This Friday night, 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Ring, the 10th Anniversary Guns & Hoses Hockey game will be played for the kids involved with Somerville Youth Hockey. Every year now for the past ten they have played and for 9 of the 10 the Fire Department has won. Maybe with our good friend Officer Rymill, who is stepping down from running this event, will leave on a high note and the Police will win. It should be fun, and what’s better, the money raised goes to Youth Hockey. So go and enjoy.

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Big Happy Birthdays this week go out to: Jimmy Halloran, who works for the state. Our past Editor, Andrea Gregory, is celebrating her birthday this week. One of the best accountants around and tax preparer, Ms. Diane O’Brien, whose offices are up over Mikes in Davis Square, is celebrating this week. Also celebrating is Marylynn McWaters Cabral and we wish her the best this week.

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Condolences go out to the Rick Rollins family, a long time Somerville family, on their recent loss from a motorcycle accident this past week. We were told he was a great guy and was very well known. Our deepest sympathy to his family.

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Back in the hospital to have some major surgery is local construction guy Steve Dalramplye who owns Steve’s & Sons. Steve himself had a serious motorcycle accident over a year ago and still needs surgery. Steve is also the head of Medford Lions, and he is currently the Master of Somerville lodge which meets in Woburn. We wish him well and speedy recovery.

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Long time ‘Villen Charles – better known as Fred – Gill has been very ill lately. He is presently over at the Coolidge House in Brookline recuperating from his surgery and treatment. Fred’s family has been here in the city a long time, going back generations.

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This past Monday would have been the 34th birthday of Deanna Cremin, whose murder still goes unsolved. Her entire family and friends still wait for the day justice is served and the killer is discovered. A small ceremony took place in remembrance of her at corner of Temple and Jaques Street. We stand with her family and friends in seeking justice, and hopefully soon.

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Our good friend and past Somerville Lions President John Sullivan passed away this past Friday. John has been a member of the Lions Club here in Somerville since 1964. He was awarded the Massachusetts Lion Site Award, was past President of the Lions Eye Mobile Program, a distinguished recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, as well as the head of the Lions Computer Outreach Program that provided computers to children across the state.   John was a great guy, as we all know, and he will be sadly missed by his family and in particular by his family at the Somerville Lion’s Club house on New Washington St.

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Next Thursday, April 5, The Somerville Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” will be held at the Mount Vernon Restaurant, 14 Broadway, 5 to 7 p.m.  The sponsor this month is Zonghetti Consulting. This is an excellent networking opportunity for fellow local businesses. Free appetizers, free business card drawing, and a cash bar. RSVP with the name(s) and affiliation(s) of you and your guest(s) to smackey@somervillechamber.org

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Somerville/Boston News Group keeps growing. It’s now over 70 online/print papers and we have more good news coming up in the near future. Go to www.bostonnewsgroup.com to view all cities and towns.

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The Somerville News online video ads started this week with Ball Square Café owners Mike and Omar telling everyone what they have to offer. Visit the video, which received over 600 hits the very first day online. This is new to The Somerville News and is a very inexpensive way to reach your market if you’re selling to the public. Call The News and speak to Bobbie Toner.

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The City’s 3rd annual “Mayor’s Fitness Challenge” will kick off with an event on Saturday, March 31 at the Somerville High School field house, 81 Highland Ave.  The Fitness Challenge encourages community members to pledge to embody the Shape Up Somerville motto, “Eat Smart, Play Hard, Move More,” by making smarter food choices and increasing daily physical activity.  Individuals may participate in one of two ways:  1) by forming or joining teams of up to 10 people.  At the end of the Challenge, teams will be judged by weight loss and change in Body Mass Index (BMI), and winning teams and individuals will receive prizes.  2) By signing a “Lifestyle Pledge,” vowing to make daily lifestyle changes in terms of healthy eating and activity levels.  Those signing the Pledge will also receive incentives throughout the program.  The kickoff event will be held at the Somerville High School Gymnasium from 11 am – 2 pm on March 31, and all members of the public are invited.  The Fitness Challenge will run through Sunday,  June 3, when winners will be announced at the City’s first SomerStreets event of 2012 on East Broadway. The kickoff event will include fitness demonstrations by local “boot camp” and self-defense studios, face painting, arts and crafts, recreational opportunities for kids and adults, healthy snacks, recipes and healthy cooking demonstrations featuring local chefs.  Individuals choosing to participate in the Team Challenge will be weighed and measured for BMI index at the beginning and end of the Fitness Challenge.

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The Duhamel Education Initiative (DEI) will hold its 16th Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 31 from 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m. in the parish hall of the First Congregational Church,89 College Avenue.  Donations are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 10 and under, and $25 maximum per family. The Annual Pancake Breakfast is a great way to see old friends and meet the DEI supporters, as well as financially support the work of drop-out-prevention programs in the Somerville Public Schools.