The Somerville High Evening School is just off to another semester. The head of the evening school, Sophia Carafotes, is making a final check to see if anyone would like to register for the many fine courses she has going.  One in particular is the real estate licensing course that is still looking for potential students. This course offered by the City School Department is much cheaper than from any one of the other real estate schools around. If you’ve thought about getting into real estate full time or part time, now is your chance to get your license for the rebounding economy that will need many more agents out there. Go directly up to the high school or call the evening school and register this week, anytime in person after 5:30 p.m. in the main office off the concourse. And remember, there are dozens of other courses available as well.

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Tonight, Wednesday, January 25, from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at the High School Auditorium, 81 Highland Avenue, the MBTA will be having a meeting to talk about the Green Line extension work and its progress. The public is welcomed.

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It appears that local attorney and popular lady Maria Curtatone is securing herself for a good run for the Middlesex County Register of Deeds post being vacated by Eugene Brune. One popular guy stepping down and hopefully one popular lady taking his place.   We hear she’s everywhere all over the county.

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Watch for a popular name over in Medford to step into the State Representatives race this year, presently held by Carl Sciortino. Carl has two wards here in Somerville and South Medford. We hear that the potential candidate to run is going to start making calls here in Somerville pretty soon, particularly to some people in Wards 4 and 7.

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Big Happy Birthday to Deputy Police Chief Michael Cabral who is celebrating this week, as well as Joey DelPonte, the son of Jimmy.  Also in the ‘Ville this week celebrating are two fine ladies up in Ward 7, great ‘Villens and popular at that: both Dorothy DiMarzo and her long time partner Lynne Lenoir. We certainly like to give special congratulations to them both. Former City Hall guy and life long ‘Villen Philip Ercolini is celebrating his birthday in retirement. A very special lady and good friend Maria Nella Nunes is celebrating this week as well. We hope Bruce takes her someplace special for dinner instead of ordering take out. And finally, Ms. Denise Cosby, a great lady and extremely good friend, is celebrating. She told us last week that her book is almost done that she has been writing for awhile. She even hinted of someone at The News being mentioned just a wee bit.

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Happy 5th Wedding anniversary to our good friends Helen and Mike Ricci. They are a very nice couple and we wish them all the best this week.

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Our condolences to the family of Florence Ciampa who sadly passed away on Friday.   Many of you remember that Florence used to own the old Supreme Hardware and Paint in Ball Square with her husband Ted and other family members. Florence was a wonderful women and will be sadly missed.

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Save the date of February 14 for the Council on Aging’s Annual Valentine’s Day Party that is being held at the Winter Hill Yacht Club located at 78 Foley Street behind the Assembly Square Mall in Somerville from 11am-2pm. This year as a special treat Middlesex County Sherriff Peter Koutoujian and his Deputies will be cooking up a delicious home cooked recipe pasta dinner for the special occasion!  So don’t miss out. Call the Council on Aging for your reservations at 617 625-6600 x 2300. Of course, some of us Newstalkers will be there serving the food and taking pictures as well! Oh, and of course, it is FREE of charge but seating is very limited. Call now.

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The Somerville Lions club has launched their annual “Wheel Barrow Full of Cheer Charity Raffle”! It consists of a shiny new wheel barrow filled with hundreds of dollars of top shelf liquor for you to win, providing that you’re over 21 and you buy a ticket!  So get your tickets for $1 each or 6 for $5. Last year our favorite Somerville DPW, Miss Brown, was the lucky recipient who got to take it home! This year it may be you!  Raffle tickets are available by calling the Somerville Lions club at 617 293-2016 or you can buy them at the Mount Vernon Restaurant on Lower Broadway as well.

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Girl Scout Troup 71318 out of Davis Square will be holding a fundraiser to help raise funds for a trip to Washington DC to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouts. The event will take place at Flatbread, 45 Day Street, Somerville on Tuesday January 31 from 4:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Flatbread will donate $3.50 for every large Pizza and $1.75 for every small pizza. Eat in or Take out. There will be raffles from local businesses 50/50 along with the sale of Girl Scout cookies.

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A Community Meeting hosted by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Alderman William Roche to review plans for the New Harris Park will take place tonight, Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m. at the Cross Street Senior Center. They will discuss preliminary designs with the landscape architects, GroundView, a firm located in East Somerville. They welcome your feedback.  For more info, contact Luisa Oliveira, Senior Planner-Landscape Design, Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning & Community Development, 617-625-6600, LOliveira@somervillema.gov.

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Don’t forget this Sunday January 29, Somerville will be hosting College Goal Sunday. College-bound students and their parents can receive free assistance in filing the federal financial aid application ,at 2 p.m. at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to receive many types of federal, state and private financial aid, and must be completed by college deadlines, some as early as February 1.The sixth annual Massachusetts College Goal Sunday will provide information on college financial aid and free on-site help to complete the FAFSA. At 26 locations across Massachusetts, College Goal Sunday’s team of volunteer financial aid and higher education experts will offer information on the many viable post-high school options. For more information go to  http://www.masscollegegoalsunday.org/.