Tonight, Wednesday, September 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Somerville High School, library floor (enter through the main entrance of the high school and go right to the library entrance and follow directions), a public hearing is scheduled for the new water FEE the city had put into effect on your last bill. Thanks to Alderman at Large Bill White for having the Water Commissioner appear to answer why this additional fee was implemented without a public hearing. The fee is additional $60 per bill, three times a year, coming to $180 a year added into the bill for extra monies going to the Water Department over and above what is being charged to the city by MWRA. Rumor has it this proposal was implemented way before the budget process took place (although never brought forward during the budget hearing) by the mayor and the Director of Financing. All residents – including tenants – should be interested to find out why and how they did this without notice to the residents.

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Primary Day is tomorrow, Thursday, September 8. Yes, normally it’s on a Tuesday, but it’s on Thursday this time. You can read elsewhere in the paper that we endorse Representative Tim Toomey for State Representative in Ward 1 and parts of Ward 2. We also endorsed Leland Cheung for the Middlesex Second Senate District. He is challenging incumbent Senator Pat Jehlen. Meantime, the debate involving all candidates is being aired on local SCATV several times and, of course, the candidates answered all the questions we gave them last week, which you can view online on our website.

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Notice that we offered no endorsement for Governor’s Councilor and suggested not to vote for the incumbent, Terrance Kennedy. It’s not an endorsement, but we suggest your vote to go to Steven Borelli of the North End. He doesn’t have the usual hacks supporting him as does Kennedy. Out of all three on the ballot, Borelli is a former police officer and special investigator, as well as current Assistant Clerk Magistrate in Somerville District Court. He seems to be a good choice. The other name on the ballot is someone who we hear doesn’t live where he says he does.

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East Somerville Foodie Crawl is once again taking place this September, on Tuesday the 13th, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. East Somerville’s best kept culinary secrets at 15+ restaurants. From 14 Broadway to 192, join the 2016 Participants: Maya Sol, Casey’s, Conexion, Fasika, Rincon Mexicano, Taco Loco, Los Paisanos, East End Grille, Vinnie’s, Ola Cafe, La Brasa, Tapatio, Gauchao, Blanca’s, Deano’s Pasta, Joe’s Liquors, Amigos Market … and more! We’re going and can’t wait to sample all the goodies, so join us!

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Remember, this Saturday 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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Now, for the all-important national election. The voting takes place on November 8, but there is also, we believe, early voting as well. There is still time to register to vote for that election. You have until Wednesday, October 19 to register at City Hall’s Election Department, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and on Thursday they’re open until 7:30 p.m. It’s a very important election and we hope all those who want to have their voices heard register and vote. Call 617-625-6600 x 4200 for details and information on voting in November, or to ask for an absentee ballot if you’re unable to get out or going to be out of town.

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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.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Big happy birthday to our good friend Mike Podymatis. Also this week, happy birthday to Grass Bobby, who is celebrating. Happy birthday to a nice lady and dedicated City of Somerville employee, Nancy Gaudet-Bacci. Happy birthday to Dan Hurley of Medford, who co-hosts a local cable access TV show. Happy birthday to realtor and take charge type of guy, Steve Bremis, of Bremis Realty. It’s in his blood. As he always says in his messages, “your realtor for life.” Hmmm … we hope he has a good birthday. Finally, to Judith Medeiros, formerly of Somerville and Winter Hill. She’s celebrating her birthday and we want to wish her the very best.

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It’s like Hack–A–Rama now at City Hall and the various departments here in the city. More and more we see old time hacks working at City Hall. It appears that some aldermen have more connections in the Personnel Department than others, it would seem. We’re very surprised at all the old faces back at city hall and in various departments. We hope it’s not who you know but what you know.

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We see that our mayor has hit the big time media once again to get his voice heard. This time it’s over Donald Trump saying bad things about sanctuary cities. Mayor Joe’s pretty proud of our record here in Somerville as a sanctuary city and has challenged Trump to come here and visit. We are betting neither Trump nor Clinton will be coming here anytime soon.

