A lot of people are talking about it, the old fashioned St. Patrick’s Day Party, hosted by Alderman Sean O’Donovan, Friday March 11 at the Armory on Highland Avenue. A lot of excitement for the band  “Old Brigade Irish Band.” Years ago former Representative Marie Howe used to pack them in at the Armory for this yearly event, which also attracted a large non Irish crowd. To those that remembered the St. Patrick’s Day parties of the 70’s and 80’s are looking forward to this hopefully annual event again.

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Deepest sympathies to Larry Murphy and his family for the passing this week of his wife Joyce Murphy,  Joyce was a wonderful women who was so very friendly to all, she made everyone who came to know her that she was very special, a former employee of the School Department.

Rep. Mike Capuano made a serious mistake last week when he threatened that the debate over the power of public employee unions should get “bloody.”

We don’t have to recap for everyone the discussion around how our level of public debate has devolved recently. In some recent instances violent actions have followed violent words. Had a Republican made the same remarks Rep. Capuano undoubtedly would have joined a chorus demanding we raise our level of discourse. So what will he do now to raise it?

By George P. Hassett

Two brothers who nearly joined their father on the Somerville Fire Department before being tripped up by questionable residency statuses appealed to a civil service commissioner last week and will call witnesses when their case resumes Wednesday.

Sean and Ryan Layton are alleging that renewed scrutiny in the wake of a different fire department hiring dispute cost them their jobs. The Laytons both passed background checks that confirmed their residency in the city but a second investigation begun after Iraq war veteran Sean O’Brien claimed he was wrongly passed over concluded that they did not meet the residency requirements.

By George P. Hassett

Aldermen met for two hours 35 minutes Thursday. Ward Five Alderman Sean O’Donovan was not present.

Antonelli honored

Aldermen honored Water Superintendent Carol Antonelli for her 33 years of employment with the city. Antonelli started as an auditor for the city in 1978 and switched to the Department of Public Works in 1984. For the last five years she worked as superintendent of the water department.

By George P. Hassett

A Charlestown man, who police said stole a car, threw both of his hands in the air and said, “Okay you got me” when an officer pursued him as he ran away on foot, police said.

John Dowd, 45, of 47 Old Landing Way, Charlestown, was arrested at 292 Broadway and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle subsequent offense, receiving a stolen motor vehicle subsequent offense and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

By George P. Hassett

Two Somerville track stars are on their way to compete in a national tournament in New York City this month.

Nicole Genard and Taija Clark qualified to compete in the New Balance Scholastic Track Championships to be held in New York City March 11 to 13.

Our featured poet this week is Anne Ardery.  Anne lives in Davis Square and is taking time off from Harvard where she is an English major.

New Head of the Cape Cod Writers Center, and author of ‘The Muse of the Revolution’
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Nancy Rubin Stuart is a seasoned journalist who still remembers what pounding on the keys of a battered Royal feels like, and how to negotiate the shoals of a predominately male, smoke-filled newsroom. Stuart is also the author of a number of critically acclaimed books including her most recent The Muse of the Revolution: The Secret Pen of Mercy Otis Warren and the Founding of a Nation which concerns the Revolutionary War era writer Mercy Otis Warren. Stuart, who has taught writing at Yale, SUNY at Purchase, and other universities, is also the new director of the Cape Cod Writers Center. I spoke to her on my Somerville Community Access TV show Poet to Poet: Writer to Writer.

By Jimmy Del Ponte

Please wear your favorite, most colorful, wildest and wackiest hat to the “Hats Off To Somerville Day” cable TV film shoot. Show up on Wednesday March 2, 2011 at 12:30 in Davis Square at the Statue Park, across from J. P. Licks. We will be filming for Jimmy Del Ponte’s cable show, Seriously Somerville.

By George P. Hassett

A man who deposited a fraudulent $39,000 check into a Somerville bank tried to withdraw $15,000 last week, police said.

Ducarmel Dorime, 27, of 19 Clifford St., Boston, allegedly deposited a check at the Century Bank at 102 Fellsway West in the amount of $39, 011.63 on Feb. 15. Police said Dorime withdrew $8,000 in cash from the Boylston Street branch in Boston Feb. 23 and $7,500 in cash and $7,500 in treasurer’s checks in Medford the next day.