Don’t forget the Somerville High Scholarship Foundation’s annual fundraiser this Friday evening at the Somerville High School Café over by the gym. There are lots of prizes along with the big prize of $10K on $100 tickets. You can show up Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m. and buy your ticket, especially if you feel lucky. We will be there since the roots of the foundation go way back to the beginning with The News founder Bob Publicover and present Publisher Donald Norton on the original committees.

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This coming Tuesday morning the Government Affairs committee of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce is hosting it new start up Breakfast at the Holiday Inn off Washington Street. This month’s guest speaker is Michael Glavin, who is the Executive Director of the Office Strategic Planning and Community Development. Chamber members $25. Non-members $30. For reservations contact by email smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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Then, on the same night across the street, Candidate for Registrar of Deeds, Maryann Heuston, is having a fundraiser “campaign kick-off event” hosted by the present Registrar of Deeds, our own and popular Gene Brune. Next Tuesday evening, May 22, 6-8 p.m. at the Somerville City Club. Maryann is working very hard for the seat being vacated by Gene, so she’s hoping a lot of locals will show up and show their support for her.

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The Somerville Police Department is offering a self-defense course for women coming up on June 5, 7, 12 and 14 at the Police Academy room down at the station. Call the police number for more details, but we understand it might be a free self-defense course.

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One of our senators here from Somerville (small but vocal part of the city), Sal DiDomenico, who is also co-chair on the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses, is sponsoring “Small Business Week” – beginning with a Small Business Resource Fair on Wednesday, May 23, from 9 to 11 at the Great Hall of Flags, the State House. You can call Sen. Sal DiDomenico’s office for more details.

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Our sincere condolences to both Ray and Gayle Doane who recently lost their son Ray Douglas Doane, who passed away this past week. Our deepest sympathy to the family and all that knew him. He was a great young man and son.

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Happy Anniversary to our good friends Tom and Barbara Carli of Carli Fence, which was started here in Somerville. They are celebrating 31 years of wedded bliss. We wish them many more.

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We are very pleased to see Bert Gay around the city lately. He’s gone through a lot of surgery and hospital stays but has bounced back and is looking well.

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Big Time Happy Birthdays to some of our fans as well as famous ‘Villens. To Melissa Hurley, wife of our own Alderman At Large Dennis Sullivan. We wish her happy birthday.     Also, to newcomer and great guy, a recent graduate of MIT, Brian Whally. How can we miss the well known attorney Edwin Smith who is also celebrating his birthday this week?      Scott Diamond is celebrating his birthday this week as well. And Mark Macleod of the famous East Somerville MacLeod family. A great young man who has grown up and we hear is now a family man of his own. Robyn Vailliant is celebrating this week as well. Megan Foster, who used to serve on the School Board from Ward 5 and is now a teacher over in Malden, also celebrates this week.

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Back home and resting this week from Mass General is Patti Norton, who will be back to MGH this Thursday for day surgery, one of several being planned over the next several weeks. She wants to let everyone know that your thoughts and prayers sent to her were well received and she thanks everyone.

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Some very lucky people here in the ‘Ville received that special invitation to Bob and Dave’s wedding on June 17, a special day for both of them. You can spot Bob around the city now. He’s up and in good spirits and health. We recently found him at the Armory Coffee Café.

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OMG, how are some parents supposed to afford their children’s Somerville High School portrait photos for graduation? We heard that the local photographer who’s contracted to take the photos is charging up to almost $700 plus for student portrait packages. You would think in this economy that this local photographer would get it. Someone who has had this sweetheart of a deal for many years here in the ‘Ville should have a heart and do the right thing by lowering his outrageously inflated prices so that some cash strapped parents can afford their children’s 2012 class portraits without selling the farm. Not to mention the up to $75 sitting fees! Wow!

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The City of Somerville is seeking craft vendors, musicians, performance artists, dancers, visual artists, storytellers and other creative artists to participate in SomerStreets, one of the area’s largest public events where we close the streets to cars and open them to residents for walking, cycling, running, etc. The 2012 schedule is: Carnaval on East Broadway:  Sunday, June 3, Temple Street to Pennsylvania Avenue; Seize the Summer: Sunday, July 29, Walnut Street to Cedar Street; Going Green on Rt. 16:  Sunday, August 19, Dilboy Field to Broadway; Rolling on the Mystic: Saturday, September 15, Location TBD; MonsterMashed Up on Somerville Avenue: Sunday, October 28, Washington Street to Beacon Street. Events are noon-4:00 p.m. and are rain or shine. For more information or vendor applications, please visit http://www.somervillema.gov/alerts/2012-somerstreets-series or contact Carlene Campbell-Hegarty, Director of Community Relations at ccampbell@somervillema.gov or (617) 625-6600 ext. 2615.