A lot of people are talking about it, the old fashioned St. Patrick’s Day Party, hosted by Alderman Sean O’Donovan, Friday March 11 at the Armory on Highland Avenue. A lot of excitement for the band  “Old Brigade Irish Band.” Years ago former Representative Marie Howe used to pack them in at the Armory for this yearly event, which also attracted a large non Irish crowd. To those that remembered the St. Patrick’s Day parties of the 70’s and 80’s are looking forward to this hopefully annual event again.

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Deepest sympathies to Larry Murphy and his family for the passing this week of his wife Joyce Murphy,  Joyce was a wonderful women who was so very friendly to all, she made everyone who came to know her that she was very special, a former employee of the School Department.

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Also condolences to the family of Pauline Wood on her passing last week who was found dead of natural causes at a New Hampshire Flea Market,  Pauline and her husband are residents of the Clarendon Hill Apartments, her husband Stanley resided there for many years.

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Coming up shortly is the seventh annual Fundraiser for the Memorial Day Parade on Saturday March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Somerville High School Auditorium performances by “Joey Voices” and USO Metropolitan New York Liberty Bells, tickets are $20. Call Veterans Services or the Mayor’s Office  617 625-6600.

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Wasn’t it nice to hear that Congressman Mike Capuano hasn’t really changed?  You know his off the script remarks at the Public Union Rally in Boston, where he said, “Every once in awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody.” What do you think of his excuse? He was just “off script”? Shouldn’t politicians who have been around for years know how to avoid violent metaphors, even when off script?

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Our best wishes to Frances White, the mother our alderman at Large Bill White, she recently was in the hospital and now moved to a rehab center, we hope she is on the mend; she’s 92 years of age. We wish her well.

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Also in the hospital recently was Tom Trane the father of Alderman Bob Trane, Tom has in the past been very active here in the city over the past several decades, we also wish him well and a speedy recovery.

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CAAS the Community Action Agency of Somerville will be having some serious cuts if President Obama Administration has its way. The agency does a lot of good for the poor and low income and it’s a shame that this would even be on the table. CAAS is asking people to go to www.capworks.org and sign a petition asking to save programs that are slated to be wiped out.

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Congratulations and best to Alderman At Large Dennis Sullivan and his lovely wife Melissa, we hear that Melissa is expecting a baby. Also speaking of Alderman Dennis, he’s having a fund raiser on March 9 at Old Magoun’s Saloon in Magoun Square from 6 to 8 p.m.

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Chamber of Commerce monthly After hours business social is Thursday March 3 at PJ Ryan’s at 239 Holland Street, Teele Square  5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Great networking experience and all businesses are welcomed, call the local chamber office for reservations at 617 776-4100.

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Congratulations to Somerville Police Officer Robert Hickey and his wife Deborah on their recent celebration of their 26th wedding anniversary.

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Somerville’s own John Roderick will give a talk entitled:  Transportation Gateway to Northern New England, 175 years of railroad in Somerville this coming Thursday March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Somerville Museum as part of Historic Somerville lecture series 2011. John is a lifelong railroad and transportation history enthusiast. For 10 years he edited the B&M Bulletin, the official publication of the Boston and Maine RR Historical Society.  Tickets will be sold at the door and are $8.00 for nonmembers and $5.00 for members, contact admin@historicsomerville.org.

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Happy Birthday to Sean Fitzgerald who we hear is a candidate for Alderman at Large, and Peter Miller two well known locals who have both been deeply involved in the city over the years.

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Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveira was recently nominated for the America’s Most Wanted   All Star Award.   Each week for the next seven weeks a winner is chosen. At the end, seven finalist will remain. They will then pick a final winner. The winner gets a trip to NASCAR in North Carolina and a check for $10,000 from John Walsh on live TV. Our Somerville community members have to go on line to help him win, www.AMW.com (Americas Most Wanted website) and click on All-Star Award and vote for Mario Oliveira. You need to do this once a day every day for the next six weeks or so.   The director thinks that he has a great chance of winning but said his family, friends and community here in Somerville need to go online and vote. If you know Mario you know he’s a great guy, not just a local hero, but also  doing a job that protects us all like all his brothers and sisters at the Police Department. Would be a nice thing for us to do, here in Somerville to give him your votes, remember every day do this once a day for six weeks.