Newstalk for the week Aug. 16
                                                 

Remember last week we mentioned the rumor that we heard a known gang member was working at the Police Station?  Well we haven‚Äôt heard anything new about it, but now we hear that there have been several men in dark suits coming and going quite a bit at the station now.  Are they lawyers or maybe state investigators checking things out?   
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This is a slow week Рvacations hitting everyone Рincluding our usual rumor mill grinders and information sources across the city – and as we sit here (a few of us) wondering what to write about, the former Publisher of our paper РBob Publicover – has come up with a few nice things to fill Newstalk with (it isn’t always nasty stuff).

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We can say from first hand knowledge that Joan Batzek was a more than a little upset over the Alderwomen from Ward 6 jumping into the Brooks Pharmacy fiasco after the fact regarding the wall and trying to take the story to the Farm Team.  We told Joan that they ‚Äì ‚ÄúThe Farm Team‚Äù – do that a lot.  They look at our paper and our weblog for leads on stories all the time (we know this from someone who used to work there) ‚Äì so its not entirely Rebecca‚Äôs fault, but then again Rebecca never talked to Joan – who was one of the subjects on the wall now did she?  We thought Rebecca was smarter then this – or is she over her head in Ward 6?       
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The Mayors fundraiser/cruise last week in Boston Harbor was well attended – one report said around 190 people were there.  Sad to report that nobody made it into the rumor mill from that night ‚Äì they were all apparently on good behavior.  Does this have to do with the fact that the cruise was hosted and organized by the Tauro family – our own Billy Tauro? 
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The recent passing of Veterans Services Director Frank Senesi‚Äôs father Paul this past week was sad for a lot of people here in Somerville.  For many years, Paul and his lovely wife Anna were always seen around town at various political functions – always smiling and having a good word for everyone – he will be missed by a lot of us in the city.  Our sincerest sympathies to his wife Anna, his son Frank and the entire family.          
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Also sad for many was the passing of our own Cam Toner‚Äôs sister – Hortense Willette – who was 93 year old.  She passed away this weekend suddenly at home.  Ms. Willette is also the mother of Somerville‚Äôs own Ricky Willette – our condolences to Cam and Ricky as well as their families.   
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40th Reunion of Somerville High Class of 1966 will be Saturday, October 7th at the City Club – to get a reservation you must pay in advance.  Imagine, 40 years has gone by like it was yesterday – is time escaping a few of us here at the paper?  Yes, it sure is. Write to    office4866@yahoo.com for information on the class reunion or for tickets.
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Quick – look at the Sycamore Street Bridge – and you can actually see progress being made there.  In fact, it, should be slated for re-opening sometime soon ‚Äì which as we all know will be record breaking time for a bridge in Somerville.  We haven‚Äôt heard any official word on it yet, but some of us have really seen the progress.
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Mike Sullivan – Candidate for Clerk of Courts in Middlesex County – is having a fundraiser on August 23rd at VFW Post 3273 in East Cambridge from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm with special guest ‚Äì Lenny Clarke ‚Äì famous local comedian and star of the Denis Leary show Rescue Me on the FX Channel. 
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We heard that Tony Lafuente has been trying to throw a fundraiser for the past couple of months but can‚Äôt seem to get return phone calls from many of his former supporters.    Tony, the first rule of politics here in Somerville is once you‚Äôre elected, you solidify your support – even with the enemy‚Äôs camp – and that‚Äôs just what Mayor Joe has been doing, especially with no opposition this last time around.  But listen, don‚Äôt worry Tony, Dorothy was in the same boat as Joe is right now, so it will be interesting to see if there is a three person mayoral race next year, won‚Äôt it?      
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Already hitting the rumor mill hard is Elio LoRusso ‚Äì who is strongly considering running for Alderman at Large again.  He is well liked around the city and this time it might happen for him ‚Äì we also hear that others are making noise around running for office around the city as well – including the ever popular former Alderman Jack Connolly from Ward 6 and that Stephen Glines, who recently married and bought a house in Ward 4, is checking out Walter‚Äôs domain.
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