Register to Vote by Saturday, August 24.You can register one of three ways: Online at somervillema.gov/registertovote, in-person at Somerville City Hall (93 Highland Ave.), via phone by calling the Elections Department (617-625-6600 ext. 4200) and requesting a voter registration form. Or by calling 311 (617-666-3311) and they will connect you to Elections. The registration deadline is Saturday August 24, at midnight online or in person by 5:00 p.m. You also may mail in your form, but it must be postmarked by August 24.

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School is nearly back in session and this year the Somerville Homeless Coalition is asking for crucial donations of school supplies for their young student clients and their families. Right now they are in urgent need of essential supplies such as backpacks, binders, notebooks, highlighters and more. Please check out their current needs list here: https://bit.ly/School4SHC For any donation inquiries please reach out at info@shcinc.org.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Courtney O’Keefe of Ward 5. We wish her a great birthday. Happy birthday Jenny Bonham Carter. We wish Jenny a great day. Happy birthday to Cliff Clark. We wish him the very best. We wish all our celebrating Facebook friends, such as Elizabeth Roche, Victor Martins, Joseph Amaral Sr., Patricia Toner, Roy Bertocchi, Carmine D Ambrosio DAmbrosio, Maureen Marenna Anna Rosella, Laureen DeBrase and Valerie Mitchell 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 Fire Department’s annual fire hydrant inspections began on August 12, and will conclude on Saturday, August 24. This annual fire hydrant maintenance program helps keep our community safe by helping to ensure hydrants will work properly in the event of a fire. Disturbed water main sediment can potentially cause rusty or discolored water, but does not pose a health hazard. It could stain fabric, however, so residents are advised not to do laundry while water is discolored. This rusty condition will be temporary. Anyone with questions about this procedure may contact the Somerville Fire Department at 617-623-1700. Learn more at: www.somervillema.gov/hydrantflushing.

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Join the Assembly Row Development team, the City of Somerville, and Ward Councilor Matt McLaughlin for a virtual neighborhood meeting. Wednesday, August 21, 6:00 p.m. Dial-In Info:  Zoom meeting: https://frit.zoom.us/j/96871731950?from=addon. In this meeting, the development team will present the conceptual design(s) for Block 9 at Assembly Row. There will be an opportunity to discuss ideas and feedback. Contact Councilor McLaughlin at mattforward1@gmail.com or Sarah Lewis at slewis@somervillema.gov if you have difficulty accessing the virtual neighborhood meeting.

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Saturday, August 17, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., 240 Elm St., Sira Naturals Somerville is celebrating rebranding to AYR Cannabis Dispensary Somerville. AYR is excited to celebrate with the community and share their new look. What to expect: Classic carnival snacks: Free popcorn, cotton candy, and sno-cones. Raffles from local businesses: Somerville Theatre, Mag Pie, When Pigs Fly, Dave’s Fresh Pasta, Boston Ink, and more. Live music: Enjoy a lively set by DJ Caitlin and more. Store-wide sale, shop exclusive discounts and deals.

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10th Annual Evolution of Hip Hop Festival takes place on Saturday, September 7, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., rain date Saturday, September 14, at Union Square Plaza in Somerville. This Arts Union event will feature rappers, singers, spoken word poets, dancers, and visual artists from the Somerville community and surrounding cities. This showcase of hip hop music, dance and culture displays immense creativity throughout the region. There will also be live art, interactive activities, craft vendors and local community groups.

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Upcoming events at the at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave.: Sunday, August 18, 3:00-4:00 p.m. character reenactor Jessa Piaia will present a dramatic portrayal of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) focused on her passion for horticulture. A first-person narrative will delve into her role as an early advocate of community gardening, bringing to life her commitment to the spiritual dimension of gardening. More info at www.womeninhistoryprograms.com/gardner. Herb of the Month with Mo Katz-Christy: Marshmallow, Sunday, August 18, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Spend the afternoon getting deeply acquainted with one medicinal plant each month. Bring your journal and leave with an in-depth account of botany, history, clinical use, safety, preparation and dosage, and much more. Explore a different herb each month as part of our Community Herb Project. Contact: info@thegrowingcenter.org

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Somerville Flea is back at 52 Holland St. Join in as they celebrate their 12th year smack dab in the middle of Davis Square. Vintage vendors, artisan makers, farm stand and DJ. Find that treasure you never knew you even existed. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sundays, August through October.

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Stop by the library for some sweet summer poetry. The Somerville Public Library will be hosting an open mic night in the Central Library Auditorium, 79 Highland Ave. You’re welcome to bring and read your own poetry or a work by another poet. Registration is encouraged visit somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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Somergloom is back for the 4th year, bigger and gloomier than ever. August 23 and 24 at Arts at The Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Somerville. Bands are coming from North and South, plus with heavy hitting local talent and art vendors. For tickets and more information visit artsatthearmory.org.

