Zip Trip is coming. On Friday, July 26 Fox 25 will do their summer weekly Zip Trip city or town live show televised from Somerville starting at 6 a.m. Now, the location is still being worked out between City Hall and Fox 25, but we will keep everyone posted so that Somerville will be welcoming them. Come and join in the fun and meet all the morning show hosts, Maybe VB will be there. We hope he doesn’t bring the Heavy Hitters though. For those that don’t know what Zip Trip is, Fox 25 over the summer months visits a different Massachusetts community every Friday morning with a live broadcast, sharing the community’s history and traditions with the rest of the Fox 25 viewers. If you’re just an individual Villen or belong to a group this is a good way to get your name out there and to let others know about our great city. We’re going to be there and everyone is on the record, so no complaining afterwards!

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Free rowing lessons for adults and students are available at the Gentle Giant Rowing Club, 32 Shore Drive, at the boat house. Go to membership@gentlegiantrowing.org for information. Sponsored by Gentle Giant Moving Company.

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Happy Birthday this week to some local Villens and to our Villen fans that are located in foreign territories. We wish Happy Birthdays to two well known individuals here in the Ville. Former Mayor Gene Brune is celebrating his first year of retirement (actually a popular guy like him can never retire) and also on the same date is Billy Tauro. We salute the both of them. Other Villens celebrating this week are Michael Terrio, as is former Villen Stephen Martin, who works at Lynn City Hall. Sal Mendonza, who works at Zoominfo is celebrating this week as well. Barbara Snookie Keohane we wish happy birthday to as well. Brad Kelly, who resides now in Michigan and is a self-employed filmmaker/Producer. Although he doesn’t live here, he’s not far away as we say Happy Birthday to Joe Gaspar who grew up here in the Davis Square area. Also, Erica Cassesso, who grew up and still lives here, working at First Winthrop Corp. Timothy Winn is also celebrating a birthday this week, we wish him the best. Finally, Ali (Allison KOTY) Fernandes turns the big 30 this weekend. Hard to believe. She has grown to be a nice young lady, we wish her nothing but the best. If you know of someone here in the Ville or who is a true Villen, send their name to The News.

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A blood drive for the American Red Cross is being held this afternoon and tonight, Wednesday, 2 to 8 p.m. They are in need of blood and it is a partnership with the American Red Cross and the generosity of the Arts at the Armory. Everyone is welcome to Boston’s Marathon Memorial Blood drive here in Somerville. Help replenish the Red Cross blood bank. They are in desperate need.

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This Saturday, July 13 at the Center for the  Arts at the Armory from 1 to 3 p.m., Cervena Barva Press Studio Workshop is hosting a Poetry Workshop Series with instructor Jennifer Barber. Registration is $45. This workshop will focus on two key aspects of the poem: the first line, which defines the speaker, tone, and realm that the poem is about to enter; and the last line, which ideally closes the poem in a way that simultaneously completes the arc while also providing an opening into the silence that follows. Participants should bring one poem of their own, as well as a list of five new opening lines and five new closing lines for poems yet to be written. They will complete an exercise during the workshop and, as time permits, examine some beginnings and endings to well-known poems.

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Help support the Somerville Cheerleaders here locally at the Ninety Nine Restaurant, over near Assembly Square at 20 Cummings Street, on July 25 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dine at the 99, and when paying your bill make sure you TELL your server you are there to support the Somerville Cheerleaders. A percentage of your bill will go directly to the cheerleaders. For more information email Somervillecheerleading@gmail.com.

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The Committee to Elect William (Willy) Medeiros for Alderman At Large is having a campaign kickoff Wednesday, July 31 at the Somerville City Club from 6 to 8 p.m., 20 Inner Belt Road, Somerville. Donations begin at $25. Medeiros is one of seven candidates running for the At Large seats. You can vote for up to four candidates, but not until November. There is no primary.

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Lots of jockeying is happening for those covered (some think) union endorsements. We heard that the local Somerville Firefighters have endorsed Bob McWatters in Ward 3 for Alderman, by a huge margin.

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On July 17 candidate Suzanne Bremer is having a campaign kickoff at the Independent Restaurant from 6 to 8p.m. Suzanne is a candidate for Ward 3 Alderman. She’s one of four people running for the office, and the election will be coming up soon.

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The Somerville News has been asked by many over the past few months to continue with the “Person of the Week” series and we have decided to do that starting with the first edition in September. Also, look for other items coming from The News over the next month or so.

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It seems like there is a lot of debate over the proposed former Pope School on Washington Street by the neighbors, with some being opposed while others are for it.   The developer is a nonprofit group here in the city known as the Somerville Community Corporation. We see that a lot of folks have voiced their concerns on our web site and have blogged other sites as well here in the Ville, and we find it very interesting and a very open and nice debate pro and con. The only exception is the name calling of those who both oppose it and are for it. If we have to resort to name-calling isn’t that another way of saying you can’t defend your side? A good pro and con discussion for the site and reasons for its development should be tried, then see if both sides can come to an agreement. Let’s face it the site should be redeveloped.

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The 2013 SomerMovie Fest begins with a screening of “Jurassic Park” on July 11, at Seven Hills Park in Davis Square. Movies are shown every Thursday night through August 29 at locations throughout the city, every the shows start at dusk. For a complete list of movies and location vist www.somervillema.gov.