Labor Day Weekend is soon upon us and it looks to be excellent weather-wise for everyone ending their summer vacation. We wish everyone a safe trip back here to the Ville. Roads will be heavy with traffic leaving the Cape and NH. Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone.

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The new school year starts here in the Ville next week that means the streets will be filled with students heading back to school. So drivers be careful and watch out. This is a special week here for the city’s schools. The long awaited new East Somerville Community School is finished and will finally be opened for the students. The fire that struck the school back in 2007 has caused a long wait for many here in Somerville. The East Somerville Community School is having an open house for the public this coming Tuesday, September 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to come and tour the building. Join in at the ribbon cutting ceremony and enter through the Cross Street entrance. Also, if you’re planning on coming let them know: email JROSSETTI@somervillema.gov or call  617 625-6600 x 2614.

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The first book signing of Eugene Brune’s new book will be next Wednesday, September 4 at the Arts at the Armory on Highland Ave. from 7-9 p.m. If you miss that one then Tuesday, September 10 at the Mount Vernon Restaurant, and on Wednesday, September 18 at the Ball Square Book Shop are your next opportunities. Both are also 7-9 p.m. Now, a bit of trivia: The book’s title is Spirit of Somerville. Can anyone guess what it’s taken from? Here’s a hint – 1980’s, Saugus and 900.

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Another reminder for the “John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund” 13th Annual Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 7 at the Falmouth Country Club in Falmouth MA.  Tee time is 8:30 a.m. All golfers must check in by 7:45 a.m. The format is Scramble scored by Foursome. For more information go online to www.johns-team.org. It’s a great cause.

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Candidate for Congress, Senator Karen Spilka from Framingham, was in Somerville last week for a fundraiser. Senator Spilka is running for newly elected U.S. Senator Markey’s seat. She has a fantastic record at the State House. We learned that she was being supported by many of the unions. She has accomplished a lot in the senate here in Massachusetts and would be fantastic addition to the all male house congressional members from Massachusetts. We hope she does well in the primary. She faces strong opponents but we know she’s done that before and come out the winner. We normally don’t get involved in races outside of the city here, but since the congressional district surrounds us, we thought we would give Karen a plug and let your friends and relatives know who live in the district to vote for Karen Spilka for Congress.

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Last week in our weekly “Happy Birthdays” we wished local and popular barber in town Paul McLashing a Happy Birthday, but for some reason we said he was formerly of Albrandi Barber Shop. Well, we wish to retract that and let his friends and fans know he’s not formerly – he’s still at Albrandi and we made a mistake. We got many calls saying we were wrong and some asking where he has gone. So, you can still walk up to Albrandi and get a great haircut by Tony the old-timer (affectionately) and Paul his mentor. Mention you saw it here so Paul will know how popular he is.

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Happy Birthday this week to several of our fans and Villens both here and spread around. First to J. Steve Dalrymple, who owns Steve and Sons construction. He’s a great guy and very involved in various charities around the area. Another fan of The News is Leigh Harkins Gerows, who is celebrating this week. Leigh is one of our former “Person of the Week” recipients and is a great person. Paul Perkins of Wakefield has a lot of friends here in the Ville and we send him birthday greetings. Albs Renner, now of Lynn, but grew up here in the Ville. Big HB to Cheryl Endicott who is celebrating this week here from the Ville. Mary Allosso Finigan is also celebrating this week.

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We ran into Melissa Hurley-Sullivan, the wife of Alderman at Large Dennis. She has been seen lately with a cast on her foot. Was she walking the dog or was the dog walking her? We’re not sure but she’s looks great and is getting around very easy in the cast. We wish her speedy recovery.

