We, the owners, staff and all associates of The Somerville Times would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a prosperous New Year for 2016. We want to thank all our readers and fans for their support in helping to make The Somerville Times the largest circulating community newspaper here in Somerville. We have worked hard to fill the paper with Somerville people and their stories over these past several years, and we’re proud of what we have accomplished. We hope you continue to support us over the new year and, once again, from our family to yours, God bless everyone and thank you.

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There has been a lot of concern about the airplane noise coming over the city when they re-route the planes. Alderman At Large Mary Jo Rossetti has been the leading force taking on the cause to get some noise relief from the planes being re-routed over our city. There is currently a survey being conducted by MS Walker, Doctoral Candidate Dept. of Environmental Health, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The survey was primarily set up for the city of Boston, but Somerville has been added to it. It’s another avenue that could assist the cities argument with Massport and the impact of the air traffic. Alderman Rossetti is asking all those who are reading this to go online and take the survey, and tell your friends and family members to do so as well: www.noiseandthecity.org/english.

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Happy Birthdays this week to some of our Villen and friends as well as friends of The Times: Happy birthday to our good friend and sometime photographer, Kevin Dickinson, who’s always around in Union Square snapping pictures. We hope he has a great day for himself. Happy birthday to Jim Henry, a political guy, well known in many circles here in Somerville and Cambridge. We hope he has a great day as well. To all the others out there celebrating this week, we hope you have a great day for yourselves.

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Our condolences to the family of Lt. Paul Sullivan of the Somerville Fire Department, who recently passed away at a young age from cancer. He was a good guy and will be missed by his many family members and friends and as well his brothers and sisters of the Somerville Fire Department.

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There’s a new website 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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Those who might be interested in obtaining certification for firearms should look up the Lawrence Rod & Gun Club. They offer an extensive program at the end of which you receive certification for Massachusetts/NRA Certified Firearm Safety Classes. They run a class once a month, which is limited to 10 people and we hear that this is the place to go to learn safety when handling guns. Email gunclub@earthlink.net for more information and or go to their website at www.lawrencerodandgunclub.org and read up about the course.

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Remember, there will be no paper between Christmas and New Years. The Somerville Times will be taking the week off between holidays. The last paper of the year will be this one, Wednesday, December 23 (Christmas week) and will return on Wednesday, January 6, 2016. It’s always a slow week for news and this gives our hard working staff a week off to enjoy with their family and friends. If anyone has any questions you can call the paper at 617 666-4010.

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Word of the Week: Self-aggrandizing. The act of increasing one’s own power, importance, etc., especially in an aggressive or ruthless manner. Increase of one’s own power, wealth, etc., usually aggressively. Self-aggrandizement is defined as exaggerating one’s own importance or power. An example of self-aggrandizement is a person stretching the truth about him or herself. Sound familiar?

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This week the city will be on a different schedule because of the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, Dec. 24 City offices will close at 2 p.m. and meters and resident parking enforcement will not be in effect after 2. On Friday, Dec. 25 we’ll be closed all day with resident parking enforcement and meters not in effect. Trash and recycling collection will also be delayed one day, so if your normal trash day is Friday put everything out on Saturday. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week the city will be on a normal schedule.

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The Somerville Public Library (MA) is offering free technology classes to help residents feel at home on the world wide web. Visit the city’s website, http://www.somervillema.gov/, to learn more about the types of instruction available. To register for a class or for questions, please contact Heidi Downing, Technology Librarian, at 617-623-5000 x2920, or hdowning@minlib.net.

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The Somerville Winter Farmers’ Market is back at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave from 9:30 a.m.- 2 p.m., with an amazing selection of produce, meats, cheeses, fish, pastries, and lots more – all from local farms and businesses. It’s free. Every Saturday December through March.

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Reminder: Street sweeping is in effect until Dec. 31, unless otherwise announced. In the past it had to be called off early because of snow, but that doesn’t look to be the case this year.

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The 239th annual “Grand Union” flag-raising ceremony at Prospect Hill Park will be held on Thurs., Jan. 1, 2016 at 12 p.m. A processional led by a re-enactor portraying General George Washington on horseback will leave from the City Hall Concourse at 11:30 a.m. As always, members of the public are invited to participate, and are encouraged to wear traditional colonial clothing. The afternoon’s program will include songs, readings, and participants from the Ancient and Honorable Company (first chartered in 1638), as well as the Charlestown militia. This year’s celebrations will once again include His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot, who will be representing the British Army and will be bringing a message from King George III. The American Legion Post 19 Honor Guard will lead a military salute as a commemorative flag is raised atop the Prospect Hill Tower.

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CareWell Urgent Care will open  a new urgent care center in Somerville, today, December 23, located at 349 Broadway. This marks CareWell’s 15th location to open since 2012. The expansion is part of the company’s commitment to better serve the growing need for convenient and accessible healthcare in New England. In addition to this continued commitment to improving community health, CareWell will be offering free flu vaccinations at the new Somerville location from December 23 until January 31.