Wondering what’s happening with the vacant Star Market (Winter Hill) store and lot? Well, hopefully tonight, Wednesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m., at the Healey School on Meacham St., you can find out. Mayor Joe Curtatone and Ward 4 City Councilor Jesse Clingan will be speaking and answering questions. City staff will be present in case Mayor Joe and Councilor Jesse need help in answering. Apparently, there are several options they are exploring. This is a big thing for Winter Hill. Hopefully, some answers of what they plan on doing with it will be forthcoming.

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This past Saturday, the Third East Somerville Reunion happened at the Somerville City Club and was a complete success, thanks to Dan Rogovich. He was assisted by Susan Griffin, his daughter Danielle Rogovich and Michelle Hansom. The band was the best, a local one with East Somerville’s Bob DiGuardia. Dan did a great job for those who come from East Somerville.

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Mayor Joe Curtatone is having a campaign kickoff on Monday, June 24, at the George Dilboy Post, 351 Summer St. Plenty of parking. You can RSVP Meredith Moghimi at Meredith@mlmstrategiesllc.com.

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Join Bill White and his supporters as he kicks off his re-election campaign on Monday, June 24, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at Olde Magoun’s Saloon, 518 Medford St.

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A hearing on the state level will take place now that the City Council voted on the passage of a transfer tax of 2% on homes sold in the city. Yesterday, Tuesday, the state was going to discuss the bill. Let’s hope it’s defeated like the last one. Don’t worry people, the vast majority of the middle class is gone. This bill, if passed, will have a major effect on housing prices in the city.

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We were watching the budget meeting the other night and could not believe what we heard. It seems that Ward 5 Councilor Mark Niedergang mentioned that we can save money by cutting Fire Department personnel. Maybe he thinks we have too many. We thought that the Fire Department personnel was down for many years.

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Speaking of Winter Hill, many residents are upset with the combining of both Walgreens and Rite Aid. It appears that Walgreens moved into the Rite Aid building and things haven’t been the same since it happened. Long lines in the pharmacy, the pharmacist being seen throwing prescriptions on the floor and others walking around them. We heard through the resident rumor mill that both of the two pharmacists who worked there were let go. One was there on the job for over 37 years and was there when the store was Osco. We heard that the manager of Walgreens cleaned house in a nasty way for a lot of the people, but in particular the pharmacist. We heard he was told at 1:45 in the afternoon on a Friday to turn in his keys and leave the property immediately. That’s how they fire 37 yearlong hard workers who the community has come to feel comfortable with. A lot of residents do not like the Walgreens crew coming in and firing everyone. It makes it worse that they always had long lines in Walgreens, but rarely did they at Rite Aid. Even the pharmacist at Rite Aid worked the register when It was backed up, but not the Walgreens pharmacist. They just look but won’t move. You’d think they would keep some people on with two stores at least temporarily. Now down to one, it means more customers. They have a pharmacy at Stop & Shop, and Wellington City CVS is not that far away, and it’s open all the time. Also, the CVS in Magoun Square is good to use.

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Last week we called a local councilor and asked why the lights at the Broadway and Boston Ave. are not blinking. It seems pretty stupid to have two transit cops sitting there playing with their phones, with signs everywhere and several huge trucks parked in front of the bridge. The councilor mentioned that they should not be steady but blinking. Well that lasted for about three hours and once again, by late afternoon, they are not blinking. Seems pretty lame to sit there with no traffic waiting for a green light. Guess the men and women at the GLX are racking in the money! FYI, the councilor never even called back to say why they were not blinking.

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Celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to a good guy, Steve Mirabella, who is originally from Magoun Sq. We wish him many more. Happy birthday to one of the famous Winter Hill family members, Ms. Linda Spinosa, who celebrates this week. Happy birthday to former Spring Hill, closer to City Hall, Gail Chambers, who is celebrating this week as well. We found five Facebook accounts under her name. Happy birthday to one of our former writers, Jack Nicas, who is now working for the for the famous New York Times as a reporter. Happy birthday, Jack, and many more. Happy birthday to Robert Ambrogi, who is a newspaper attorney from the North Shore. Finally, a happy birthday to Joe Grafton, who is celebrating this week. To those that are celebrating this week, and we didn’t post, again we wish you the best of birthdays.

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Well, apparently Stan Koty, the current DPW Commissioner, was very upset at us for letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak. But honestly, everyone at DPW and City Hall knew it (worst kept secret in the city). We didn’t mean to get him upset, but apparently he gets upset frequently, or maybe because he doesn’t trust anyone? He was heard yelling at the DPW over the comments by that other (you know who) whatever it’s called blog. Instead, his yelling could be heard all the way down the hall and in particular down the stairwell. He should learn to relax. But he will not be on the job long. Like we reported last week, Steve MacEachern, longtime employee of the DPW should be stepping in. Wonder where Stan Koty is going? They must have something set up for him.

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We heard that a well-known former political figure is selling her condo. Rebeckah Gerwitz, former Ward 6 Alderman, is selling her condo at the school building on Morrison Ave. We heard the asking price is $800,000. Rebeckah retired from the Board, got married and moved to Brookline, so we hear.

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Have you read the budget (it’s online)? We see that the Personnel Director is getting another raise, to $147K. Imagine that, she doesn’t even have a college diploma, so we’re told. See? it does pay to be buddies with the administration.

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Looking for a job as a real estate professional here in the Greater Boston area and Somerville? Contact our office, Century 21 North East – Norton Group RE, 699 Broadway Somerville Ball Square. Phone 617-623-6600 or email donaldfnorton@gmail.com. Century 21 North East has over 45 offices here in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine. It’s the fastest growing company around, headed by Jimmy D’Amico, originally from Chelsea. Find out why so far, since January 1 of this year, over 100 agents – both new and existing – have joined with C21 North East’s more than 800 agents. It’s all about family and good business sense. A grand opening will be coming up sometime soon.

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Question: Does anyone know the answer? Can Medford close Winchester St. at both ends, except for residences? Not just block it, but have a police officer on both ends to make sure you can’t use Winchester St. Our question, again, is it legal to close the bridge that will be worked on for a year? Now the city of Medford is allowing Harvard St. to be cut off during the day. No Winchester St. to go down for year, and how long is Harvard St. going to be closed off in the daytime? I can see closing a street for temporary repairs, but to close it for a year because of the bridge? We want answers and we will keep asking till we get them. It would have been a nice thing if the city of Medford opened Winchester St. while Harvard St. has work being done in the day time. Also, how much does a cop detail cost in Medford? It seems like there are quite a few cops on special detail, but not moving the traffic. The one on Harvard and Main is a prime example.

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We heard that instead of joining the Winter Hill Yacht Club (which by the way over 80% we heard are not residents of the city), some local Somerville people joined the boat club across the river in Medford. We’d still like to see the club taken over by the City of Somerville for the residents of the city. What a great resident place it would be. Would that huge wall – we mean fence – come down and be unlocked? Question: can they even have that fence – or gate? Go by and check it out. What a great place it would be for the city to have for the residents.

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A Somerville resident is looking for witnesses to a hit-and-run collision where a grey SUV backed into a red hatchback at the intersection of Temple St. and Broadway on April 29 at about 4:30 p.m. Please email Chris at crashwitness429@gmail.com or call/text 617-420-6451.