It will be a busy St. Patrick’s week, starting off with the renewed party at the Armory on Highland Avenue, this Friday night 7-11 p.m., hosted by Alderman Sean O’Donovan. There will be lots of fun. The band is the famous “Old Brigade Irish Band.” Light refreshments will be served and, of course, there will be dancing. Only $20. It was a great event last year, so let’s hope this is a repeat and that it will continue on as in the past.   

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On Sunday, March 18, starting at 11 a.m., the “Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5 km. run (The Race of Ireland and United States of America)” starts off in Davis Square. It’s a celebration of spring here in Somerville, with about 500 registered runners and walkers participating.

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The Proclamation on page 7 of our paper this week is brought to you by several individuals, in particular lifelong resident and Attorney Kevin Crowley along with The News. This was the Declaration of Independence from several hundred years of oppression and rule by the British. A document that announces that Ireland belongs to the Irish once and for all. From there the revolution was declared and in the end the Irish Republic was founded.     We thought it would be nice to print it in our paper since Somerville has been the home of tens of thousands of Irish immigrants over the years, including a couple of Irish immigrants who later became mayor of our city.   

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Our sympathy and condolences to the family of Thomas Brennick, a lifelong resident of East Somerville, who recently passed away. His wake will be held at Doherty’s Funeral Home this Wednesday and Funeral Mass out of St. Benedict’s on Thursday at 10 a.m. He was an Air-Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict.

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Happy Birthday to some interesting ‘Villens this week: Donald Coutoumas, who’s known by many here as well as his family. We wish him Happy Birthday. Another is Tiffany Brainard over in Winter Hill, who is another lifelong resident and nice lady.  A nice guy and from a great Somerville family, Happy Birthday to Marc Piro of Piro Printing on Medford Street.  Happy Birthday to Dennis Fischman, who works hard down at CAAS; Jason Costa from the ‘Ville; Kathy Binari Bouche, who works at the School Department; and from the ‘Ville Keri McCarthy, owner/stylist at Edips. A big time Happy Birthday to Jim Halloran, who works here for the city and, by the way, has some pretty nice old time pictures of the city on his Facebook page. Another Happy Birthday to Donald Gay of the famous Kelly-Gay family here in the ‘Ville. And to some special friends here we wish Michelle Sinclair Webb and Sammy Roselando both Happy Birthdays… as well as to all the other ‘Villens here and there.

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We hear that Dot and Bert Gay are once again off to Ireland this coming weekend, probably to celebrate the holiday over there. Safe journey there and back. By the way, Bert looks pretty good considering all the surgery and medical attention he’s been needing now for a long time. He’s smiling more as well. That’s great.

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Congratulations to Prospect Hill Academy teacher Laura Powers, who was recently honored with Sontag Prize in Urban Education. Laura teaches 4-6th grade lead Special Education teacher.

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Congratulations to John Sessa of Sessa’s in Davis Square, one of the largest if not the largest Italian Grocery Store in business here for 33 years now. It’s doing great and, by the way, they have the best Italian cold cuts ever. Drop in and get some and say “hi” to John and mention you saw it here.

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Update this week on our good friend Bob Publicover. He’s doing great, even though he has one more surgery planned for the next few weeks. He looks good and is gaining weight.    He’s like that old Timex commercial: takes a licking and keeps on ticking. He’s planning his wedding for June with his long time partner David. We hear we might be invited. We will take some pictures for the paper if we are, but don’t tell Bob, he will get mad.

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It’s an amazing feature, this Google thing,. You can look up person’s names and find out about anything. Google does it all for you. Employers are doing it, along with the courts nowadays. You never know what you’re going to find out about anyone.

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The race for Registrar of Deeds here in Middlesex County is heating up. It seems like both candidates, Maria Curtatone and Maryanne Houston, are all over the county. They are working hard, the both of them. It’s great that our city can boast two credible candidates for countywide office. We wish them both luck. They are both nice professionals in their own right.

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Congratulations to Valvoline Instant Oil change located right here on Washington Street, the companies first location, started here in 1989. It now just opened its 200th facility, located in California. Now a Somerville company is coast to coast. We wish them the very best. What a wonderful success story.

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There is a new business down on Washington Street at the Cobble Hill Plaza. One of our Newstalkers tried it out and gives it a 4-star. Potato Freak is the name and it’s at 102 Washington Street in East Somerville. They offer some very basic as well as wild dishes, with a whole new concept in food. The prices are right and the food is fantastic. Plenty of parking as well. Check them out online at www.potatofreak.com and tell them you saw it here in The News.

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Congratulations to Matt and Kristen Desmond, who just had a baby this past week, named Thomas Desmond III, delivered early and weighing in at 6 lbs 14 oz., 20inches long. Grandfather Bruce aka Alderman Bruce Desmond is smiling this week.

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Congratulations to Ryan Corbin Resmini, the son of Bob and Janice Resmini, who recently graduated from the Massachusetts State Police Academy. The graduation ceremony for the 80th Recruit Training Troop, which is the largest class the Academy has been to date, with 208 recruits, took place at the DCU Center in Worcester on March 9. Ryan left the Marine Corps in March 2011 as an E-5/Sergeant to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a State Trooper. Trooper Resmini now joins an elite group of law enforcement professionals that has served the Commonwealth for nearly 150 years.

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The Tenth Annual Guns and Hoses Hockey tournament is on Friday, March 30, at the Somerville Skating Rink. It’s now 10 years in the making and going strong. Both the Police and Fire Departments put players on the ice to raise money for local charities. This is the final year that Lt. Bill Rymill is heading it up. He’s done a great job as he always does with anything he does. It’s a great time, starts at 7p.m. Tickets only $5. at the door. What a great night and then dinner out afterwards, maybe?  FYI – we’re betting on the Police Department this year to win.

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The rat problem here in Somerville is still very bad. In particular, the residents of Miller Street have even called us to have the city help out with the problem. Rat infestation is overwhelming to the residents down there.

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The annual Business Town Meeting with Mayor Joe Curtatone is approaching.  The city’s business/economic status will be discussed. A fast paced Q&A follows. Davis Square Theatre at 255 Elm Street, Wednesday, April 11, with a reception at the Saloon afterwards. RSVP the Chamber of Commerce to smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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Nice to see that Lisa Ramos has returned to work down at Century Bank on the Fellsway, personally taking charge now that Jeannie is off on a trip for a couple of weeks. Welcome back Lisa. We hope your leg heals well and you’re back running the marathons.