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In the State Representative race in Ward 1 and parts of Ward 2, it seems that a pretty nasty situation is going on as today’s ultra-left progressives here in the city invited Representative Tim Toomey to show up and then they bushwhacked him. This was the so-called new Somerville Ward & City Democratic Committee, which has done some pretty interesting things this year that have never happened before. Having an email vote on the endorsement of the candidates for senate was, in our opinion, a bag job for Senator Jehlen, who is currently feeling the heat from her opponent, who is actually the first opponent she’s faced in a long time. And it’s about time. The recent leadership of the City & Ward Democratic Committee has seen many moderates drop out over the years, and some have actually been forced out because of the radical actions, again especially this year. We talked to several former members who tell us they want nothing to do with the current Democratic Ward & City Committee. They resigned or just won’t go back.

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The city elections next year are already being talked about. Several ward aldermen will be facing competition, and some haven’t seen any at all in recent years. But next year will be different. We hear that the Alderman At Large race might have three women challengers, as well as one male challenger. The wards we’re hearing about are 1, 2, 5, and 6, so far. Ward 1 might have more than one challenger. Competition is great and we hope that a lot more individuals decide to jump in the water, especially since the pay for part time alderman is now reached $40,000 plus benefits. And don’t forget you get the summer off as well. The hard working alderman – and we all know who they are – will know how to deal with the challengers.

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It’s been very quiet down at the Winter Hill Yacht Club for Criminals, but we still hear from our friends down there who say they are watching things. In our opinion, we still think the club should be looked into to see how many residents of Somerville are truly members and if they are following their own by-laws and procedures. DCR should do their job. Any more political fundraisers? If you or anyone you know applied for membership and have been waiting, we’d like to hear from you.

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Yes, by now you probably will have heard we are in favor of lifting the ban on charter schools here in Massachusetts, giving choice to all parents, especially poor families. We see choice as a benefit to the families. Funny how some left wing progressives, including a lot of local politicians, supported charter schools until the Massachusetts Teachers Association (union) realized what was happening with funding. They are now strongly now against them, so much so that even our own Senator Jehlen has been given a lot of money for her campaign to stand against it. Her opponent, Leland Cheung, also received monies for lifting the ban. We think choice in all things is good, especially when it comes to educating kids from all walks of life, particularly from poor families. In our opinion, competition is what’s needed for public schools to get rid of “core” and put back American history. Especially civics, along with the basics, and definitely bring back local control over schools. Legal immigrants have to know civics before becoming citizens. It used to have it in high school and was mandatory, but no longer. It’s gone, period. So we think choice is a good thing in all things, not just a few.

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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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Discover the perfect plant to enliven your garden or windowsill at this popular yearly sale. Perennials for sun and shade, plus a wide variety of houseplants, will be featured, as well as herbs, shrubs, and groundcovers. Choose from hundreds of plants donated by both Somerville Garden Club members and community friends of the Club. Visit the Connoisseur Table for that unique specimen or find a tried-and-true favorite. This year we will also have field-grown hostas from Fox Hollow Farm in Huntington, NY. There’s something for everyone! Horticultural books, decorative containers, and garden tools will also be for sale. Experienced gardeners will be available to answer questions and assist with plant selections. And the littlest gardeners will enjoy the Children’s Table. Proceeds benefit the educational programs and public plantings of the all-volunteer, non-profit Somerville Garden Club. For additional information visit www.somervillegardenclub.org.

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Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts invites you to learn more about what Girl Scouting entails at one of the following Somerville Girl Scouts Information Sessions. Membership is open to girls in grades K-12. Visit www.gsema.org to learn more or to join.

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There’s “Something Big” coming to Somerville’s landmark playhouse, The Rockwell (formerly known as The Davis Square Theatre). On September 15, The Rockwell will host its first comedic showcase from the resident monthly series since undergoing renovations and a rebranding. The evening will feature stand-up in a refreshed, intimate setting from the country’s best and brightest talent as hosted by local funnymen, Nick Chambers and Al Park. This September’s “Something Big” show will spotlight headliner Corey Rodrigues in a live recording production.

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Healthy Tomorrow will sell rugs at First Church Somerville, 98 College Avenue near Davis Sq., on Saturday, September 17, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., to benefit their work in Mali trying to stop FGM. The rugs are fairly-traded and come from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan. For more info, see StopExcision.net or call (617) 776-6524.

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A bazaar to benefit St. Ann Parish Senior Center, 50 Thurston St., Somerville, will take place on Saturday, October 15, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. – Noon. Raffles, Knitted Goods, Baked Goods, Jewelry, Grandma’s Attic and more. Plenty of parking.