Mayor Joe Curtatone wants everyone to know that his kickoff party which was scheduled for tonight, Wednesday the 24th, has been cancelled until later in May on the 22nd at the Armory. He’s doing this because it’s so close to the recent events in Boston and he feels this week simply isn’t the time for a political event.

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Join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone for the annual Somerville Spring Clean-Up on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – noon at several locations throughout the city. The annual cleanup is sponsored by Comcast, and this year Comcast will also partner with Groundwork Somerville for a cleanup at three additional sites, as well as the SomerGreen Festival to be held at the Blessing of the Bay Boat House on Shore Drive following the Cleanup. A rain date has been set for Sunday, April 28. Volunteers should meet a ward captain at 10:00 a.m.  See the city’s web site for more information and a list of locations, http://www.somervillema.gov/

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Lots of things are in the rumor mill this week. A few more Aldermen are considering  not running for re-election. One Alderman at Large recently confirmed they are seriously thinking of not running and that would leave an open seat. And if that’s so, we hear that Ward Seven School Committeewomen Mary Jo Rossetti would likely throw her hat in the ring for the vacant seat, along with Sean Fitzgerald. They would both be looking to fill the seat and/or remove one of the present Alderman At Large members. Then again, who knows? More candidates might jump in around the city. There is still time. In Ward One we have three candidates for the Alderman seat. We hear Ward 3 will be an open seat with Tom Taylor not running. There are strong rumors that former Mayor Dot Gay is making calls in Ward 3 and is seriously considering running. This race could be interesting because another popular person in Ward Three, lifelong resident Bob McWaters, has been approached to run, and everyone in the political circles knows that if there ever was a campaigner that will knock on every door in Ward Three not once but several times its Rob. He would make a formidable candidate even against Dot Gay. Although we know she has a name, would she walk Ward Three and do what Rob can do? We hear through the grapevine that Alderman Bob Trane might be stepping down at the end of the year as well. We also hear that Joe Capuano, the son of former Mayor and current Congressman Mike Capuano, would run for Ward Seven Alderman. Come January we just might see 3-5 new faces on the Board of Alderman. And potentially 2-3 on the School Board. Of course, competition is good for the residents here in the city, and if more and more candidates jump in the various races it would prove to be very beneficial to Somerville. We need more candidates for Alderman and School Committee, debating the issues and understanding who will best represent each part of the city.

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Happy 86th Birthday to everybody’s good friend in Somerville Ed Ciampa, with his long history of dedication and love for Somerville, we wish him all the best and many more happy years.

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Happy birthdays to many more Villens here in the Ville: Former Somerville Alderman from Ward Two Frank Bakey. Our good friends Ken Webb, Kaitlyn Cargill, Bob Finos, and Marco Mariano, all the way from Brazil to the Ville. Alderman at Large Jack Connolly is celebrating this week. Patrick O’Connell turns 17 years old. Lifelong resident Mike Nionakis, who works at the Sheriff’s department. Chip Koty is celebrating his 33rd birthday this week, hard to believe. A fan of The News, Julie Phelan-Brady. Also Karen Chaille Tamagna, who is at Green Cab here in the city, from the famous Challie family.  And finally, a HB to Roger Desrochers Jr., of Pop Warner fame.

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Please save the date for this street dedication: for Virgil “Virgie” Iannacone on May 11, 1:00 pm at the intersection of Central and Summer Streets in Somerville.

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This Friday and Saturday, is the official start to the 2013 Somerville Little League Baseball season. There will be two Majors Games on Friday, 5:30 p.m., at Conway Park, and then on Saturday there is the traditional Opening Day Parade and First Pitch Ceremonies, with a full slate of exciting games to follow. The Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the High School Concourse, continues down Highland Avenue to Central Street, and onto to Conway Park. There’s also a Pitch, Hit and Run competition Saturday at Trum Field from 3-5:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.somervillelittleleague.org/.

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Don’t forget that this Sunday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Somerville Lions Club Annual Charity Breakfast that has transformed into a wonderful catered brunch this year and it is being held at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant, 14 Broadway in Somerville. Only $15 per person and well worth every cent. This is a “must go” event because you don’t want to miss it. Proceeds from the event go to benefit Lions Club Charities. Tickets will be available at the door or just ask any Lion. At the Lions Brunch the club will be raffling off their famous “Wheelbarrow Full of Cheer” to some lucky winner. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. For raffle ticket sales contact Billy Tauro at (617)293-2016

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Another great event coming up for a good cause is the Somerville Lions Club “Comedy” event and the date to save is Thursday, May 23 for their Annual Somerville Lions Club “A Night of Comedy & Fun” at “Giggles Comedy Club on Rt. 1 South in Saugus. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with three top comedians, raffles and all the pizza and salad that you can eat. All proceeds support Lions Club charities and programs. Tickets are $25 per person and available by contacting Billy Tauro for both tickets and RSVPs.

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Our condolences go out to the family of Patty Belya, who sadly passed away on Tuesday morning. Patty worked for the City of Somerville Inspectional Services Department    and was the nicest person that you could every meet. Patty will be sadly missed by all here in the Ville.

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Congratulations to former Ward One Alderman Bill Roche and his wife Jean who became grandparents for the 7th and 8th time on Monday, April 22. Bill’s daughter Kelly Roche Langkorpf and her husband Jonathon Langkopf are the proud parents of twins. The twins, a boy Caden 7 lbs.-6 oz. and a girl Kylie 6 lbs.-2 oz. were both 19.5 inches long.  Jean now has two more to add to her babysitting duties and Bill has two more to add to his agenda of sporting and school events to attend.

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Our former Editor George P. Hasset has finished writing his first book, Gangsters of Boston, which is available on Amazon.com for pre-order. A formal book signing is coming up on June 19 at Ball Square Book Store. You can also follow George on Twitter: @boscrimewriter.  We of course wish George the best of luck with this book.

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Rx Strength Training of Somerville, in association with the Miss Boston & Miss Cambridge Scholarship Organization, will be holding the #BOSTONSTRONG Boot Camp Benefit on 4/27/13, from 10 a.m.-noon, to help generate funds and aide the Collier family during this difficult time.  As a team, as a community, we can make this fundraiser a great success and really help this family.