 at 10:30 a.m. inside the Tropical Forest.The person who submits the winning name will receive a family membership to the Zoo as well as a behind-the-scenes tour for up to 6 people. Please note: If more than one person submits the winning name, the winner will be chosen at random. The baby is the third girl for Kiki and Kitombe (Kit), who are also parents to Kira, age 11, and Kimani, age 6. Franklin Park Zoo is home to eight western lowland gorillas, including the new baby.To learn more about Franklin Park Zoo visit www.franklinparkzoo.org.