Tonight, it’s Giggles Comedy Night, this time for the Masonic Lodge on Highland Avenue, with special comedians Lenny Clarke and Tony V. Specifically, the Building Association is having its 6th Annual Giggles Comedy Night at Giggles on Rte. 1 in Saugus on Wednesday April 25 at 6:30 p.m. Lots of laughs with 3-4 professional comedians, over 23 gift baskets specially made for the event, and a great time for all. Only $25 per ticket for all the pizza you can eat and all the laughs you can stand. It’s not a tax deductible night but a funable night. Tickets at the door or email Donald Norton at donaldfnorton@gmail.com.

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On Thursday, April 26, A Taste of Immigrant City, hosted by YUM, will be held at the Arts at the Armory, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. For more information and cost, go to www.brownpapertickets.com. Explore foods from around the world. The evening will include tastes from local immigrant-run restaurants, entertainment, raffles, a cash bar, and an awards presentation honoring the work of local community leaders, Josh Zakim and Natalicia Tracy. They are also extremely excited and honored to have Roberto G. Gonzales as their keynote speaker for the evening. YUM promotes immigrant-run local restaurants, highlighting contributions of the city’s immigrant communities. All proceeds of this event will benefit The Welcome Project, a non-profit in Somerville, MA. The Welcome Project builds the collective power of Somerville immigrants to participate in and shape community decisions. This event is sure to sell out so get your tickets early.  They are happy to offer special pricing for Boston area students. Email kenia@welcomeproject.org for the student password/promo code. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

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The Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation presents its 2018 drawing to help our students that are graduating. The drawing is for the chance to win $10K plus by selling $100 tickets. If you have done this in the past you know how it’s done. Make out a check payable to the S.H.S. Scholarship Foundation and mail it to SHS Raffle c/o Joesph Favaloro, PO Box 440275, Somerville 02145. Or you can call Joe at 617-666-8473 or Gene Brune at 617-628-5835. As soon as they receive your check they will mail out the ticket(s) to you. Only a certain number of tickets are being sold, so hurry up. Help a student and get the chance to win $10K. The drawing is set for May 18, 7:00 p.m., at the Highlander Café, Somerville High School. Refreshments will be served.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Big happy birthday to our good friends over at Ball Square Café and the man with the  smiling face, Mike Moccia. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to another great guy and restaurateur, Brett Henry, of the famous Henry family at Mt. Vernon Restaurant. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to an old friend, Jim Bain of Wells Fargo Mgt., also well known in these parts. Happy birthday to local guy and Deputy Sheriff, Michael Nionakis. We hope he has a great day. To that lovely and popular lady, Julie Phelan Brady, of Medford. She’s equally well known here in Somerville. To all the others we may have missed – and yes, we must admit there are a few more out there – we sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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Whether you are an old customer or new one, we all offer a big welcome back after some major heart problems to Tony Alibrandi at his barber shop on Holland Street. He’s looking good and he’s cutting hair again like the pro that he is. He is celebrating almost 60 years of work cutting the hair of many notables here in the city. Tony is a great guy and he has a great assistant in Paul McGlashing. We were happy to see that Tony is back to work, with that Tony sense of humor and his vast knowledge of Somerville. On top of that, he is one of the biggest benefactors here, donating time and money to local sports for various teams, including teams named after him. Again, were glad he is back and doing well. His lovely wife Donna takes good care of him. They are one of the nicest couples in the city, and both lifelong residents.

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We hear that there is talk by some here in the city of starting their own newspaper. We think that’s great. We hear it’s going to be similar to the old Somerville Community News, or are they going to change the name to ??? The Somerville Community News, which was a monthly paper, if we recall correctly (so were we back in the 80’s), declared itself then as left leaning (some would say communist, but we wouldn’t use that name – or would we?). We hear some of the same people aligned with old Community News are starting it up. We also hear that some elected officials are going to be part of the paper. We welcome competition, we love it. We just hope those elected officials declare themselves as being involved. We’re also just wondering since they hate “gossip” columns, does that mean the old Somerville Snoop will rear its ugly head? Makes our Newstalk pale by comparison, just saying. Since we just pulled some from our old filing cabinet – a bunch of them and just for old times’ sake – and read some of those gossip columns. Wow, we are tame in comparison here at The Times. Maybe if they have that column again we will have to step up to the plate, or maybe not. In short, we welcome competition. We say bring it on, we love it and thank you.

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Congratulations to our good friend over in Medford, realtor John Veneziano, who was recently sworn in as the new President of the Medford Chamber of Commerce. John is the broker of Remax Andrew in Medford. We wish John the best in this his tenure as President of such a prestigious office.

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Calling all Somerville local singers and Acapella groups! The Sound of Music Sing Off at Assembly Row takes place on Saturday, April 28, 3:00-5:00 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, April 29) at Baxter Riverfront Park at Assembly Row. This is your chance to take part in The Sound of Music. Join in on the fun as they search for a modern Von Trapp family. The first place winner receives tickets to see The Sound of Music live at the Wang Theatre, the opportunity to sing at the theatre before the show, a cast meet and greet and a retail package from Assembly Row. For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/events/127364914774426/.

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There is still no answer as to why there has been no audit for 10 years now on the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund. After all, the Board of Aldermen should be asking questions as to why there has been no audit before turning over any money to them. How much money was raised and given by the taxpayers of Somerville? Who got the money? How much and were they residents of the city before they got the money? Many question and no answers. Why?

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FYI we still think more than ever that the Winter Hill Yacht Club should be turned over to the City of Somerville as a public marina, to be used and enjoyed by all our Somerville residents, especially now since we heard from sources that the club membership of those living in Somerville is the lowest it’s ever been.   But as you can see they have big fence and gate to keep you out, while they pay low rent to the State for a lease for property that is what they refer to in the real estate world as fantastic location.  Rumor has it that they might owe back rent.  We think it would be a great place for a  “public  marina” for the use by ALL of Somerville’s residents.

The Somerville City Club is looking to increase its membership, for the time being membership is open to any resident here in the city, a great organization that has been around a long time, with lots of activities that support local charitable groups here. Contact the club on Innerbelt Road across from Holiday Inn for more details.

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