Coming up on Monday, March 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., a fundraiser for Ward 7 Alderman Katjana Ballantyne will be held at Sabur Restaurant, 212 Holland Street in Teele Square. Katjana has been a good alderman representing the residents of Ward 7 and the city. She is also very concerned and dedicated.

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

Also on Monday March 27, please join Ward 6 Alderman Lance Davis for his re-election campaign fundraiser starting at 5:30 p.m. at Redbones BBQ, 55 Chester St., Davis Square. Complimentary appetizers will be served. It appears various elected officials will be traveling between Katjana and Lance’s fundraiser. It’s a good thing they are not that far apart.

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

The City of Somerville is marking its 175th birthday all year, but March is an especially important month. It was in March of 1842 that Somerville officially separated from Charlestown and became its own city. Help celebrate by joining an informal party on Broadway near the Charlestown line and then heading to Mount Vernon Restaurant for appetizers and cake. There will also be a cash bar where Aeronaut Brewing Company is unveiling a special gluten free Somerville birthday brew: Municipal Freedom Gives National Strength.

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

We hear the Winter Hill Post Office has been experiencing their Verizon phones and computers going off and on very often. It seems like Verizon can’t get their act together and fix the problem. Instead the nice ladies at the post office are getting the blame. We think Verizon should finally fix the problem. Enough with the constant down time, and we hear they often don’t even respond. In any event, why a large company like Verizon has a problem at one of the most frequently visited post offices in the city, if not the entire area. We’ll be watching to see if a solution is found. If not, maybe Comcast can go in and sign them up for a new account?

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

OK, so last week’s “storm” wasn’t what it was cracked up to be here in Somerville. So why the days off from school? Don’t we live in New England, and aren’t we supposed to get snow in the winter? Aren’t we supposed to be used to this? Didn’t we go to school when it snowed in years past? Some of us here at The Times remember when school wasn’t closed for a few inches of snow (OK, so it was more like 6 to 7 inches), but everyone was still told to stay home and in the house. So, not only politicians are telling us to stay home, we now turn on the TV and the so-called media is telling us to stay home. Did we lose our common sense somewhere? Why did the city say “snow emergency at 12 midnight” and all cars off the wrong side of the street by 4:00 a.m., when it didn’t start snowing until 8:00 or so? Yes, we believe in being cautious and not stupid, but do we need to turn this into more of a nanny state than it already is?

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

We heard a rumor that DPW Commissioner Stan Koty has a new memo on his desk stating what he can and cannot do from the Somerville Municipal Employees Association. One thing we hear is that he can’t go on the dispatch radio and yell at the workers anymore. We guess this was from a class action suit filed by the SMEA. Maybe that stifles his management skills?

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

Definition of loyalty: fidelity, allegiance, fealty, loyalty, devotion, piety mean faithfulness to something or someone to which one is bound by pledge or duty. Fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty (marital fidelity) or friendship.

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

Candidate rumors: the latest is that Ward 1 incumbent McLaughlin still might face an opponent. The school committee race is wide open down in East Somerville. Ward 2 incumbent Heuston has an opponent who has filed with the OCPF (Office of Campaign and Political Finance). We hear that Ward 3 incumbent McWatters might have an opponent as well. In the School Committee race in Ward 3, we hear a well-known PTA lady is thinking of challenging the incumbent, Palmer. No incumbent in Ward 4, but we hear three names so far, maybe four. On the School Board we hear that incumbent Green might also have a challenger. In Ward 5 we hear someone is seriously considering going against incumbent Niedergang. In Ward 6 we did hear that a lady from the square was considering challenging incumbent Davis. In Ward 7 we heard that a person was considering a run against incumbent Ballantyne. Now, Alderman At-Large has eight so far. Talk of a ninth candidate is possible, so we hear. If that happens there will be a primary. So far, no challengers against Mayor Joe. What do you think?

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

Coming up on Saturday, April 6, 7:00-9:00 p.m., a fundraiser hosted by the Welcome Project, YUM a taste of Immigrant City, at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue. Ben Echevarria invites everyone to come and try out foods from different countries. Ben and his family have been very involved for many years here in Somerville. He’s a good guy and dedicated to many causes here in Somerville.

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

Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Happy birthday to Ed Bean, a lifelong loyal Somerville guy and another of the City of Somerville’s finest employees. We hope Ed has a great day for himself. Happy birthday to an old friend, Mike Sullivan, who used to work for Marie Howe when she was our state representative, and who still works at the state house. Mike is from the Berkeley Street Sullivans. We hope he has a great birthday as well. Happy birthday to Neil Gillis Jr., who is celebrating this week. To a new mom recently, we wish Rachael Hart-Adams a very special birthday. We hope that she and baby Finnegan – who was born just about 3 months ago – the Hart family and friends (which are a lot) are very happy for Rachael and her baby boy. Happy birthday Rachael and many more happy ones for you. Finally, although she doesn’t live here anymore and is in Kansas, we wish our good friend Carolyn Caler a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to all the others celebrating this week. We wish you all a great birthday.

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

It was nice seeing “the Ward 3 couple” (at least in our book, and also many others) Zack and his lovely wife Lauren at Sally O’Brien’s this past St. Patrick’s Day. Congratulations to Zach, who is now the Chairman of the Condo Review Board. With his leadership skills he can lead the blind, never mind the other members of the board.

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

Our publisher and great guy Ross Blouin is back in the hospital undergoing some major procedures. We wish him well and a speedy recovery. Mt. Auburn Hospital is his home for a few days this week.

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

The Highland Masonic Building Association will be holding its annual (now 5 years) Giggles Comedy Night on Wednesday, April 28, at Prince of Pizza on Rte. 1. Come join in and have a night of laughs and a chance to win any one of over 25 gift baskets. Every year over 100 locals gather and have a great night of comedy with 3-4 professional comedians, plus a few surprises again this year. Contact Donald Norton at donaldfnorton@gmail.com or Bobby Potaris at potarisconstruction@yahoo.com.

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

The Brian Higgins Foundation invites you to join the fun at one of Somerville’s biggest community nights of the year – the Brian Higgins Foundation Trivia Night! The event takes place March 23, 6:30 p.m. at Tufts University’s Cousens Gym. The celebration includes a silent auction, a 50/50 drawing, and numerous raffles. A light dinner and cash bar will be available. Visit www.thebrianhigginsfoundation.org for more information about the foundation’s work.