Don’t forget this Saturday night at the new Somerville rink the Somerville Police Department Hockey Team faces off against the Boston Bruins Alumni Hockey Team. This is going to be a great night so come out and enjoy the game, meet and greet and celebrate the newly remodeled rink.

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Does she have the sixth  vote or not? Alderwoman Rebekah is working the votes for Board of Aldermen President and although the caucus is usually held the week of Thanksgiving, and as of Tuesday she wasn’t sure who or where the sixth vote was coming from. We have it from sources that a couple of aldermen are telling her that they are up in the air, and not committed but would be committed if they get prized chairmanships of certain committees. Won’t be long now, she’s working overtime, we hear, to get that vote.  Alderman Tom Taylor wants to be vice president and he doesn’t seem to have a problem. One person who would like to stay  president and has told people, some say  too late, is present President Jack Connolly.

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Happy Thanksgiving to all of Somerville both present and past residents wherever they are, spread across the globe and the Internet, may we all have a peaceful and enjoyable day.

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Happy Birthday to lifelong resident and popular person Lea Gartland, and many more to her from her friends at the News. Our good friend and circulation guy for the News Jimmy (can do) Mastromatteo is also celebrating his birthday; Jimmy is a great guy out there making lots of friends when he delivers the paper. Another popular guy and good friend to many here in Somerville is former East Cambridge resident and now State Representative from Derry, NH (a Republican) Al Baldasaro, his birthday is this week as well. We wish all the friends of Somerville who are celebrating their birthdays this week a blessed and happy day and week.

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Last month we mentioned that good friend Joe Staples was celebrating his 73 birthday but seems like it wasn’t then it’s this week, so he’s had a sort of month long celebration. Happy Birthday again and many more.

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Lots of promotions this past week with the Somerville Fire Department, actually eleven firefighters were promoted to higher rank. William Lee is now Deputy Fire Chief, Dennis Murphy is District Fire Chief, Michael Avery is Captain, William Fitzpatrick is Captain and the following men were promoted to Lieutenant,  Timothy Bakey, Gregory French, Stephen Mauras, Mark Matthews and Stephen Belski, waiting to be sworn in is David Stiltner. Congratulations one and all and best wishes for a job well done in getting the promotions.

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Last week Alderman Sean O’Donovan had a fund raiser up at Amelia’s in Teele Square. The place was packed wall to wall with supporters family and friends, to say hello and thank Sean for all his hard work he does for the residents of his ward and here in the city. He says he might have an opponent but with a showing that he had and at a time when everyone is weary from politics, he won’t have a problem.

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So we keep hearing that the Tea Party movement is getting established here in Somerville. At a recent meeting we were told about 26 residents showed up to talk about plans for the upcoming year. Now 26 isn’t a large number but we were reminded that the Progressive Democrats for the past several meetings barely got over 10 to attend. Maybe the wind is going out of their sails? Maybe they need new leadership?

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Somerville Council on Aging will be holding a Holiday Bazaar December 9 and 10 at the Holland Street Senior Center. The bazaar will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be lots of raffles, baked goods, knitted items and plenty more.

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The city’s annual tree lighting will take place on Wednesday, December 1 on the City Hall concourse.  Following the tree lighting, Santa Claus will be available for photos and gift distribution to children in the Aldermanic Chambers.

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The Boston Bruins Alumni Team led by Rick Middleton will join Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Police hockey team to support Somerville Youth Hockey at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Rink on Somerville Ave. on Saturday, November 27.  Middleton’s team will include Terry O’Reilly, Ken Hodge, Ken Linseman, Bob Sweeney, Don Marcotte, Bruins broadcaster Andy Brickley, Hall-of-Famer Brad Park and Bruins legend Ray Bourque.The event to support Somerville Youth Hockey will begin at 5 p.m. with a youth hockey game and finish with the Bruins Alumni vs. Somerville Police game. Raffles and auction items will be on hand.

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Support local artists and craftspeople at the Arts at the Armory’s  first annual holiday marketplace– Snow Mall. Over 35 local vendors will bring you something for everyone on your list– even Fido! December 4 and 5 from 12 to 6 p.m. Admission is $2, children are free with adults.

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What if even a fraction of the billions of dollars generated by online shopping was directed towards ending poverty where we live? The Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) has teamed up with GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com to do just that. With GoodShop.com, consumers are helping their favorite causes by shopping at more than 1,600 well known retailers including Amazon, Target, Apple, Macy’s, Best Buy, Orbitz, Staples and others.  The shopping experience and the prices are exactly the same as going to the retailer directly, but by going through GoodShop, up to 30% of the purchase price is donated the user’s favorite cause. In addition, for every search conducted on the Yahoo and Bing-powered GoodSearch.com search engine, approximately one penny is donated to the user’s favorite charity.  Use it exactly like any other search engine, but with GoodSearch, the pennies add up quickly. Just 500 people searching four times a day will earn approximately $7,300 a year.  And, it doesn’t cost the users a thing! It’s a form of philanthropy that works for everyone in this tough economy. CAAS plans on using the money raised from these programs to help keep people from losing their homes and to support individuals and families trying to achieve economic self-sufficiency.