We here at The Times wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. As we approach holiday gift shopping don’t forget to shop local to support local businesses. City offices will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, for Thanksgiving. Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day. All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, all day Thursday, November 28, and all day Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Regular hours will resume on Saturday, November 30. The Council on Aging will be closed on November 28 and Friday, November 29 in observance of Thanksgiving.

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The Somerville varsity football team has a home non-conference game vs. Cambridge Rindge and Latin (Cambridge, MA) on Wednesday, November 27, 6 p.m., at Dilboy Stadium. Tickets can be purchased on-site before the game.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Jason Fucile. We wish Jason the very best birthday. Happy Birthday to Peter Forcellese. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to Lisa Hastings, celebrating her birthday this week. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Brian Kirk, Kim Volz, Joseph Di Pietro, Nancy Robinson Faulkner,  Lee Grassia Anderson, Linda Chaille Nixon and Dorothy Dervishian O’Malley 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 28th Annual Gobble Gobble Gobble is a family-friendly 4-mile turkey trot that takes place every year on Thanksgiving Day at 9 a.m. Presented by the Somerville Road Runners, the Gobble Gobble Gobble road race starts and ends in Davis Square (at the heart of Somerville), features a unique 4 mile course, and offers a fun opportunity to start Thanksgiving on a high and healthy note. Proceeds benefit Somerville Homeless Coalition, Somerville Track PAC, Stride for Stride and Dilboy VFW Veterans Relief Fund. For race details, visit https://srr.org/gobble.Beginning around 8 a.m., detours will be in place around the start and finish lines in Davis Square. (Holland St. at Elmwood St./Elm St. at Grove St.) MBTA bus service may be temporarily modified. Visit mbta.com/bus for details.  Any traffic delays are expected to be brief and the entire race is expected to be complete by approximately noon.

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SAC and the Inside-Out Gallery present Vernon Street Studios 50th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibit, curated by Steven Cabral. This showcase was a part of Steven’s community benefit project as a Somerville Arts Council LCC 2024 Visual Arts Fellowship Awardee. Inside-Out Gallery, Vernon Streets Studios 50th Anniversary Exhibit, 1 Davis Square, Somerville. Learn more about the participating artists here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/insideout/vernonstreet50.

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Don’t miss the Somerville High School student performance of Mamma Mia! Thursday, December 5, at 8 p.m., Friday, December 6, at 5 p.m., Saturday, December 7, at 2 p.m., Saturday, December 7, at 7 p.m. Visit the Highlander Theatre website to learn more and purchase tickets:https://www.highlandertheatre.org/

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This month, the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave., is pleased to display the artwork of local artist John Ruymann in the Gallery @ SPL with their exhibition: Narrative Spaces. Join them for a reception celebrating the exhibit.To learn more about the gallery https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/adults/gallery-spl.

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The community invited to see the creativity and holiday spirit of their neighbors by embarking on either a self-guided or SAC-led Illuminations Tour. Illuminations Tour is December 12, 2024 – January 2025. The Illuminations map will be made available to take a self guided tour.Information on the Illuminations Bike Tour will be available soon at www.somervilleartscouncilorg/illuminationstour. For more information on the SAC Illuminations Tour, please email Iaritza Menjivar at imenjivar@somervillema.gov.

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Somerville’s Christmas Tree Lighting will take place Thursday, December 5, on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.) Activities begin at 5 p.m. Special gifts will be available for children. The event includes live entertainment and light refreshments. On Thursday, December 26, the Menorah Lighting takes place on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.) at 6 p.m. Traditional songs and sing-alongs.Special gifts will be available for children. Light refreshments will be served.

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Somerville Music Spaces Holiday Fundraiser Concert takes place on Sunday, December 8, 4:30 – 6 p.m. 1060 Broadway C101B, Somerville. This holiday concert is a program of original music by Andrew James Safioleas. All proceeds will be donated to the Toys for Tots program. Ticket donations can me made here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holiday-fundraiser-concert-presented-by-top-quality-music-llc-tickets-1045443338167.

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Saturday, November 30, is Small Business Saturday. As the holiday gift shopping season intensifies, it’s important to remember that our local merchants are depending on us all to do our best to shop local.

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Free COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics are happening soon: Thursday, December 12, at the Council on Aging (167 Holland St.) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, December 17, at Central Branch Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more and register for a vaccine clinic. https://www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations.

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With the days growing shorter and temperatures dipping colder, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is in critical need of new or lightly used jackets for their clients currently living outside. If you have any adult sized coats hanging in your closet that you don’t wear, please consider dropping them off at the Somerville Homeless Coalition admin office located at 255 Elm Street, Suite 204 during the hours listed below. Drop Off Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 5 p.m. Each coat donated provides warmth, dignity, and safety for our neighbors having to face the harsh New England winter conditions.

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Order a festive wreath from Next Wave / Full Circle during their annual wreath fundraiser. Wreath pick up is at NWFC on December 4 from 3 to 7 p.m. The cost is $25. https://trst.in/W0Ur6B.

