There are still some adult evening classes available up at the High School. We’re told if you are interested in the following classes, they still have openings: Medical Interpretation, Smart Social Security Planning for both boomers and beyond, calligraphy writing, ESL computer for beginners, Drivers Ed, Academic Recovery, furniture making, and cake decorating.

Classes are also available for anyone interested in getting their Real Estate license, including a complete course to apply for the state exam. Sophia has worked very hard to get these courses available for people. If you’re interested in any of the above or want to get more information go to the high school central building main office and register for any of these classes. Go to www.somerville.k12.ma.us\eveningschool for more information. While you’re there say “Hi” to one of Somerville’s finest and popular teachers, Sophia, who is the principal of the evening school. Go now and register for classes while openings are still there.

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The Nave Gallery is proud to announce the inaugural exhibit, PICNIC, at its secondary site, the Nave Gallery Annex in Davis Square, this Saturday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m. until February 8 at 8:00 pm, Nave Gallery Annex, at 53 Chester Street, Somerville. The opening reception is this Saturday, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. There will be performances by Dan Blakeslee, Tom Janovits and Audrey Ryan. The first 25 visitors receive a gift from Cuppow.

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Happy Birthday to a whole group of Villens this week: We salute Maryann Sinclair and Robert Mason; former Somerville Firefighter Cynthia Snow Murphy,  Popular Attorney Bob Daut; great lady and Villen Dorothy DiMarzo’s; Eric Lynch, who is in the U.S. Coast Guard; Stacey McKim; Adam Leal; and Joey Del Ponte, whose father is our own Jimmy Del Ponte. To all these and many other Villens we wish everyone the best this week.

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A big shout out for a get well soon goes out to our good friend Patty Belyea who works at Somerville Inspectional Services Department. She was recently hospitalized and had a brain tumor removed on Wednesday. We here at Newstalk as well as everyone at ISD wish her all the best for a speedy recovery.

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This week also celebrates Somerville Rotary Club’s birthday here in the city. 89 years ago this week the club was started here in Somerville, they give so much back to the community. If you’re interested and have a business here in the city and would like to join, the club meets every Tuesday at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant at 12:15 p.m.

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Our condolences to the family of Timothy Toomey who passed away last week. Timothy was a nice guy, a retired Cambridge Police Lieutenant and father to our good friend State Representative Tim Toomey.

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Congratulations to our good friend longtime eye doctor, Alex Russakovsky, of the Pearl Vision Center located in the Twin City Plaza. We welcome him to the City of Somerville as a new business owner. Dr Russakovsky purchased the Somerville business this past month and we thank him for investing and believing in our wonderful city.

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This past Monday the Somerville community was joined together for the annual MLK Jr. Day Celebration event at the Somerville Theater in Davis Square. This year’s theme was “Equality through Access.”  The keynote speaker was Lorraine Cordeiro, Assistant Professor and Family Research Scholar at UMass/Amherst. Soloist afroD performed spoken word, jazz, and trumpet along with children from Elizabeth Peabody House, the Somerville High School’s Dance Group, and more. Refreshments were provided by the Somerville Public Schools. This year’s MLK Jr. Award for an organization was presented to the Walnut Street Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for an individual was presented to Ellen Reisner. Congratulations to all!

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Last night the School Committee met and reviewed three finalists for the vacant seat in Ward One. After each candidate was allowed to talk for 20 minutes, the vote was taken. Sure enough, the vote occurred as predicted beforehand by some who were present. The first vote was a tie between Ben Echevarria and Steven Roix, with four votes each on the first round. Then, as predicted, one member, Christine Rafal of Ward Four, changed her vote and cast it for Mr. Echevarria, giving him the majority needed to be elected by the School Board. Now, some would call this an open process, but then how would you be able to predict the votes and select the winner on the second round, just like it happened. Christine Rafal told the audience present that she didn’t want to be there all night so she changed her vote. Hmm…maybe so, but we heard more than a few predict what would happen. Consider Ward One. We now see that more than two – maybe three – candidates will run for the seat in the fall. Again, the leaders of this rumored charade/farce was Mark Niedergang of Ward Five, Bockelman of Ward Six and Rossetti of Ward Seven. We wish Ben the best. He’s a nice guy. But he’d better be up for a political race this fall. We hear that candidate Steven Roix might consider running.

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Congratulations to CAAS. It appears that they have a new Director taking over. We wish them the very best. It’s a great agency that does a lot here in the community.

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A get well shout out goes out to our good friend Former Somerville Alderman Jim McCarthy who was recently hospitalized but now home on the mend. Jim’s a great guy and we wish him all the best for a speedy recovery!

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Ward One Alderman Maureen Bastardi invites you to a neighborhood meeting to discuss a proposed residential development at 90 Washington Street (Cobble Hill Market Place).  The developer is proposing a 159 unit building with both residential and commercial space and would like to show the neighbors their plans and receive feedback on the project. At the meeting will be Alderman Bastardi, the developer, their attorney, and a planner from the City of Somerville planning dept. The meeting will take place at the Ralph & Jenny Senior Center located at 9 New Washington Street, Tuesday, January 29 from 6:30 to 7:30. All interested neighbors are encouraged to attend and are welcome to comment on the project. If further information is required or if you are unable to attend but would like to comment please contact Alderman Bastardi at 617-764-5373 or AldermanBastardi@comcast.net.

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Attention all local businesses: The monthly Somerville Chamber of Commerce After Hours get-together is Thursday, February 7, and will be at Dali Restaurant, 415 Washington Street (corner of Beacon and Washington) from 5-7 p.m. This month’s get-together is sponsored by the Somerville Rotary Club. Bring your business cards. Get networking between businesses and also find out what Rotary is all about. Lots of members will be present.

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Somerville Daisy troop 77178 will be hosting a Girl Scout Cookie sale on February 3, 2013 (Super Bowl Sunday) in front of the Shaw’s Supermarket in Porter Square from 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., while supplies last. Be sure to stop by before the game and get all your favorites! Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot and the NEW Mango Cremes. $4.00 a box.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston and The Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), invite all interested community members to an informational meeting on the project design for the reconstruction of Beacon Street. The meeting will be held on Monday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Argenziano School Cafetorium, 290 Washington Street. For more information, please contact OSPCDat (617) 625-6600 x2500 or visit the project website at www.somervillema.gov/beaconstreet.

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The Friends of the Somerville Public Library invite you to a screening of the archival documentary In The Blood. Creator Sumner McKane has scoured Maine’s archives, museums and historical societies for films, photographs, and oral histories to explicate the life, work, and character of the Maine lumbermen and river drivers. The tales, stories, and interviews – told by the men themselves- are honest and raw, and invoke emotion and disbelief. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own stories or camp recipes to share. Bean supper to follow. The screening will take place February 9, 2:00 p.m., at the Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA. For further information see https://www.facebook.com/events/471967062841097/ or email James Fox at FriendsSomervillePublicLibrary@gmail.com.