Hopefully everyone is back from vacations and ready to start that diet that we all know we won’t stick to for more than three days –and the same with the cigarettes. But what we will have is a new year for the city to move forward with new ideas and innovations to make it better, such as those proposed by Mayor Joe Curtatone and assisted by the Board of Alderman at the city’s inaugural address this past Monday night.

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We wish all those who retired from service on the Board of Alderman this year the very best, and hopefully they haven’t gone away altogether and will remain a vital part of the future. To all the new and returning board members, we wish them the very best in the future for us as a city.

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By the way, if you haven’t been to the Armory Saturday mornings for the Winter Farmers’ Market, you are missing something great. Some of us from The Times have been going now for two weeks and find it fantastic. What a great place to roam around and check out the various stations and variety of both foods and beverages. If you haven’t been, make sure to go. There is plenty of parking out back.

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Somerville High Class of 1979 and 1980 are having a joint get together from 7 to 11:55 p.m. this Saturday at the Tavern in Porter Square, 1815 Massachusetts Ave.

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Happy Birthday this week to some of our Villens here in Somerville and wherever they happen to find themselves these days. A big-time “Happy Birthday!” to one of our favorite teachers here in the Ville, Sophia Carafotes, who is one of the nicest – and always upbeat and smiling – people around. And the same to longtime Villen Dominick Silvestri Jr., who runs his sign business over there in Magoun Square. Another good guy, Kevin O’Donovan, who is a lifelong resident, employee and head of youth hockey here, is also celebrating. Our good friend Jerry “JR” Roach, who is not technically a Villen, although he’s a fan of our paper and is in Somerville a lot, deserves a birthday shout out, as does another good friend, Michelle Busler of Townsend, who is a realtor and a fan of The Times. Big “Happy B”irthday also to John Caruso, who is celebrating this week and is very active in the local Democratic committee. Also celebrating this week here in the Ville is Kathy DeFazio. A happy birthday to Jillian Kippenberger from the Ville who works over at Cambridge Health Alliance. Happy birthday to Dana Campo, formerly of the Ville and now a resident of Tewksbury. Last but not least, happy birthday to Eileen Bakey.

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Beginning with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 10, and going until Jan. 26, the Nave Gallery Annex, Davis Square, 53 Chester St., will present Doodle. First used in the Middle Ages to describe the sketching of a subject for a piece of art, cartooning has evolved over time to serve a number of purposes, from entertainment to advertising to political and social commentary. Doodle is a show on cartooning in all of its forms. Check out the exhibition’s webpage http://navegallery.org/wp/doodle.

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We will be proposing some new box locations here in the city. So far we have over 20, and it looks like we might be doing another 20 or so to make it easier to find us all over the city.

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Don’t forget about the Somerville High School adult education evening classes, which has an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursday evenings at the SHS main entrance. Principal Sophia Carafotes has some very nice program offerings this coming semester, such as  “Extreme Couponing” and “Free ZumbaGold,” which begins Jan. 14. Other classes include a real-estate license course at a huge difference in price than what is offered by other locations. Go online and check things out or go to the school and talk to Sophia or one of her staffers. The website is www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningschool and the phone number is 617 625-6600, ext. 6100. Check it out. She has made it very interesting with a wide variety of classes being offered.

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Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council, Advise the Advisory Parent and Caregiver Discussion will take place at Argenziano School Cafeteria, 290 Washington St., Somerville, MA on January 9, 2014, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This will be a discussion of concerns about Somerville’s Special Education services for anyone currently in the Special Education System or who wonders if their child may need assistance. RSVP to advisetheadvisory@gmail to Kim at 617-312-5407.

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Registration is open for the Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5K Road Race, which both sets off and ends at Davis Square. The race begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 16. The Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5K, sponsored by Marathon Sports, Mizuno and Harpoon Brewery, is the most genuine Irish race this side of the Atlantic The race was born in Ireland and named in honor of its famous sister race, the Ras na hEireann International Cross Country held in Termonfechin, County Louth, Ireland. The race is open to both runners and walkers of all skill levels. Please see www.baevents.com for more information and to register.