The Somerville Chamber of Commerce is holding their monthly “Business After Hours” this week on Thursday evening, April 5, at the Mount Vernon Restaurant, 14 Broadway,  5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event is Sponsored by Zonghetti Consulting. Excellent networking, free appetizers, free business card drawing, and a cash bar. Chamber members and non-member guests are welcome. Please RSVP with your name and affiliation to smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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The 10th annual Guns N’ Hoses hockey game fundraiser was held this past Friday evening and, once again, the Firemen (Hoses) won. Everyone there had a lot of fun. The work over the past ten years was done by Somerville Police Department Lt. Bill Rymill, who retired his “Captain of the Team” jersey and handed over the duty of Captain to Sergeant Jeffrey DiGregorio. It was lots of fun and, more importantly, the money raised stays right here with the Youth Hockey to help them with their work.

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Happy Birthday to some well-known ‘Villens and some of The Somerville News’ loyal fans: To Jeffrey Lewis down in East Somerville, a lifelong resident himself, and a good family man from a nice family. A good friend, Gene Leonard Jr., who works hard with his dad, Gene Sr. They both are great guys. Susan Pye, of the famous Pye family – we wish her the very best. We would be remiss by not saying “Happy Birthday” to Tyler Hart, of the famous Hart family as well. Tyler is running again in the Boston Marathon raising funds for his charity. Go online to his Facebook page and pledge. An up and coming young Andrew Lafuente, who is busy between college and working for his dad’s business, also celebrates. A former East Somerville ‘Villen, Ricky Lewis, originally from Pinckney Street, is celebrating this week down in FLA. Also celebrating this week is former SPD Officer Bernie Doherty, celebrating his 74 years. Another good friend is Dick Murdza, doing his 76 years worth of celebrating. Jane Roche, who is the lovely wife of that great Alderman from Ward 1, Billy Roche, also celebrates. They’re a great couple and we know Alderman Roche will make sure she has a great day. Finally, to Jaime Motta, the astute and capable legal assistant to the well-known and famous attorneys at O’Donovan, Dwyer & O’Flaherty. We hope she had a great day on April Fool’s Day. She works hard and deserves it.

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The Little Sisters of the Poor, the organization dedicated to the care and housing of the elderly poor in the greater Boston area, is celebrating with their Annual Black Tie Gala on Saturday, April 28, with all new auction items. The black tie event will be held at the Boston Harbor Hotel. A silent auction, including two tickets to the 2012 Emmys with flight and hotel, two clubhouse tickets to the 2013 Kentucky Derby with flight, trips to California Wine Country with flight and hotels, a Beatles signed framed album, and a few others are among the prizes offered. It will be a great time for everyone and, best of all, the money raised goes directly to the support of the elderly folks housed at their Jeanne Jugan residence on Highland Avenue. For ticket information you can contact Little Sisters of the Poor at 617-776-4420. Ask for Emily Gilmore, or visit www.littlesistersofthepoorgrboston.org.

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The 38th Annual PTA Scholarship Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, May 4, at Anthony’s of Malden. The event is run by Donna Romeo, the chairperson of the PTA.

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Business Town Meeting VII with Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is slated for Wednesday, April 11, at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. The Cities Business and Economic Agenda is a fast paced, one-hour Q&A session with the Mayor followed by a special networking reception. Contact the Chamber for more information and reservations at smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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It looks like the Farm Team (over at the Journal) is losing another Editor, just about the same time as us, and both are leaving after only a year. The Farm Team Editor is leaving journalism altogether, just as she was getting to know Union Square. We wish her well,  even though she and the former Editor of the Farm Team before her were bashing us on a local so-called political pundit’s show. As their parting shot they called us all sorts of names. But in the end we still print and distribute over 5K copies a week (more than the farm team) and have about 5K Facebook fans (more than the farm team), and 1200 to 1500 daily visits (probably more than the Farm Team) to our website. And guess what? It’s all free. But the best part of The Somerville News, we’re told, is that we only have Somerville stories about Somerville people and we will continue to do so. We do this because we are from Somerville. We didn’t need a “Somerville for Dummies” book. We particularly liked the comment that the former Editor Kat made claiming that she cleaned up “Speak Out.” Does that mean she picked and chose the comments?  We are here. The Publishers, Editors, writers and staff live here, work here, and aren’t going anywhere. FYI, we now have over 70 online media outlets and we’re going for more. Plus, don’t be surprised if you start seeing a Medford print edition real soon. We’re talking to various Medford residents that want to do some writing, and we have a local paper that only gives local news and, yes, Newstalk will be part of it!

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A big get well soon goes out to our good friend Louise Mason who spent a few days of recuperation in the hospital. Louise is a nice lady and we wish her all the best for a speedy recovery.

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Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Rita Stewart who recently passed away. Rita was a lifelong friend to some of us here at The News and a wonderful lady who will be missed by her many relatives and friends.

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The SHS scholarship raffle is once again upon us. Buy a ticket for $100 and get a chance to win $10K. All funds go to the SHS scholarship foundation.

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Our good friend, nurse and mother to a great family, Mary Hart, has taken a position over in a Malden clinic, leaving the clinic here in Somerville in Union Square. Mary is well liked and respected throughout Somerville and will be missed, but we bet she wishes everyone the best.

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Those two Somerville candidates for Registrar of Deeds are both working very hard. Maria Curtatone and Maryann Heuston have signs popping up all over the place, and not just here in Somerville. Their race is for the position of Registrar of Deeds that is being vacated by our very popular former Mayor and current Registrar Gene Brune. This is particularly hard here in Somerville since both ladies want to win big so that they can have the edge going into the other cities and towns in Middlesex South. Both have Facebook pages, so check them out.

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Mary Jo Rossetti, School Committeewoman from Ward 7, will be holding office hours this Saturday, April 7, 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Angelinas Sub Shoppe, Teele Square.

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Don’t forget to save the date for the Somerville Lions Club Annual Charity Breakfast, Sunday, April 15, 7:30am-12:30 p.m. Place: Somerville Lions Club House, 9 New Washington Street, Somerville. $8 each or 2-$15. Proceeds to benefit Lions Club Charities.

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The Somerville News is looking for an advertising person who is mature, experienced, and can move on their own without too much direction. An ideal opportunity for a retired person or for someone that would like to make have an extra income. Call 617-666-4010 and make an appointment.