If you would like to subscribe to receive a digital edition of our paper, go directly online to our website – www.thesomervilletimes.com – over to the right side and fill out your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper. By the way, if you scroll further down, a link to former editions of the paper are online as well, and all recent legal ads have been online for anyone who needs the legal ad they just ran.

********************

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to local activist and good guy Ben Echevarria. We wish him well. From a great family and a proud Somerville guy. Happy birthday to Mike Buckley, another proud Somerville guy. We wish him a happy day. Happy birthday to one of our finest teachers here in Somerville, Scott Weaver. We wish him the very best. He’s a dedicated and good guy. Happy birthday to Mike Berry, formerly of Winter Hill, a nice guy who grew up here and lives now in FLA. We wish Mike the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to the matriarch of the Moccias – the reason why Victor’s Deli and lunch is so successful – Rosa Moccia is celebrating and we wish her well. Happy birthday to another local, Kevin Shackleford, who is celebrating this week as well. To all former locals who are celebrating this week, we wish every one of them a very happy birthday.

********************

How you enjoying all the traffic jams throughout the city recently? 4-5 cops stationed at Trum, watching people maneuver the construction, both on Broadway and again on Cedar. What is going on? Who plans this crap? Is this the fault of Stan Koty, the DPW Commissioner? Because we think the constant traffic jams throughout the city is intentional. What do you think?

********************

Congratulations to the Little Sisters of the Poor on Highland who are celebrating 150-year Anniversary on Sunday, October 28.

********************

Masonic Open House is Saturday, October 20, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Masonic property located at 125 Highland Avenue (rear) building. Drive up the driveway to the open parking lot at the rear building. King Solomon’s Lodge AF & AM, chartered in 1783, is one of the oldest Masonic lodges, now celebrating 235 years. It’s a very active lodge and one of the oldest in North America. Some of its historical regalia will be on display, tours will be given, questions answered and light refreshments served. Come meet the officers of the lodge who will be present to answer any questions you might have.

********************

Condolences to the family of Irving E. Johansen, who passed away recently at the age of 95. His wake will be this coming Sunday at Doherty’s Funeral Home, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. A great guy who loved Somerville and was our source of a lot of historical information here in the city. He will be missed by the many friends and family members that he leaves behind. We thought the world of him here at the paper.

********************

It looks like two more have left for higher pay here in the city. Two Inspectional Services employees can’t live on the low salary and high pressure here in the city. Especially since the Personnel Director is making $140K a year, with no college degree. Some city employees that actually do hard work have made remarks about how the city is anti-union. Are they correct? After all, most of the new aldermen – if not all – ran on the Our Revolution ticket: pro-union? If they were serious about being pro-union and supporting city workers, they would have done something with the last two budgets.

********************

Miss watching the Board of Aldermen 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. Ask yourself, if you own property has your taxes gone down or stayed the same over the past 14 years? And do you remember what they kept telling us what the benefit of Assembly Square would be to our tax base? Watch and remember. Don’t let a small minority of a certain group run our city, be aware of what is going on, and VOTE.

********************

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.

********************

We’re still reading the lease on the Winter Hill Yacht Club, which has about two years left. We found something about there is not supposed to be a fence. We’ll get back to you on this. We’re reading it and we think if the city presses hard enough, along with the state delegation, the city can turn this is into a community place for the citizens of Somerville. Someone sent us some documents – about 40 pages or so – about the club, their lease and membership list. We’re going over it and will update next few weeks. But again, we think it’s a shame all that beautiful land and docks, and most especially the clubhouse, 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 own land (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 you’re indicted, your invited.” Go by and check it out.

********************

Are you retired and looking for part time work, and you’re experienced in sales? Give us a call here at The Somerville Times at 617-666-4010. We are looking for advertising telemarketers.

********************

Join SFLC and fellow Somerville parents for the Sharing Our Stories Support Group for families with young children who have special needs. This free, open-ended group will offer adults the opportunity to share joys, concerns, frustrations, questions and resources about their experiences. Facilitated by Amy Bamforth, LICSW. Thursday, October 11, 7:00-8:30pm at the Cummings School building, 42 Prescott. St.