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The Gilman Pop-Up Park is an outdoor public space and is accessible between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day. Through September 8, 350 Medford St., Somerville. Use it like you would any other public park. During select hours, they have events, entertainment, and games. For a list of events visit https://culturehouse.cc/projects/gilman-park/.

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Docent tours take place from May through October at three historic sites in Somerville: Milk Row Cemetery (Somerville Avenue), Prospect Hill Tower (above Union Square), and Old Powder House (Nathan Tufts Park). They are open to the public on certain days and evenings. Inclement weather cancels any event. For full schedule and more information on the Docent Program: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/docentprogram.

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Foodie Crawl 2024 is back and better than ever. On Tuesday, September 17, East Somerville Main Streets invites you to Broadway to embark on a culinary journey around the world. They will highlight tastes from El Salvador, Brazil, Italy, France, Mexico, Portugal and more. For tickets and more information visit https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/event-details/foodie-crawl-2024.

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On high-heat days, it’s best to limit outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours if possible. Avoid strenuous activity during mid-day when temperatures are highest. If you are walking, running, cycling, wheeling, or doing other outdoor exercise during hot weather, have water with you, seek a shady area or route, and pace yourself. Be sure to take a break if you start to feel overheated, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint. For more heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville this summer, visit: somervillema.gov/keepcool.

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The Somerville Arts Council is issuing an open call to artists working in various genres for this year’s Ignite Festival, an evening celebration of global culture and all things illuminated. They are seeking proposals for: cultural performances, roaming performers and light installations/performances. Submit your proposal by filling out the application form: https://beta.somervilleartscouncil.org/ignite-calls-2024 Application deadline: August 23.

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The City of Somerville is alerting all registered voters that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has begun mailing a pre-addressed, postage pre-paid Vote by Mail application to every registered voter before each statewide election. If you have already applied to vote by mail for the upcoming election, you will not receive an additional application. Voters who prefer to apply online may do so at VoteInMA.com.

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The City of Somerville is currently seeking two general public volunteer members for the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). All Somerville residents are welcome to apply. The CPC identifies funding priorities for approximately $3 million per year in affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space projects through Community Preservation Act (CPA) revenues. Interested residents can apply by completing the online application form by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30. For questions, please contact Roberta Cameron at rcameron@somervillema.gov. To learn more about the Community Preservation Committee, please visit somervillema.gov/cpa.

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All Somerville fire stations are collecting donations of school supplies for students living in the Mystic Public Housing Development. Donations will be accepted until August 15.

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Join Femmechanics from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on August 21 for “grrreasetime” Night at The Dojo at Somernova. Femmechanics is a group of FTW (femme/trans/women/non-binary) people who bike in the Boston area. Join Femmechanics for an open shop time, called Grrrease Time, where you can come learn more about working on your bike and help others do the same. This space is open to everyone who identifies as femme and/or trans and/or women and/or non-binary, not just feminine of center folks. Located at The Dojo, 15 Properzi Way, Somerville.

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Somerville Public Schools has lots of openings for educators, classroom paraprofessionals, administrative staff, and an opening for their next Chief Financial Officer. Find a list of open positions and apply here: https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx.

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Visit the Somerville Bike Kitchen, a volunteer-run bicycle repair cooperative, hosting open-shop nights at The Dojo (15 Properzi Way, Somerville). Come maintain your bike or learn more about cycling. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., upcoming Bike Kitchens: August 15, 20, 22. Every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. join Parkour Generations Boston for Teen Jams at The Dojo. This is a flexible time for teen community members to use the pop-up training space at The Dojo @ Somernova and connect with fellow community members in the process. Upcoming Teen Jams August 15 and August 22.

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The city’s annual SomerMovie Fest is returning with a lineup of six family-friendly films to be shown in parks around Somerville. Watch The Outsiders this Thursday, August 15, 7:45 p.m. at Seven Hills Park, Davis Sq. All screenings are free to attend and will begin at dusk. Closed captioning is available. For exact times and to learn more, visit www.somerville ma.gov/moviefest.

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Save the date for the 19th annual “What the Fluff Fest” A Tribute to Union Square Innovation, a madcap festival honoring the invention of Marshmallow Fluff. It celebrates Somerville’s proud tradition of innovation with live music, fluffalicious feasts, sticky games, zany happenings, and much more. The Festival is located in Union Square, Saturday, September 21, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more info on the events and offerings at the festival, visit www.flufffestival.com.

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Train to become a Somerville Public Schools paraprofessional. SCALE (adult learning department) is offering a free Para Educator training course. SCALE is hosting information sessions on August 20. Register here: https://form.jotform.com/232615165718054.

