Popular Ward Two Alderman Maryann Heuston is having a campaign fundraiser. Join in to kick off her campaign to continue serving as your Ward Two Alderman. With special guest, Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone. The kick-off will be held at the Kirkland Tap and Trotter on Wednesday, April 19, starting at 5:30 p.m. She looks forward to seeing you there. Just in case you didn’t know, we’ll tell you, Maryann has not missed a hearing or vote on any issue in her ward. That’s more than couple of other ward aldermen can say. Maryann is considered a constituent’s alderman. always looking to make Ward Two better, just saying!

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The annual Somerville High Scholarship Foundation fundraiser is once again upon us, with the chance to win $10K CASH, plus up to 24 prizes of $100 each. Friday, May 12 at the high school’s Highlander Café. Tickets for the $10K drawing are $100 each and only 250 tickets will be sold. A great cause serving the students from Somerville. Over the years the foundation committee has raised over a million dollars and each year many students from Somerville High benefit from the generosity of the foundation and those that support it. Contact Eugene Brune or mail a check for $100 to SHS Raffle c/o Joseph Favaloro, P.O. Box 440275 Somerville 02144.

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Congratulations to the James J. Bremis Real Estate Family, celebrating 62 years of service and business here in Somerville. Jim was recently surrounded by his family and friends wishing him the best. The company set a standard for all real estate agents that came and went through those doors over the years. Jim was a gentleman, total professional at all times and he ran a great company, the proof is his children, especially Irene Bremis and Stephen Bremis as well as Christopher Bremis who are carrying on the tradition here in the city and area. We salute the Bremis team and hope they continue for another 62 years plus.

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A well known family, originally from East Somerville and now living in Stoneham, Artie and Susan Mason recently lost their daughter Kathleen “Katie” Mason, only 29 years old, herself leaving three young children. The funeral was at Barile Funeral Home yesterday, Tuesday, April 11, with services from there. Donations can be made in memory of Katie to the Kathleen Mason Children Memorial Fund c/o of Stoneham Bank 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham 02180.

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Happy birthday to a lot of our friends and fellow Villens here this week: Big time happy birthday to one of the best real estate agents and a great person, Ida Fasano, of The Norton Group. She has been with the company off and on since 1985. A great lady, from Italy and who speaks fluent Italian. We can’t say enough about her. She’s very professional and, yes, a lot of fun. A good guy and a local guy who is very well known and respected, a big happy birthday to Chris Pedersen of East Somerville. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to Linda Rock Coutoumas. We hope she has a great birthday for herself. Happy birthday to Mike Dilulio, who celebrates this week. Originally from a Winter Hill family, he grew up here. To all others celebrating this week, we wish you all a very happy birthday.

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A good friend here in the city who grew up and lived here for many years has passed away. Donald N. Lanchester, originally from Packard Avenue, passed away after losing his battle with cancer. A nice guy, always smiling and cheerful. He will be missed.

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Get well soon to John Corsetti, a well known local real estate appraiser. We hear he’s been very ill lately and we want to wish him well and to hopefully get back home resting and recuperating soon.

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Our good friend Irving (Elmer) Johansen is a wealth of history here in the city. On Thursdays he goes to dinner with some good friends, which include Gail and Bill Chambers and Donald Norton. What a treat to discuss the history of the city from Irving’s prospective. He’s lived here his entire life.

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Our good friend Dan Spinosa left for Florida after celebrating his 95 birthday. He went back with his lady friend after spending the winter with Rick. Dan is another guy who has a wealth of historical knowledge here in the city, as well as being a nice guy.

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Our condolences to the family and many friends of former Ward Four Alderman Walter Pero, who passed away last week. What a shock to many here in the city. Walter was a very popular alderman and friend to many in the Winter Hill area. He was also involved in St. Ann’s. We send our condolences to his family on his passing. He was a good man.

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We hear that Tommy Barry of the DPW is still recovering from his knee operation back in March. Let’s hope a blizzard doesn’t happen for now and until he’s back. Who will man the dispatch radio now that the DPW Commissioner is barred from using the city radio? Like we said before, it must be his poor management skills. We hope Tommy gets back to work soon.

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Don’t forget the short break is over for those pesky night time Traffic and Parking officers running around the city enforcing the street sweeping which began April 1. So don’t forget to read that little sign (yes, very little) indicating on which side you park on what day.

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Former Somerville police officer Alex Capobianco, sitting home and collecting $86K a year for the past couple of years, was arranged this past Friday at the Cambridge District Court for allegedly passing counterfeit money (see our story on the front page). Imagine, $86K over two years and not working, but on leave. We’re wondering if this was done to make sure he would get a pension from the city. Imagine, the hard working police personnel hearing that someone, for some reason, is home collecting his full salary, while they risk their lives daily. He pleaded not guilty in court and a trial will be scheduled sometime down the road. We hear he’s claiming it’s political, his being arraigned. Guess what comes around goes around. Karma is a bitch! We heard that the TV stations got a hold of this from several former police officers who were fired and a few current officers who were fed up with the special treatment for some and not for others.

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The Highland Masonic Building Association will be holding its annual (now 5 years) Giggles Comedy Night on Wednesday, April 26, 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.

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Congratulations to local well known attorney Adam Dash, who was recently elected as a Selectman in Belmont. In the recent elections he won 7 out of the 8 precincts. What an accomplishment. We wish him well in his new position.

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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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It’s 2017 and Demet’s Donuts over on Mystic Avenue is the best. We’re noticing more and more Somerville residents over there getting their coffee and donuts to start the day. The ladies working there are fantastic and always smiling. If you’re in the mood for a huge, great tasting donut drop over early since they disappear as the day gets on.

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Alderman Bob McWatters is working hard again this year for the Little Sisters of the Poor and their annual huge fundraiser on April 29. Bob is well liked when he shows up to see if they need anything. Again, we know why he’s the constituent Alderman. He literally walks his ward every night. He tells us that in May he will have a campaign kickoff at Sally O’Brien’s. So far he has raised more money from the average person in the ward than any other alderman to date. We hear he’s actually second in funds to the mayor in monies raised. Our office here at The Times got two calls last week asking us when the date of his fundraiser is. We will keep you posted.