Don’t forget that Thursday, August 2, at 5:30 p.m. is the rain date for the Somerville Olympics of a Special kind that will take place at Trum Field. This popular summer event will be sponsored by the Somerville School Department, Walnut Street Center, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs here in Somerville.   The games will be opened by Mayor Joe Curtatone and ceremonies will include a parade with the honor guards from the Somerville Police, Fire and Sheriff’s departments.  Jimmy  Del Ponte will coordinate some entertainment showcasing songs by the Sunsetters.  The Olympics will feature five events for teams to compete in. The Olympics of a Special Kind are an opportunity for children and adults with developmental disabilities to get outside and enjoy the summer sun in a safe and fun environment. It is a great event to bring along the entire family and your friends. Come watch success and achievement in its best form.

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Somerville monthly Business after Hours networking is 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 2, at Redbones, 55 Chester Street, Davis Square. NO COVER. FREE Appetizers. EXCELLENT networking.  Cash bar. FREE gift certificate raffle (bring your business cards).  Sponsored by Central Bank. Hosted by Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Co-Chair Dana Iacopucci, Cubby Oil Members and Non-Member guests welcome. RSVP with name(s) and affiliation(s) to smackey@somervillechamber.org. Great way for businesses to network across the city.

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We heard this rumor and, after all, that’s what we do (hear them and report them)…A well known School Committee person is telling people that he might consider running for Alderman at Large next year, but here’s the rub, if he does he’s secretly planning to pull papers at the last minute against his Ward Alderman. One mistake he might make, we thought. This particular Ward Alderman is very popular and has handily won re-election over and over, not just because he has a great record of representing his Ward. The current Alderman we hear is very aware of these meetings.

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Another rumor that was about us here at The News is that the word on the street is, The Somerville News is going door to door every week. We heard it ourselves and found it hard to believe, but we’re the last to know anything that’s going on with the paper here, because they are afraid we might start a rumor about it!  We do notice that the Farm Team has slipped in many ways. It’s almost like that online paper, takes press releases, rewrites and puts a name to them and submits them to fill the front page. So maybe a door to door weekly paper here in the city might not be a bad idea? Just saying!!

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Happy Birthday this week to the following ‘Villens: Barbara Spindler at Brady Towers; Marisa Tauro who is celebrating with family members this week here from Brazil; Good friends Joe Dunn, Kaitlin McGovern and Margaret Webb; Joe DaSilva, who recently moved back from FLA; Alan Laurentano and a big Happy Birthday to Alicia Lafuente as well as local historian John Alan Roderick who is an expert in Train History amongst other historical Somerville points of interest. Happy Birthday to Ron Newman, one of Somerville’s best correctors of all the local web sites. Kevin Sullivan and to Aaron Duckett, we wish them and everyone celebrating here in Somerville a special birthday greetings.

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A special congratulations to one of our friends Joe Bolognese who was recently married to the love of his life Rosita. We wish them both a long and prosperous life ahead.

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Our condolences to the family of Maria Andrade who sadly passed away this past weekend. Maria was a wonderful woman and will be sadly missed. Maria was also mom to our good friend  DiDi Elenazih of the Somerville Council on Aging.

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One of Somerville’s iconic diners, Buddy’s Truck Stop, located at 113 Washington Street, has reopened after a very brief closing. Buddy’s was temporarily closed last week because of some Department of Revenue tax issues. The owners have resolved it and are now reopened once again. Buddy’s Diner has become a popular hot spot around town for many years and is known for their delicious breakfast and home cooked meals. We certainly at The News wish them all the best and success for many more years.

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It’s official. The Paddock Restaurant on Pearl and Marshall has closed its door for good and it’s up for sale. The Paddock throughout the 90’s was the local Cheers type of bar/restaurant, packed most nights, especially on weekends. Food varied from seafood to steaks to Italian food. A great Somerville place and neighborhood restaurant. We’re hopeful that it will reopen again soon and bring back that the charm that it had for many years. Gilman Square where it’s located is the future site of a Green Line station!

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We want to thank thirteen-year-old Jesica Mantia, one of our younger readers, for bringing in a batch of homemade chocolate bon bons to the newsroom for all of us to enjoy.

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Law enforcement officials, youth services workers and local teens will join together for the Fourth Annual Metro Mayors Basketball Tournament on Saturday, August 4, 2012, in a show of solidarity among youth and those who fight for their safety. Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Quincy, Revere, Somerville and Winthrop will send teams to a five-on-five tournament hosted by the Metro Mayors Coalition as a way to promote safe summer activities and kick off the coming school year. The Metro Mayors Coalition, facilitated by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), is a collaborative group that brings together 13 mayors and city and town managers from the Greater Boston area to find common solutions to shared problems. The tournament is funded in part by the Charles E. Shannon, Jr. Community Safety Initiative, which promotes a regional approach to addressing youth and gang violence throughout Massachusetts. The tournament takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Somerville’s Trum Field.1 Broadway, Play begins at 10 a.m., with lunch during the tournament from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be a three-point contest and a dance show featuring youth from the communities participating in the tournament. Referees and entertainers will volunteer their time, and local businesses have donated supplies such as food and basketballs for the event. The rain location is the Somerville High School Gymnasium, 81 Highland Ave. in Somerville.