Next Monday night, June 29, popular Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters will be hosting his first re-election kickoff party on Monday night, 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. Special guest is Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, another local who made good.

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The City of Somerville’s 4th of July Fireworks takes place Thursday, July 2 at Trum Field with live entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. The entertainment lineup for the Fireworks includes performances by local Disco-Funk band Booty Vortex, the USO Metropolitan New York Performers, the Boston Windjammers, and the Somerville SunSetters, leading up to a 30-minute fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m.

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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. Go to our website for a direct link to the proposed budget.

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Happy birthdays this week to some of our Villen friends and just friends of The Times: A Happy birthday to one of Somerville most popular ladies and lifer, Ms. Paula LeBlanc, frequently spotted walking around the city. She always has a bright and positive thing to say about everyone. She works at Sean’s O’Donovan’s law office in Ball Square. You can easily spot Paula by her latest hair design and color! Another Happy Birthday to former Assistant Editor Jack Nicas, a smart guy and good guy who is now currently a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to Dave Mata, formerly of Somerville for a short stay, now living in San Francisco. A good guy. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to Joe Grafton, formerly of Local Somerville who is celebrating this week. To all the others we wish a big happy birthday. If you know of someone who is celebrating their birthday or any special day, let us at The Times know by calling 617 666-4010, and we’re at 699 Broadway anytime.

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Celia Taylor has asked everyone to remember to stop by and spread the word about their yard sale at 32 Vinyl Avenue, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday, June 24.

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The popular owner of Thurston Spa, Gerald LaFee, of Everett, passed away last week at the age of 63. His wake is at Doherty’s Funeral Home tonight, Wednesday the 24th from 4-8 p.m. Our sincere condolences to his family and many many friends and patrons over the years who thought very highly of him.

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Congratulations to the team from the city that worked hard to get us the All-America City award again for the third time. We heard that a lot of work and dedication went into the program and we thank them all on behalf of a grateful city.

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A bunch of rumors are going around this week. We can’t confirm it, but we heard they might be closing down St. Joseph’s Church in Union Square.

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Our good friend Jimmy DelPonte has decided to take up being a DJ again, so if you’re looking for a DJ for a party that does it all, contact Jimmy for the job. He’s on Facebook and is easy to contact. We wish him success, but we also know this is what he loves to do.

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None of the incumbents but one ward alderman face a race this year. Imagine a free ride in six of the wards. With only a Ward 6 Alderman race (seat being left vacant) heading to a primary this year and the Ward 4 School Committee seat also looks like a primary. Years ago, you’d have maybe 10 or more running for Alderman at Large, at least four, maybe five, in each ward and the salary was about $1,800. Now with the salary at about $23K and a city of 75K people, and no one will run against the incumbents. Are all the potential challengers applying for jobs at City Hall? And why not?

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We heard from several sources that there is disciplinary action being taken down at the Police Department. We heard that one of the police officers had been called into Chief Fallon’s office. We are not sure what is going on, except that a certain officer might have a problem. As of Tuesday we couldn’t get more information except that this was going to happen yesterday.

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There’s a new web site in town. Check it out at www.somervillema.com. The Somerville Times on the site.

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There will be a community meeting, sponsored by Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, regarding the proposed mixed-use development at 231 Lowell Street (19 condominium units and two commercial units) next Monday, June 29, 7:00 p.m. at the Visiting Nurses Association, 259 Lowell St. Plans can be seen at the City of Somerville website, http://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/LowellSt231-PlansOption1.pdf. Developer Steven Caruso, his Attorney Richard Di Girolamo, and Architect Peter Quinn will present the plans and answer questions. This would be an important project in the heart of Ward 5 and Somerville. 231 Lowell Street is near the coming Green Line Lowell/Magoun T station, the Lowell Street Bridge, and the Community Path Extension current end point. For more information contact Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, 617-629-8033 or mniedergang@somervillema.gov.

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You still have time to enroll in two great summer music camps: Somerville String Camp will be held at the Kennedy School, July 13-24, from 9:00am to 12:10pm. String Camp is open to violin, viola, cello and bass players of all ages, including beginners aged 7 and older. Tuition for the 2-week camp is $110 for Somerville residents; $120 for non-residents. For enquiries, email joannesadler@rocketmail.com. Download an application at www.somerville.k12.ma.us/music_camps. Camp Honk will be held at the Kennedy School, July 13-24, from 9:00am to noon. Campers will learn to have fun the street band way, be playful and spontaneous in playing their instrument, basic street band musical forms, and the history and culture of street bands around the world. Cost for 2 weeks is $160 ($80/week); family discounts and some scholarships may be available. To register, visit www.schoolofhonk.org/camphonk.

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Are you about to enter 5th through 9th grade? Do you love to write? Add to your fun and productivity this summer by coming to the middle school Writers’ Den. They meet informally to share writing, workshop ideas, learn some tips, choose and hear reading for writers, and participate in publishing. Summer Writing Adventures is now in its third year, Monday and Wednesday evenings, summer 2015, at the Somerville (Central) Public Library. Starting at 6:00 p.m. and usually going to 7:15 p.m. Come when you can and want to. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, magazine features, school newspaper reporting – what’s your interest? Please pack a pencil or a pen, a notebook or a pad, flashlight. Please bring a short completed piece of writing. Starting June 29th and continuing through the summer. Free. Drop in whenever you can. Interested? Contact aball@tuftsmedicalcenter.org or just show up.

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Join the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (CSO) this Sunday, 3 p.m., for POPS ON THE LAWN in Sennott Park (at Broadway and Norfolk Street, Cambridge) near Central Square, or in case of rain, indoors at Area IV Youth Center (243 Harvard Street) next to the park. Bring a picnic blanket and kick back for some fun for the whole family. Take a journey from Rossini to John Philip Sousa, from The Planets to Star Wars. Our youngest audience members even get to conduct the orchestra themselves. Many Somerville residents will be participating in the concert: Violinists Lane Marder and Josh Garstka, violist Kim Etingoff, cellist Nick Pittman, string bassist Dave Shrake, oboist Carolyn Hayes, trumpet player Dan Stringer, and CSO’s very special Music Director Cynthia Woods.