In spite of the vastly divergent range of opinions held by all of us here in Somerville and in our neighboring communities, we can unite in the spirit of bipartisanship as we congratulate and honor those who have served us well as they take their final bows and step down from their respective roles as public servants.

On Wednesday, January 26, at 6:30 p.m., a virtual event saluting the tenures of Somerville City Councilors Bill White (At-Large), Mary Jo Rossetti (At-Large), Will Mbah (At-Large), and Mark Niedergang (Ward 5) will take place on Zoom.

It’s an opportunity for those who appreciate their contributions to express themselves in a way that will be conveyed to them directly.

These people wrestled with the day-to-day and long-term issues that impact our lives to greater or lesser degrees. We can question and kibitz and complain until we are blue in the face. At the end of the day, it is these public servants who have taken up the burden of leadership who have delivered on their promise to serve our best interests in the most efficient and productive ways possible.

When all is said and done, we will choose sides, argue our personal points of view, and question authority appropriately. But let us now offer our sincere good wishes and gratitude for the positive things they have accomplished during their terms in office.

Those who wish to participate and offer their thanks and good wishes should RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thank-you-somerville-city-councilors-tickets-235930122347.