Save the date, Saturday October 17 at the Holiday Inn when the SHS Scholarship Foundation will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. For updates go to their Facebook page.

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With all the baloney and no fact checking about the property on Somerville Avenue and how the rents have increased, The Boston Globe did a story on rents in Union Square and in particular they mentioned Elegant Furniture, saying they were being forced out because of high rent. Well, we were contacted and given the truth. We talked to the owner and their management company and they showed us that Elegant Furniture was five months behind in their existing rent when the courts gave the eviction order. The court didn’t give an eviction notice because of an increase in rent, but rather because they owed five months back rent. The management company even granted a few extra months for them to move out beyond the court date. To this date, the owners have not received the back rent on the store. Apparently, the Globe reporter never contacted the owners, even though they sent a reply after the article was written to say that Elegant Furniture didn’t move out because of rent being increased, but because they owed five months back rent. Yes, the rents are increased, and now that US2 is occupying the storefront they are paying substantially higher rent. FYI, the same thing goes around the corner to the coffee shop. They weren’t evicted because of a rent increase, it was for lack of paying the rent.

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The 14th Annual Redbones Pig Pickin’ Benefit for the Somerville Homeless Coalition is coming up on Monday, July 27 (rain date of August 3). The event will be outside of Redbones on Chester Street, 5:00-9:00 p.m. Enjoy a pig roast, craft beer and live music for a great cause. What could be better? Proceeds go to Somerville Homeless Coalition.

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No business is to be done at the Veterans Services Dept. this week. Kathy is on vacation and the doors are closed. If you have any business there we guess you can either go to the mayor’s office or to the state. You’d think with all the personnel in the Communications Department they would have had someone at least answer the phones for the veterans. The last time we counted there were over 12 employees in Communications, not counting SomerStat.

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Ward 3 Alderman Robert McWatters did a great job last week at the Warren Avenue Building in honoring Betty Medeiros, who was president of the Tenants Association there for 15 years until her passing. He was joined by candidate for the Ward 3 School Committee seat, Lee Erica Palmer, and all four of the Aldermen at Large, M. Rossetti, B. White, J.Connolly and D. Sullivan.

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Speaking of Lee Erica Palmer, who is a candidate for the open seat in Ward 3 for the School Committee race, we see her everywhere, almost like she has a twin. She’s all over Ward 3. She must be taking lessons from the good Alderman Bob McWatters. We wish her the best of luck over the summer months, campaigning for the seat.

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We’re often reminded here over the years, what loyalty to friends, relatives and political people truly is. We can’t help but think about someone telling us years ago that loyalty is a two way street. And if you give your word on something you never break it! Today’s world doesn’t seem to hold to those standards anymore. Just saying!

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Happy birthdays this week to some of our Villen friends and just friends of The Times: Happy birthday to Cheryl Chaille Horan, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a good one. A newbie to Somerville and another one from NJ is good guy John Serpico, who is very popular here in the Ville.

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

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Last week we mentioned that the only primary election this year will be held on a different day, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. Apparently, the reason for it is that the usual date would be on a religious holiday. Makes for an interesting primary in Ward 6, doesn’t it? We wonder who’s behind the move. It sounds like it’s made to confuse people. We asked a political lady here in the Ville and in her 80 years it’s also been a TUESDAY and normally the first one after Labor Day.

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A Somerville celebrity passed away this week. Our condolences to the family of Alex Rocco, who grew up here in Somerville. Alex was an actor who played many movies, but a lot of us remember him from his role as Moe Greene in The Godfather. He was born Alexander Federico Petricone.

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A sign in the window of the Thurston Spa informed the many loyal customers over the years that it will re-open on September 1.

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The 15th Annual John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 12 at the Falmouth Country Club. To get more information and to sign up go online at www.johns-team.org. A great event every year and a worthy cause. Get a group together and spend a nice day down on the Cape.

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This week’s SomerMovie Freeze will be Gremlins at Lincoln Park on Thursday, July 23 at Dusk.

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Somerville’s 12th annual National Night Out Against Crime and Drugs, hosted by Somerville Cares About Prevention (SCAP) in partnership with the Somerville Police Department and Somerville Office of Prevention (SOP), is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Foss Park, and will include Fire and Police Department demonstrations, a presentation from the Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit, live performances by the Somerville Sunsetters, Mission Church of Christ Choir, and Teen Empowerment, as well as youth activities, raffle prizes, and information tables from over 30 neighborhood agencies. This year’s event will have a special focus on prevention of prescription misuse and overdose prevention. Residents may bring unused prescription medications to a drop-off site at the Somerville Police Department information table at the event, which will be located near the fire engines. Also, Police and Fire Department personnel will be available to answer questions about the Good Samaritan Law and Narcan administration in the City of Somerville. For more information, visit http://www.nationalnightout.org/.