Lyrics Champs presents A Super Hero Wrestling Fundraiser this Friday, June 8, at the Somerville High School Field House, 81 Highland Avenue. Tickets are available online at www.LyricsChamps.org. The cost is $15.

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So far, the fireworks haven’t been cancelled. Let’s hope whoever is in charge of the event here in the city that it takes place this year, and on time. But how many want to bet that the July 4 city fireworks – which are not even done on July 4 – will be canceled? What will be the excuse? Maybe it’s too hot? You fill in the blanks! What is going on? Has it really become a “cupcake administration”?

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We hear that the Sunsetters, which was revived by the Curtatone Administration years ago, is completely cancelled this year. That’s too bad for those talented kids and neighbors that enjoyed the shows in the various neighborhoods. People are wondering what is going on and why this happened? Since all these events are being cancelled, for what some say is no reason at all, maybe some of the recent taxes and fees that the aldermen and mayor have passed will be cancelled. Or maybe not. So far this year, the January 1 flag ceremony was cancelled (well, until March, when it was warmer), then the Paul Revere ride (never rescheduled), then the Memorial Day Parade and now the Sunsetters. Is it budget cuts? Or maybe we’ve become less patriotic, as some are saying?

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Sal Ferro, of East Somerville, well known throughout the city and, of course, the husband of our own Claudia (our exclusive photographer), was recently in the hospital this past week, but now home resting and under the very careful care of Claudia. We wish him well. A nice guy and a great family.

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The State Democratic Convention was held last weekend in Worcester, and about 100 to 120 delegates from Somerville attended. Now, Somerville usually has been one of the prime Democratic voting cities over the years, and guess where the delegation was seated? Yesiree, right up in the nose bleed section of the convention hall. Meanwhile, congratulations to Somerville’s own native Bob Masse, who will be on the ballot this September as the Democratic Nominee for Governor. And, of course, a local Somerville person for statewide office is always a great thing.

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We hear that the affordable housing issue up at Clarendon Hill – a proposed joint venture between Somerville Community Corp., the Somerville Housing Authority and a private developer – was recently passed by the Board of Aldermen 8 to 3. Funny, in watching the aldermen, there was Ward 1 Alderman Matt McLaughlin, who ran on “affordable Housing” here in the city, voting NO on the proposal. Ward 2 Alderman JT Scott and Ward 4 Alderman Jessie Clingan also voted against it, and all three ran on affordable housing. Imagine that. Maybe they didn’t understand that the project was a 40B project? A proposed 216 units to be built on the current North and Alewife public housing site with half (108) going as affordable housing units. Or maybe they think the developer was making big money on the project? Just saying!

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great lady who is well known around the city, Muriel White (Berry). We hope she has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Michael Albano, who grew up in East Somerville. He has a real estate school and office here as well. Mike is a great guy and we hope he has a great birthday. Happy birthday Larry Fidalgo, known here in Somerville as Larry the Floor Guy. Happy birthday to another great guy, who is very popular in Medford and has many friends here in Somerville, Paul Camuso is celebrating this week. Paul is a former city councilor in Medford, and retired – hopefully only temporarily from politics. Former Somerville guy Frank LoBuono is celebrating with his family this week in FLA, his new home. We hope Frank has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Brendan Mansfield, who lives in the Davis Square area. We hope Brendan has a great birthday. Happy birthday to a good guy over in Cambridge, Keith MacKinnon, the historian at the Masonic Building. To an old friend, Linda Rocco, over in Medford, we wish her a happy birthday. Finally, to one of Somerville’s smartest Aldermen, Bill White, who loves Somerville and has served on the Board now for many years with honor and integrity. We hope he has a great birthday. Happy birthday as well to all the others we may have missed and, yes, there are a few more out there. We sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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Finally, after two years in and out of MGH, former Somerville lifelong resident and former alderman Charlie Chisholm finally got out to dinner for the first time in two years. Charlie is on the mend and we are happy for him. It’s been a huge ordeal.

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Patti Norton is back home working on getting stronger so that she might take that triple by-pass. She is doing well. Also home is Ross Blouin. He says he feels great. He’s started his dialysis this past week and is very optimistic.

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We’re told that Mayor Joe Curtatone is presenting next year’s budget to the Board of Aldermen Wednesday night. Make sure you watch it on cable so you’ll hear who’s getting what raise and who is getting a job that is being created for them. It’s your money, but they get to spend it. So watch it and then make sure you are voting next year in city election. Curious to see how this Board of Aldermen will react to the budget. Last year’s budget was 216K million. We predict it’s going to be substantially more this year (not hard to predict, since every year it’s more). Make sure you watch the questions these aldermen pose during the process. We hope there are not too many raises for department heads, but rather a substantial raise for those hard workers at DPW and all the other union members throughout the city that haven’t had a raise or CONTRACT in years.

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The vote to pass the proposed TRANSFER FEE/TAX was passed by all the alderman. The mayor signed it and it is on its way to the State House, were many homeowners hope it fails. Funny how those that want to spend other’s money call it a fee and not what it really is – a tax. We heard that comment several times this past week.

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On Sunday, June 10, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., Somerville will celebrate the environmental, economic and educational benefits of repairing the objects we own instead of discarding and replacing them for the fourth time. Sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council’s Arts Union and organized by the Somerville Tool Library, the Fixer Fair invites talented amateur and professional repair people to bring their skills and talents out to Union Square. Attendees can bring their broken objects to the Fair and use our tools, supplies and skilled volunteers to try and fix them. In our disposable culture we’re constantly discouraged from repairing our household items and encouraged to discard them and buy new. The neighborhood repair shop has all but disappeared. For many items, the environmental cost of producing a replacement is far greater than anything that can be recovered by recycling. By pooling our skills and resources to repair our stuff, we save our stuff from going filling up the landfills, we save money and we encourage self-sufficiency, community building and reliant communities. In addition to a general fixit area, Fixer Fair will have specific areas devoted to bike repair, textile repair, soldering and more. Volunteer fixers are welcome to stop by and share their skills and experience. The Somerville Tool Library will be on hand to accept tool donations and sign up new members. Parts and Crafts will show kids how to take apart broken items and see what makes them work and Girls Rock Camp will teach everyone to solder. This event is free and open to the public.