Join East Somerville Main Streets on Thursday September 24 at 7:00 p.m. for the premiere of the This Is East video project. East Somerville Main Streets, in collaboration with Somerville Arts Council and SCATV bring the stories of East Somerville to life. With interviews with dozens of members of the neighborhood, the This Is East video project tells the story of a community. Come to Chuckie Harris Park for a viewing of the film and watch your neighbors tell you what East Somerville means to them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn1ZWSPKXT4. The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded East Somerville Main Streets, in conjunction with the Somerville Arts Council, a grant to fund a place making initiative for East Somerville during 2014 and 2015. The initiative will celebrate, maintain and promote East Somerville’s identity at this time of change for the neighborhood. This event is only one piece of a much larger place making initiative that includes video stories, other events and more

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The Fluff Festival is September 26 at Union Square. For more information go to www.flufffestival.com. Lots of good things go on at this festival every year.

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The Somerville Homeless Coalition is holding its 20th Annual Somerville 5K Road Race on Saturday, October 3 at 9:00 a.m. at Davis Square in Somerville. The race starts and ends at the end of the bike path, behind Rite Aid on Highland Avenue and Grove Street. A Buffet Brunch follows the race. You can further support the Somerville Homeless Coalition by getting pledges for the race. Set up your own fundraising page here: http://bit.ly/1R7Lovn. Read about their programs here: http://bit.ly/1FVBSQe. Additional Info: The start is 9:00 a.m. sharp, rain or shine. Registration and check in: On race day 7:30—8:30 a.m. Wheelchairs must pre-register by September 20 to ensure safety precautions with local police. Early number pick-up available the week before in Davis Square. Details on pick-up option will be e-mailed at a later date.

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Saturday, October 17 at the Holiday Inn, the SHS Scholarship Foundation will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Over the years, the foundation has been responsible for handing out thousands of dollars in scholarships to deserving high school graduates. The Foundation idea was started by local publisher Robert J. L. Publicover, Tony Fedele, the headmaster at the high school, former Mayor Gene Brune and several other dedicated and committed community people. A Foundation that started with very little and has now grown to over $1M in scholarships. Call or go online to the Foundation’s Facebook site for reservations and cost of tickets.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our Villen friends as well as friends of The Times: Marsha Hamel-McGlashing is celebrating this week. Marsha has done a lot of work with Pop Warner and is one of the main reasons it remains so popular here in the city. Happy birthday Marsha. FYI, she’s from a great Somerville family , including her siblings and her mother. Happy Birthday to another local Villen who made good, Joseph Bordonaro is celebrating this week. A Somerville lady from the past and still around in her own real estate activities, Joetta Silva, whose husband used to own C21 Silva here in Somerville. We hope Joetta has a great day for herself. A nice lady, originally from Ireland, who still has that sweet brogue. Mrs. Joan O’Meara, we hope she and her husband Dan have a great day. We’re sure Dan will take Joan out to a nice restaurant. Happy Birthday Joan. Many more and thanks for everything. Our good friend and awesome CPA Wayne Snow, who also grew up here, is still well known with his many Somerville clients, even though he’s on Main Street in Charlestown. A great guy. Happy birthday, Wayne. A nice lady celebrates this week as well, Sue MacLeod, of the famous East Somerville MacLeod family. We wish Sue a happy birthday. To Mark Alston-Follansbee, the head of the homeless shelter here and past president of Rotary, also a great guy. He is celebrating this week as well. Happy birthday, Mark.

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The Somerville Rotary club is having its annual “Comedy Nite” at Giggles Comedy Club, Rte. 1 in Saugus, on Thursday, October 1. Tickets are only $25 per person and there will be lots of fun and door prizes, along with baskets of good stuff to bid on. But the night is at its best with the various comedians that show up and give a great performance, as always at Giggles. Join the club and your neighbors here in the city for a great night by contacting any of the members. Email Gilda Nogueira at gnogueira@ecsb.com.

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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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Alderman At Large Bill White presented an ordinance to establish a fund to provide for the assistance of homeowners whose property is being damaged by tree roots. As we all know, we walk down some of our streets and the trees have grown and lifted up the sidewalk and in some cases have damaged properties.

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Somerville Adult Evening School Registration is September 8, 10, 15, and 17. In person at Somerville High School, 83 Highland Ave., SHS Main Officefrom 6:00–8:00 p.m. or check it out online at: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/eveningschool. Classes begin Tuesday, September 29 and/or Thursday, October 1, 6:00–9:00 p.m. Classes include: Academic Recovery, Drivers Ed. Sewing, Computers, Spanish, ESL, Real Estate License, and Medical Interpretation. Special Zumba or YOGA classes are also being offered. 5 classes for $25 or walk in for $7. Why not enroll and begin your fall learning something new?

