Thursday evening, February 2, from 5 to 7 p.m., come join the members of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce at their monthly “Business After Hours” at the Independent Restaurant, located at 75 Union Square. It’s a great time to meet and greet and especially network with all the members throughout the city. There will be a free gift certificate raffle, so bring your business cards. This month’s event is sponsored by Respond Inc. and Hosted by Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business after Hours Co-Chair Dana Iacopucci, of Chubby Oil. Remember, everyone is welcome.

*********************

A very brave local attorney and Rotarian will be taking the Polar Plunge up in Gloucester’s Long Beach on February 11. Kara Dardeno of Broadway has volunteered to take the plunge to help with the regional Rotary fundraiser to help Rotary raise money to eradicate polio in the world. If you’d like to pledge/donate contact local Somerville Rotarian and former President Ann Kirby by mail at 4 Melane Land, Arlington, 02474, or you can make a pledge online at www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/karadadeno/rotarydistrict793polarplunge. You can even contact Somerville Rotary president Jeannie Scarpa at Century Bank. It’s a great cause for which Kara is willing to jump into the ocean to demonstrate her commitment, so please join Kara and the Somerville Rotary by sponsoring her.

*********************

Celebrating Birthdays this week are: Somerville’s finest Parking Control Officer Mary William Killoren who is celebrating, we hear, her 30th birthday. Also, Barbara Bloedow Miele and Don Miele are both celebrating this week. A lifelong resident and popular man in the ‘Ville, Walter Whitney, is having his birthday this week. Phyllis Eiro Shea is celebrating as well. Say “hi” to her up at City Hall. Another ‘Villen, Bill McCarthy, is hitting the birthday’s this week as well. A good friend of The News, David Olsen, who starred and won in the reality series about Geeks and Beauties, also celebrates. One person we can’t forget is Barbara Snow, who now lives in Haverhill, but is from Somerville and is married to the popular Donald Snow. Barbara is a great lady and has many friends here in the ‘Ville. She used to work at the local Welfare office in Davis Square until she retired. We wish her many more years. To these and many others celebrating this week we wish everyone the very best, and remind everyone one month down and 11 more till Xmas 2012.

*********************

This week Local Alderman and popular lady about town Maryanne Heuston announced she would be running for Middlesex Registrar of Deeds this year. The seat, by the way, being vacated by our own popular former mayor and ‘Villen Eugene Brune, whom we hear has endorsed Maryanne for her run for his seat.

*********************

Still making plans are a couple of Aldermen here and maybe a city councilor over in Medford to run for the state representative’s seat being held locally by Denise Provost and Carl Sciortino.

*********************

It looks more and more like a statewide election campaign brewing in the near future for our own Mayor Joe Curtatone, who is seriously considering throwing his hat in the ring for Governor. We hear many city organizations and associations are inviting the popular Somerville mayor to appear as their special guest at a lot of events. We will keep you up to speed as we hear more and, yes, we will be there as well covering the story.

*********************

We’re still reminding people about the Council on Aging Annual Valentine’s Day Party being held this year at the Winter Hill Yacht Club with the special guest host, the current Sheriff of Middlesex County, Peter Koutoujian. Many of his deputies will be cooking up a storm and serving everyone there. It’s free, but you need to call Council on Aging at 617 625-6600-2300.

*********************

Tuesday, February 7, at the Burren in Davis Square is “Team up for Trivia” – a benefit to help raise funds for the Prospect Hill Academy. Again, Tuesday, February 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring your own trivia team of six or join other guests to form a team on site. Everyone is invited. Tickets are $20 pp. Contact Anja Bresler at 617 284-7822 or   abresler@prospecthillacademy.org for more information.

*********************

Be sure to check out Somerville High School’s production of the classic musical “Guys and Dolls” running February 2–4. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students, or buy in advance at www.ticketstage.com/SHS. Come and support them and enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon as well.

*********************

This Saturday at Union Square’s PA Lounge, 345 Somerville Avenue, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the first part of our Arts Union Winter Series takes place. It’s a full day of electronic dance music as five local DJ’s fundraise for the Somerville Arts Council. Must be 18+ years of age. It sounds like a lot of fun. Stop by and enjoy the music and help a good cause, the Somerville Arts Council.

*********************

Local guy and good friend here at The News Ken Kotch, who is a professional photographer, was at Gillette Stadium recently and was hired by a sports magazine to get some pictures down on the field. He got a lot of great shots. He is available for hire, so call 617 230-8462 or email him at ken@kenkotch.com. He also has a web site showing his work: www.kenkotch.com. He recently did some aerial shots for the state of New Jersey for a promotion that the state is having. He’s a good guy, he’s local, and he’s pretty good at what he does.

*********************

The Local Masonic Lodge here in Somerville, known as King Solomon’s Lodge, will be having an Open House on Saturday, February 25, at 125 Highland Avenue (rear building),. Interesting historical memorabilia will be on display dating back to the mid 1700’s, including works done by Paul Revere and others. The lodge is one of the oldest Masonic Lodges in North America dating back to 1783. Open House is free and open to everyone in the community to come and get a tour and have your questions answered. You’ll see and hear the ads on TV and radio running with Benjamiam Franklin.

*********************

Well, with two prominent women candidates both from Somerville in the same race for the Registrar of Deeds seat that’s being vacated by Gene Brune, it will surely be an interesting campaign and a sure victory for any opponent from another city or town when the Somerville votes get split down the middle in the ‘Ville. It’s a lose, lose situation for any possible Somerville victory. Maybe now it opens the door for a strong Cambridge or Newton candidate to walk away with it all!

*********************

Join the Somerville Arts Council, CASPAR Inc. and the Somerville Chamber of Commerce for a special event book signing and Q&A session featuring nationally acclaimed local photographer, Bill Brett, in honor of his latest book, Boston Inspirational Women. Brett’s latest achievement is a father-daughter collaboration with Kerry Brett, who compiled more than 125 black-and-white portraits of women with Boston ties for the book.  With words by Carol Beggy and a foreword by Karen Kaplan, the book documents women who are influential and inspirational in their city and beyond.  The book signing will be held on Wednesday, February 8th, 5-7p.m. at Foundry on Elm in Davis Square. All proceeds from book sales will go to CASPAR Inc.’s “New Day Program,” which offers residential treatment programs for pregnant and parenting mothers with substance abuse issues, and their newborns. For more information, contact CASPAR at 617-628-3850 or aaldin@casparinc.org

*********************

On Wednesday, February 8, the Green Line Extension Project Team will hold a public meeting to review the latest design plans for Washington Street/Union Street Stations. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel Somerville, 30 Washington Street,from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. If you need access or language accommodations to fully participate in this public meeting, please contact Beverley Johnson at 617-438-2767 or bjohnson@bevcoassociates.comcastbiz.net at least one week before the event. More information about the project its available on the Green Line Extension website at: www.mass.gov/greenlineextension. If you have any questions on the Green line Extension Project, you can email info@glxinfo.com.