The Somerville Chamber of Commerce is having their Government Affairs Breakfast with Somerville’s Board of Alderman President. The event is 8:00 – 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 26, at Somerville Holiday Inn located at 30 Washington Street. Chamber Members $25. Non-members $30. Non-members must provide contact information for payment purposes. Advance registration required with name(s) and affiliation(s) for you and your guests to smackey@somervillechamber.org  or call Stephen V. Mackey, President/CEO Somerville Chamber of Commerce, 2 Alpine Street, P.O. Box 440343 Somerville, MA 02144 at (617)776-4100. Visit them on the web: www.somervillechamber.org

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Happy Birthday to some of this week’s celebrating Villens: Heather Wright, who works at the police station. Kristin Kelson Chalifour and Renee Narkevicius Zayas celebrate this week as well. Also, Happy Birthday to Jessica Mantia, who has grown up before our eyes into a lovely young girl. And happy birthday to Elio LoRusso, who is celebrating in the Ville this week. We want to wish a Happy 23rd Birthday to Jessica Rose Bastardi. Jessica is also daughter to Somerville Alderman Maureen Bastardi. Happy Birthday to Alicia Baldasaro, who just turned 21 this past weekend. Alicia is daughter to our good friend NH State Representative Al Baldasaro, who is also involved in many of Somerville’s organizations and activities. Happy Birthday to Somerville girl Susan Lampedecchio, who is out partying in and around the Ville with her Bo Mike. A happy birthday to our friend Somerville Police Officer Scott Gamble. And a Happy Birthday to both Brian Barton, a big union official with the electrical union in Boston, who grew up here in Ville. Birthday greetings to Robert Lomanno, who is a Bostonian florist over across from City Hall. He runs a great place and they one of only a few florists left here in Somerville. Finally, this week our old friend Denise Racicot-Kallis is celebrating another big one this year.

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Congratulations to Ava Loren Hardy and Emily Sabatino for being selected to each receive the Superintendent’s awards at the Kennedy School on Thursday. Ava is also granddaughter to Somerville’s own Michelle Angiulo Bowler. Emily is the granddaughter of our own Cam Toner. Congratulations to both!

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A special mention to our good friend and nice guy Frank Conole. Frank is a retired City of Cambridge 40 year DPW employee that has been doing good deeds in Somerville for some time now. For the past six years Frank has been walking his little Shih Tzu lap dog across the city line into Somerville on a daily basis and tidying up the area around the Somerville Firefighter’s Memorial that’s located on South Street. He even decorates the memorial on every holiday and patriotic event on his own. His little dog died last month but Frank will still continue to do that good deed to honor the Firefighter’s Memorial. We hear the Somerville District Fire Chief Dennis Murphy and the Somerville Fire Department is planning to publicly recognize and honor Frank with a citation. We congratulate Frank as well for his good deeds.

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Our condolences to the family of Chris Papageorge who sadly passed away last week. Chris was a good friend to many here in the Ville who got to know him at John’s Auto Sales over the years. Chris was a nice guy and will be sadly missed.

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Somerville’s Daniel’s Ride 2. Please take a moment and read this. We know Mary Jean personally and she is a very strong, kind, caring, loving person, taking care of her son Daniel as a single mom, and just wants her son to be happy. The majority of us have healthy kids. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment, as we can get up and get ready in minutes, she needs hours just to get Daniel ready for school and get on with her day. We admire her strength. Thank you. “Daniel is now 14 years old. Daniel is a special needs child. He was born with abnormal white brain matter in his brain. It affects his muscle tone and balance. Daniel is also nonverbal but for a child that does not speak his face and smile say it all. His balance gets worse as he gets taller. Daniel is now in a wheelchair. He walks with his walker, and safety has always been an issue. Daniel is also the happiest kid you will ever know. He is a beautiful, sweet, loving little boy. His favorite things to do are bowling, swimming and horseback riding. Since Daniel was five he has been attending a camp in Bridgewater called HandiKids. It is a therapeutic horseback riding camp for challenged children. They have a 12-week Saturday session in spring and fall that Daniel has been attending. The spring session goes from March to June. HandiKids, now called Bridge Center, is such an amazing place. Daniel loves it. Every time Daniel is in the kitchen he points to the picture of himself on the horse and folds his hands with a smile. Please, they have been blessed with so many generous families and friends that have been helping for years to keep Daniel on the saddle. It costs $1500 for a 12-week Saturday session. It is so worth every penny. It is a beautiful place and Daniel is cared for and loved by many there. Please help me get Daniel back on the saddle by making a donation directly to the Bridge Center. The address is 470 Pine St. Bridgewater, Ma. 02324. It has been so wonderful that Daniel has been able to attend this camp. Even more wonderful that it is because of the generosity of others. Thank you so much. Daniel’s Mom, Mary Jean Bussey.”

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Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi invites you to a second neighborhood meeting to discuss a proposed residential development at 625 McGrath Highway (Highland Auto Parts). 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 Community Cross Street Center, located at 165 Broadway (Corner of Broadway and Cross Street East) on Monday, February 25, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. 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 phone Alderman Bastardi at 617-764-5373 or email AldermanBastardi@comcast.net.

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The Somerville High Hockey 11th Annual Scholarship dinner dance, the “Blueliners,” is this Friday night, February 22, 7-10 p.m. at the Somerville City Club on Inner Belt Road across from the Holiday Inn. Italian buffet, DJ with dancing, raffles. Only $20 for a great cause. These scholarships are for hockey players and cheerleaders. If you can’t go and would like to contribute contact scdkids@yahoo.com for more information.