Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville invite community members to provide public comments about rent stabilization at an upcoming listening session. As part of ongoing efforts to continue to reduce displacement and increase housing affordability, the city’s Anti-Displacement Task Force (ADTF) is drafting a rent stabilization law, and community members are invited to share their input on what should be included. Two separate sessions will be offered. The first listening session, for property owners and their advocates, is Thursday, July 20, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The second session, for renters and their advocates, is Thursday, July 27, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Both listening sessions will be hosted in a hybrid format, with the opportunity to participate in person at the Armory or remotely on Zoom. Both sessions will be recorded and posted on voice.somervillema.gov/adtf. For more info visit the city’s website www.somervillema.gov

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East Somerville’s Summer Carnaval Block Party Series kicks off Sunday, July 23, 2023, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. These Block Parties will be at 115 Broadway (East Somerville Public Library) and on Illinois Ave on Sunday evenings once a month. Enjoy live music, food, and activities for the whole family. Next block parties take place August 20 and September 10.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Leeann Rollins. We wish her the very best for her birthday. Happy birthday to Richard Nilsson. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy Birthday to Somerville School Committee member, Andre Green. We wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Joey Sainato, Christine Desrochers-Broderick, Richard Spinosa, Joseph Cottier, Joanne Ruggiero Contaldi, Andre Green, Nancy McCarty, Susanne Sordillo, Cheryl Chaille Horan, Alice Galvin, Tommy Mcdaid, Frank Tello Jr., Erica Jones, Joan Campo McKenna, Carol Powers and Stephanie Ann a very happy birthday. We hope everyone has a great day. To all the others we may have missed, we sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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The Somerville Public Library will host their annual Summer Jam on the Lawn, Tuesday, July 25, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., 79 Highland Ave. This is event is run by teens and all ages are invited to attend. They will have a DJ, lawn games, popcorn, sno-cones, and other snacks giant Jenga and giant Connect-4, cool temporary tattoos, and lots of raffle prizes. This event is presented in partnership with Teen Empowerment and is partially funded by the Friends of the Somerville Public Library. Contact Ellen: ejacobs@somervillema.gov.

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The previously announced 42-day suspension of Green Line service between Lechmere and Union Square Stations from July 18 to August 28 will not take place. The repair work on the Squires Bridge has been postponed until September 2023. For all updates visit the MBTA’s website: www.mbta.com/.

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Find free meals for anyone 18 or younger at several locations around Somerville for breakfast and lunch, until August 11. Breakfast: Argenziano Playground, 290 Washington St:9:15 – 9:30 a.m.,North Street Playground: 9:45 – 10:10 a.m. Lunch: Dilboy Stadium, 324 Alewife Brook Pkwy: 10:15 – 10:30 a.m., Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Dr: 10:45 –11:00 a.m., Mystic Housing, 30 Mystic Ave: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. North Street Playground: 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. Foss Park Playground and Pool, McGrath and Broadway: 1:15 – 2:00 p.m.

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Somerville Council on Aging, LCR Game Day, Friday, July 21, 10:00 a.m. at the Holland St. Center. LCR-Left Center Right is a fun, fast-paced dice game that you won’t be able to put down. Players roll the dice to determine where they pass their chips. The last player with chips is the winner and wins the center pot. RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or email Debby at dhiggins@somervillema.gov. Grab & Go lunch available.

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Somerville Police are warning residents of Wards 2 and 3 that there have been multiple incidents of an unknown male breaking into homes between 12:00 and 6:00 a.m. by entering through unlocked first-floor windows. Residents are urged to lock all windows (and doors) overnight, particularly those on the first floor. Residents are also urged to call police if they see anything unusual in their neighborhood such as loitering; persons in driveways or yards who should not be there; and any other suspicious behavior. This activity is occurring in large part along the Beacon St. corridor along the city limits of Cambridge.

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The Mayor’s Annual Senior Picnic is back on Tuesday, August 8, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Trum Field (541 Broadway). There will be music, lunch and entertainment. To attend please call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2319 for your free ticket by August 1.

