Former Ward 1 Alderman James “Jim” McCarthy passed away suddenly from a heart attack today while being rushed to Somerville Hospital. Jim leaves behind his lovely wife Louise and three grown children and grandchildren. Our condolences to his family and many friends, he will be missed. Jim was very active locally in the politics, currently as the Treasurer of the Somerville Redevelopment Authority. Jim knew the city better than most and was the kind of guy you could have a conversation with and always walk away smiling. What a great and giving guy he was, for he truly loved Somerville, both past and present. He had a wonderful sense of humor and anytime you met up with him around the city he would always have something to say that would make you smile and feel good.

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The kick off of the 2015 Business After Hours Series will be Thursday, January 15. Join in on the 15th 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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“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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The public hearing for the new zoning code proposal has been changed to Tuesday, February 10 (it was originally set for January 29th), most likely with a 6 or 6:30 p.m. start time. A press release will be issued with all the details. The web site to review the new zoning is as follows http://bit.ly/14vyFLY

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It appears that the city – at least the Aldermen – got it finally. The new ordinance for shoveling snow and the requirements set forth have come under fire from across the community. Alderman at Large Mary Jo Rossetti is the chairman of the committee that will hold a public hearing on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the ordinance. So if you’re against or for it, here’s your chance to air your opinion.

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Happy Birthday this week to some of our readers: Happy Birthday to Kevin O’Donovan, one of our many fine firemen here in the city. We wish him the very best. Happy Birthday to Somerville native and nurse Theresa Rodriques. We hope she has a great birthday. Big time Happy Birthday to Julie Tarpey DiPasquale, very popular former Ward Six School Board member. We hope she has a great day for herself. Our good friend, long time Somerville native now in Woburn, James Ribeiro is celebrating this week. We wish him a good day as well. Another old time Somerville native and Winter Hill guy is Billy Rogers, who is celebrating as well. We wish him the very best. Another Somerville guy and great painter, Teder Skina, is celebrating this week. To all the others celebrating this week we hope you have a great day and week for yourself.

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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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Somerville High Adult evening school registration is this week and next week on Tuesday and Thursday nights, beginning at 6 p.m. Register for any of the many courses offered at major discount prices, like the real estate license course which is offered at other places for around $400 per course. Only $175.00 – less than half – at SHS Adult evening class. Learn to take the test and become a real estate agent here in Massachusetts.

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Once again Pat Norton was taken to MGH last week. She’s home resting and is very appreciative of the many cards and well wishes sent her way. She’s doing better and preparing for the major operation sometime later in February, due to complications. If you’d like her address and want to send her a card call The Somerville Times office at 617 666-4010 and ask for Bobbie or Donald.

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Mayor Joe Curtatone’s mid-term state of the city address will be Monday night, January 19 at 630 p.m. at City Hall. The public is invited to attend. We hear that the President of the Board of Alderman William White is also going to speak.

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Nick from Leones Sub and Pizza is recovering from recent surgery and we wish him here the very best and a fast recovery. Rest assurred the quality of the food will be in good hands while he’s resting.

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We hear sometime very soon an announcement will be made on what the city has in store for the vacant Winter Hill Star Market. The corner of Temple and Broadway building will be coming down shortly. All the equipment is parked in the vacant lot next door.

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Granted Assembly Square is on the rise, but is it just us, but have you gone shopping in the stores? We hear from several people that the prices are high, what do you think?

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This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration will feature MLK Jr. Dreams by Song. Join the celebration at 11:00 a.m. at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross Street. Festivities will include light refreshments, musical performances by a number of Somerville groups including El Sistema Somerville, and student essayists from the Somerville Public Schools. Join them for this inspiring annual celebration.

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Kindergarten registration at the Somerville Public Schools for the upcoming school year kicks off this month on Saturday, January 24. Information sessions are underway, and Kindergarten packets have been mailed or sent home via backpack. Families with age-eligible children who were born in Somerville have been mailed a packet. If you are considering registering your child in the Somerville Public Schools and do not fall into either of these categories, please contact the Parent Information Center at (617) 629-5671 to request a Kindergarten packet. Visit the Kindergarten website atwww.somerville.k12.ma.us/kindergarten for additional information about the Kindergarten registration process, including a list of important dates and all registration materials. Contact the PIC at (617) 629-5671 with additional questions.

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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.