Some politicians have asked why they don’t get mentioned in Newstalk. We suggest all the time that if you want an event mentioned we’re happy to talk about it. Let us know. That goes for anyone out there that wants us to recognize someone for a birthday, anniversary, an event or an award. Let us know.

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Check out www.ocpf.us and plug in a name to find out who and how local politicians stand in fundraising. We’re looking it over and seeing who contributes to whom. Remember, it’s not illegal to accept money from special interests, including developers, lawyers or unions of any kind.

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Happy birthday this week here in the Ville: Happy Birthday to a good friend and Somerville local guy this week, Sal Ferro, who has been here in East Somerville with his company Ferro Printing. A great guy, from a wonderful Somerville family. Happy Birthday Sal, from us at The Times. Happy Birthday to Bonnie (Thompson) Lambert, who grew up in Winter Hill. A great lady we have known, along with her husband Richard. We hope she has a great day for herself. Happy birthday to good guy and Medford City Councilor, Adam Knight, a great guy who is often seen here in the Ville. We wish Adam the very best on his birthday this week. Happy birthday to local guy Bob Massie, who is running for Lt. Governor on the Democratic ticket. We wish him the best on this his birthday, and good luck in his run. A nice guy, very knowledgeable and well liked. Happy birthday to local popular lady Courtney O’Keefe (former Ward 5 Alderman), who is very popular here in the city and always seen around the Magoun Square area. Happy birthday, Courtney. To all the others celebrating this week but not mentioned, we salute you. If you know of anyone who is celebrating their birthday let us know. Drop us a line or call 617-666-4010.

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For those that might be interested in obtaining certification for firearms should look up the Lawrence Rod & Gun Club, they give an extensive class 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 web site 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 through. 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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Remember the 175th Birthday of our city is this year, the entire year will be having events, contact city hall for more information and events you might be interested in getting involved.

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It’s 2017 and Demets Donuts shop over on Mystic Avenue donuts are the best, we are noticing more and more Somerville residents over there getting their coffee and donuts start the day. The ladies during the week are fantastic and always smiling, if you’re in the mood for a huge great tasting donuts drop over early they disappear as the day get on. We’ve noticed more and more Somerville residents over at the Store on Mystic, they are finding out like we have that their coffee is better then you know!

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Interesting article in this past Sunday’s DigBoston weekly paper doing a story on Somerville: https://digboston.com/

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There is this candidate who is running for public office (we won’t say names), who goes through a small crowd and randomly picks and chooses those he wants to introduce himself to and to who gets his literature. Now, we ask if you’re a candidate for public office do you introduce yourself to everyone or only a few to ask for their vote? Remember what Tip O’Neal wrote many years ago when he found out his next door neighbor didn’t vote for him and the neighbor stated “you never asked me to vote for you.” Plain and simple, you’re running for office, you should never assume first who will and won’t vote for you. You never know until you ask. If you’re just passing out literature and you don’t ask, and then you lose, whose fault is it?

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Beginning as soon as Wednesday, August 16, work related to the ongoing Cedar Street Water and Sewer Upgrade Project will progress into the intersection of Cedar St. and Summer St., requiring the closure of the intersection to through traffic for approximately one month (during working hours only). During work hours (see below for hours), traffic will be detoured as follows: Abutters on Cedar St. between Highland Ave. and Summer St., and Hall St.: Access and exit your street by traveling the wrong way toward Highland Ave. Please use extreme caution when doing so; Traffic on Highland Ave.: All traffic will be detoured onto Porter St. and/or Cherry St. to access Summer St. and/or Elm St.; Traffic on Summer St.: Eastbound traffic will be detoured at Cherry St. (or Hancock St. to Cherry St.). Westbound traffic will be detoured at Porter St. or Linden Ave.; Abutters on Cedar St. between Summer St. and Elm St.: Access homes via Sartwell Ave. during work hours. For the remainder of the summer (until August 30), work hours will be 7 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. Once schools are open as of August 30, work will not begin until 8:45 a.m. to allow school traffic to access streets in the area surrounding the Kennedy School. Work in the Summer/Cedar intersection will include excavation of the pavement with the use of jackhammers. Crews will complete upgrades to underground water & sewer infrastructure and other necessary utilities, as well as upgrades to electronic signaling. This work is expected to take approximately one month to complete. If you have any questions, please contact the Somerville Engineering Department at 617-625-6600 ext. 5400.

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Come to a free screening to find out if you qualify to join a new program proven to drastically reduce your chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes. The screening is hosted by Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass Avenue, Cambridge from 12:30‐1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 5. Meet the coaches running the program. Ask questions and see if it’s right for you. Not sure if you are pre diabetic? Take the test. Space is limited. For more information or to join the class, contact SCES Wellness Coordinator Eliza Wiesner at 617‐628‐2601 x3108 or ewiesner@eldercare.org.