We are saddened by the news that a good guy from Somerville passed away down in Florida. Tom Taylor, who served our city well and in particular the residents of Ward 3 over many years, is now resting in peace. The whole city knew he was going through a lot over these past couple of years, but he was very strong willed and, of course, his lovely Celia was by his side all the time, encouraging him and making him smile, creating more great memories together. The suffering is over and now is a time to celebrate the life he shared with us and all the good things he did. With that said, his wife Celia and his family would like to invite everyone to a “Celebration of Life” on Sunday, April 26 from 4-8 p.m. at the Somerville City Club, across from the Holiday Inn. All are welcomed to share with the Taylor family and friends the many good times and good things Tom did here in his beloved Somerville. Donations of food and beverages are greatly appreciated. There is a Facebook page set up for the “Celebration” (https://www.facebook.com/celia.taylor.505) to let the family know if you’re going.

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A Happy St. Patrick’s Day this week to everyone. We hope it was a happy and safe one for all of us here in the Ville. The race is over and the parade was well attended over in Southie. A lot of Villens were seen up and down Broadway in South Boston enjoying themselves.

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Happy Birthday this week to a few of our Villens both here and elsewhere: Happy Birthday to Jim Halloran, an all around nice guy, always to be seen with a smile. We wish him the very best. Happy Birthday to Karen Love, another Villen here in the city, most often in Magoun Square. We wish her the very best happy birthday. Big time Happy Birthday to Jamie Hart, the lovely wife of Ricky Hart. We hope she has a great day. To a special lady who used to live here in Somerville for awhile, Ms. Carolyn Caler, who now resides in Kansas. We wish her the very best. Happy Birthday to Neil Gillis Jr. We hope he has a great day for himself. To a nice guy as well, Michael Sullivan of the Berkeley Street Sullivan’s. We hope he has a good day. And finally, to a good friend of the paper and from a great family here in the city, a special Happy Birthday to Danny Spinosa, who is celebrating 93 years. He lives part time in FLA, but we wish him a Happy Birthday. Several members of his family have joined him down there in FLA to celebrate with him.

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The Masonic Open House is coming up on Saturday, April 8 at 125 Highland Ave. (rear) here in the city, from 9 a.m. to 3p.m. The public is welcomed to come and tour the lodge and ask questions about masonry. The Officers of King Solomon’s Lodge AF & AM will all be present. Again, the public is encouraged to attend. Over 200 Masonic Lodges throughout Massachusetts are going to be opened. King Solomon’s Lodge was chartered in 1783, out of Charlestown, and met for many years at the Warren Tavern and was the lodge that owned the land and built the Bunker Hill Monument in 1794. The lodge has many antiques dating back to the late 1600’s to 1700’s and mid-1800’s. In 1896 the lodge moved to Somerville and, along with John Abbot Lodge and Soley Lodge, built a beautiful large building on the corner of Marshall & Pearl (an auto repair shop is there now). The building housed those three lodges and some Masonic related organizations until the fire in 1969 destroyed the property. King Solomon’s Lodge is the only surviving lodge left in Somerville. In the 1980’s there were 5 lodges here in the city. King Solomon’s bought 125 Highland Ave. in 1987 and still owns it, together with The Independent Lodge, which is a newly charted Portuguese/Brazilian speaking lodge. It’s kind of cool that one of Masonry’s oldest Masonic Lodges is meeting in the same place along with one of Masonry’s youngest/newest lodges. Truly, both lodges are very active and vibrant in membership and diversity, matching the city of Somerville today.

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Local city wide elections are on for this year, and soon the process will begin with the election department giving out nomination papers for the various candidates who are running and who might consider running. We heard so far two candidates in Ward 3 for School Board, Valdo Meneses and Lee Palmer, who probably has the edge in Ward 3. She’s the former campaign manager for Rep. Denise Provost. In Ward 4 we heard that lifelong resident and well-known Bobby Potaris is going to jump in the race for School Board member. He recently became a father. In Ward 6 we hear names coming to us lately, but we can’t believe that no one is going to run for the School Board there. We heard that Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin, who really moved to Ward 1 so he could run for the office, just might have one lifelong east Somerville resident who is thinking about it. No name for mayor other than, of course, our popular Mayor Joe Curtatone, who by the way is the longest serving mayor in Somerville’s history. It must be all those road races we have or the low taxes. He’s sure is a popular guy! Don’t forget all the jobs being created by City Hall over the past few years. We still love the one called Constituent Service Director at over $100K, and Maintenance Director hired at one salary and then raised within a month on the job!

