The monthly Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” gathering is Thursday evening at 6 over at the Foundry in Davis Square. Members are invited to join in and network.

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“StoryCorps” at the library kick offs this weekend. Be part of history in the making! Somerville Public Library is one of 10 public libraries across the United States to be selected as a StoryCorps @ your library pilot site. The project aims to record the voices of a diverse mix of Somerville residents and to capture their stories, thoughts and ideas. Somerville teens, families and adults, come by to find out more and sign up for a time to share your story. Refreshments will be served. Saturday, February 8, 2:30-5:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 9, 3:30-5 p.m. at the Somerville Central Library, 79 Highland Avenue. For more information call the Teen Room at 617-623-5000 x2936, or email Maria Carpenter at mcarpenter@somervillema.gov., www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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The commercial tax rate is out and was approved by the aldermen last year, and now rent increases have already been given to business tenants. In Ball Square, every single business in one large building saw huge increases ready to take effect March 1. The fall out of these massive increases all at once will have a drastic effect on local consumers, either with a raise in prices or just plain leaving Somerville and boarding up vacant stores. We’re wondering how effective the public hearing held Tuesday will be and what could be the end result? Can they somehow go back in time and wipe it out? Let’s hope the Board of Alderman can come up with a solution, as some increases were way over 50 percent. The committee hearing held this past Tuesday night will be addressed again, hopefully with the full Board of Alderman.

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The neighborhood meetings last week in East Somerville were both emotional and downright upsetting to the many neighbors attending. On Wednesday, the first public meeting was standing-room only at the hearing of angry neighbors on the proposed move to build 121 units on land now owned by Stop & Shop, the developer met with huge resistance and upset neighbors upset who don’t want this in that place. Some believe that after the hearing, and after dropping the number of units to 86, the developer might just change his mind and scrap the entire thing. So will Stop & Shop continue to find another developer or just forget it for now?

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The next night (Thursday) another neighborhood meeting was held, this time on the demolition of Patsy’s Pastry Shop to make way for the development of 19 units of housing and ground-floor retail space by a Chinese developer. The developer was out of country and represented by his attorney. People in East Somerville hold the bakery in high esteem as an iconic place of business, and not many people both here in Somerville and elsewhere haven’t heard about Patsy’s and its great pastry items and reputation. Neighbors are sad if it happens, and that’s the key word: “if.” Who knows? Maybe the owners just might change their minds. In any case, it will take over a year to get the project going, so at least one more round of Christmas and holiday pies, along with Patsy’s pastries that are so well renowned. If you want Patsy’s to stay and come back under the new development, let them know at the store.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our fans in the Ville and elsewhere. Best Wishes to Rob McWatters, the new alderman from Ward 3, this week. To a member of one of Somerville’s oldest families, Eleanor Pye, who used to work at SCATV but now works at Endicott College, we hope she has a great day.  And to a good and longtime friend, Barbara Snow, who has her heart here in the Ville, what a great lady she is. HB to Brien Murphy, who is from here and still lives here and works down at the DPW. We wish him a great day.  Also, happy birthday to Amanda Woo, who is celebrating this week. And last but not least, a happy birthday to Jill Koerber.

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A good friend of ours, Mike Raczkowski of the Ball Square area, recently underwent surgery, and he is doing well. He will be home by the end of this week. We wish him speedy recovery and great hearing the surgery was successful.

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“Local is for Lovers Valentine’s Day Market” this coming Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get ready for food, fun, local artists and crafters, amazing local businesses, Knucklebones, live music and MUCH more!

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Don’t forget to register or go online for the courses offered by Somerville High Adult Evening Courses. Call 617-625-6600, ext. 6478, and ask for Sophia Carafotes. Registration is offered 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 in Extreme Couponing, free Zumba lessons and some older classes such English as a First Language are available. 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. As Sophia likes to say, and it’s true,  “Shhh, we are Somerville best kept secret at bargain prices.”

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Good news for those that might have not seen or heard about it, but here’s something for those lovers of another Somerville icon, Leones Sub & Pizza Shop in Winter Hill: Well, it seems they will be selling sweatshirts and T-shirts in the near future, offering yet another reason to go and get one of the best subs anywhere and say “hi” to some of the nicest people here in Somerville.

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Again our thoughts and prayers are with Tom Taylor and his family. He’s going through a big ordeal, and we hope and pray he is home soon and for good.

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We are saddened to hear of the passing of Amy, who operated the Artifaktori store on College Ave. before moving it into Boston a few years ago. She made many friends in the Ville and will be missed. A memorial service will be held on March 1 at 2 p.m. at the Quaker Meeting House in Cambridge. All are invited to attend.

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Mayor Curtatone and Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin invite all interested residents to a community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen St., to discuss new lighting plans for the Capuano School / James McCarthy Field. The city is proposing to install new lighting at the Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center Turf Soccer Field in the fall of 2014, but is seeking community input prior to finalizing design plans. For more information, contact Arn Franzen in the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development at 617-625-6600 ext. 2545 or AFranzen@somervillema.gov.

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It’s the Hard-Knock Life. Order your tickets for the Somerville High School production of Annie now and feel better. Shows are on Feb. 6, 7 and 8. Order advanced tickets on-line at http://www.ticketstage.com/SHS or send a check to: SHS Performing Arts, Ms. Rosemary Sears, Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143. Performances feature Somerville High School and Elementary students. This year’s musical production will be held at the Somerville Theater on Feb. 6 and 7 at 7:00 p.m and Feb. 8 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens, PK-12 students, and younger children needing their own seat. You can also purchase tickets at the door, if the show is not sold out.