The Somerville Arts Council is hosting Bazaar Bizarre this Sunday, June 24, at Union Plaza from 12 to 6 p.m. 50 local vendors will set up on the Union Square Plaza to sell a vast array of idiosyncratic handmade goods. As usual, they will create the mix of vendors for style, methods and materials offering shoppers a fresh mix. This year they have decided to turn the market into a full-on summer block party, nautical style. So wear your nautical stripes and slather on plenty of SPF. Union Made III will feature live acoustic music, demonstrations and hands-on art making. Continuing with the nautical theme, small craft advisory will offer washable stencil tattoos of ships, mermaids, sharks, anchors, and whatever maritime image strikes your fancy. You can also practice your knot tying skills at the market. For a few more tricks that you can check out go to www.bazaarbizarre.org as the event approaches.

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Our very good friend Bob Publicover, who owned and operated this paper for many years and is a lifelong resident of Somerville, was married to his long time partner David LeBahn at the Arlington Street Church in Boston. Bob is and has always been very involved here in Somerville in many local charities, sitting on the board of many in the recent past. We were proud here at The News to have his pictures as our center pictures for this week. We wish Bob and David all the best for a long and happy life together.

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We know we mentioned this last week, but we want to make sure that the Lions Club here in Somerville is so lucky to have managed to convince long time member Gene Brune to take over the helm of the club with his official installation this coming Friday night at the club house on New Washington Street. Gene Brune has done so much for so many local charities here in Somerville. He makes it so easy to be the spokesman for many charities, but what a gift the Lions Club gets with him being its President. We wish him the very best and to know that The News is here to help, aide, and assist in any way we can. Congratulations Gene, you’re the best!

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Coming up next week on Thursday, the 28th, will be the city’s fireworks at Trum Field (rain date July 5). It’s fun for the entire family. Thousands will gather in front of Trum Field to enjoy a nice night of music leading up to the fireworks display. Don’t forget that they will be blocking off streets in the afternoons surrounding Trum Field. Next week we will have the streets and times that are being blocked off.

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Welcomed home for a private event is a former Somerville resident that grew up here – he and his sisters all went to SHS – Donald Chamberlain, who currently resides in Virginia with his lovely wife Beth and their beautiful dogs that they raise.

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This week’s special birthday wishes goes to our own Cam Toner, the pen and brain twisters behind the scenes of all those questions every week with Ms. Cam’s Olio. She’s a great lady, and is in her young 80’s. She raised nine children and they all grew up here in Somerville. What a fine family they are. Send Cam a nice Birthday greeting at camtoner@yahoo.com.

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Other big time birthdays this week include some local notables such as the guy who founded Somerville Local First, Joe Grafton. Also, one of our previous reporters, Jack Nicas, who is presently a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Clinton H. Rumrill III is celebrating this week, as well as Kristen Reardon Desmond. Senator Sal DiDomenico is also celebrating this week. To Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gerwirtz’s, we wish her the very best and a great day for herself. Chuck Roche’s birthday is this week and a big eighth birthday to Steven Roselando, who is said to be a huge fan of The News. He loves the cartoon every week, and why not?

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Somerville Senior Chorus, aka Somerville’s Swinging Singing Moonlighters, led by Jimmy Del Ponte, will perform the National Anthem at the Lowell Spinners Baseball game on Friday, June 20. Now, how cool is that? The Lowell Spinner fans are in for a treat.

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Save the date for the Somerville Olympics of a Special Kind. It will be on Thursday. July 26, 6 p.m. at Trum Field. Rain date is August 2, same place and time. A good bunch of people showing the world their talents.

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Happy graduation to our good friend Paul Glejzer, who is receiving his bachelor’s degree. He worked hard for a long time and we are glad he succeeded.

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Our deepest condolences go out to the family of John M. “Bucky” White Jr., who sadly passed away last week. John was the loving father of our dear friends Tracy and her husband Bill Desmond. John was a terrific guy and will be sadly missed.

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This week marked the 236th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Masonic Lodge here in Somerville, King Solomon’s Lodge, owned the land and built the monument to commemorate the death of so many patriots including the then Grand Master of Masons Joseph Warren who died at the battle. Following this annual ceremony at Bunker Hill, a good size crowd joined together and had dinner at the original meeting place of the lodge for many years, the Warren Tavern in Charlestown. The officers, led by Joey Lacey of Charlestown, along with Peter Mee and Joe Jorge of Somerville, officiated at the ceremony.

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Our deepest condolences to the Mackey family on the recent passing of Elizabeth Mackey. She was the mother of Stephen Mackey, the President of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce. Prior to her retirement in 1990, Elizabeth taught English and business courses at Somerville High School for more than 30 years.