The Alderman At Large debate went off well on Monday night at the Somerville Theatre. All seven candidates showed up and so far the overview is that it was a good debate but could have lasted a little longer. Even though it was intended to be a serious debate, the questions asked by one of the panelists was pretty lame, i.e., “What is your favorite Pizza here in Somerville?” Not the only lame question but surely the weirdest question of the night. Apparently that was more important to the person asking than the one being asked. Overall, outside of the opening remarks by a certain incumbent being so defensive over a rumor we were surprised, but then again this particular candidate thought he needed to say something. Just goes to show you, more than our fans read the paper out there! Again, we think it went well. Now you decide and watch it. SCATV is airing it many times over the next few weeks. Check The Somerville News for the SCATV programming (p.22) which The News has carried for free for about two years now. Our thanks to SCATV for allowing The News to be a part of it. It almost wasn’t. We want to thank the moderator Joe Lynch, who handled it very professionally.

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Tonight our good friend Tara DeCristofaro, the Middlesex County Registrar of Probate, will be having a fundraiser in Stoneham at the Montvale Plaza. Again, tonight, Wednesday, October 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. RSVP Jerry at 718-866-1451…but we’re sure if you show up at the door – don’t tell her we said so – but we think you’ll get in.

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As of January 1, 2012, Sal DiDomenico will no longer have any districts in Somerville. With the new district change State Senator Pat Jehlen will now represent all of Somerville and Medford and parts of Winchester and North Cambridge.

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Big Happy Birthday to Mama Emily Tauro who is celebrating her Birthday this week with all her kids and her thirteen grand children. We wish her a great day celebrating and many more to come. Also Happy Birthday greetings go out to our good Alderman in Ward 2 Ms. Maryann Heuston who has represented the Ward now for a while and does a great job at it too.

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A big get well soon out to Alderman Tom Taylor who is back in the hospital at Brigham and Women’s in Boston.  Tom has been going through the battle of his life over the past two years, struggling with multiple medical treatments. If you get a chance drop a get well card in the mail to him and say hello to cheer him up. To all his supporters in Ward 3 he is on the ballot in November, running for re-election.

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The Dormintion of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox church of Somerville is celebrating its 95th Anniversary for the benefit of its Youth Programs and Church Endeavors on Saturday October 29th from 7-11 p.m. at the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue in Boston.

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Last chance for a great night at Giggles on Rte. 1 with the Somerville Lions hosting “Comedy Night” on Thursday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m. The price is $25pp for all the pizza you can eat and all the comedy you will need to cheer yourself up. Proceeds to go to the Lion’s club charities. Call Lions President Mr. Paul Carrol or past President Billy Tauro at 617 293-2016. It’s a great night, an awesome event every year and proceeds go to a great local charity.

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Get well soon greetings go out to our good friend Freddy Hartstrove who works in the Somerville Police Station garage.  Freddy is a nice guy and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.

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Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 19, Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue will become  “Somerville Salon” – created by the Somerville Arts Council. What is an artist salon? A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. It evolved into a well-regulated practice that focused on and reflected enlightened public opinion by encouraging the exchange of news and ideas.  The Somerville Arts Council revives the traditional artist gathering to present a new series: Somerville SALON, in which a SAC board member curates different artistic topics for presentation and discussion. Salons will take place the third Wednesday of each month in the café. A donation of $5 is requested.

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Our good friend Bob Publicover is home doing great, especially this week. He’s eating and actually in good spirits. He says “Hi” to everyone out there, all his friends and a special thank you for Elaine Czensniuk for the homemade cookies. He’s doing great and he’s on Facebook every day now so if you want to converse with him check it out.

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There was a lot of commotion this past week as Somerville hit the big time national media over an email sent out by the Principal of the John Kennedy School, Ms. Anne Foley. The contents of the email were given to the Boston Herald and apparently the writer for the Herald got carried away with herself.  The only thing we have to say is that such a professional person as a Principal of a school should not be emailing anything or Twittering or Facebooking any personal comments on her beliefs to others that are under her supervision. If this was in the private sector she’d probably lose her job for being so unprofessional, but it’s a public employee and it’s a different story, isn’t it? Why don’t we hold public employees to the same standards as we do in the private sector? Remember, a good defense is a great offense – or is that the other way around?  Either way, the city didn’t fare too well in the public eye. Maybe the School Department head should just say no personal views on emails that might be seen in a negative way by anyone.

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In advance of next week’s official start of citywide zero-sort recycling, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and a group of Somerville Aldermen made the first delivery of new zero-sort carts to local residents. The first carts are being delivered in Ward 7 in the western part of the city and the cart delivery trucks will move east over the next few weeks. The 65-gallon wheeled carts have the same footprint as the blue recycling bins residents currently use, but hold a much greater amount of recyclables and prevent those recyclables from getting blown around the neighborhood in windy weather. Residents also do not have to sort their recyclables. Plastics, paper, glass bottles, aluminum cans, even pizza boxes can all be put in the same cart. The City has posted a YouTube video of the delivery. The zero-sort program officially starts next week. All residents who are part of the City recycling program no longer will need to separate their paper from their plastics. Some residents will not receive their new carts until after the start of the program. They should continue to use their current blue bins as a temporary substitute until the new carts are delivered curbside to their residence. Those with additional questions can call 311 (or use email, Facebook or Twitter) or go to the City website at http://www.somervillema.gov/alerts/zero-sort-recycling-information.