The Somerville Arts Council and the Program on Georgian Studies at the Davis Center at Harvard are thrilled to continue their successful Exchanging Notes initiative, which began in the spring of 2023. This project aims to bring together artists and performers from Georgia and Somerville, Massachusetts. The 2025 Artist in Residence at the Davis Center is Mishiko Sulakauri, an artist from the capital city of Tbilisi with a background in street art.While in the area, they have invited Mishiko to Somerville where he will paint a mural at Warehouse XI, 14 Homer Sq., Somerville in Union Square. See the freshly painted mural on April 23, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and also enjoy a night of Georgian cuisine and multicultural mingling.Space is limited. Please RSVP for this event via this link: https://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/about/people/mishiko-sulakauri.

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On Friday, April 25, GLOWBALL will transform the Armory Performance Hall into an immersive Glow-in-the-Dark Rave created by DJ Adam Gibbons with hypnotic visuals by Jay Medina, all in support of The Center for Arts at the Armory. GLOWBALL is an anti-gala. There will be no speeches, formal presentations or auction. There will be pop-up performances by SambaViva and Sidy Maiga on djembe. This year’s honorees: Rachel Strutt, Lifetime Achievement Award; Clay Fernald, Community Arts Advocate: and Nelson Salazar, Oustanding Artist. GLOWBALL tickets include complimentary international bites, glow-in-the-dark accessories and face painting by Arty Mari. This will surely be Somerville’s most illuminating party of 2025. https://artsatthearmory.org/glowball/.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Mike Moccia of Ball Square Café. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Anthony Fraser, who grew up in East Somerville. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Benjamin Holmes, Celia Miller-Saltman, Jim Ospenson, Susannah Buzard, Blake Maddux, Sylvia Cabrera, Tina Kneeland, Bella Khadijah, Angelmarie DiNunzio, Kate Sherlock Guiliano, Debbie Shansky Murray, Dom Panzino, Joseph DeSousa and Chris Lavelli 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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Join a Town Hall with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Address provided upon RSVP. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/town-hall-with-congresswoman-ayanna-pressley-tickets-1318960088129?aff=ebdsoporgprofile.

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Drum Your Heart Day, Saturday, April 26, at Gilman Art Park, Medford St., Somerville. Bring a bucket or metal or a drum and everyone will drum together led by a core of drum artists. Beginning around 1 p.m. Celebrate, protest, express yourself to the universe the good we know we need to overcome hate and prejudice from our neighborhoods across America. Gilman Art Park has been and continues welcoming artists to show Temporary Public Art until June, possibly through this Summer. On the first Saturday of June there will be a celebration honoring all the artists who have contributed their works to this temporary field of free expression.

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Joshua Sariñana’s upcoming exhibition, Mental Mapping, will be showcased on Thursday, April 24, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a reception at SomArt @ the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Second Floor, Suite 2A, Somerville. The exhibition runs from April 1 through June 22. This exhibition delves into the intersections of neuro-science, artificial intelligence, and visual storytelling. Mental Mapping explores how internal networks, such as memory, perception, and emotion, shape the way we experience and navigate the world. https://www.joshuasarinana.com/mental-mapping.

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Poetry Class at the COA – meets on Wednesday, April 23 and 30, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Free of charge. Learn more about how to create your own poems at the Somerville Council on Aging, led by Somerville poet Shirley Ware. Learn the art of writing poems in a nurturing, creative environment. Grab-n-Go lunch is available upon request. RSVP to Natasha Naim by calling 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.

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Around Hear: Spring Break Concert. Saturday, April 26, 2 – 3:30 p.m., Mystic Activity Center, 530 Mystic Ave. Somerville. Free. Open to the public. Listeners of all ages are welcome. Refreshments served, write, draw, move while you listen. After-concert pizza party. Come join in for a concert of music so uplifting, you might find yourself flying around the room. Between musical flights of joy by Telemann and Beethoven, we will be sharing a set of songs from our evolving “Superdoves!” project: a combination adventure novel+song cycle. And exciting news: besides having two incredible human guest musicians joining us for this program, Flappy the Pigeon will be on hand (literally) to teach us all about her magnificent but often misunderstood species.

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The Dark Side of Light Pollution, April 24. In recognition of Massachusetts Space Week, join in for a discussion of light pollution and the effects on the natural nighttime landscape. This event will be held on Thursday, April 24, at the Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

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Tufts Community Sports Day, April 27, 1 – 3 p.m. Families are invited to Tufts University for a fun event with Tufts student-athletes, student groups, and local community organizations. The event is free, and families can visit whatever activities they are interested in. Find more information on the registration page. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdF-oxZaxiiPp6lbEz1mdbs9dUp1LaEhJ6UTPRayZ7fpOxJkA/viewform.

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Stop by the Library to share some poetry with us for National Poetry Month. Join them on Tuesday, April 29, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium, 79 Highland Ave., registration encouraged. https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/ The Somerville Public Library will be hosting an open mic night in the Central Library Auditorium. You’re welcome to bring and read your own poetry or a work by another poet!

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Watch a special screening of Counted Out, a documentary that explores how math shapes our world. The movie lasts 90 minutes (with Spanish subtitles), and a discussion follows. Recommended for staff, caregivers, and students in grades 6 – 12. You can register in advance, but that is not required. Brought to you by the Academic Department, Equity & Excellence Department, and Somerville Family Learning Collaborative. Wednesday, April 30. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. SHS Highlander Forum, 81 Highland Ave. Spanish interpretation will be provided during the discussion.

