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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Coming up shortly, in September on the 13th, DISCOVER … East Somerville’s best-kept culinary secrets at 15+ restaurants. From 14 Broadway to 192, join the 2016 Participants: Maya Sol, Casey’s, Connexion, Fasika, Rincon Mexicano, Taco Loco, Los Paisanos, East End Grille, Vinny’s, Ola Cafe, La Brasa, Tapatio, Gauchao, Blanca’s, Deano’s Pasta, Joe’s Liquors, Amigos Market, and more!

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At the last Board of Alderman meeting, the Water Department supervisor appeared and was questioned at length about the increase and why there was no public hearing, at which time he declared that a public hearing was held. A lot of the aldermen, including Bill White, Katjana Ballantyne and Mark Niedergang all questioned him and it appears they will have another hearing date. Alderman White asked that the Water Department come back to the board at its next meeting, September 13, at City Hall. The increase, which has already been sent out, is for $60 per bill (that’s 3 times a year), over 11K water meters in the city. Our question, as was as some of the aldermen, why wasn’t this discussed at the budget meetings only two months ago?

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Congratulations to our good friend David LeBahn, a Somerville resident who recently won the 2016 EMACT/DASH award for Best Actor in recognition of his portrayal of Beverly Carlton in Spotlight Theater’s production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. We know he works hard at the business. You can see David in many movies that were shot in the Boston area over the past couple of years. In particular, you can catch him in Hovey Theater’s upcoming Chapter Two, running throughout the month of September, and in the December release of Patriot’s Day.

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This must be the year that the city needs more money. Let’s see, a proposition 2.5 override on our taxes is on the ballot here in Somerville that will surely raise the taxes to just about $1,000 for each homeowner each month, or more. The city needs to raise another $50 million for the Green Line, which, by the way, our legislators should be on top of this at the state level. The city is hiring like never before. You look around and see more people per department than in the previous 10 years. Even some old time hacks managed to find themselves a few out of the way jobs here. The city Personnel Department is working overtime with some of these positions, and we have to admit there are some very creative job titles. We guess someone has to be hiring!

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It seems that Dr. “I Don’t Need A Permit” from Davis Square has managed to attract attention to another property he owns where he is gouging tenants by renting out rooms, and isn’t putting out his rubbish that he left for days on the side of the house, in the Ball Square area. We got reports that the Building Department was alerted to this and they are supposed to be on top of it.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Big happy birthday to our own and best photographer right here in Somerville, Claudia Ferro. She’s just a totally nice person who has been a very special part of our paper. We certainly wish her the very best this week. Happy birthday to Rick Pye, a long time Somerville family name. He and his lovely wife Carol now live in Methuen and are loving it. Happy birthday to Steve Dalyrmple of Steve & Sons Construction. A local guy whom we found out is another one fleeing the city for greener pastures in Tewksbury. Happy birthday to Sue Barry in the City of Somerville Engineering Department. We hope she has a great day as well. Happy birthday to Victor Moccia of the famous Victors Deli in Ball Square. He turned semi-retired, but you can always find him around the Deli. We hope he has a great day. Finally, greetings this week to another special lady here in Somerville whom everyone knows we send birthday cheers to, Patty Oppedisano, the best waitress in the city and probably in all of the Greater Boston area.

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Happy 49th Anniversary to Pat and Donald Norton, on September 1. It’s been a long time since flying off to Columbia, SC, to get married. Patti was rushed to MGH Monday and is currently still there. They are watching her closely. We hope she’s out soon and back home celebrating.

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Primary Day is Thursday, September 8. Normally it’s on a Tuesday, but it’s on a Thursday again this year. Mark it on you calendar. We will be doing an endorsement next week in the paper for the senate seat and for the state representative seat presently held by Tim Toomey. Meantime, the debate for both offices is being aired on local SCATV several times. All four candidates did very well and we will have a surprise next week in our endorsement.

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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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To provide background, answer questions, and take public testimony regarding the fiscal year 2017 Somerville Water and Sewer Rate Charges, an Informational Session with Q&A followed by a Public Hearing will be held Wednesday, September 7, in the Somerville High School Library, 81 Highland Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Offered by the Commissioner of Public Works, the purpose of this hearing is to compile testimony from Somerville rate payers relevant to the fiscal year 2017 water and sewer rates. The Informational Session will provide an explanation of the rate changes, including new base charges, and will give rate payers an opportunity to ask questions. All are invited to attend, join the informal discussion, and/or provide official testimony. The Informational session with Q&A starts at 6:30 p.m. The Public Hearing will follow at 7:15 p.m. For more information on the FY17 rates, please visit www.somervillema.gov/water.

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The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 29 Central Street, is celebrating their 100 year celebration this year. In addition, on September 9,10,11, they are holding their annual Greek Food & Music Festival. The church does a lot for the local Somerville community and has recently opened the Dormition Family Table, which provides free delicious dinner meals to all the hungry during the first and third Wednesday of each month.

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Toddler Tuesdays are back at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Boston starting September 13. This bi-monthly special event is geared to the youngest LEGO® fans, ages 2-5, featuring special toddler activities and story time. New this year, LEGOLAND® has partnered with Zoo New England and on October 11, the Zoo New England Education team will bring a small program animal (like a reptile or chinchilla) and run through some facts and conduct games. Attendees will be able to get close and touch the animals, as well as, ask questions. For more info. and full schedule, check out https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston/news-events/event/1698/toddler-tuesdays.aspx. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston is located at 598 Assembly Row, Somerville.