It was a great send off last Friday night at Davio’s in Lynnfield, as Cambridge District Court personnel and friends of Probation Officer Robert McWatters gathered to say “Happy retirement.” After 34 years serving the courts, Bob was presented several gifts of appreciation for a job well done. A small crowd of about 80 to 100 of his co-workers, family and friends gathered to give Bob a proper sendoff. His many friends locally will also be giving him a sendoff this coming Friday night, 6 p.m. at Sally O’Brien’s. So if you missed last week, show up then to wish him the best and thank him for a job well done.

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How many received the “door hanger literature” this past week? It read “Standing Together, We can Win the Good Jobs and Housing Our Community Needs.” After reading this, one can’t help thinking it was left by union members. We think that is fine, but why not say who you are? No name, other than “Somerville Stands Together” and a post office box. No name, no address, no email, no website, just a PO Box. But there is a tear off post card asking for your name, address, and email. Who is behind this and why not say who they are? If it’s the local city unions, why not include a space to ask questions? We’re very suspicious of literature not declaring who they are but wanting to get your information. Don’t you agree?

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Still no outrage from our elected officials. Where is Mayor Joe, Ward 5 Alderman Niedergang and Ward 6 Alderman Davis, who represent Ball Square and its neighbors? Why aren’t they asking questions and demanding another way that they can adjust the bridge without closing down the entire bridge at once, especially for one year. Ball Square businesses will lose money and customers if they get locked out for over a year, because “the state claims it’s too expensive to do otherwise.” Where are Senator Jehlen, and Representatives Provost and Barber? Again, where is the outrage? Aren’t they concerned about the impact it will have on both businesses and neighborhood streets that people will use to go around the bridge. The businesses and neighbors, like Highland Road, Josephine Avenue, Willow Avenue, will be disrupted. Halt the bridge work the way it’s being proposed now and find a solution to keep part of it open so the businesses and residents won’t suffer.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Leeann Rollins, the wife of Bruce Jr. We wish her the very best for her birthday. Happy birthday to local guy Richard Nilsson, a nice guy and great family man. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to a NJ transplant, now in Winter Hill, John Serpico. A nice guy who loves his career in acting. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday our own special and fun guy here in Somerville, the great Jimmy Del Ponte, who is celebrating. Happy birthday to Patricia Norton and grandson Corey Norton, celebrating on the same day. We wish them both a great day. Happy birthday to Ward 5 Alderman and smart guy Mark Niedergang, who is also celebrating this week. And finally, happy birthday to Ricky Hart, of the famous Harts. We hope he has a great birthday especially with his family. To all others here in the city who are celebrating that we may have missed, we wish you a happy birthday.

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Demet’s Donuts in Medford is getting very busy, but those donuts and the large variety are like the old Day’s Donuts, huge and tasty. Almost a sin facing you when you come in for just coffee. It’s hard to not get that jelly or lemon, not to mention the coconut donuts. The Somerville Times is available every Wednesday at the donut shop. Stop in, get a coffee and few of those delicious donuts, or maybe the real – and we mean real – egg sandwiches, from real eggs.

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Those of us that frequent the Winter Hill Post Office will notice that one friendly face, Joan, who has been serving Winter Hill residents and beyond now for 14 years, has moved on to another post office nearer to her home. We here wish her the very best of luck. She and all the ladies at Winter Hill are very pleasant. Always service with a smile. Winter Hill is lucky to have Joan, and lucky to have the other fine ladies as well. We hope it continues to be so and wish the very best to Joan in her new location. Our loss is their gain.

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We heard from a source that one of the recently elected Union Square Neighborhood Council members who was on the slate with Our Revolution has moved out of the city, no longer residing here, but in Boston. Our source says that the council members won’t mention it and that the person is still active in the council. You’d think they would be above board, wouldn’t you?

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Who is in charge of the traffic pattern here in the city? Hopefully not DPW Commissioner Koty. The Powderhouse rotary lights are too long at 6:00 a.m. Since there are only three ways into Davis Square, why is the light at College Ave. and Winter St. so short? We timed it and only an average of four cars get through the green light. Speaking of lights and abuse, where is the police department when you need them? Think of all the money in fines they could be generating for the city at Temple and Mystic Ave. People are constantly running those lights. The city could make a fortune there.

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Oh boy, we know that Walgreens bought out Rite Aid. Many of the Winter Hill Rite Aid customers don’t want to go to Walgreens. The staff and pharmacist at Rite Aid are the best. Without hesitation, they are the friendliest employees around and very helpful. Many residents of Winter Hill know what we are talking about. Let’s hope Rite Aid in Winter Hill doesn’t change.

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Miss watching the Board of Alderman meetings on TV? You can view them in their entirety on Comcast channel 22, as well as on YouTube. Watch your city at work and see how these dedicated members of our community are serving you, the public. We can’t say this enough, watch the meetings on either cable broadcast live, or go online to YouTube to watch them. You will find some pretty hysterical information there about what’s happening in the city. This should be required viewing for everyone who cares about what is happening here. Even the committee meetings are online. After all, the Board of Aldermen is voting to spend your money. Wow, the raises some department heads are getting. Of course, those friendly with the mayor are the ones that are getting huge ones.

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The Somerville City Club is looking to increase its membership. For the time being membership is open to any resident here in the city It’s 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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Davis Square is still part of Somerville, right? We thought so, but you wouldn’t know it. Has Ward 6 Alderman Lance Davis failed to stay on top of the DPW and get the square cleaned up? Or is he on the mayor’s “don’t do anything for” list? Just wondering. We know that in the recent past that’s how things were done. Vote with the mayor and get your streets taken care of. When did it change? Or maybe – just maybe – the aldermen could care less about the squares. Especially Ball Square, where Aldermen Davis and Niedergang represent.

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Have you driven around the city lately? Do the streets and squares seem dirtier, with lots of litter, not to mention the public median grass not being cut? Maybe DPW Commissioner Stan Koty isn’t answering his phone from the constituent aldermen. Maybe they aren’t calling him. Oh, wait, didn’t we lose the constituent alderman in the last election, in favor of other issues that might be better left to our state delegation? Guess that’s what we get when we elect a socialist majority Board of Aldermen. To soon? To harsh? You watch them one night on TV, tell us what you think.

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Have you thought you’d like to do some writing, a little story about Somerville as either a newbie or Villen? We have about 80K people and we would love to hear about your adventures here in the city. Maybe you want to write about a particular subject like our Bob Doherty and Dorothy DiMarzio, or like when Jimmy Del Ponte wrote his stories about the city (hey, that’s an idea – maybe we can talk him into doing a little writing again). Or maybe you’d like to express your opinion like Bill Shelton, as many others have over the years. Not just the politicians, but those from our community. Give us a call at 617-666-4010 or email news@thesomervilletimes.com and tell us about your idea. We would love to tell it to the rest of Somerville.