Coming up quickly on Saturday, October 8, the Somerville High 50th Class Reunion, for graduates in 1966. This reunion will be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Wakefield Boston Hotel, One Audubon Road Wakefield 01880. A Dinner/Dance takes place from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Make check out to SHS Class of 1966 and send to 44 Morrison Road, Wakefield, MA 01880. We know some have heard this before, but this class graduated in the sixth month, sixth day, at six o’clock 1966, 6/6/6/66 at Dilboy Field on a hot evening. Some say it was hell out there on the field, get it? Believe it or not a lot of the class of ‘66 still lives in Somerville and surrounding communities.

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Last week’s Board of Alderman meeting saw sparks fly over the recent Water Department’s new charges to the public (already done and in your bill, and is going to happen two more times as well this year). Several of the aldermen grilled the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund Acting Superintendent, Mark Lawhorne, and Head of Finance for the city, Ed Bean, along with the consultant that was hired. The entire Board took turns letting them know that they didn’t appreciate not being told about the rate hike at budget time earlier this year, just before summer. It appears that during the 90’s the Board of Alderman, through a charter change, gave away their right to regulate or be able to stop any rate hikes, so it appears that the Board will sponsor an amendment to the ordinance that will allow no more hikes without them coming before the Board first. Not present were the mayor or the DPW commissioner. We were thinking how interesting this water hearing at the Board was. It appears that maybe a whole new can of worms opened up here. The Board found out that the infrastructure in Union Square regarding the Water Department might cost taxpayers an additional amount estimated to be between $50 and $70 million.

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Once again the local Masonic Lodge here in the city, King Solomon’s Lodge AF & A.M. at 125 Highland Avenue (rear up the driveway to the right of the building) doors will be open for residents to come and tour and ask questions about the Masons, the lodge and the building they occupy. Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. King Solomon’s Lodge was chartered September 5, 1783, just two days after the American Revolution ended. Their charter was signed by Paul Revere and they owned and built the original Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. They even have on display the actual documents conveying the land to the Masonic Lodge in Charlestown. Officers and members will be present and light refreshments will be served.

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There are questions on the ballot here in the city on November 8. One particular question the administration wants you to vote on is overriding proposition 2.5, which would make it possible for the city to raise your taxes to pay for certain items. Did you know they need about $50M for the Green Line? Then don’t forget about the new proposed High School. And what else?

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Sources tell us, that the Board of Alderman will be looking into just how much all this is going to cost the taxpayers here in Somerville, including what bonds will become due in the next few years. Watch out, the estimated tax bill of about a thousand for single family homes at the very least just might become reality.

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The one and only original “Best of Somerville” ballot will be out next week and the winners will be announced the first Wednesday in November, so hurry up and nominate in your favorite category. We also want best idea this year and worst idea this year for 2016 here in Somerville. You can email, mail, call in or just drop your votes in the mail slot at 699 Broadway, Somerville.

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Get out and register to vote. There should be no excuses. The deadline to register is October 19 and new to the election process will be Advance Voting, which will begin on October 24 at the Board of Alderman chambers, second floor at City Hall. For more information and also for absentee ballots for those who can’t get out to vote, call the Election Department at 617-625-6600. They are hard working people in that department and will be glad to assist you. They are very dedicated and committed to making sure the process here in Somerville will go smoothly. Right now we have just over 50,000 registered voters and voting early will be a big help.

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We want to give thanks for the several calls our office here at The Somerville Times received in regards to two new missing paper boxes. We are in the process of reviewing a tape of one of them and then make a decision on what to do next. In the meantime, we will be placing another box at Twin Cities Mall next week, but at a different location. If you see anyone messing with any of our boxes you can call 617 666-4010 the office, and if we find any missing box because of your lead we have a $200 gift certificate to a fine local establishment for you. Again, thank you for your support. We will be placing more boxes in the upcoming weeks in the city. If you have a suggestion as to where one should go, call the office and let us know.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Happy birthday to Richard Mangan, a guy who grew up in East Somerville. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday or anniversary to PJ Ryans Pub on Holland Street, Teele Square. Happy birthday to a good friend, Frank Ricardo, who is celebrating this week. Finally, to the memory of over very good friend who has passed away, former Publisher/Editor Robert JL Publicover, a great guy and loved by the community here in Somerville. He’s missed by his many friends and his mate David. Happy birthday, Bob, we miss you!

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The latest on our Winter Hill vs. Ten Hills turkey: from good sources we hear there are two of them and can be seen many times on top of the Mystic Avenue projects. This past Monday, around 8:00 a.m., between traffic nonstop on Mystic Avenue, our turkey waited patiently in the middle of the busy street to cross over, with most cars flying right by him or her. This is a city turkey and if you’ve seen it in action, contrary to myth, it seems pretty smart.

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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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Has anyone gone to view the Hudson Street painting in the middle of the street? Well, we hear through sources that maybe not all the local residents were pleased about it. It seems like they painted it first, but according to city ordinance you need to get a permit. They didn’t get one and yet proceeded to paint the street. We hear that a good friend of those who painted street, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang, rushed around to cut corners to get the permit after the fact. We hear that there might be a lawsuit arising from this. We’ll see. But guess what? Over in Ward 3 on Central Road they are doing the same thing. We wonder if a permit was issued by DPW ahead of time?

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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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About week or so ago, the singer Adele was here in Somerville, very quietly taking in Legoland at Assembly Square with her son Angelo. We hope she enjoyed our newest addition to the city and will come back again.

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Congratulations to a nice guy and public servant, Mr. Peter Forcellese, the former city Treasurer who resigned last month. He’s now working for the town of Weston as the Treasurer. We wish Peter the best of luck. His family originated out of Somerville and have been actively involved in the community for a long time.

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The city hired Mr. Michael Bertino of Winthrop to replace Peter Forcellese. He recently served as the town treasurer of West Newbury. We welcome him here to the city. He is replacing a good guy and competent treasurer.

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The John T. Forcellese annual Charitable Golf Tournament was held recently and we’re told it was a huge success. The best year ever in raising funds. The Forcellese family wishes to thank all the sponsors and players for a very successful event this year.

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Don’t forget to vote in the November 8 election for public officials, both statewide and nationally. If you need to register to vote call the Election Department at 617-625-6600. The registration deadline is soon.

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Somerville High School and Trade High Class of ‘81 will be holding their 35th Reunion on November 26 at the Montvale Plaza, Woburn from 7:00 p.m.– midnight. To purchase tickets online visit http://www.somervillehighclass81.myevent.com/ or mail $60 check made payable to Anthony Accardi, 1 Marcia Rd, Wilmington, MA 01887. Contact Anthony at 978-621-3729.

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The Growing Center’s season finale includes harvest games, cider demonstration, pumpkin decorating, contests, and family friendly music. Come celebrate the growing Center’s 22nd season this Sunday, October 2, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at 22 Vinal Ave.