The Presidential Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 5. Take steps to make sure you are prepared: Submit your “Vote by Mail” application by February 27 at 5:00 p.m., Vote early at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) through March 1. Learn more at somervillema.gov/elections .

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Artists and members of the community are needed to help shape the vision of the Somerville Armory for years to come. Join the next meeting in-person, online, or asynchronously via our online forum. Think about what the Somerville Armory could look like in 100 years. If you could be around, what would you want it to look like, feel like? Share your thoughts, February 27, at 6:00 p.m. at Connexion (149 Broadway) – hybrid is available. Visit Somervoice to register: https://voice.somervillema.gov/armory-master-plan.

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Somerville Positive Forces (SPF) middle and high school youth will present the 2023 Middle School Student Health Survey results in a trivia format. After the trivia, they will discuss strategies to address in breakout rooms led by local professionals. Topics include substance use, mental health, physical violence, physical health, and sexual health. Join them on Thursday, February 29, starting at 6:00 p.m. Zoom link here: https://bit.ly/surveytrivia24.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy birthday to Eddie Nuzzo. We hope he has a great one. Happy Birthday to Nancy Trane, we hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to Nick Kondilis, a long-time real estate agent. We hope he has a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Liz Revilla Schoeneberger, Larry J Travaglione, Bill Roy, Laureen Chirichiello, Sarah Colestock Berson, Matt Smith, Barbara Neachtain, Susan Mangherini Griffin and Betsy Bragg a very happy birthday. To all those that are also celebrating this week, we wish a happy birthday.

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Visit CultureHouse, 64 Union Square on Friday, March 1, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for the WordPlay-Off. One by one, contestants will have two minutes each to make puns based on prompts they have received ahead of time (at sign up). Round two works the same way, with limited prep time. The top contestants battle it out with a head-to-head pun-off. Want to compete? Just show up! The first 10 sign ups get to compete and the earlier you show up, the more time you get with the prompts. Want to laugh? Just show up! Select audience members will be promoted to judges.

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Liam Mannion, proprietor of Sally O’Brien’s, and former City Councilor Bob McWatters invite the public to celebrate Irish Heritage and hoist a pint of Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 at Sally O’Brien’s, 335 Somerville Ave. Sally’s will be featuring an Irish fare of corned beef and cabbage, spirits, Irish music, and appearances of local and state elected officials. All are welcome to join the festivities.

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The Somerville Homeless Coalition’s Amazon Wish Lists are updated monthly with the most requested items from their food pantry to meet the needs of their clients experiencing food insecurity. If you would like to learn more and donate through our wish lists, please see the link here: https://bit.ly/SHCLinks.

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Food For Free announced their newest event, Hoops for Hunger. A 3 on 3 basketball tournament. People of all genders, ages 14 and older, are welcome to create a team of 4 and square up against other supporters of Food For Free. This will be a single elimination, 16 team tournament. Teams of 4 will compete to win the ultimate prize, and the first team to 21 points will move onto the next round. Teams will be allowed 3 timeouts per game, and will adhere to traditional basketball rules monitored by a referee. Team registration deadline is April 12. Register your team here. https://foodforfree.org/hoopsforhunger/.

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On Saturday, March 2, join the Arts at the Armory at 6:00 p.m. for Get to the Gig & MassConcerts Present: This is the Kit, the pseudonym of songwriter / banjo strummer / pinhole camera lover / Winchester UK born Paris dweller Kate Stables. For more information on this event and others https://artsatthearmory.org/.

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The Somerville Council on Aging will be hosting Shifting Gear: A presentation on driving from the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Friday, March 8, starting at 11:00 a.m. at the Holland Street Center. Have you considered giving up your license or are you having concerns about a loved one’s ability to drive? The Registry of Motor Vehicles presents information about how different aspects of aging can affect your ability to drive and what to consider when thinking about stopping driving. To RSVP, please contact Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.

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Somernova, 29 Properzi Way, has some new and exciting events coming up. Friday, March 1, The Boston Bouldering Project is hosting a screening event for Reel Rock, the premier global platform for award-winning climbing films. The screening is the first in the New England region this year, and will also feature a small vendor village, raffle prizes, food/drink and more. Doors open at 6:30 and the screening starts at 7:30. Sunday, March 3: Somerville Bike Kitchen, a volunteer-run bicycle repair cooperative, is hosting the next session of its Winter Workshops focused on Drivetrains. Maintain your bike or learn more about cycling. Tuesday, March 5: The Dojo at Somernova is hosting The Art of Hip-Hop Workshop from 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Learn how to get trained on turn tables, how to write hip-hop lyrics, advice on how to start a career or hobby in hip-hop and get connected to upcoming hip-hop shows in the area. For more information visit Somernova at https://somernova.com/.

