On Thursday, May 19, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, who is originally from Somerville, is having a fundraiser starting at 5:30 over at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Her campaign coordinator here in the city Ward 3 Alderman Bob McWatters has let us know he is looking for a good showing from Somerville. Marian Ryan is doing a great job as District Attorney working hard here in both Somerville as well as Middlesex County. We supported her in her very first election bid for the seat back couple of years ago and see that she has done a great job representing Middlesex County.

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It seems that our own Mayor Joe Curtatone had another quiet fundraiser this past week, thrown by none other than Local car magnate and property owner Herb Chambers. You know, the guy who advertises his Mercedes dealership saying it’s Boston not Somerville. The private, by invitation only, fundraiser was help on his super-yacht “Excellence V.” We heard that a small but generous group of donors were present, and someone close mentioned that a nice bundle was collected for the mayor’s war chest.

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Could it be true? We heard that one family in particular that has many members working for the city is about to have another member of that same family hired? We heard from sources that this might be number ten for the family members. They are busy down at personnel, aren’t they? Another family has three members working for the city and we hear that they are trying hard to get family member number four working there. We suggest he gets involved in the hockey rink!

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Now that George Landers – a nice guy and very popular here in the city – has retired and we hear former Ward 2 Alderman Kenny Joyce is getting his job. We’re wondering if a countrywide search was done or was it a citywide search? Also rumored to retire – and a lot of elderly will be both excited and sad to hear it – is Cindy Hickey over at the Council On Aging. We hear that former School Committee member and Ward 1 Alderman Maureen Bastardi is getting her job.

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Don’t forget good guy and friend to many here in the city, Alderman at Large and President of the Board Bill White is having a fundraiser on Thursday, June 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Cantina La Mexicana. As soon as he sets it in motion, we will let you know. We’re very lucky to have Bill on the Board of Alderman. He’s one of the smartest and most forward thinking aldermen. He is currently in his fourth year as President of the Board of Alderman. You know you’re good when your colleagues on the Board keep voting for you every year for the office of President. Not in our lifetime has that accomplishment ever been made.

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It appears that the city’s Municipal Compensation Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend raising Mayor Joe Curtatone’s salary to $180,000. He currently makes $145,000. The raise, along with other non-union employees, must have final approval by the Board of Alderman. We heard that the Board as well will be recommended by the Advisory Board for a raise. We hear that another move by the Board of Alderman is not only to give themselves a raise but to also hire staff people to assist them in their duties. Along with budgets for the city coming up shortly, make sure you watch the aldermen’s meeting for the hearings.

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The good Alderman from Ward 7, Katjana Ballantyne, who is also Vice President of the Board, will be hosting a fundraiser herself on Monday, May 23, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at 212 Holland Street. Alderman Katjana is a new face on the scene here in Somerville. She’s doing a great job up there in Ward 7, as we’re told by many who live there.

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Happy Birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Happy Birthday to Caroline Shea Rosas, a local lady, mom and well known throughout the community. We hope she has a great day. To the one and only Feargal O’Toole, owner of Data for Donkeys and the father of Tess. He’s good guy and well known in the political circles here in Somerville and elsewhere, and he’s an East Somerville guy so we know he has class. Happy Birthday to Scott Diamond who grew up here in Somerville and just happens to be Director of Marketing at Anheuser Busch.

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Speaking of Happy Birthdays, this past Sunday a surprise Birthday party was thrown for Mary Hart, formerly of the Berkeley Street Hart family. It was great to see all her children and grandchildren present in one room at the same time since the last party thrown for husband Richard a few years ago. We were present and wished Mary the best. She and Richard are old time friends here, going back to the 70’s. It was nice to see all the Harts grown and with their own families. We were told that Tyler Hart is engaged. Ricky Hart traveled up from his new home in Florida for the event, which made mom very happy.

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Another well known family moved out of the city this past week: We wish Bill and Gail Chambers the very best in their new digs up on the north shore. Many here in the city remember Bill’s mother Phyllis Chambers, who was one of the originals at CAAS agency in Union Square. Everyone who knew Phyllis loved her and respected her. Bill grew up in their home on Oxford Street. Now that parcel of land and dwelling will be built brand new.

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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. Someone asked online why we keep these two websites in Newstalk. We guess it’s because we like them.

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For those that might be interested in obtaining certification for firearms should look up the Lawrence Rod & Gun Club. They provide 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. We’ve been told that the course has seen a major increase in people applying for it, especially women. We can tell you first hand here that it’s a great course and quite thorough. The same goes for this in Newstalk. The club has informed us that many residents of Somerville have called or gone to the club to find out about certification.

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Remember, for the best footwear and other name brand clothing go online to www.shoebuy.com, compliments of local resident and SVP Zach Zasloff.

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It seems like a lot of people over in Everett are big fans of our mayor since he filed an appeal based on the Environmental Permit to stop the casino. One of our fans who we won’t mention was at City Hall in Everett recently, and a city councilor said some rather nasty stuff about our mayor. Maybe wearing apparel with the marking on it “Villen” wasn’t a good idea in Everett? A Wynn official says it appears that the $2 billion Wynn Boston Harbor resort due to open by early 2019 could depend on how a meeting next month between Somerville’s mayor and the casino developers on the project’s environmental permit works out.

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Join Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 3 Alderman Robert McWatters, the Community Preservation Committee and Community Preservation Act (CPA) project implementers on Tuesday, May 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for a celebration to mark the reopening of Prospect Hill Tower. The stabilization of Prospect Hill Tower is the first project to be completed with Somerville CPA funds. Attendees will gather at 5:30 p.m. at the Prospect Hill Tower for a short speaking program followed by the opportunity to climb Prospect Hill Tower on a guided tour led by local historian Larry Willwerth, who will share the lesser known history of Prospect Hill. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about other ongoing Community Preservation Act projects from project implementers who will share information about their projects at tables around the Tower. Light refreshments will be served. For more information about the Somerville Community Preservation Act, visit www.somervillema.gov/cpa.