This year’s Martin Luther King Day celebration – “The Dream: Equality for All” – is set for this coming Monday, Jan. 20, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School at 50 Cross St.

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Happy birthdays this week to some of our fans here in the Ville and elsewhere. First of all, a big “happy birthday!” this week to Julie DiPasquale, former School Committee member from Ward 6 and a very nice person, as well. Also, birthday wishes this week to Eileen Bakey from Somerville. Happy birthday and a great day out to our good friend Ken Kotch, who is originally from New Jersey, but he and his wife and baby love it here. Can’t forget about Lucy Nunes-Vieira, who is celebrating this week as well. Happy birthday to Kevin Spires of the Ville, and happy birthday to Lisa Vitiello as well. Big HB and best wishes to a very good guy and good friend, Jim Ribeiro, who now lives in Woburn, which is Somerville with trees.  A nice lady from a great family, Theresa Rodriques, we wish the very best as well. To a lifelong Villen, Bill Rogers of Winter Hill, we wish a happy birthday and good day.

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Don’t forget to register or go online for Somerville High adult evening courses. Call 617 625-6600, ext. 6478, and ask for Sophia Carafotes. Registration begins every Tuesday and Thursday evening at the high school main office on Highland Avenue. Sophia has worked very hard to get a lot of new classes, as well as some of the older popular ones, started. New classes include “Extreme Couponing” and free Zumba lessons, and some ongoing classes include English as a first language and a real-estate licensing course. Just as an example of what a great deal these courses are, a real estate courses outside can cost up to $400; here, it’s less then $200.00 for the same course. You can’t beat the prices and great courses offered. If you’d like to make a suggestion to add to the courses and you have a special skill, give her a call today. And, of course, if you’re interested in any of the courses offered, then register. The website is www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningshool. And, as she likes to say (and its true), “Shhh, we are Somerville’s best-kept secret at bargain prices”

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Wow, everyone who owns a business here and/or owns commercial property got a big surprise these past few weeks, as some tax bills increased anywhere from 50 percent to over 100 percent. The fact is Somerville has very little commercial property compared to other surrounding cities, and it is devastating to those who own the property, but they will only pass it on to the business that rents, and from there the charge goes down to the customer. Where was the Chamber of Commerce when this was going on? The Somerville Chamber of Commerce should be out front on this issue and not silent.

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First Church Somerville, 89 College Ave., Davis Square, will hold a fundraiser Sunday, Feb. 9, to relieve the suffering of typhoon survivors in the Philippines by aiding their long-term rebuilding efforts. Do good by eating well and treating yourself to a cozy afternoon of jazz music with Filipina songstress Marlene, Willie Sordillo and friends.  A delicious and authentic home-cooked Filipino meal will be served at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 student/elder/low income, $5 children under 12 and free for children 5 and under. The jazz and folk concert follows at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students/elders/low income, $10 children under 12 and free for children 5 and under. Marlene is an accomplished jazz singer from the Philippines whose vocal vocabulary will delight and amaze you. Willie Sordillo has been a stalwart presence in the local progressive music scene for over 30 years and is beloved by jazz and folk aficionados around New England. Tickets are available from EventBrite. For more information, email Polly at plhertig@yahoo.com.

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Performing Fusion Theatre presents the Somerville Theatre Festival, an exciting weekend of short plays, music, food and drink. Please join us at The Somerville Center for Arts at the Armory on January 24 and 25. Show starts at 7:15 p.m. with surprise guests and live entertainment. The event will showcase the same ten short plays by local playwrights on both nights. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Cash and credit bar for food/drink. Free parking is available behind the Armory or in their overflow lot (allow a little extra time!). The Armory is just a 15 minute walk from the Davis T (Redline) and is accessible by several bus lines. https://www.facebook.com/PerformingFusionTheatre. Buy tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/somerville-theatre-festival-tickets-8575865645.

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Donations of gently used winter coats and boots, clothing, books, toys and art supplies for Somerville families are currently being accepted at the Parent Information Center, 42 Prescott Street, Somerville.  Coats and clothing for infants, children, teens and adults are requested (no broken zippers or permanent stains, please). There’s a particular need for winter coats and boots. Items can be dropped off any time Mondays through Thursdays, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., or Fridays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Please use the Parent Information Center main entrance at the school tot lot for item drop-offs. Do not leave items on the sidewalk.

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Two Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) Workshops are being offered this week – Nutrition: Understanding My Plate will be held on Thursday, January 16, at the West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powderhouse Boulevard, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. A light dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the workshop will begin at 6 p.m.  Register with the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) in advance for dinner and childcare by calling (617) 625-6600, x6966 or at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/families. Also, A Series on the Middle School Years – The Social Life of Teens will be held Thursday, January 16, at the Healey School, 5 Meacham Street from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This is the first of a 4-workshop series. Dr. Keith Hinderlie, Director of Mental Health SEED School, Washington D.C. will present, and will be followed by a Healey School Middle School Open House.

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Tickets for the 2014 Somerville High School Musical, Annie, which will also feature elementary-grade students, are on sale now. This year’s musical production will be held at the Somerville Theater on February 6th, 7th and 8th. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $6 for senior citizens, PK-12 students, and younger children needing their own seat. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, pending availability.  To purchase a ticket in advance, visit http://www.ticketstage.com/SHS (a convenience fee applies to tickets purchased online), or mail a check to Ms. Rosemary Sears at Somerville High School (81 Highland Avenue; Somerville, MA 02143), payable to SHS Performing Arts.