The city street-sweeping program started yesterday (April 1 … no joke) and runs through Dec. 31. Check the posted signs on all the streets when they are coming down. This is big money for the city, so be careful.

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Coming up Friday, April 11, is Prospect Hill Academy’s huge fundraiser, “The Golden Twenties,” at One Seaport Lane, Boston. Tickets are $95 in advance or $125 at the door. You can contact Anja Bresler at 617-284-7822 or email abresler@prospecthillacademy.org for tickets or more information. This promises to be a great program with lots of prizes offered.

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The annual Somerville High Scholarship raffle is being planned by the committee for May 16 at the Highlander Café. Like every year since 1990, the raffle is limited to 250 tickets at $100 each. The grand prize will be $10,000 which is the last number called. Get your tickets early and support this fine organization that helps to give students at the high school scholarships.  Make check payable to the SHS Scholarship Foundation and mail to the following:  S.H.S. Raffle c/o Joseph Favaloro, P.O. Box 440275 Somerville MA 02144. Upon receipt of your check, your ticket will be mailed to you. Or you can call Gene Brune at 617-628-5835.

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Coming up April 12 is the annual open house for the Masonic Lodge at 125 Highland Ave. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to the public, so come view the historic building and get answers to any questions you might have about masonry in general. The lodge was founded in 1783 in Charlestown and was the owner and builder of the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. The lodge has many ancient artifacts, including Paul Revere’s works that were donated to the lodge over the years. Drive up the driveway to the right of the building to the parking lot and come in the double blue doors to the rear building, which is the main entrance.

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A reunion for all those that grew up in East Somerville. If you spent your teenage years growing up in East Somerville in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, there is a call out to you. The event will be at the City Club (across from Holiday Inn) Saturday, July 12, from 7 to 11 p.m. There will be food and entertainment, and the best part is you can come and meet all your friends with whom you grew up and had a great time. East Somerville was a special place. Everyone knew everyone else, and we all had our special place where we hung out, but we also were proud of the fact we were from the best section of the city.   Check out the Facebook page set aside for all who are interested, called “East Somerville Reunion.”  This effort has been started by Dan Rogovich, who is also on Facebook and has worked hard to get this going. Go on Facebook and let them know you are coming. They are also looking for donations to cover expenses, and all donations go directly to cover the event for the night. For now, if you don’t have Facebook, contact Donald Norton at 617-623-6600, ext. 11.

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Good luck to George Landers, who is moving out of his position at DPW. We hear he is trading places with another great guy, Walter Whitney, up at OHCD. George has been with the city for a few years now (since Mayor Gay’s administration). He’s a good guy, and so isn’t Walter, so we wish them both well in the exchange.

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Happy birthday to some of our fans here in the Ville and some who’s hearts still here in the Ville, first of all to Andrea Gregory, former reporter for the Times here and presently a freelance journalist. Big-time happy birthday to Villen Jeff Lewis of East Somerville; such a great guy.  Another “happy birthday” to Andrew Lafuente, who also is a good guy and works with his father, Tony Lafuente.  And to Sue Pye of the famous Pye family here in the city, we wish her the very best of birthdays. Another good guy with a great sense of humor, Gene Leonard is celebrating, and we wish him a safe and happy birthday.

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With green landscapes still hiding behind the cold, The Painted Burro is taking matters into its own hands and bringing the green straight to Davis Square with its second annual Guac Off. The Somerville hotspot is asking guests to throw their best guacamole recipes into the ring to battle it out in a Burro-royale face-off Sunday, April 13. The best of the best will compete against one another to please the taste buds of a panel of local celebrity judges, including Somerville firefighter and winner of The Painted Burro’s Burro Churro Challenge Jay McKenzie, Somerville Scout writer Michelle Lahey and Jen Che of the popular local food blog Tiny Urban Kitchen. Only one guac recipe will snag unlimited bragging rights, a $150 gift card to The Painted Burro and the honor of being featured on The Painted Burro’s menu. In true Burro style, the event will be open to the whole neighborhood so guests can guac the vote alongside the star-studded judges’ panel. Recipes must be submitted by Monday, April 7 to info@thepaintedburro.com. Twelve Guac Off-worthy finalists will be selected and contacted by Tuesday, April 8. The Painted Burro, 219 Elm St. in Davis Square. For more information, call 617-776-0005.

