Happy Halloween to all. This year in particular, be careful driving around the city and watch out for young kids darting in between cars. We hope all is well with everyone and the kids enjoy the fun of the night showing off their costumes, before the PC Police ban them because they offend a small group of people. Most of us growing up couldn’t wait for this holiday, dressed up in homemade costumes.

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Don’t forget to turn back your clocks this coming Saturday night (after midnight).

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It was brought to our attention recently that candidate Lance Davis who is seeking the Ward 6 Alderman seat happens to be corporate lawyer for Oracle and who, by the way, claims to be Progressive at the same time. It turns out that attorney Davis is a registered Independent. Guess who is among his many endorsements, other then the usual political crowd who by the way are all registered Democrats and consider themselves as progressives? It seems that the Progressive Democrat Committee here in the city has gone outside their Democratic circle and endorsed Lance Davis over a true progressive, Elizabeth Weinbloom, who opposes him on Election Day. We are stunned that the Progressive Democrat Committee has done this, not endorsing one of their own and giving an endorsement to someone who is a corporate lawyer for one of the country’s largest companies which in the past has laid off thousand of employees. Oh, we almost forgot, the union endorsements given to him were also a shock. Imagine, The Somerville Municipal Employees Association along with local 25 also endorsed Mr. Davis. If Mr. Davis gets elected he will have several different groups to thank, won’t he?

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Bad News down in the Inspectional Services Department. We hear through the rumor mill that there is some paperwork missing in the department. It seems as though someone submitted what we hear is fraudulent paperwork, including blueprints with fraudulent signatures on two buildings owned by the same owner on Holland Street. Amazing how things disappear. Could this be the real reason why permit issuing is delayed? Probably not, but we guess Goran Smiljic, the Department Head down there at ISD, had better get his friend Omar from the mayor’s office to help retrieve them, instead of trying out all our new restaurants for lunches. On the “empty desk” Inspectional Services Department front, we hear they are still empty and collecting dust. We heard on Facebook, of all places, that someone just might be applying for the job. We hope they hit our crack Personnel Department soon. We’re learning fast the inner workings of the various departments up in City Hall that are in the circle of issuing permits now. The Planning Department is the second ring in the circle of permits, which must be approved to move on to the next department. This is all laid out in the “Citizen Serve” program, which Mr. Smiljic brought here. Are the individuals in the Planning Department who review the permits for such things as kitchen and bathroom remodeling, repairing of stairs, roofs or even a window replacement qualified to do so? No wonder the system of the so-called “Citizen Serve” program is stalled and people are waiting weeks and sometimes months for their permits to be issued to do the work! Imagine how you’d feel if you were doing a major job like renovating a complete house or business and have to go through this process? It used to be you’d go to the Inspectional Services Department and pay for the permit, show the inspector what you’re going to do and they would be visiting the job site while working and even go after the work is done and sign off on the permit so that life can begin for homeowners and business people, and then they would be issued the permit. Are those days gone? Yet City Hall will tell you (including most aldermen) it’s a friendly city when it comes to permits and business. Well, aren’t we?

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This Saturday, October 31, from 3 to 6 p.m., East Somerville Main Streets is holding its Halloween Block Party at Chuckie Harris Park on Cross Street East. They will have plenty of fun and free games and activities for the whole family, including: Make-your-own Halloween Mask with The Beautiful Stuff Project, Face Painting, Guess the Gross Food, Halloween maker-fun with Parts and Crafts, Family Photos, and more!

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This Sunday, November 1 at 3p.m., at The Nave Gallery, 155 Powderhouse Blvd., it’s their Spontaneous Music and Live Painting event with the UnYoung (Blickenderfer/Masuko/Brunel), along with guest painters Iku Oseki and Michael Robbins. Suggested donation of $10 is requested. Artwork will be auctioned off at the end of event. All proceeds to benefit The Somerville Homeless Coalition.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our Villen and friends as well as friends of The Times: To our good friend Dick Hart of the famous Spring Hill Harts. What a nice guy, and a great family. We wish Dick a great day for himself. Another Villen celebrating this week is Barry Rollins. We wish him a big happy birthday. Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan is celebrating this week. We bet he wants to top the election here. We wish him the very best. Over in Medford, we wish Erin DiBenedetto, who grew up here in Winter Hill and resides in Medford where she’s is up for re-election herself on the School Board, a Happy Birthday as well. We wish our own local real estate agent Clifton Verdieu of the Norton Group a special happy birthday.

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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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Word of the Week: Self Indulgence: Excessive or unrestrained gratification of one’s own appetites, desires, or whims. Sound familiar?

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Still time send in or call in or email in for our “Best of Somerville Awards.” The ballot is out so look it over and vote for your favorite and if you don’t see the category let us know or send in your recommendation. You can email, call and leave a message or drop off at the mailbox at the office located at 699 Broadway in Ball Square. Vote your favorite and the winners will be announced in the November 4 edition of The Somerville Times. Best of Somerville is done every year. You can go online to our website and check out the previous winners, and maybe they will be again?

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Last week we asked what is the difference between “likes” on Facebook and “actual posts read” and do you buy “likes.” One online poster gave us the answer, and we appreciate it. So, it’s not how many LIKES you have on Facebook, it’s how many has it reached, which in most cases is way less than the actual likes, right?

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We’re predicting less then a 20% voter turnout on Tuesday. We got our prediction from Alderman at Large Bill White, who knows figures and, frankly, is usually right.

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Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Michele Lee Haley, who passed away this week unexpectedly. She was very young and leaves behind many friends and grieving family members. They are asking for help paying for services. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com. They have raised a few thousand, but need more. The wake will be at Doherty’s this Thursday, 4-8 p.m. and the church service is Friday at St. Ann’s. In lieu of flowers please go to the following web site to help the family out with the cost of the funeral: www.gofundme.com/7274dt5g

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Somerville High School’s 50th (1965) had their reunion this past Saturday evening at Woburn’s Crown Plaza. Several who still live in the city attended. The class attendance was about 156 including spouses. Everyone had a great time. Lots of memories, and without those nametags would have been challenging to recognize anyone.

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ResiStat meeting this fall will provide updates from city staff as well as the mayor and aldermen regarding ongoing projects and initiatives. Ask questions and share your feedback with neighbors: Ward 7: Mon., Nov. 2, West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powder House Blvd.; Ward 4: Wed., Nov. 4, Healey School, 5 Meacham St.; Ward 6: Thurs., Nov. 5, Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave.; Ward 5: Mon., Nov. 9, Kennedy School, 5 Cherry St.; Ward 3: Tues., Nov. 10, Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave.; Ward 2: Mon., Nov. 16, Argenziano School, 290 Washington St.; Ward 1: Wed., Nov. 18, East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St. All meetings run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Come by at 6 p.m. to enjoy pizza and other refreshments while you talk with neighbors.

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It was nice to see Alderman Bob McWatters and his campaign manager and friend Zachary “Zak” Zasloff (remember that name, he’s going to be around and involved here in the city) at the Little Sisters of the Poor “Pizza Party/Halloween Celebration.”