Don’t forget the Christmas tree and wreath sale at Foss Park. The proceeds go to the Next Wave and Full Circle Alternative School here in the city. Please consider stopping off and helping the kids out and buy your tree locally.

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Happy Birthday this week to some of our readers: A big Happy Birthday to Irene Bremis of the famous Real Estate family. Irene is very well known here in the city, a nice lady involved with the community and is always smiling happily. We wish her the very best on this her birthday. Happy Birthday to Stacey Hershey Buckley here in the city. Stacey is a nice lady. We hope she has a great day and her husband Mike had better take her to a nice place for dinner, Happy Birthday and best wishes Stacey. A very special friend of the paper, Mr. William Murphy, a lifelong resident and a very special guy celebrates this week. We wish him all the best on his birthday. Happy Birthday to another good guy, David Bell, who grew up here in the Ville. We wish him a great day. Happy Birthday to lifelong resident and popular guy as well Ray Zonghetti, who is also celebrating this week. Another old friend of the paper, Marlin Whitney, is celebrating this week. We wish him a great day.

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Our condolences to the family of James E. Mello, 62, of Somerville, who recently passed away. He was a past veteran of the Air Force, and electrician with W.R. Grace. He leaves a large family here in the city. A sad loss at such a young age. Services will be at Doherty’s Funeral Home this Thursday from 4-8 p.m.

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Our condolences to the family of Lester A. Doucette, 89. The retired clerk for B&M Railroad and longtime resident of Somerville passed away on December 2. Lester was the beloved husband of 68 years to Evelyn I. (Cabral).

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Don’t forget we are having a contest here over the next few weeks. We are asking anyone here in the Ville who would like to write a poem on the Christmas holiday and what it means to them to send it in to us. Deadline is Friday, December 12. You can email it to news@thesomervilletimes.com, mail it or drop it off at 699 Broadway, Somerville 02144. Poems will be selected by the The Times staff and the three top winners will have their poem published in time for Christmas. The best one submitted will receive a $100 gift certificate for the Mt. Vernon Restaurant, a $50 Mt. Vernon certificate for second choice and a $25 Mt. Vernon gift certificate for third place. Submit your poem to be published by The Somerville Times in time for the holiday.

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Also, if you’d like to send a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays greeting to your special person or to anyone across the city, we’re going to have a section in the December 24 edition set aside for your holiday greetings. Mail your greeting or deliver to The Somerville Times, 699 Broadway, Somerville 02144. The cost is only $5 for 25 words. The deadline for entry for the Christmas edition is December 19. Cash or check is due when submitting your greeting. Here’s your chance to show your loved ones and family or friends how special they are to you!

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The Somerville School Committee voted unanimously Monday evening to offer Mrs. Mary Skipper the Somerville Superintendent of Schools position. Mrs. Skipper currently serves as the Network Superintendent for High Schools for the Boston Public Schools.

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Tonight, Wednesday, December 10 at 6:00pm a fundraiser for Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin is being held at Casey’s Bar 173 Broadway, Somerville. Matt’s another alderman who has been fighting hard for the people of East Somerville. So much so that he hasn’t had a fundraiser yet. Please attend and donate so that he can continue to represent the people.

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The Argenziano School at Lincoln Park PTA is pleased to announce the Argenziano Craft Fair will take place on Friday, December 12, 2014 at 290 Washington St, Somerville. This free event will run from 6:30-9:30pm. Shoppers are sure to find holiday gifts as they browse a variety of handmade goods ranging from one-of-a-kind jewelry, homemade ornaments, scarves, handmade candies, soaps and more. Visitors can also try their luck with a raffle ticket for a chance to win handmade wares or services from the local community. Pizza and drinks will also be available for purchase. The Argenziano Craft Fair is no ordinary event; it is one for children as much as shoppers. Be sure to visit our free Crafts and Cocoa tables where you can meet old friends and make some new ones, while children of all ages build their own cards and crafts. Monies raised from the Craft Fair will help the Argenziano PTA support our students, families and staff to organize school-wide events and provide funding for field trips, enrichment, and supplies not covered by the school budget.

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Tickets are now being sold for the Somerville High School production of Aida. Three performances of this Elton John/Tim Rice collaboration are scheduled for February 2015 at Somerville High School’s newly renovated Centennial Auditorium. Performances are at 7:00 p.m. on February 5 and 6, and 2:00 p.m. on February 7. Ticket prices through December 31, 2014 are: $8 for adults, $6 for any PK-12th grade student and any young child not in school who requires his/her own seat; and $6 for senior citizens. Ticket prices will increase to $12 after December 31. To purchase tickets, mail a check (payable to SHS Performing Arts) to: Rosemary Sears, SHS Musical Producer, Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143. Theater tickets make great gifts. Pay for your tickets by December 31 and you’ll pay last year’s prices. Tickets will be mailed out in January. Be sure to indicate the number of Adult, Youth and Senior Citizen tickets you’re ordering on your check. Please contact Rosemary Sears, Producer, atrsears@k12.somerville.ma.us with any questions about this year’s musical production or for ticket purchase information. For information on SHS Musical sponsorship opportunities, visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us/musical.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone is having a “Family Holiday Party” at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington St., on Tuesday December 16, 6-8p.m. They will also be collecting toys for local children at the event.

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Just in Time for the Holidays: Gift Giving Special-10% off All Adult Evening School Classes. Give the gift of education and save. For a list of current Adult Evening School course offerings and to register, visit http://register.asapconnected.com/Default.aspx?org=3830. Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday nights at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. Questions? Call Evening School Principal Sophia Carafotes at (617) 628-2594.