The Somerville Pop Warner Football and Cheer Banquet is this coming Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. at Foss Park   There will be food, 2013 season trophies. Games and more. Organizers will be selling SomerVILLENS T-shirts at this free event, which will include a 2014 sign-up table. The rain date is May 4.

*************************

With spring in full swing, it’s time to start thinking about Mother’s Day, which will be here before you know it! A unique place to find that perfect gift is the Local is for Lovers Mother’s Day Market. The market, which is sponsored by ZipCar, takes place place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Brooklyn Boulders (12A Tyler St.). All shoppers must fill out a waiver form for Brooklyn Boulders (the waiver can be filled out online at the Brooklyn Boulders website). The Local is for Lovers Mother’s Day Market will feature 30 local vendors selling everything from jewelry and handmade soap to sweets and clothing.

*************************

The Somerville Rotary Club here in the city is celebrating 90 years of service to our community with an anniversary dinner at Anthony’s of Malden Friday, May 2. The cost is $50.00 per person, and reservations can be made by emailing toam.ferraro@comcast.net. If you’re a current member or past member – or, in particular, a past president – you need to be at this special occasion. The Somerville Rotary does a lot for the community and is constantly giving back to various organizations. The Rotary meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at the Mt. Vernon Restaurant on lower Broadway. The luncheon is always open to potential candidates for membership.

*************************

The annual Somerville High Scholarship raffle is being planned 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.

*************************

The committee working on this reunion down in East Somerville has collected enough money so far to cover expenses, but you still can donate online on the Facebook page. If you grew up in East Somerville ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, it’s on for sure at the Somerville City Club July 12. At last check, they raised over $1,000 for the event. If you’d like to donate, go online to Facebook and look up “East Somerville Reunion.” It should be a great time!

*************************

The annual Shriners Circus runs through April 27 in Wilmington at the Shriners Auditorium off of I-93.

*************************

Happy Birthday to some of our fans out there, both here in the Ville and elsewhere. Alderman at Large Jack Connolly is celebrating this week, so stop in at his insurance agency in Davis Square and wish him a big HB. He always enjoys a good conversation. Popular Somerville guy and Deputy Sheriff of Middlesex County Mike Nionakis is celebrating as well. A good friend to many here in the Ville and someone who has been very active in various campaign is Julie Phelan Brady of Medford. We wish her a happy birthday. What a nice lady. Chip Koty is celebrating his birthday this week. Chip is the son of DPW Commissioner Stan and nurse Gay Koty. We wish Chip a very happy birthday. It seems like yesterday he was just starting school.

*************************

The first-ever Somerville Food Truck Festival at Assembly Row will be held Saturday, June 7. Launching the 2014 Food Truck Festivals of New England season, the Somerville Food Truck Festival will also launch the second season of ASSEMBLED, the handmade arts market at Assembly Row that will include New England Etsy artisans. There will be food trucks, a beer tent, specialty food vendors, live music, sampling tents and children’s activities. The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with popular New England food trucks, plus many newcomers, all serving up a variety of dishes including bacon favorites, Asian fusion, local seafood, BBQ, gourmet grilled cheese, homemade ice cream and more.

*************************

The 40th PTA Scholarship Dinner Dance for the Somerville Council of PTAs will be held May 2 at Anthony’s in Malden.

*************************

Beginning on Monday, April 28, the Albion Street Playground will be closed as City contractors work to install a retaining wall, and to make improvements to the lawn and water spray areas. Work is expected to be complete by the end of May, weather permitting. Please note that the full park and playground will be closed while this work is completed. For a complete list and map of parks and playgrounds throughout the City that you can visit during this temporary closure (and anytime), visit www.somervillema.gov/departments/ospcd/parks-and-open-space and click on “maps” on the right side of the page.

*************************

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Somerville Youth Services Coordinator Nancy Bacci announced that applications are now available for the 2014 Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Available through Thursday, April 24, applications can be found at the City of Somerville’s Personnel Department, located in the basement at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. The Program provides opportunities for Somerville youth to gain employment and job training within the public and private sectors throughout the summer. Eligible students must be Somerville residents, enrolled in high school, and at least 16 years of age. All applications must be returned to the Personnel Department by April 24 at 7 p.m. Each applicant will be called for an interview in May, and selected youth must complete an orientation prior to the beginning of the program. Summer jobs require approximately 20 hours per week, though actual schedules will vary by employer. If you have any questions or would like additional information, contact Youth and Volunteer Services Coordinator, Nancy Bacci, at 617-625-6600 ext. 2522 or NBacci@somervillema.gov.

*************************

In honor of the 75th Anniversary of Little League baseball, Somerville Little League has a very special Opening Day Ceremony planned for this Saturday, April 26th, at 10AM. Starting with the parade from the High School down Highland Avenue to Central Street to Somerville Avenue, ending at Conway Park. Somerville Police and Fire will be on hand in addition to the Somerville Police Honor Guard, who will present their colors in remembrance of the Marathon Bombing Victims and the two heroic Boston Firefighters who recently lost their lives in the line of duty. A Somerville High School Youth Chorus member will sing the national anthem, joined by some veterans of Somerville Little League’s past. They will join former Red Sox player Sam Horn to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, at Conway Field, at 10:45AM. Majors and Minors games will immediately follow the ceremony. Come on down and cheer the kids on!! For more information, email Sean Fitzgerald at seanjfitz@comcast.net.