Tonight Wednesday, Sept. 8 at City Hall at 7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers, Ward Alderman 5 Sean O’Donovan, who is also chair of the committee on Public Utilities, will host a public meeting with NSTAR present to explain recent outages here in Somerville that affected a lot of people in their homes as well as in many businesses for hours at a time.  The meeting is open to the public and Alderman O’Donovan is hoping a lot of people show up.

***************

Shhhh did you hear all those doors slam shut at Somerville of the south on the cape and all the way up to New Hampshire in the Somerville of the north. Summer is over and school is back, vacations are over and let’s get ready now for Christmas coming up in just four short months, but of course before that we have that magical day of  Tuesday November 2^{, the} general election in which we can send a huge message to incumbents, go ahead and mark that date on your calendar.

***************

Primary election is next Tuesday, go out and vote, in particular vote to re-elect Sal DiDominico who represents only two precincts here in Somerville. Remember to give him a vote; he was just elected in a special election only a few months ago…so the’s not an entrenched incumbent.      One other candidate we are working and hoping will get the Democratic nomination is Guy Glodis who has a great record as Sheriff of Worcester County. We hope he wins.

****************

We hear that at Sagra restaurant in Davis Square Sunday night there was a gang related stabbing. Hopefully the police and the new chief will get a handle such a vicious crime – scary stuff.

***************

Our condolences and sympathies to the family of Rita Schaejbe, Rita was a fine person who spent more hours than we can count helping others through groups like the Committee for a Response to Aids and often at her church with CCD classes. Rita was a nice lady who will be missed by a lot of people.

****************

Condolences to the family of Joe Galvin on his recent passing, Joe was a former Somerville School committeeman and one of the longest sitting people to hold that seat in the 1940s and 1950s. Joe was a nice guy, known by many here.

***************

Get well wishes to Don Benton who has been a bit under the weather lately. Don is famous around the city as a longtime (and one of the best around) DJ’s at parties and local clubs.

***************

CAFE AROMA on Highland Avenue is open and offering coffee and some amazing food, including Greek specialties by owner and Chief Chef Olga Gerakis.  Olga and her help (her friendly kids) are there and waiting to serve you with good food and daily specials, try the Mousaka and Baklava it’s got to be the best in the city.

***************

Happy Birthday to Patty Hamel Oppedisano who was “waitress of the year” for the past two years here in Somerville, we hear she got a new tattoo; we don’t know where but ask her when you see her.  Also Happy Birthday to Grace Abuzzio former Alderman here in the city and former aid to Registrar Gene Brune.   She’s a great Somerville person, retired but still often seen here in Somerville.

***************

Be sure to check out the newly remodeled COMICAZI in Davis Square with their great selection of comic books. The friendly staff is always there to help you even if you are not a comic book nut, like some of us here at the News.

***************

Don’t forget the Annual Somerville News Writers Festival on Saturday November 13 at the Center for Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue, cost is $10 and starts at 7 p.m. Go online to our web site and check out who this year’s guest are. Log on to www.thesomervillenews.com  the writer’s festival link is off to the right side.  It’s a great time and gets bigger every year, thanks to the hard work of Doug Holder and Tim Gager.

***************

We reached 5,000 friends on Facebook this week and now we’re starting a Fan page, we have three times as many friends on Facebook as the Farm Team. Our new web site has seen rise as well in hits and in particular pages viewed daily.

***************

News Publisher emeritus Bob Publicover is working on his third book (and working and working).  You can also find Bob talking to friends on Facebook. Who says the old guy can’t learn new tricks?  Look for him on Facebook and friend  him.

***************

The first Great Belmont Park reunion will be held on Saturday September 18 at the Medford VFW from 6 to midnight.  It looks like a great time with many old friends getting the chance to meet once more.  For more information email willymedeirosbelmontpark666@aol.com.

***************

Please be aware that the Capuano Early Childhood Center will be open for the first day of school on Monday, September 13.  All orientation appointments for Thursday, Sept. 9, and Friday, Sept. 10, are cancelled. When families come to school on Monday, Sept. 13, they are asked to use the Franklin Street entrance because the office area is still under construction. The Capuano Center had water damage from the floods on July 10. Major repairs are done and school is ready for students. There are no health or safety risks. There will be an informational meeting for all parents and guardians on Wednesday, September 8th, at 6 pm in the Winter Hill Community School cafeteria, 115 Sycamore Street.

***************

The Somerville Garden Club Perennial and House Plant Sale will be held Saturday, September 18, in Davis Square. A wide selection of perennials, trees, shrubs, and houseplants are available, and knowledgeable Garden Club members can answer any questions. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Davis Square Statue Park, at the intersection of College Avenue and Holland Street, across from the T. The sale takes place rain or shine.
The SGC’s popular sale offers a wide choice of  plants at reasonable prices. Classic perennials for sun and shade are joined by groundcovers, herbs, and shrubs, as well as houseplants of all varieties. Each plant is labeled with care instructions, including light and soil requirements. There is also a Horticultural Information table, garden and flower arranging items, and books with a gardening theme. This is a great opportunity to become a Somerville Garden Club member, and the club’s informative newsletter will be available. Proceeds from the Sale benefit the Garden Club’s community planting and education programs. For more information, please visit www.somervillegardenclub.org.

***************

Congratulations to Bill Coyle of Somerville, a recipient of one of 20 literary fellowships from the NEA to support the translation of works into English.  Available to previously published literary translators for specific projects, many of these fellowships will result in the first English translation of outstanding works of international literature.  This years projects vary from the ancient to the contemporary, involving works in 13 different languages from 17 countries ranging from novels and poetry to memoirs and myths.

***************

Alan T. Cunningham, son of Mr. Thomas F. Cunningham and Ms. Jacqueline M. Cunningham of Somerville, began his first year at Saint Michael’s College this month. Cunningham graduated from Saint Clement High School before coming to Saint Michael’s, which is located in Burlington, Vermont.

***************

We want to send a get well wish  out to Somerville Police Officer Michael Kiely who spent the weekend in the hospital and  had emergency surgery on Sunday night. We heard  Michael was feeling pretty ill while investigating a violent stabbing in the projects on friday afternoon. He is a great detective and clears a lot cases here in the Ville. We wish him a speedy recovery so that he can continue to protect the Ville!