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Part 3 of the Somerville’s Building Department saga: We hear that the morale issue at the City of Somerville Inspectional Services Department is way down. We heard some interesting rumors out of the department. The city has promised to hire two more inspectors to help with the workload but no one has applied for them. Apparently, Somerville is on the bottom of the list for paying ISD inspectors, but not the bottom for management of the department. Remember, last week we reported that the guy originally hired to fill the position of Commissioner of Buildings couldn’t pass the test, and the city went ahead and created a new position and gave him a great salary. And now that he’s been on the job for just over a year we are told he got a raise of an additional $20K. The person who is filling the position of Commissioner of Buildings is also getting over $100K. This position was filled by an inspector that has been with the city for years and is very knowledgeable, and on top of that he’s certified and passed the test for the job. The other guy, Goran Smiljic, who couldn’t pass the test, is now in a newly created position as “Department Head” (FYI, they gave him a raise since he’s been on the job). We heard he’s best of friends with Omar in the mayor’s office. They have been seen together many times throughout the city at lunch in various places. It’s a good thing Somerville has so many restaurants to choose from to have discreet conversations. We heard Omar doesn’t have many friends, but we guess we heard wrong and we’re glad for him. While on the same subject, another person hoping to open a business here is still waiting after 60 days for his permits and is afraid to say anything to the department. He has asked us not to use his name in fear of retaliation by the department head. We can’t believe a city department head would retaliate, so we asked a couple of DPW employees on the promise not to say who they are, but we guess this guy Goran intimidates employees.

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Some administration’s personnel departments are busy trying to fill positions in the city and also busy creating them as well. We heard several other departments in the city have department heads as well who are not certified. We heard from sources that the Director of Traffic & Parking, who used to work for Good Time Emporium.

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A couple of weeks back we thought it was a violation of contract or maybe ethics or whatever to have a city employee take pictures on city time, collecting money from the taxpayers for one of the so-called area newspapers. This guy even posted it on Facebook saying he was the official photographer of the paper until it was taken down, but not before it was copied. One source told us they have pictures of him in DPW work clothes holding a camera. Guess he must be best of friends with the mayor or some alderman? It feels like he can do whatever he wants on taxpayer’s salary?

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Candidate for Ward 6 Alderman, Charles Chisholm, has asked us to mention that he appreciates those who came out to vote last week and truly appreciated those that voted for him. He thanks them and he also wishes the two finalists the best of luck in the November election. Charles also told us he’s not going anywhere. He plans on being active here in the city. He liked meeting people when he went door to door and now, although it’s a back seat, he will be seen and heard from. Charles says thank you very much!

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Now that the “primary” is over, it’s off to the November elections throughout the city. We wish all the candidates the best, and since most of the incumbents don’t have any opposition we hope they will still get out and meet the public. We know Alderman Rob McWatters is always working hard in Ward 3. He has those old time political skills, communicates, and knows what’s going on in the ward he represents. Ward Two Alderman Maryann Heuston is also someone who knows her job and is a big listening activist for her ward. She’s working very hard on the artificial turf or natural grass issue. A petition with over 1000 signatures has now been gathered and she’s working with the administration, hopefully to make everyone satisfied.

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The Ashley Madison scandal, which involved a cheaters website that was hacked, has some local celebrities that were found to have been exposed. It wasn’t just one firefighter. We now hear that two were exposed for playing on city time. We hear the City Hall guy asked to leave is now saying he’s got a better job offer.

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We heard from reliable sources that an investigation is going on with a particular department head and her staff. We hear it’s another TV investigation team doing it. We’re not sure yet, but we think it’s Fox 25. It seems like they got word that some people were being taken advantage of. We hope to hear more soon.

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Our 40th annual Best of Somerville Awards will be done in October. A ballot will be in the paper, so make sure you fill it out and let us know who you like the best in the many categories offered. If you don’t see a category you would like listed and want to nominate someone in it, feel free. Best of Somerville is done every year. You can go online to our website and check out previous winners, and maybe they will still be this year?

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So quiet on the candidate front, especially after that huge turnout of about 10% of eligible voters. One candidate running for office is working very hard, especially recently. He has been all over the city. Sean Fitzgerald for Alderman At Large is seeking one of the four seats currently being held by incumbents. Sean has run before here in Somerville and has a strong base. He’s proven to be an effective organizer. Although there’s no primary, he’s on the ballot in November.

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We understand that “Speakout” was taken down. We’re not sure why, but we heard some nasty comments was one reason and another was that Gatehouse was just cutting it off. It will be interesting to see the real reason, because with a circulation they have now at 1200 – and most of those buy it only for “Speakout” – to see how long they will last. There are some good writers over there and we only hope for the best for them.

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Somerville resident Shelisa Bittle was recently arrested and charged with with disorderly conduct, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and larceny. She was arranged and pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Court. And you thought Somerville’s old days reputation was a thing of the past.