Join East Somerville Main Streets on Monday, January 12, for “A farewell to Carrie” at the East End Grille, as they say goodbye to their director of eight years and celebrate some of the great things they have achieved in that time.

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Please note the kick off of the 2015 Business After Hours Series has been postponed to Thursday, January 15. Join on the 15th to kick of 2015 at the Chamber’s next Business After Hours event at Foundry on Elm. This is an excellent networking event featuring free appetizers and a free business card drawing with cash bar. Sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank. Hosted by Somerville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Chair Dana Iacopucci of Cubby Oil & Energy. The Foundry is located at 255 Elm Street, Davis Square.

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Happy Birthday this week to a few of our friends and Villens here in the city. A big Happy Birthday to one of our favorite teachers here in the city, Ms. Sophia Carafotes. Another popular person here in the city is Dominick Silvestri Jr., otherwise known as the sign man at Magoun Square. We wish Dominick a very Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday to Liza Ludwick, who grew up here in East Somerville. We hope she has a great day for herself. Happy Birthday to a good guy, Evan Nolan, who lived here in Somerville and is still involved here. We wish him the very best of birthdays.

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“This is East” is having a Launch Party for year 2 on Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Mudflat Pottery school, 81 Broadway. East Somerville is changing. The “This is East” project allows East Somerville voices, stories and history to be the catalyst of that change. Kick off our launch party by screening a short and powerful video documentary about our community, as told by East Somerville residents and business owners (produced by SCATV, the Somerville Arts Council and East Somerville Main Streets). Then we’ll discuss what characteristics of East Somerville are important to capture and record for generations to come. The conversation will inform 1–3 public art installations in East Somerville and a longer documentary storytelling project, both to be completed in 2015. Refreshments will be served. Come on out and help shape East Somerville by sharing your stories and vision.

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Our sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of Marjorie McKenzie of West Somerville, a lifelong resident who grew up here in the Davis Square area. She was very well known in the community. Marjorie was such a great lady, always in good spirits and smiled and loved everyone. From the first meeting you had with Margi you knew you had a friend. Her long time loving husband John passed away a few years ago and we are all comforted knowing she now has joined him in heaven. What a great lady who loved everything about life, her family, her friends and her Somerville. We will sadly miss her smile, her kind words and her laugh. She was one of those special ladies who leaves a mark on all of us that knew her, and we thank her for that.

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Another passing, maybe not from Somerville, but we were shocked to hear of the passing of former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Ed Brooke, the first black U.S. Senator since the reformation. He represented Massachusetts for two terms in the 60’s and 70’s. What a great guy he was. He touched a lot of us here in the city. He was a Republican as well and was known for his working both sides of the isle. Too bad we don’t have the same type of politicians today as Senator Brooke was. He was a good man.

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Our condolences to the family of Elizabeth (Betty) Medeiros here in the city. Betty, as she is known by those who knew her, was a lifelong resident of the Somerville. A very active lady here in the city. She will be missed by her family and many friends.

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Congratulations to our own Clifton and Soimise Verdieu on their new addition to their family. Little baby boy Samuel Verdieu was born weighing in at 7 lbs., 19 oz. this week. Both Clifton and Soimise are proud parents. We wish them all the very best of luck.

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Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development invite residents, business owners and community members to an information session about the proposed zoning ordinance overhaul on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Somerville Armory, 191 Highland Ave. The session will include a presentation on the new code followed by an opportunity to review the code and map and discuss them with city staff. Following this information session, the Land Use Committee of the Board of Aldermen and the Planning Board have scheduled a joint public hearing on the proposed ordinance for Thursday Jan. 29, 2015 at 6 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 93 Highland Ave. The city invites public feedback through these meetings and a new website that will go live later this month.

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Every Friday from January 9-30, 9:30 p.m. to midnight, East End Grille will be the host of Somerville Idol, featuring Season 12 American Idol top finalist Erika Van Pelt, who will be the host of the four week competition. Contestants who have been selected in a preliminary round will sing songs based on audience feedback and a panel of prominent local judges. Contestants will be eliminated based on 50 percent judge’s feedback and 50 percent audience reaction and voting, so you be the judge! The finale will take place on January 30 where we will crown the first ever “Somerville Idol.” Contestants will fight it out for a chance to win the grand prize weekly based on patron’s votes. Erika Van Pelt will perform throughout each evening. Come on over to the East Side and be part of something fun and interactive. www.eastendgrille.com. Local sponsors include Somerville Theater, Boston Ballet, Huntington Theater Company, Hair by Christine and Co and more.

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The Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation Annual Meeting will be held in the Gallery 81 Conference Room at Somerville High School on Monday, January 12, 2015, at 7 p.m. The meeting is for current officers, directors, and members. New members are welcome. The agenda includes the election of directors. For information, contact Noreen Santucci at NFSLEARN@aol.com or 617-448-0145.

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The Annual Meeting of the Somerville Home will be held at the Home, 117 Summer Street, Somerville, Massachusetts on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of electing Officers and Trustees for the ensuing year and to act on any other business that may legally come before the meeting.