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Join Keshet’s Transgender Working Group and the LGBT liaison to the city of Somerville for a picture book reading and activities at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Somerville Public Library Main Branch at 79 Highland Ave. The activity is geared toward families, but all are invited to attend. They will read aloud from a transgender-themed children’s book and discuss how it may affect us through the lens of Jewish culture and tradition. Keshet’s Transgender Working Group works for transgender inclusion and offers education, programs and social support for Jews who are transgender and their allies. All are welcome and residents can RSVP for the free event at www.keshetonline.org/events/ma-event-registration.

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Somerville has long been known for having one of the country’s largest artistic and creative residents per capita – next to only Manhattan. To celebrate this unique aspect of Somerville, Assembly Row created ASSEMBLED, a handmade arts market held every Saturday on Grand Union Boulevard throughout the summer of 2013. In 2014, Assembly Row and the Somerville Arts Council (SAC) will add a new facet to the neighborhood with Art in the Park, a series of free art lessons hosted along the Mystic River in the newly opened Baxter Riverfront Park. The series of lessons will provide an outlet for artists to share their passion and allow the community to gain insight into a form of art they may have always wondered about. The call for artists is now open, and those who respond have a chance to lead Assembly Row’s grand opening summer program, Art in the Park. Artists who respond to the call and are chosen to lead a lesson will be provided with a small stipend. The Art in the Park series will be free to the public and will be held every Sunday from June 29 through July 27 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Baxter Riverfront Park. All those interested in leading an Art in the Park class are encouraged to contact Lauren Jaffie for more information at info@assemblyrow.com<mailto:info@assemblyrow.com. Also, you can learn more details from the Assembly Row’s Facebook page (search “Assembly Row”) and website, www.assemblyrow.com/events.

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Somerville nonprofit The Welcome Project is celebrating the community’s immigrant flavor, in partnership with the city’s Shape Up Somerville healthy restaurant campaign, Shape Up Approved – Eat Well. The 2014 YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City event will celebrate a city proud of its diverse immigrant history and celebrated for its growing foodie scene celebration. All YUM eateries are part of the city’s Shape Up Approved – Eat Well campaign, which makes Somerville a healthier place to live, work, play and eat by highlighting healthier menu options at participating restaurants. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Arts and the Armory.

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The April 10th YUM celebration and related 2014 YUM Restaurant Card, which provides a discount at participating restaurants, features the international flavors of nine immigrant-owned Somerville restaurants. Proceeds go towards strengthen the voices of immigrant families across the city. Individuals interested in purchasing tickets can do so by visiting www.yumsomerville.org.

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Through a partnership with the Great American Rain Barrel Company in Hyde Park, the city of Somerville is offering rain barrels to Somerville residents at a discount to help conserve water and save money. Barrels can be purchased through April 5 by visiting www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com. Click on “Shop Local Programs,” and search for Somerville. Somerville residents may purchase the barrels at a cost of $69, a 40 percent discount from regular retail price. Barrels are available in Forest Green, Earth Brown or Nantucket Gray. Rain barrels reduce runoff that can harm existing water sources and contribute to overflow in the city’s water system. Additionally, rain barrels can help offset water usage that, in New England, can increase by as much as 60% during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Barrels will be available for pick up on Saturday, April 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the DPW Yard, 1 Franey Road. All orders must be made by April 5 at 5 p.m.

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“Make Your Garden Look and Taste Wonderful this Summer!” will be the topic of the April meeting of the Somerville Garden Club. Barbara Emerson, a master gardener and enthusiastic grower of both new and heirloom vegetables, will discuss how to integrate edible plants into your ornamental garden or add edible flowers to your vegetable garden. Join other friendly local gardeners at the Somerville Garden Club April meeting, Wednesday, April 9, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Tufts Administration Building, 167 Holland St. Meetings are on the second floor and are wheelchair accessible. Parking is available on site and the building is a short walk from the Davis Square T station. All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free, and the public is invited to attend.