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Snow emergency parking is on the even side of the street all winter this season unless posted signage says differently. For every snowfall, property owners are responsible for shoveling their sidewalks down to the pavement within six daylight hours after the snow stops. To get snow emergency announcements, sign up for alerts or update your information at somervillema.gov/alerts or by calling 311 (617-666-3311).

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Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS) is holding their next Supermarket Sweep on Saturday, December 7, at 11 a.m. Help support food security in Medford and Somerville by donating or volunteering. Volunteering with Sweep means meeting at the Stop n’ Shop near Foss Park in Somerville and delivering grocery cards to neighbors no car required. If you’re interested, email askyourmamas@gmail.com.

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November is Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate Indigenous voices with this book list curated by Somerville Public Library librarians: https://tinyurl.com/2ayjkwa3. You can visit library locations to find some of these titles and others on display, or place one on hold right from the book list.

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The Somerville Flea Holiday Market is back. Find that unique gift for that unique person. They will have two jam-packed floors of gift buying goodness featuring curated vintage wares and artisan creations. 12th annual Holiday Market at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville. Sip ‘n shop starts at noon on December 1 and December 15.

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Creative Mending: Hand Embroidery, Thursday, December 12, 6 p.m. at the East Branch Library, 115 Broadway. The class will cover several basic embroidery stitches that can be used to embellish your clothing and hide (or highlight) holes and stains. Suitable for beginners with little or no embroidery experience, or those who want a refresher on the basics. This program is intended for adults. Registration required: visit https://tinyurl.com/yc8btuw4. Questions? Contact Liam: lokeefe@somervillema.gov.

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The 10th Annual Holiday Stroll will take place on Saturday, December 7. A celebration of Union Square sparkle, discovery, and holiday delight that is sure to jumpstart your holiday shopping and get you exploring all that the “38th coolest neighborhood in the world” has to offer. Dozens of locally-owned businesses await you with everything needed to stuff your stockings, deck your halls with local art, tantalize your taste buds, and more. Come on down to unwrap Union Square in all its wintry wonderment. Have some free time on Saturday, December 7? Sign up for a volunteer shift here: Sign up for a volunteer shift here: https://signup.com/go/SzokFwT.

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Are you a Somerville business or property owner interested in brightening up your building’s exterior? The Somerville Arts Council is looking for partners who would like to host a vibrant mural on their property. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with local artists and enhance the character of our community through stunning public art. If you’re interested in learning more about how they can work together to make your building a canvas for creativity, please reach out directly to discuss potential partnerships and project possibilities. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/resources/calls.

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Nutcrackers: A Colorful History with Mary Woodward, December 5. Join historian Mary Woodward to learn about the history of nutcrackers – a story that spans from the Stone Age to the Industrial Age.This virtual event will be held on Thursday, December 5, online via Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn more and register https://somervillepubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/nutcrackers-a-colorful-history-with-mary-woodward/

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The holidays are just around the corner which means the Somerville Homeless Coalation’s Holiday Gift Drive is now in full swing. This time of year can be especially difficult for their clients and their families which is why they host this drive each year to help spread the joy of the holidays to our less fortunate neighbors. At the moment, they still have 114 clients without a matched sponsor which is why they are asking for your help to make sure that everyone gets to be a part of this year’s festivities. If you are interested in providing a gift for a client(s) contact 617-623-6111.

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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. 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.

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East Somerville Main Streets is calling for vendors to participate in their Cozy Holiday Market on December 6 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot of Deano’s Pasta, 15 Garfield Ave. If you’re interested, please fill out the form https://forms.gle/mJppkmhXAYj44peRA. Dec 06, 2024, 5:30 – 8 p.m.The Cozy Holiday Market invites you to savor a warm drink while exploring a variety of artisans, materials, and charming supplies to prepare for the winter ahead. Gather with friends, family, and even bring your pets to relish in the cozy atmosphere. Unearth that festive, ugly sweater from the back of your closet and capture memorable moments with Santa. Embrace the joy of the season and have fun at our cozy market.

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The Somerville Winter Farmers Market is back at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. from November 2 to April 12, (except Nov. 30 and Dec. 28). The Center for the Arts at the Armory is proud to offer 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. More info available on their website: https://www.somwintermarket.org/.

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Davis Square Farmers Market is now open. Every Wednesday through November 27, 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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Is your teen looking to make some extra money? The city’s Snow Shoveling Program is hiring youth to assist shoveling seniors and homeowners with disabilities out after snowstorms this winter. Teens and homeowners are paired for the season. After each storm, the homeowner will contact their assigned youth to request shoveling services. Somerville teens ages 14 to 19 are welcome to apply.Looking for snow shoveling services? Apply online or contact Debby Higgins at dhiggins@somervillema.gov.

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Somerville Public Schools is hiring substitute teachers for all of their PK-12 schools. For more information or to apply visit https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire.

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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 can 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. We currently have available: Commodes, 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 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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