CAAS’ Spring Party! This year it is at the Arts at the Armory on Thursday, June 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend this event free of charge. Beverages and light refreshment will be served.  CAAS is the local Community Action Agency here in Somerville, “working to end Poverty where we live.” Started back in the early 80’s, they do a lot of good things here in the city. For more information go online www.caasomerville.org or call 617-623-7370.

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Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters will be hosting his first re-election kickoff party on Monday night, June 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sally O’Brien’s on Somerville Avenue. A great guy and very busy running all over Ward 3, working hard representing his ward, just like Tom Taylor did.

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The city budget is being debated and discussed this week. Very interesting, the people who have received pay raises. Even some part-timers that haven’t been working in their jobs for more than a year or two. We’re going over the budgets of the past 3-4 years and noticing how many got raises. Not even in the private sector do you see these kinds of raises. Go online and review for yourself, and in particular notice the title to some of these jobs your tax dollars are going towards: www.somervillema.gov or go directly to our web site: www.thesomervilletimes.com and download the budget to review. Stay tuned, we will be releasing family ties. Interesting to see how many former city elected officials now work for the city of Somerville both full time and part time. Stand by for names and salaries.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our Villen friends and just friends of The Times this week: Happy Birthday to Brendan Mansfield, a nice guy who works over at Harvard but is a new Villen here in the city, from Davis Square. We wish him the best. Happy Birthday to Attorney and good guy Mike Dwyer, who has opened his new office at Assembly Row. We wish him the very best for his new office and, of course, hope he has a great birthday. Former Senator and seen all over here in the Ville, is Anthony Galluccio, celebrating his birthday this week and we wish him the best as well. A great guy and former Chairperson of the Somerville License Board is having his birthday this week, Raymond Trant of the famous Trant family here in Somerville. A great guy. Suzanne Bremer, well known around the city as well, is celebrating this week. We certainly wish her the very best on her birthday. A good friend and awesome lady, Beth Chamberlain, who is in the dog raising business, we wish her the very best on this her birthday as well. To all others both here in the Ville and fans of our paper celebrating this week, we salute you.

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On Tuesday, June 16 at 8:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 30 Washington St., the Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Women’s Networking Breakfast and a fast-paced discussion of its future. Featuring special guest Kelly Thompson Clark, President/CEO of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce along with Somerville Chamber Chair Rebecca Schrumm of Schrumm Financial. Discussion leaders will include: Lindsay Venza, East Boston Savings Bank; Lindsay Smythe, Boys and Girls Clubs of Middlesex County; and Lily Belle Berezin of Federal Realty Investment Trust. 8:00 a.m. check in and networking. For reservations email to smackey@somervillechamber.org.

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We heard that State Representative Christine Barber, who represents Wards 4 and 7 here in Somerville, as well as South Medford and the Hillside, has moved from Thurston Street in Ward 4 to Packard Avenue in Ward 7.

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We’ve been looking over some of the candidates’ websites (those that have them) and found candidate Ward 6 Charles Chisholm’s site of particular interest. A very interesting group of people and range of experience. Check it out at www.charlesjchishom.com. Every week we are going to mention a candidate’s website and give our opinion. Charlie has a full resume and pictures going back many years here in the Ville. We think it’s interesting.

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We understand the mayor is in China, so according to the city charter the President of the Board of Alderman sits as mayor if something goes wrong or is needed until he returns. Normally, you’d think Omar Boukili, the aide to the mayor would be in charge. Isn’t he always in charge even when the mayor is around? In the old days here in the city some past Presidents of the Board of Aldermen would jump at the chance to run in and sit at the mayors desk ordering Pizza or Chinese Food.

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Congratulations to Attorney Michael T. Dwyer a lifelong resident and a former Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney and in the private practice now for many years, has opened his new office at 5 Middlesex Avenue Suite 400. His telephone number is 617-625-5200. He can also be reached online at his website www.mikedwyerlaw.com. We wish him the very best in his new office and much success in his practice.

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Join Groundwork Somerville for their Cleaning & Greening event at Draw 7 Park on June 14. Did you know there is still snow in Somerville? Draw 7 Park served as a snow depository over the winter and STILL contains large snow piles from this winter’s record-breaking storm. While the snow will eventually melt, the large amount of trash and debris left behind will not. Luckily, Groundwork Somerville is here to help by continuing their Cleaning & Greening program. This new community-based volunteer program consists of monthly projects to improve public spaces around the city of Somerville. Thus far, their Cleaning & Greening projects have included: Earth Day Cleaning & Greening at Kennedy School and Somerville Library West; Comcast Cares cleanup at multiple locations around Somerville; South Street Farm Cleaning & Greening. The next project for their Cleaning & Greening program will be held on June 14 from 10 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Draw 7 Park in Somerville. Groundwork Somerville will be working to gather 50+ volunteers to get the park back into shape. In July, they will be back for a mid-summer clean up at South Street Farm and in August, they will be tackling Davis Square. With the help of individual and business based partnerships, Groundwork Somerville’s Cleaning & Greening program will bring our community together to make the city sparkle. Contact: Devin Powers at devin@groundworksomerville.org. Phone: 508-628-9988.

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Joe’s Jazz and Blues Festival is back this year on Saturday, June 20. Get ready for a free all-day outdoor event in beautiful Powderhouse Park. The Somerville High School Jazz Ensemble will kick off the concert at noon, getting the crowd going with sounds ranging from American Jazz to Delta Blues. There will be non-stop music from 12 – 6 p.m.