Don‚Äôt forget the Fireworks at Trum Field this Thursday starting at 6:30pm with a show from the Sunsetters, several other groups and of course the USO Metropolitan performers. Fireworks are set to begin at 9:15pm. This year the city will have a longer show thanks to some local businesses. Mayor Joe and his administration do a wonderful job each year on this. Also Family Day on Saturday June 28 is once again at Trum Field.    

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Interesting turn of events at the hearing for the Craigie Street condos that are being proposed by Alderman Sean O‚ÄôDonovan. We hear he wasn‚Äôt pleased that two of Mike Capuano‚Äôs relatives were there to oppose to the development. Seems like there were more non-neighbors at the hearing in favor than neighbors.   

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Publisher Emeritus of The Somerville News – Bob Publicover and his companion David LeBahn, recently took off without notice to Washington DC on a mini-vacation and made a pit stop to see Congressman Mike‚Äôs office. Last we heard Bob and Dave were taking the usual tourist trips around the city. We‚Äôre glad Bob has gained nearly 40 to 50 pounds in the past several months and now looks like a million dollars again.   

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Now you have a reason to leave your car at home! The Green Streets Initiative promotes use of alternative transportation through a monthly event they call "Walk/Ride Days." This Friday, June 27th, celebrate Walk/Ride Day by going green (walk, bike, or ride the T/Bus), and wearing something green to any of our participating sponsors in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford for deals, discounts, and raffles! Even if you already "go green" everyday, show your support and wear green this Friday! Check out www.gogreenstreets.org for more details.

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Speaking of gaining pounds, our other co-publisher and part time food critic (we hear) Billy has lost at least what Bob gained. Bob gained weight from a special diet and Billy lost his through an operation, you think maybe Billy just donated the weight to Bob?    

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Our condolences go out to the family of Maria Battinelli. Maria was a longtime Somerville resident who’s son-in-law Frank Pasciuto is close to a lot of us here at The News and we know that Maria will be missed by many.

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Happy Birthday to the ever popular David Tauro of the famous Tauro family here in Somerville celebrating his 47th birthday this week!

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Mass Equality sponsored a fundraiser for Carl Sciortino, the Prince of the PDSers, you know the one that says his papers were stolen but didn‚Äôt call the police until 14 days after he realized they weren‚Äôt where he left them. The fundraiser wasn‚Äôt held in his district but at Club Caf√© on Columbus Avenue in the South End. It will be interesting to see the out of district funds he collects and who he‚Äôs beholden to. On another note, Bob Trane, the only candidate on the ballot this year for State Representative in the 34th District, will be holding his kickoff party in the district we understand, in mid July. 

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Both are out there knocking on doors, well at least Prince Carl’s surrogates are out there. We like the story that was told to us of the two young out-of-town ladies up in Ward 7, out there knocking on doors for Prince Carl and at least one person we were told, asked them point blank where they were from and both said from Boston. Then we heard that the voter told them no he and his family wasn’t supporting him, they got a little upset and made some rude remarks, but hey maybe that’s the way they campaign in their neighborhood who knows. Some of us had the pleasure of going out with Bob in South Medford already and about 95 percent of the people Bob talked to personally didn’t even know who their State Representative is.

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Somerville resident Matt Young made the Lasell College Spring 2008 Dean’s list. Young is a member of the class of 2011 is majoring in Sports Management. Congratulations Matt!

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Congratulations and thank you to Officer Jim Slattery who on March 4 saved a UPS driver from losing a leg, and possibly worse, by acting heroically. Slattery responded to a call in which the driver was run over by his own vehicle. Without regard for his own personal health and safety, Officer Slattery used his hands as a makeshift tourniquet and surrounded by a pool of blood, maintained his composure. His actions are directly responsible for saving the life of the victim. Both firefighters and EMTs present at the accident concur that, if Officer Slattery had not provided direct pressure to the traumatic injury, the driver ‚Äì a father of four — would certainly have died from loss of blood. Officer Slattery was deservedly awarded with the Life Saving Medal recently and we also thank him for his bravery and quick thinking.

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Save Our Somerville and Teen Empowerment are looking for urban artists to display their talent at Art Beat July 18 to 19.  They are looking for hip hop artists, graffiti artists, photographers, painters and any other art form that displays Somerville‚Äôs urban environment. SOS and TE will hold auditions for music and other forms of art.  The deadline for applicants will be July 3.  For more information, contact us by email at saveoursomerville@yahoo.com.