Bob McWatters, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Somerville coordinator, is having a meet and greet at Sally O’Brien’s in Union Square tonight, Wednesday, August 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Elderly residents are free. Marian grew up here in Union Square, and her family is well known. This event is co-sponsored by former Mayor Eugene Brune, Jack Connolly, Dennis Sullivan and Bob McWatters.

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Congratulations on a job well done to firemen Barry Hamilton and Tommy Capolla, along with MDA representative Nicole Camacho, who did a great job with the fundraiser for MDA over at the new Lucky Strikes in Assembly Square. What a great place.

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Every now and then we like to upgrade our paper, give it a new look, and stay abreast of new online technologies. We will soon be offering an online subscription of the paper. Plus, we will be putting out some new boxes, adding to our present locations right here in Somerville and over in Medford. A new look for the print addition is also coming soon. When it does, let us know what you think of it.

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Ward 5 Alderman Mark Niedergang has announced a community meeting for the Broadway/Ball Square Bridge closure and detour routes Wednesday, August 29, 6:00 p.m. at Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave, Davis Square. Topics will include updates on detour routes and any other concerns brought up by those attending.

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Wow, even new residents are starting to complain about the squares and how dirty they have become. Just the other day a fairly new resident to the city was telling us about the littered streets in the squares, in particular Davis Square. What’s up with Ward 6 Alderman Davis? Is he on the outs with the administration? What’s wrong with the DPW? Where is Stan Koty? Where’s the outrage? Maybe he should go on vacation again and let those that really run the DPW clean up the streets? Just saying!

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After the elections are over we will be welcoming a new column here at The Somerville Times, written by a former alderman. The name of the column will be a surprise. It will focus on the political goings on here in the city with the various public officials. It should be a lot of fun. Later on we will let it out who will be penning the article. We only hope they will leave enough gossip and rumor for this column. We, of course, welcome anyone who wants to write a column in The Times. Just give us a call.

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Well, with all the issues to be addressed here in the city including the zoning, Alderman At-Large Stephanie Hirsch introduced a resolution at last week’s meeting to have the city stop giving out T-shirts. What’s that all about? Is this what the BOA has come to? Did we elect her as mayor? Will the real mayor please stand up!

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We don’t think that Mayor Joe Curtatone’s boycott of Samuel Adams beer is holding up. Everywhere Newstalk was last week here in the city people were ordering Sam Adams. Even stores where we heard people who don’t even buy beer have purchased a 6-pack. Remember, Sam Adams has hundreds of employee’s right here in Boston and a lot of from Somerville as well. We need to stop with the boycotting because of political differences. It will never end, and to think about it, it’s not very smart. It might affect a relative or friend who works at these boycotted places. For a political figure like Mayor Curtatone, it’s not something they want to get involved with. Even Mayor Walsh of Boston didn’t like this.

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Happy Anniversary to our own Pat and Donald Norton. 51 years married, and known each other 54 years. A memorable 51 years with some good and some bad, but that’s what life is all about!

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Nice to see the ever popular Secretary of State Bill Galvin busy campaigning here in Somerville. A nice guy with many friends here in Somerville. He recently had a large turnout at a meeting with private residents and is expected to be escorted around by several local officials for the rest of the next couple of weeks. Some of us go way back to the late 70’s and early 80’s. Bill Galvin has been a tremendous Secretary of State.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday our own best photographer, Claudia Ferro. What a great lady and fantastic family. We hope she has a great birthday this week. Happy birthday to Leigh Harkens-Gerow who is celebrating this week, we wish her a happy birthday. Happy birthday to a fantastic guy whose family goes back generations, we wish Rick Pye the best. Happy birthday to State Representative Christine Barber, who is also celebrating. We hope she has a great day with her family and friends here in the city. Happy birthday to our good friend Jonathan Bowers, who recently lost his dad. To all others who are celebrating their birthdays this week and we missed you here, we wish a happy birthday to you.

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Coming in September on Sunday the 30th, the very first “A Ball for Squares” block party in Ball Square. Join all the merchants of Ball Square in celebrating Somerville’s bounciest square for a beer garden from The Pub, food from all of Ball Square’s wonderful restaurants, crafts, activities, bands, and more. Sponsored by the Ball Square Business Association and Mayor Joe Curtatone. More information to come as time goes by. It’s going to be a great day here in the square and city.

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Special shout out to Vickie Potaris, a great lady. And we recently ran into another great lady, Diane MacLeod, who we haven’t seen in years. Great to see they still live here in the city.

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We know everyone is mentioning the weekly dig at the Winter Hill Yacht Club to us. It’s nothing personal, but we think it would be a great addition to have it belong to and used by our residents here in Somerville. We know Mayor Curtatone has had plenty of fundraisers there, but nothing recently. We wonder why? But again, we think it’s a shame all that beautiful land and docks and – most especially – the club house is being used by those that don’t even live here in the city. A vast majority – we hear 80%, maybe more – live outside of the city. It’s state owned land (i.e. belongs to the people) and they pay rent, but are they current? What is the amount they pay to the state? What benefit does Somerville get from it now? We know that some former criminals are members there. Actually, we heard someone say the other day, “If your indicted, your invited.”