The Somerville Chamber monthly “After Hours” is this Thursday night. Join members and guests from Aflac, Cambridge Savings Bank, Chase, City of Somerville, Commonwealth Financial Group, Community Action Agency of Somerville, Law Office of Richard DiGirolamo, Eastern Bank, Langton & Douglas, Laurenz Financial, Legal Shield, Life Line Business Consulting, Daniel Maher Stained Glass, Misujo Realty, MIT, New York Life, Pinctada Banquet & Event Center, Redbones, Respond, Rockland Trust, Sav Mor Spirits, Smiles by Rosie, Somerville Homeless Coalition, Union Square Main Streets, Walnut Street Center, and Winter Hill Bank at the Chamber’s next Business After Hours. 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 1, at Redbones-Underbones, 55 Chester Street, Davis Square. It’s an excellent networking event featuring free appetizers and a free business card drawing with cash bar. Sponsored by Rockland Trust. Hosted by Business After Hours Chair Dana Iacopucci of Cubby Oil & Energy. RSVP for “After Hours” with name(s) and affiliation(s) for you and your guest(s) to smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our favorite people both here in the Ville and elsewhere where ever so spread around! To Marisa Tauro, the wife of Billy Tauro, is celebrating this week, and we wish her a great day.  To Patti Norton, wife of Donald, we wish also a happy and peaceful day. Grandson Corey Norton, although out in Illinois, was originally from here. Both are celebrating on the same day, a nice present for them.    Also celebrating is a good friend of The News, Joe DaSilva. Many happy returns to him. Also, Alan Laurentano, who grew up here and has moved to southern NH, but is always a Villen at heart.

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Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Bert Gay, who passed away last week. Bert was the husband of former Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay. Bert was a nice guy, with strong opinions and strong convictions, and equally strong loyalty to his family, which are good qualities in anyone. He touched many people here in Somerville over the years, and worked very hard for his wife when she ran for various offices. What a beautiful tribute it was at the Chapel ceremony at Mount Auburn Cemetary from his family and friends. Bert will be sorely missed by many, but more especially his best friend and wife Dot.

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At the Fox25 Zip Trip show the other day, there was, in spite of the rain, a good showing and a great show. Congressman Mike Capuano was asked to name the various hills here in the city. He must have been camera shy cause we know he knows them, but somehow didn’t mention Spring Hill, Ten Hills and only Winter Hill when reminded by VB. But he did mention Clarendon Hill twice. Maybe that’s because he is in Ward 7 a lot, actively campaigning for his son who’s running for Alderman.  All and all he did a great job. Better than most. Very few can name all the hills correctly.

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Maryann Heuston was the only Alderman present at Fox25 Zip Trip, maybe because we heard that some made remarks that Fox 25 was too conservative. We imagine the liberals – in particular the progressives – politicians decided that to appear on Fox 25 some of the constituents might get the wrong idea. Guess that’s liberal thinking nowadays? By the way, Mayor Joe Curtatone was his usual happy self to have Fox 25 here in the city. Joe was asked several times if he’s running for Governor. He would just smile a lot. We think he’s running but something tells us you’re going to hear real soon. Like real soon! What do you think if Joe runs for Governor?

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The Somerville News can now be followed on Twitter at @somervillenews.

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Starting this Thursday, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., continuing through the end of August – Monday to Thursday same time – Somerville Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading practice will be held at Foss Park. Pop Warner is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so come join in the greatest family in Somerville youth sports. Families must fill out registration packets and supply SPW with a 2013 dated physical, a copy of the child’s last report card, and an original birth certificate. All children are welcome, from ages 5 to 15. The registration fees are $20 per child, scholarships are available. Registrations at the baby pool all this week are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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The campaign kickoff for Mike Nionakis, who is running for School Committee in Ward Two, will be next week, Tuesday evening, 5-8 p.m. at Sally O’Brien’s in Union Square. He’s a nice guy from a great Somerville family. We think he will do a great job on the School Board. Hopefully, he will see a nice showing of support.

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What a great job the Somerville Fire Department did at that huge fire over on Calvin Street. Congratulations to our Fire Department for a job well done. They deserve a big thank you from the city. It could have been much worse with all those houses built so closely together.

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Assembly Row Affordable Housing Lottery application deadline is August 8. Applications can be picked up at Avalon at Assembly Row’s Leasing Trailer located at 74 Foley St. in Assembly Square and should be returned to the same location by 5 p.m. on August 8. Applicants must meet income guidelines to be eligible for the lottery. Applicants who live or work full-time in Somerville, and applicants on the Somerville Housing Authority wait list will receive preference. If the applicant is claiming a preference, they will need to provide additional documents along with their application. To obtain an application or additional information about the affordable housing lottery at AVA Somerville and Avalon at Assembly Row, contact Avalon Bay at Phone: 855-211-8154, MABlueSkies@AvalonBay.com or visit the Leasing office at 74 Foley St., Somerville in Assembly Square. Mailing address for applications is Avalon at Assembly Row, P.O. Box 45377, Somerville, MA 02145.