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We have a question, one that has been a topic of conversation lately. How about these appointed boards here in the city, especially the Planning Board and the ZBA board, the Redevelopment Board, Board of Health, and Condo Conversion Board? When are we going to start to replace some of these board members? Have you ever wondered how long some of these members have been taking up a board seat here and getting paid for it? Maybe the mayor and Board of Alderman should consider replacing these long time board members who have lost their objectivity and caring for the local residents. It would be interesting to find out who the members are, how long they are on the board or have been on a board here in the city and why?  There are two races for Alderman coming up in the primary, so start questioning the candidates on their opinion on these boards and who sits on them. We hear that one member has been sitting on one particular board now for over 20 years, and another one right behind him on another board. OK, question why do you think they are on the board and should they all be replaced when their terms are up? Let us know and maybe we will start releasing names of board members and their tenure on the boards.

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Who is endorsing who in the primary elections coming up on September 24? We see that Ward One Maureen Bastardi was endorsed by the Somerville Fire and Somerville Police, as was Bob McWatters in Ward Three and Courtney O’Keefe in Ward Five. Courtney was also endorsed by the IBEW local 2222. If you’re a candidate for the primary election on September 24 let us know and we will mention it. If you don’t let us know we won’t be able to let the public know, so contact by email: newstalk@outlook.com. Alderman at Large Jack Connolly is having a fundraiser coming up September 16 at the East End Grille at 118 Broadway in East Somerville. Read about the candidates in the primary here in The News coming up over the next few weeks.

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We see that Alderman Bastardi is working hard trying to retain her seat as Alderman in Ward One. Since most of us here at Newstalk are from East Somerville we see she’s been out there door-to-door and recently started having stand outs. We know for a fact she’s getting out there door-to-door, and shouldn’t everyone who is running get their views across to the residents? We hear her opponent is also out there, but we asked a couple of our people and they said they hadn’t seen them. Only Maureen has been to their doors. Maybe Maureen is faster? Covering the ward?

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We can’t resist mentioning that recent article “series” in the Dig written by three amateurs who haven’t a clue about Somerville’s history. The story they wrote was nothing new, and only half the story. They had to go back 40 years to dig up stuff that happened, or in some cases didn’t happen. And they didn’t get the full truth out. They just wanted to slam certain people with false assumptions, but their so-called story ended up not in the Globe or Herald, but in a paper no one has heard of. Ask the person on the street. They know nothing about the article. One local TV personality, who considers himself a “Political Guru” and might have about a dozen or so viewers, had them on as guests and between the four of them they couldn’t add up to 5 years of Somerville’s history correctly. The three so-called journalists have moved on and it’s good they have. Some might be embarrassed to have their name attached to a piece of crap like that.

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This is going to be some election day on Tuesday, September 24. Actually, only three wards have primary races, of which the top two elected will face a run off in early November at the final, when the rest of the city will join in for Alderman at Large and some other wards that have just two running now. Hopefully, the residents of Ward One, Ward Three and Ward Five are well armed with information and committed to vote for their candidate of choice.

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From Babes To Boomers. Be breast aware. Join an interactive workshop exploring how healthy choices, body awareness and regular screening can reduce your risk for breast cancer. The program will dispel common myths, address barriers to screening, and encourage participants to establish a self-care goal. This workshop is for lesbian and bisexual women and allies and will be facilitated by a health educator from Fenway Health. September 9, 9:30–11:00 a.m. at Holland Street Center, 167 Holland Street, Somerville. RSVP. 617.625.6600 ext. 2300 or lheyison@somervillema.gov. Congregate LGBT and Friends lunch follows at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $6. RSVP is required. Lunch is from Maya Sol Mexican Grill. Please request Grilled chicken or Vegetarian.

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One final thing. Best wishes to Patricia and Donald Norton, celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary this weekend. 46 years ago, on September 1, the temperature was 101. very hot and humid in Columbia, South Carolina. They flew down on Mohawk Airlines. Does anyone remember Mohawk? Demonstrators on the streets outside City Hall where they got married, facing off with the National Guard and police, leaves a lasting memory. We’ve come a long way today from those days and thank God we have. We still have a long way to go!