The Annual Somerville ArtBeat is this Friday and Saturday in Davis Square. It’s a great time with lots of activities for the entire family. It gets bigger and bigger every year. This year the planners, the Somerville Arts Council, were busy making sure a wide variety of things will be going on.  There is a suggested donation of $3. This is a wonderful two-day event. Bring the entire family.

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The ‘Ville has another local celebrity, our good friend Chris Speakman of sportsprogranda.com, right here in Winter Hill. He designed the All Star Baseball program for this week and was flown out to Phoenix to enjoy the festivities, meet and greet famous players, and sign autographs. Hopefully, he’s going to bring some program books home. Some of us are expecting them to be autographed. On his Facebook page he’s shown with a lot of baseball’s famous names and we can see him doing the signing.

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A big Happy Birthday to our own Billy Tauro this week. Billy has been busy taking care of his mother who is still ill. We hope he gets to enjoy his day and that his mother gets better. Also, Happy Birthday to Alison “Ali” Koty who is getting married in September. It’s a busy time for her. She’s grown into very nice woman. Happy Birthday, too, to one of the ‘Ville’s famous locals, attorney Anne Vigorito. She’s a great lady as well as a good attorney.

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Other well known local notables here in the ‘Ville celebrating birthdays: a very busy man and popular former Mayor Eugene Brune, who’s always a nice guy. Well known local Police Officers celebrating are Mike Wyatt aka “Tango 5” – who is also well known for his bagpipe playing. Another local police officer and totally awesome man is our good friend Scott Gamble. Happy Birthday also to our good friend Richard Crosby III on his 30th! May they all enjoy a great day, and to all the other birthday people this week as well.

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A big time get well to our own Bobbie Toner (Assignment Editor amongst other duties) who was recently in the hospital and is now resting at home. The operation went well, and she’s missed by everyone here at the paper. We wish her nothing but the best. Also home recently from the hospital, Bert Gay, after a series of operations. We wish him well.

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Visiting from Brazil is Marco Tuilo and his girlfriend Bruna Mota, who are here this summer visiting his mom, our own Marisa Tauro. We hope he and his girlfriend enjoy the visit here. We know that Marisa is happy to see her son. She’s a great lady herself, always smiling and happy for everyone. Now we can be happy for her son’s visit.

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Remember to save the date of August 3rd for Mayor Joe Cutatone’s Boston Harbor cruise, departing out of Long Wharf Boston at 6p.m. Tickets are $50.00 pp and includes admission on the ship “Fredrick Nolan”, a hot Italian buffet, music, dancing, and a great time on a hot summer night! For more information call Billy Tauro at 617 293-2016 or email directly to wmtauro@aol.com

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Don’t forget to check out the rock band “Stainless” at ArtBeat Saturday, July 16, on the Elm Street Stage (corner of Elm St. and Chester St.) at 12:30 p.m. and the Sunsetters at 2:45 p.m. at the Elm Street Plaza (between Starbucks and Chipotle.)

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The new President of Somerville Rotary, Jean Scarpa, had her first meeting on Tuesday. It was a good turnout for a July meeting. Somerville Rotary meets every Tuesday at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant. This is a local civic group of business people and various organizations that meets for lunch and has a good time.   Jean is planning on a great year, already taking in new members. She’s off to a great start. If you’re interested in joining Somerville Rotary contact her via email: jscarpa@century-bank.com. She’ll make sure you get information on what Rotary is about and all the various local charities that Somerville Rotary gives to. A little known fact: Rotary, in particular Somerville Rotary, was the first local nonprofit group to invite women to join – and not that far back, but in the middle 80’s. The first woman President of Somerville Rotary was Pat Reardon, who served 1992-1993.

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Co-sponsored by the City of Somerville’s Recreation Department, the Gosder Cherilus Foundation announced that former Somerville High School football star and NFL Offensive Tackle Gosder Cherilus of the Detroit Lions will host his annual NFL Football Camp at Dilboy Stadium today, Wednesday, July 13 from 9 a.m. – noon for all Somerville youth ages 7-14.  The camp is free of charge, and will include skills demonstrations by Cherilus and SHS-teammate and Harvard University Football alum Wainwright Wint, as well as appearances by NFL players, and current and former Boston College Football players.  An autograph session will be held at the conclusion of camp on Wednesday. Gosder Cherilus is a 2003 graduate of Somerville High School, and a 2007 graduate of Boston College.  He was selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the number 17th pick overall, by the Detroit Lions.

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The new Mystic Housing Farmers Market has launched their own Facebook Page to keep you updated on special events and offerings https://www.facebook.com/mysticmarket1. The market is open every Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

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The Recreation and Youth Commission offers many programs during the Summer months throughout the City for our young people. There is plenty to keep the kids active. Go to the city’s web site to for a complete schedule, www.somervillema.gov.

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Take the Union Square tasting tour, it offers a great opportunity to enjoy an array of the scrumptious offerings found in this up-and-coming food hub. Bring your appetites and passports, on Wednesday, July 20, you will be heading to Peru, Thailand and Mexico-without leaving Union Square! Nibble your way around the globe by visiting three different restaurants: Machu Picchu, Ronnarong Thai Tapas and Cantina La Mexicana. At each stop, you will chat with restaurant owners to learn about their cultural heritage and get the culinary back stories to the exotic fare being offered. If your mouth is watering, please visit http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/blog/union-square-tasting-tour to learn more. Act fast because space is limited.