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As we have seen here many times over the years, when something is going to change so called neighborhood groups pop up everywhere and claim immediately to speak for all. Remember the group responsible for stalling development at Assembly? Several new groups are arising out of the Union Square area, calling themselves by different names. Our city is small enough that all parts of the city and everyone across the various neighborhoods should be interested in what is going to happen in Union Square. We’re going to watch the various groups and hopefully we don’t get another stall group like the ones that halted construction at Assembly Square for many years, costing the city millions in potential tax revenue. Assembly Square now has rentals for one bedroom at $2100 a month and two bedrooms are now 3K a month. Other than the low income units there, do you know anyone living there paying that rent? You ever notice that the favorite term of late from politicians is “affordable housing?” What is the current definition of that? Like the development headed by SCC at Saint Polycarp Village, where we heard a rumor that not only was it built by unions, its current occupants are not former Somerville residents.

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Some members of the Board of Alderman are once again proposing legislation that would limit developers from contributing to local campaigns. We think instead of making it a limit, why not have it so that no developer can contribute any monies to anyone’s campaign? That would apply to all elected officials here in the city. Why don’t we make sure that these boards like ZBA, Planning and Redevelopment boards have term limits? One five year term and you’re off that board. Maybe since we’re on the subject, let’s go all the way and have the Alderman vote in term limits for Alderman, School Board members and the Mayor? Everyone is for transparency in government. Now let’s see who on the Board will propose these changes as well.

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Happy 33rd Anniversary to our friends at Victors Deli in Ball Square. What an awesome place. Everyone loves the place and the always friendly smiles of both Rosa and Victor, along with Nancy and new son in law Jason. A great place, great food and great people. What more can you ask for? If you’re not a customer yet – and we find that hard to believe – try it out. You’ll be back for more. Again, happy 33rd and lots more to come.

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Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 7 School Committee member Carrie Normand, and 34th Middlesex District Representative Christine Barber will be holding joint open offices hours on Saturday, March 21, 3:30-5 p.m. at Angelina’s Pizzaria, 230 Holland St., Teele Square. Ask your questions, and share your issues, and ideas.

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Learn about Somerville High School’s Center for Career and Technical Education programs at the 2015 CTE Vocational Fair on Saturday, March 21st.  Guests will get an inside look at the CTE’s 13 trade programs, and have an opportunity to participate in hands-on activities. The day’s events include tours led by CTE Student Ambassadors. Somerville High School’s CTE programs are preparing students for success beyond high school, using the latest technology and the most cutting-edge techniques. Stop in on March 21 between 9:00 a.m. and noon to find out more. Free and open to the public.

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The Duhamel Education Initiative (DEI) invites you to its annual spring fundraiser, the 19th Annual Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, March 28, at the First Church Somerville, 89 College Ave. Each year, the Pancake Breakfast has proven to be a great social affair whose proceeds support a number of special programs for Somerville Public Schools students; suggested donations are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $5 for children 10 and under. The Pancake Breakfast also offers an opportunity to meet and sample the excellent culinary skills of Somerville’s School Committee. Breakfast will be prepared and served by School Committee members. Reservations for this event are not required. Stop in and bring family and friends. For information about this and other DEI events, and ways you can support the Duhamel Education Initiative, visit http://www.duhameleducationinitiative.org.

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Youth Summit: The Youth Summit will bring together youth leaders, youth workers, and others from the communities of Somerville, Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Waltham and Watertown, who are invested in creating impact for positive change around youth issues. The evening includes food, music, resources, solutions, best practices, building connections, and prizes. 5-8:30 p.m. at the Dante Alighieri Italian Cultural Center, 41 Hampshire Street in Cambridge. For information contact Heang Ly (heang@teenempowerment.org). Co-sponsored by CHNA 17 and Teen Empowerment.

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Guns ‘n Hoses 11th Annual Hockey Game: Support Somerville Youth Hockey! Come on down to the Somerville Rink on Saturday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. and watch Somerville’s Police and Firefighters compete on the ice. A $5.00 donation is suggested. All monies raised will be donated to Somerville Youth Hockey. See you there!

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March 28, 2015 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. – Wig and ‘Stache Bash: Line up a babysitter, wear a wig and/or mustache, and join the fun at the Wig and ‘Stache Bash at Cuisine en Locale, 156 Highland Ave. in Somerville. Proceeds from this fundraiser will support off-site learning programs for the Healey School. Food from local vendors and restaurants will be served. This is a 21+ event. Dinner and drinks starting at 6 p.m., ‘wig out dance party with DJ’ starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wig-and-stache-bash-tickets-15952745090.

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Somerville Little League: 2015 online registration is now open. Register today at www.somervillelittleleague.org. 42 Cross Street, Somerville, MA 02145. Phone: 617.629.5221 Internal office extension: 6013 www.somerville.k12.ma.us.

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The Tufts University Department of Music presents The Art of the Fugue in Color, a performance by the performance faculty harpsichordist Frances Conover Fitch, Arcadia Viols, and guest artists, in the Distler Performance Hall at the Perry and Marty Granoff Music Center on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. The artists reveal the stunning architecture of J.S. Bach’s last masterpiece in the varied colors of early instruments, including strings, winds, and keyboards. This concert is presented as part of the Sunday at Tufts – Community Concert Series.