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The Somerville Public Library in partnership with St. Mark Community Education Program is offering a free, 10-week U.S. Citizenship Preparation class. The class will prepare students for the citizenship interview including the 100 civics questions, the reading and writing sections, and interview questions based on the filed N-400 application. Requirements: Basic level of English and 5 years as a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) or 3 years, if married to a US citizen. U.S. Citizenship Preparation Class, Saturday, March 2, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Central Library, 79 Highland Ave. For questions or help with registration, please contact: Brigid Pigott, Literacy/Volunteer Coordinator, bpigott@somervillema.gov, 617.623.5000 x.2935.

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State Representative Christine Barber’s Winter 2024 office hours are scheduled. Stop by and share your thoughts on local affairs and legislative priorities. Office hours on March 9, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Yego Coffee, 1212 Broadway will include Ward 7 Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld, Leiran Biton, Ward 7 Somerville School Committee Member and Senator Pat Jehlen.

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Do you love the Great American Songbook repertoire: Gershwin, Berlin, Ellington, Arlen, Porter? Do you want to sing challenging music with a fun group of experienced singers? The Halalisa Singers welcome enthusiastic, experienced singers in all voice parts (especially basses) for their spring concert I’ve Got The World on a String: Great American Songbook and Beyond at the First Parish in Arlington on Saturday, April 27. For more information info@halalisa.org.

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Mudflat and East Somerville Main Streets are looking for a muralist to uniquely design and execute a painted mural for the left side, western-facing façade of the Mudflat building at 81 Broadway. The mural dimensions will be approximately 20 feet wide x 13 feet high. East Somerville Main Streets is accepting applications for the next East Somerville Mural. Applications will be accepted until March 22, you can find the application and mural details here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvEQMdVTZ1CtprlsHRkmCRF3yUdA2irmhoDD4oBwK9F48C6A/viewform

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Groundwork Somerville is hiring. Seeking diverse candidates who are passionate about urban agriculture and addressing food access and insecurity issues in Somerville. Are you an experienced urban agriculture advocate who is interested in growing culturally relevant crops and sharing the abundance with the community. Find the full job description on their website www.groundworksomerville.org.

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The Somerville Arts Council has a call to Somerville dancers/movers/makers/choreographers, percussionists and drummers. Apply to participate in an international exchange called “Exchanging Notes,” produced by SAC and the Harvard’s Davis Center on Georgian Studies. Deadline: 3/18/24. Details and application here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/exchangingnotes/2024.

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The City of Somerville is hiring polling place workers for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Primary Election. Poll workers must be available on Election Day: Tuesday, March 5. The workday starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends after the polls close at 8:00 p.m., with a two-hour break. Poll workers earn $200 for the day. Interested? To learn more, please call the Elections Office at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200.

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The City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Office, and Housing Families Inc., opened an overnight warming center for the remainder of the winter 2024 season. The warming center will operate seven nights a week from 6:45 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., on the second floor of the Armory (191 Highland Ave). Guests will have access to free hot and cold meals, water, bathrooms, yoga mats, and space to sleep. Learn more at somervillema.gov/warmingcenter.

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Somerville Public Schools is looking for substitute teachers. Join an amazing team of educators, earn $150/day, and play an important role in our schools. Learn more about job requirements and apply here: https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=1146.

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Join the City and Somerville Public Schools at the Summer Camp and Activities Fair on Thursday, March 7, at East Somerville Community School Gym (50 Cross St.) from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Get information on Somerville’s summer camps, recreational activities, and learning opportunities. Pizza and fun activities will be provided. Learn more at somervillehub.org.

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The Center for the Arts at the Armory offers a weekly winter market with 71+ local food vendors with the best locally grown and regionally produced foods, including fresh produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, tamales, pastries, chocolate, skincare products, and more. The market accepts SNAP/EBT and HIP benefits. They also offer a $15 SNAP match to customers each week. Visit the Somerville Winter Farmers Market on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 191 Highland Ave. Through April 6. For a list of weekly events visit www.somwintermarket.org.

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