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The Somerville Police Department is happy to announce the return of the Junior Police Academy for Somerville Youth Grades 5, 6, 7, 8. The program will run August 7 – 11 and feature a variety of training situations in which all cadets will be required to participate in. The program will include, but not limited to classroom training, hand on police tactics, and physical training, Travel days to special events and more. To sign up, please go to the Somerville Recreation page: https://bit.ly/3JZbZun.

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Dilboy Pool, 110 Alewife Brook Parkway, is now open for the summer season. Pool hours are Monday – Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Saturday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Pool admission: Children – $1. Adults – $2. Ginny Smithers Pool at the Kennedy School, 5 Cherry St., summer hours Monday – Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Resident registration for summer swimming lessons opened on July 3. Non-resident opened on at 8:00 a.m. Limited spots are available. Visit somervillema.myrec.com.

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The Enrollment Office is open at its new location in the East Somerville Community School. Please visit by entering at the school’s front entrance at 50 Cross Street. Visit their website for more information: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/enrollment.

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The Retro Polatin Duo, Thursday, July 20, starting at 11:00 a.m. at Somerville Council on Aging Holland Street Center. The Petro Polatin Duo is an exciting 50’s and 60’s band specializing in playing vintage rock and roll and classic pop hits, with soaring vocals and an infectious sense of fun. The duo is made up of a singer and guitarist. They will help us return to our roots, playing music such as Dream Lover, Sea Cruise, and Rock Around the Clock. Lunch will be served after the performance, $5 per person. Please call Debby Higgins to RSVP at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or dhiggins@somervillema.gov.

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The City of Somerville’s annual SomerMovieFest returns this year with a series of seven family-friendly films being shown in parks around Somerville. Screenings begin at dusk. The next screening will be Vivo, Thursday, July 20, 8:49 p.m., Lincoln Park, 290 Washington St.

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Enjoy free outdoor movies, popcorn, candy, and fun at The Block at Boynton Yards, all summer long. Friday Flicks Outdoor Movie Nights at Boynton Yards will start at 7:00 p.m. with yard games and fun, followed by candy, popcorn, and movies once the sun sets. Bring a blanket and get ready for a fun-filled evening. August 11: Raiders of the Lost Ark and September 15: The Little Mermaid (1995 version). Boynton Yards, 110 South Street.

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Somerville Public Library offers video game hangouts for teens and tweens (ages 10-18) at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., all through the summer from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Hangouts will take place July 24, and again August 7 and 21.

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In partnership with CAAS Community Action Agency of Somerville, the city is distributing 500 fully subsidized MBTA passes to low-income Somerville households. This program aims to fill a critical gap for low-income residents who don’t qualify for other transit benefit programs. Learn more and apply at: https://www.caasomerville.org/transit-program-form. For assistance by phone, call CAAS at 617-599-4185.

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For updates and detours connected to Spring Hill Sewer Separation project, visit: https://voice.somervillema.gov/springhillsewer.

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Don’t forget to visit Somerville’s farmers markets. Every Wednesday through November 22, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. visit the Davis Square Farmers Market, across from American Flatbread at 44 Day St. Visit: www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis. Every Saturday through October 28, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., the Union Square Farmers Market takes place at 66-70 Union Sq. visit: www.unionsquaremain.org/2023-fmseason.

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Join Somerville Prevention and Repair the World at an upcoming Narcan distribution event. Each will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. over four Saturdays in July. Available resources include Narcan, fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields for rescue breathing, and syringe disposal containers. A brief overdose prevention training will also be available. For a list of places visit https://www.somervillema.gov/. The last event is July 22: Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park (across from the corner of Assembly Row and Great River Road).

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With hot summer days ahead, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is looking for essential supplies to help keep those without a home safe and cool. Whether it’s sunscreen or juice boxes, they have compiled an Amazon wish list with key summer items for clients. If you are interested in donating you can do so through the link provided or by dropping items off at their Engagement Center located at 1 Davis Square between Monday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. for lunch). https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2S0DQDB857065?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR1ZHXC1YJnbbt36ZicxPnsR7pAEJ4dP1rODG5sNovyNzGE68py31ENo.

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