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Help celebrate e-mobility during SustainaVille Week. SustainaVille Week returns May 3 – 9, with a full lineup of events celebrating sustainability and climate action in Somerville. Community members are invited to participate in an E-Mobility Expo to showcase their own electric rides – whether it’s an e-bike, electric vehicle (EV), scooter, or some other electric transport. The expo will take place on May 9 at the Day Street Lot in Davis Square (44 Day St.) from noon to 6 p.m.

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PorchFest 2025 will take place on Saturday, May 10, from 12 to 6 p.m. (inclement weather date: Sunday, May 11). Visit https://somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest/ for more information and a map of bands.

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This May, the Union Square Neighborhood Council is holding its bi-annual election for the USNC board. All members are invited to vote in the election, as well as run for a board seat. (If you have any questions about the USNC or what it means to be a member, please consult their website at: sites.google.com/view/usnc. The election will be held in person as follows: Day 1: Saturday, May 17, 8 am – 12 p.m., Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street. Day 2: Tuesday, May 20, 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., [TBA] Somerville. The deadline to sign up to be a candidate is this Friday, April 25

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Thinking about running for local office? Starting May 5, nomination papers for Mayor, Councilor at Large, Ward Councilor, and School Committee will be available to take out. To begin the process, make an appointment with the Elections Department to pick up your nomination papers. A separate appointment is required to return them. Appointments are available from May 5 through June 9. Important deadlines: June 9 at 5 p.m., Last day to take out nomination papers, June 11 at 5 p.m. Deadline to submit completed papers to the Board of Election Commissioners. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/elections.

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Attend a School Committee Meeting. Dates and times for school committee meetings are listed on the SPS district website calendar. Visit the School Committee website for information and find meeting details on the City of Somerville Events page: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/events/calendar.

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Voting is now open for the city’s second Participatory Budgeting cycle. Residents aged 12 and up can now vote on their favorite city improvement ideas. Voting is open through Wednesday, April 30. Learn more and cast your vote at: www.somervillema.gov/pb.

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April marks the start of construction season in Somerville. From sidewalks on Holland Street to the Clock Tower at City Hall, there is a lot of work to keep up with. The city’s monthly construction newsletter is one of the ways we work to make sure you know what is happening, where it’s happening, and how it ultimately benefits our city. https://www.somervillema.gov/construction#newsletter.

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Street sweeping in Somerville resumed on Tuesday, April 1. Somerville’s street cleaning program is an essential public works program that not only keeps our city cleaner but also reduces the risk of flooding and icing due to clogged storm drains. Signs indicate the time and date of no parking due to sweeping. The street sweeping season runs from April 1 until December 31 each year. On designated street sweeping days, vehicles must be moved from the side of the street being swept, as noted on signs posted on each street. The penalty for not complying with street sweeping parking regulations is a $50 fine. Check the signs on the streets where you park and visit www.somervillema.gov/sweeper for more information.

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Somerville Animal Control is in need of towels/blankets/linens. They can arrange a porch pickup if you message them on Facebook or they can be dropped off at the police station at any time.

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Somerville Open Studios 2025 will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 3–4, from 12 to 6 p.m. each day, at artists’ studios and homes throughout Somerville. Nearly 400 artists in 118 locations citywide will open their studios to the public. Map, artist, and (soon) trolley info at https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/ The SOS First Look Show at the Somerville Museum will be open from April 24 through May 17.

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The Somerville Open Studios 2025 Fashion Show takes place on May 2 at the Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square. Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktail hour, and the wearable art fashion show begins at 7 p.m. Free to all, open seating. RSVP here: https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/artwear-the-sos-2025-fashion-show/.

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East Somerville’s Spring Clean-up will take place on April 26. Pastries and coffee are provided by Ola Cafe. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 115 Broadway, East Branch Library.

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Registration for SPS free summer programs is now open. They have a wide range of programs open to any SPS student at different grade levels. Check out the summer webpage to learn more: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/summer. Registration runs from Monday, March 24 through April.

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You can download a helpful packet of Know Your Rights resources and information in the language of your choice below. Somerville Public Schools have also created a list of resources on the One Somerville Resource page, which can be found here https://somerville.k12.ma.us/district-departments/somerville-family-learning-collaborative-sflc/one-somerville-resources.

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SCES is teaming up with City Fresh Foods to offer a five-pack of frozen home-delivered meals. This new meal delivery option is ideal for consumers who want the convenience of home-delivered meals but are not able to be at home each weekday to receive deliveries. Meal recipients can choose which weekday they would like to receive the frozen meals, with up to five meals in each bulk delivery. Each meal comes with bread, milk, and a dessert. Current SCES clients who are interested in receiving meals should call their office at 617-628-2601 or contact their case manager for more information.

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The Somerville Growing Center will host Earth Day: Rooted in Resilience, Saturday, April 26, 2 – 4 p.m., Rain date: Sunday, April 27.Continue to celebrate, following the morning events at South Street Farm with Groundwork Somerville. Demonstrations of vermicomposting and making ink from natural materials. Explore volunteer opportunities with the Growing Center and activism with local climate and justice focused groups. Visit the Pollinator Gardens and make native seed balls. Pot up a Red Fire Farm herb seedling to take home (limited supply). Exchange garden supplies with other gardeners. Check their social media for updates and details! https://www.thegrowingcenter.org/

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City Alerts are a great way for those who live, work, or own a business in Somerville to receive important city information that affects your neighborhood. City Alerts provide information about emergencies (including snow emergencies), construction and road closures, water service interruptions, community news, and more. To sign up, visit somervillema.gov/alerts and click on the button for your preferred language. Step-by-step sign-up instructions are available at: somervillema.gov/alerts. Having trouble signing up? You can call 3-1-1 (617-666-3311) for assistance.

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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. For additional information or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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Don’t forget, if you would like to subscribe to receive a digital edition of our paper, go directly online to our website over to the right side and fill out your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper.