The 13th annual National Night out against Crime and Drugs takes place on Tuesday, August 2, hosted by Somerville Cares about Prevention (SCAP) in partnership with the Somerville Police Department, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, and the Somerville Office of Prevention (SOP). Somerville’s celebration of National Night Out will take place at Foss Park from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event will include Fire and Police Department demonstrations, a presentation from the Massachusetts State Police K-9 unit, live performances by the Somerville Sunsetters, Mission Church of Christ, Teen Empowerment, and the Red Tiger Academy of Martial Arts, youth activities and games, raffle prizes, and information tables from over 30 neighborhood agencies.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Happy Birthday to Patty Norton and her grandson Corey Norton who celebrate birthdays on the same day this week. We wish them both a happy birthday. Happy birthday to Ricky Hart, who also celebrates this week. He’s come a long way, and is the father of three. We wish him the best as well. A good friend, Joe DaSilva from Somerville, is celebrating this week and we wish him the best as well. Happy birthday to our friend and local newbie from NJ, John Serpico. We wish him a happy birthday. Big happy birthday to our own Jimmy Del Ponte, who works tirelessly with the city as the Youth Arts Coordinator, heading the Sunsetters, etc. We hope he has a great day for himself, along with his two talented sons. Happy birthday to Leeann Rollins, who also is celebrating this week. We wish her a great day. Happy birthday to Janice Delory, former Mayor Joe’s aide who is in a well-deserved retirement. We hope she has a great day for herself as well. Also happy birthday to Ward Five School Committee Member Laura Pitone, a nice lady and parent as well as a fantastic representative on the School Board. We hope she has a great day. Finally, to Ward Five Alderman Mark Niedergang, who is celebrating this week as well. He’s proven he’s a constituent alderman. We hear he’s very responsive to the needs of his constituents. We hope he has a great day as well.

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The 16th Annual Golf Tournament for the John T. Forcellese Memorial Fund will be held this year once again at the Falmouth Country Club in Falmouth, MA. Saturday, September 10. Tee time is 8:30 a.m. If you’d like to play or sponsor go online to www.johns-team.org for all the information regarding this excellent fundraiser for a worthy cause.

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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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We’ve mentioned for several weeks now about Demet’s Donuts on Mystic Avenue having the best coffee, donuts and made real fresh egg sandwiches. We still stand by it. There have been one or two posts on our website regarding the Union Square donut shop. Although their donuts are different – and we mean different – we think the best coffee and donuts are still at Demet’s. Drop in and find out for yourself on Mystic Avenue in Medford. We need a real donut shop here in Somerville. We mean a real donut shop with donuts that you don’t need an engineer’s degree to make and taste great. Don’t forget their egg breakfast sandwiches are made fresh and much better than those sold at franchise places. Also, you can pick up a copy of The Somerville Times there as well. Mention you saw it here.

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An interesting little email went out to the members of the Somerville City Committee last week, from Diane Asadorian Masters. She emailed members a ballot for endorsement of the State Senate race between Senator Jehlen and Councilor Cheung, who are both Democrats and on the ballot September 8. Now, what we found interesting is that Somerville City Committee has never, as far as we can remember (memory going back to 1970’s), ever did this before. Obviously, it’s hoping to have enough ballots to win for Senator Pat Jehlen. Why do this now? Why not wait and see at least how the debate went or wait until the primary is over, since they both are Democrats? Now were wondering, since candidate Leland Cheung is a Cambridge City Councilor is the Cambridge Ward and City committee doing this? For that matter, is Medford (which is also in the district) also doing it? Funny how the so-called progressives are said to be transparent and above board on all things, then they do this. Anyone want to bet us that Sen. Pat Jehlen wins the email ballot?

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Well, it looks like the most recent membership list we got hold of from The Winter Hill Yacht Club for Gangsters shows that about 94% of its membership DOES NOT live in Somerville, less than 6%. That says a lot, doesn’t it? We hear only those that have friends there can even apply. You try and go there and join, you’ll be placed on a waiting list that could last a long time. Some say without a friend inside it could take years. We have had a couple of members who have given us information and told us that some are upset about what and how the leadership of the club has just stood by and watched individuals get away with everything.

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Drop over to Sally O’Brien’s any night and see live entertainment and, of course, get some great burgers. Lots of friendly people there, and you can enjoy some good conversation and be entertained at the same time. The other night we tried their famous hamburger and fries that we have been hearing about, hands down the best anywhere in the city. Try them out you’ll love them. By the way, if you like to play poker they have a tournament every Wednesday night as well. On Thursdays it’s open mic for any bands that want to get up there and let people hear them. Liam is the best, he has something going every single night of the week!

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Last week Mayor Joe Curtatone was in Germany, in particular Munich, where the latest shooting took place. He came home the day before, just in time. He was there on business for the city and talking – from what we hear – to the Audi Automobile Company.

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CAAS (Community Action Agency of Somerville) is having a House Party hosted by Kristin Haas and Christy McWayne, this Saturday located at CAAS offices in Union Square (the old Police Station), to reply and give your RSVP there is still time, email info@caasomerville.org.