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Join the SPL and the Tewksbury Public Library for a virtual conversation with author Sharon Kitchens, who will discuss her new book, Stephen King’s Maine: A History & Guide. Explore Maine locations that serve as the basis for Stephen King’s fictional towns of Castle Rock, Jerusalem’s Lot, Derry, and Haven, drawing on historical materials and conversations with locals and people who know King. August 20, 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Register here for this event: https://tinyurl.com/3jf99cf4.

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Somerville Recreation is gearing up for a summer packed with weekly programming for local teens. There’s something for everyone, programs include pickup soccer, volleyball and basketball clinics, pickup flag football, open gym, and Friday crafting at the Powderhouse. Programming began on July 1, is free, and open to Somerville teen ages 12–18. Get the full Teen Summer Guide to sign up for a specific program or learn more about all programs and events https://somervillema.myrec.com/info/default.aspx.

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To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Powder Alarm on September 1, the Somerville Museum is partnering with the City of Somerville to produce a re-enactment of the historic event, followed by a living history fair. The fair will include docent tours of the Powder House, activity tables, and even a scavenger hunt of the park. What was the Powder Alarm? Learn more about the events leading up to September 1, 1774: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3vfBQiV93c. The re-enactment will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m., followed by a living history fair and docent tours from approximately 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For details, see http://www.somervillemuseum.org/calendar-events/powder-alarm.

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Check out the free summer meals for Somerville youth through August 16. Argenziano/Lincoln Park, 290 Washington St. Breakfast around 9:30 a.m. Dilboy Pool Parking Lot, 324 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Lunch Starting 10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Blessing of the Bay Boathouse, 32 Shore Drive, Lunch10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Founders Skating Rink at Conway Park (near the basketball courts), 570 Somerville Ave. Breakfast and lunch 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Foss Park, 49 Fellsway W. Lunch at 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) recently detected West Nile virus (WNV) in mosquito samples from Cambridge. While no human or animal cases of WNV or Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) have been reported, it is important to take steps to protect yourself from mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses. For tips and information, visit: mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

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Don’t miss the Somerville Public Schools Get Ready for School Fair for families with children going into grades PK-12. Tuesday, August 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Council on Aging invite you to the annual Senior Picnic on Thursday, September 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Trum Field, 541 Broadway in Somerville. Please call Connie Lorenti at the Council on Aging, 617-625-6600 ext. 2319 for your free ticket. There is limited transportation available – please request transportation prior to September 5.

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Join Union Square Main Streets and 50+ of your favorite local food producers for the 20th Annual Union Square Farmers Market, 6670 Union Square. Shop local on Saturdays through October 26, except September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. The market provides visitors and residents with top-quality, fresh, and local produce at fair prices; encourages active lifestyle values; educates consumers about farming and locally sourced foods; and gives customers opportunities to interact directly with farmers. For more information about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit unionsquaremain.org/2024fmseason. SNAP customers get $1 for $1 match up to $15. See the Market Manager tent for more info.

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Davis Square Farmers Market is now open. 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. This long-running market features over two dozen Massachusetts farmers and food producers offering a vibrant selection of delicious produce, protein, baked goods, ready-to-eat meals, alongside a host of other locally made products. The market accepts cash, credit/debit cards, WIC/Senior coupons, and EBT cards and offers a weekly $15 SNAP Match.

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The Somerville Mobile Farmers Market opened for the season on Thursday, July 11, selling fresh, local produce through October 26. The mobile market accepts cash, debit cards, SNAP, Fresh Connect, WIC Farmers Market Coupons, and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. All are welcome. Find the Mobile Farmers Market at the following locations: Thursdays: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Clarendon Hill Towers (1372 Broadway), Fridays: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Council on Aging (167 Holland St.), 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., East Branch Library (115 Broadway), Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Mystic Housing Development (25 Memorial Rd.).

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The COA is offering free taxi rides to Somerville residents over the age of 60. Rides are available to go to the grocery store, farmer’s market, and pharmacy in Somerville and routine medical appointments in the surrounding communities. To best accommodate the needs of everyone in the city and to maximize the use of our funding, they will be capping the number of rides per week. To ensure the health and welfare of every resident of Somerville, exemptions will be made for chemotherapy and radiation appointments. To find out more information or to schedule your ride, please call Connie Lorenti at 6176256600 ext. 2319. All rides must be booked two business days in advance. This program is funded through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funding.

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Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and from the direction of Mayor Ballantyne, the Council on Aging is now able to provide Durable Medical Equipment at no cost to Somerville residents. Residents with a documented need for medical equipment must be over the age of 60, or have a permanent disability, and must be otherwise unable to afford or access needed medical equipment. They currently have available: Commodes, Bath Chairs, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies and Transport Wheelchairs (wheelchairs are intended for transport and are not self-propelling or self-breaking.) For additional information, or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 6176256600, ext. 2321.

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