There will be a debate between the candidates for Alderman At Large this Monday night, October 17, at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square,. The doors open to all at 6 p.m. and the debate takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. All four incumbents and three challengers will be onstage. From our point of view, since our paper will be represented, do you have a particular question you’d like to have asked, put before the candidates, or any particular candidate? Let us know by going online to our web site and posing your question and we will take the most interesting question and make sure our panelist is made aware of it. Go online to www.thesomervillenews.com and under the Newstalk post your question or concern.

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This Saturday, October 15, from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. at 125 Highland Avenue (rear) building, the Local Masonic Lodge will be having an Open House. The public is invited to visit, ask questions, and hopefully get the answers. The Officers of King Solomon’s Lodge here in Somerville, the only Masonic Lodge dating back to 1783, has some pretty impressive historic artifacts that have to do with the Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, plus many other interesting and historic items which will be on display.

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Also on Saturday, well known popular ‘Villen and nice lady Lynne Lenoir, the creator of the “Atria Longwood Craft Show” will be on hand Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 41 Burlington Mall Road in Burlington. There will be something for everyone. It’s that time of year again for Atria Assisted Living Craft show. All are welcome, so come and get you holiday shopping done early!

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Saturday night, October 15, here in Somerville at the Dante Club, starting at 7p.m., candidate for Alderman-at-Large  Mike Nionakis is having a campaign rally to get his troops motivated for election day, which is coming up soon. Mike has been on the phone and personally visiting a lot of people here in the city and he’s hoping, like the other two challengers, to upset the cart and win a seat on the Board of Alderman.

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Get well to Ray Snow Sr. who recently came home from the hospital recuperating after recent surgery. We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery!

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Also home and doing great, our good friend Bob Publicover. After two major surgeries he’s up and about and this week seems like Superman with his abilities to get around. Those of us who know Bob shouldn’t be surprised, but it’s hard to believe how he’s doing after such traumatic surgery.

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On the campaign trail in Ward 4, one of our Newstalkers was very puzzled when within a week or so of putting a sign on her property in the Ten Hills for candidate Tony LaFuente for Alderman, his challenger Christine Barber, who can’t even say “Hi” to her neighbors on Thurston Street, would visit twice, we heard, the house with the LaFuente sign on it. Finally, the Newstalker told us that she simply told Ms. Barber not to waste her time, that they were voting for Tony. We have Newstalkers all over the city who tell us what’s going on.

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Meanwhile, up in Ward 7, sources tell us (not quite a Newstalker but a source nonetheless) that Alderman Bob Trane was walking straight for five hours and his opponent, Ms. Katjana Ballantyne, was sort of stalking Alderman Trane by following him up and down the streets this past Saturday. Maybe she was learning how to campaign and figures that Bob was a good teacher since he’s managed to beat back those tricky PDSer’s a few times before?

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We hear through the grapevine that the usual Alderman-at-Large candidates for re-election are out there trying to get votes and even the challengers are out there. But one Alderman-at-Large, Bill White, seems to be secluded in his new home in the Ten Hills, maybe hoping that his usual blitz of mail the last five days will work for him again. Maybe he’ll order those treaded “robo calls” –  yikes! He’s certainly not a Dennis Sullivan, Jack Connolly, or even a Bruce Desmond is he? We’ll say one thing for Dennis, though, on his house he has a Tony LaFaunte sign on it in Ward 4. Doesn’t he remember that he went for and got the PDS endorsements with his neighbor across the street, Bill?   Now, Tony wasn’t endorsed by the PDS, his opponent Christine was. Now those PDSer’s are probably not going to be happy with Dennis, will they?

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Happy Birthday this week here in the ‘Ville to Steve Hardy, Jose Jorge, Michael Berry (who lives in sunny Fla. now), well known Realtor Kelly Sheehan Catallo, and Melinda Gaudet. To all these and the many other ‘Villens here in the city and out there Happy Birthday to all and a great day from The News.

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The CHA Diabetes Education Fair, presented by Somerville Hospital / Cambridge Health Alliance at 230 Highland Avenue, 4-6p.m., Thursday, October 20. It’s free to the public.   Learn about diabetes from the experts and enjoy music by our own Jimmy Del Ponte providing DJ services for Day Tripper entertainment. Get free flu shots and blood testing and FREE healthy snacks, too.

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Again, we want to remind our friends that Sheriff Peter J. Koytoujian is having a fundraiser at the Bellevue Country club 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18.

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As you know, getting a flu vaccine is one important step you can take to keep you and your family healthy. The city will be conducting flu clinics (for adults and children 3 years of age and older) every Thursday evening at the Health Department, 1st floor City Hall Annex (50 Evergreen Avenue) from 5-7 P.M. Parents must accompany their children in order to provide consent. They will be offering vaccine at no out-of-pocket charge during these clinic hours on Thursday evenings but if you are insured, please bring your card with you as we may be able to recoup a portion of the cost of providing this service. Please call the Public Health Nurses at 617-625-6600, ext. 4320 or ext. 4306 if you have any questions. Please check this page often, or call 311 for the most up-to-date information on our vaccine clinics. As is always the case in flu season, take care of yourself, cover your cough; wash your hands often.