From all of us here at The Somerville Times, we wish everyone in the Ville a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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Mayor Curtatone will announce today that Nicole Terez Dutton has been chosen as the new Somerville Poet Laureate. The selection committee and founders of position, Harris Gardner, Doug Holder, and Greg Jenkins of The Somerville Arts Council, did a great job.

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The School Committee signed on the new Superintendent of Schools at Monday night’s Board meeting. Congratulations to Mary Skipper. Welcome to Somerville. She came to us recently from the Boston School system.

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Happy Birthday this week to some of our readers: What a tough week to have a birthday. Easily lose out on presents as a kid, wouldn’t you? This week we have big Happy Birthday greetings going out to our good friend George Landers, well known around the city in many circles for his big smile when he greets you. Have a great day for yourself. Also this week, a guy who is an avid reader of our paper and who knows the political workings around the state house that nice guy, Jim Henry. Happy Birthday, Jim. Also this week Zach Atwell, originally from Maine the fine city of Portland now settled down and family man, we hope you have a great week Zack. Happy Birthday to Kristen Chamberlain. Have a great day. To Kevin Dickinson, who is a fan of our paper, we wish him the very best. To everyone else here in the Ville a very Happy Birthday from all of us here at The Times.

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Last week wasn’t a good one for a few of us here in the Ville. Our own Patti Norton suffered a massive heart attack late night Thursday and was sent to Mass General Hospital where they immediately operated on her. Although she feels a little better, she’s still there. They will be performing open heart surgery on her very soon. The doctors were extremely surprised she survived this recent attack (3 in 90 days), all caused by extreme stress brought on by outside sources. The many prayers and best wishes for her worked and hopefully she will be home either Christmas Day or right afterwards, and awaiting another major surgery.

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A couple of bullies were sent a clear message recently that they probably didn’t like. Most people here in the Ville know who we are referring to. The court system worked and justice was swiftly served and. Now those particular people and a few others might just move on with their own lives. Special thanks to all those who know the truth. It’s been a horrible past few years, never mind few past weeks. But again, in the end justice prevailed! Merry Christmas.

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Coming up on Friday, January 16, at the Somerville City Club, a Comedy Night to raise money for Rett Syndrome Research. Master of Ceremonies will be comedian Pete Costello, a regular and favorite at Foxwoods. He has worked with the likes of Joan Rivers and The Beach Boys, to name a few. Headliner Dave Russo (http://www.daverusso.net/), a Boston comedy Festival winner and co-host of NESN’s Dirty Water TV, has also been seen on Comics Come Home with Denis Leary and the E-TV series The Entertainer. The event will also feature comedian Patty Gould and special guest Al Park.

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A little trivia: Not that it has anything to do with Somerville, but how’s this? Both current New York City Mayor DiBlaiso and former Mayor Bloomberg are originally from Medford. Who knew?

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City Hall will close at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24. Residential parking and parking meters will not be in effect. On Thursday, Dec., 25 city and school offices will be closed. There will be no street sweeping and parking meters and residential parking will not be in effect. Thursday and Friday’s trash and recycling pickup will be on a holiday schedule – put your carts out one day later than usual.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Historic Preservation Commission Director Brandon Wilson announced that the 239th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at 12 p.m. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing. The afternoon’s program will include songs, readings, and participants from the Ancient and Honorable Company (first chartered in 1638), as well as the Charlestown militia. The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower. Light refreshments will be served, and miniature replicas of the Grand Union Flag, both as a flag and a lapel pin, as well as colonial-era tri-corner hats and historic Somerville books commemorating the event will be available for purchase.

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New winter Learn-To-Skate classes for children ages 4 1/2 and up and adults are available at 11 Greater Boston rink locations: Brookline – Cleveland Circle & Larz Anderson, Cambridge, Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, South Boston, Waltham, West Roxbury and Weymouth. Use hockey, recreational or figure skates. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes taught by professional instructors. 46 Years Experience. For information and to register, call Bay State Skating School at 781-890-8480 or visit online at www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org. Gift certificates available.

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A free community vaccination clinic for adults will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 from 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at 6 Kensington Avenue in Somerville, hosted by Smiles By Rosie Family Dentistry in cooperation with Rite Aid Pharmacy. Several health and community organizations will also be available. For more information, please email info@vaccinatesomerville.com or call (617) 623-2100.

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The Somerville High School Art Club has assembled a 2015 calendar showcasing the outstanding visual arts courses offered at SHS. The calendar highlights student work in a wide variety of media, created through the Somerville High School course offerings. Calendars are available for purchase for just $10 apiece. Funds raised from calendar sales will be used to fund Art Club projects, activities, and events. You can order your calendars by emailing Art Club Advisor, Sean Bianchi (sbianchi@k12.somerville.ma.us), and dropping off or mailing your payment by check at the Somerville High School main office (81 Highland Avenue). Please include the following with your order: your name, telephone number or email where you can be reached, number of calendars you are ordering. Calendars will be printed after payment is received. Make checks payable to: City of Somerville, and include Art Club in the memo section.