Did you miss the Somerville Mayoral Candidates forum last week? The video from the event is now available on the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) website (eldercare.org) and YouTube channel. The forum, which featured all four candidates discussing issues of interest to older adults, was hosted jointly by SCES and VNA Senior Living Communities.

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Somerville High School Class of 1971 is planning 50th Reunion.Looking for classmates from Somerville High Class of 1971 for our 50th reunion on Saturday, October 23 at Anthony’s Function Hall in Malden, MA from 7-11.  The price is $65 person due by September 23.  Please contact Rosalie DeLucia @rosedelucia@comcast.net, on her facebook page, or the SHS71 page on Facebook.  Wave high your guilded banners as SHS 71 celebrates their 50th!  Looking forward to seeing everyone for a fun and memorable event.

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Yart Sale will take place on Saturday, August 14 (rain date August 15), from noon to 6:00 p.m. Depending on their location in the city, artists will be displaying work or merchandise at the following times: Noon to 2:00 p.m., West Zone (west of Willow Ave.); 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Central Zone (between Willow Ave. and Central St.); 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., East Zone (east of Central St.). SAC will create a Google map that art lovers will be able to access at www.somervilleartscouncil.org/yartsale starting Friday, August 13.

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Our deepest condolences go out to our own Doug Holder, whose wife Dianne recently passed away. Our heart goes out to Doug, who was always by her side as she fought a brave battle with cancer. Dianne was a very sweet person. She will be missed by many.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to one of our favorite guys, Sal Ferro (husband of our photographer, Claudia). We wish Sal a very happy birthday. We hope he enjoys his day with his family, he deserves the best day ever! Happy birthday to Brandon Wilson, the Executive Director of the Somerville Preservation Commission. We wish her a very nice day. Happy birthday to Donna Cassaro-Sides. We hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to Courtney O’Keefe of Ward 5, we wish her a great birthday. We wish all of our celebrating Facebook friends, such as Trish Bean Oakland, James Bimbo, Savanna Payne, Elizabeth Roche, Victor Martins, Joseph Amaral Sr., Caas Staff and Adam Knight 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 deadline to register to vote or update your party affiliation or address for the September 14 preliminary election is Wednesday, August 25, at 8 p.m. Massachusetts voters have the option to register online or via a paper form. To register by mail, you can call (617) 625-6600 ext. 4200 and request a form be mailed to you, or you can download one from the Elections website. Don’t forget that your form must be returned to the Somerville Elections Department by 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25. You can also visit the Elections Department in City Hall to register to vote. Please note face coverings are required in all City buildings. This year there will be preliminary votes held to narrow the field of candidates for Mayor, Ward 5 City Councilor, and Ward 7 City Councilor.

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The Somerville High Class of 1961 is holding their 60th reunion on September 28, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Seasons 52, 6 Wayside Rd., Burlington. The cost is $40, you can mail checks to SHS Class of 1961 c/o 30 Murray Hill Rd, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

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The City of Somerville Elections Department is hiring polling place workers for the municipal elections on September 14 and November 2, 2021.Polling place workers will be paid $200 per day and work from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after the polls close at 8:00 p.m., with a two-hour break. You must be a registered Massachusetts voter to work at a polling place. No prior experience necessary. Email personnel@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600 ext. 3300 to learn more today.

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Enjoy a night at the Summer Movie Series. Wild Hope and Marion Stoddard: The Work of 1,000 will be shown on Thursday, August 12, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave. Bring a picnic dinner, and join others in watching two inspirational short films that will excite and energize, provoke conversation, stimulate actions, and connect viewers to the ways that we can restore nature as we fight climate change for our children’s future. This event is co- hosted by Mothers Out Front, Massachusetts Healthy Soil, Livable Future Action Group and the Somerville Community Growing Center. Walk, bike or carpool if possible. Parking is limited.

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The City of Somerville’s Economic Development Division recently published its second Diversity Catalog, which highlights women-, minority-, veteran-, and LGBTQIA-owned businesses in the city. The Diversity Catalog can be found at www.somervillema.gov/diversitycatalog. The catalog serves as a marketing tool for Somerville businesses that want to offer their products and services to customers throughout the region and the information gathered to create it helps Economic Development staff design business support programs that meet the needs of local businesses.  For more information about the Diversity Catalog, contact Daniela Carrillo, Economic Development Assistant, at dcarrillo@somervillema.gov.

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Visit the Somerville Community Growing Center for Photography in the Garden. Artist Reception with Iaritza Menjivar, Sunday, August 15, 1:00 – 3:30 p.m., 22 Vinal Ave. First Generation, a photography exhibition from photographer Iaritza Menjivar about family life will be “popping” in the Growing Center for the month of August. Iaritza will be exhibiting newer work made before and during quarantine. Join in for an artist reception. In the event of rain, there will be a virtual reception/tour of the exhibit.

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Groundwork Somerville is excited to announce their 2021 South St. Farm Open Hours. Stop by any Saturday between July and September, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., 138 South St., and check out Somerville’s very own urban farm. This time is set aside for our community to tour the farm, enjoy the green space, volunteer, or have a picnic. No registration is required, just come by. http://www.groundworksomerville.org.

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All city buildings are now open, with limited staffing. Both visitors to city buildings as well as staff will be required to wear face coverings while inside the buildings. Staff will be available on a walk-in basis in all departments for quick transactions like paying a bill or picking up a document. For matters that will take longer, residents will need to schedule an appointment with city staff. Many city services are also available online and, whenever possible, residents are encouraged to continue to use online services.

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The Somerville Flea kicked off their 10th year in Davis Sq. on Sunday, August 1, at 10:00 a.m., 56 Holland St. The best local vintage purveyors and artisans are back. Come on out and support them after a year-long hiatus. Shop local!

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The City of Somerville’s annual SomerMovie Fest returns this year with a series of seven family-friendly films being shown in parks around Somerville. Screenings begin at sundown and the remaining schedule is as follows Thursday, August 12, Black Panther, Baxter State Park; Thursday, August 19, Guardians of the Galaxy, Seven Hills Park. While attendees are not required to wear masks, anyone who is not fully vaccinated is advised to wear one whenever they are in a crowd.

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Walk-in vaccinations are available at multiple locations: You now can get a COVID-19 vaccination without having to pre-register or make an appointment. There are walk-in vaccination sites all around Somerville, and just outside it as well. Cambridge Health Alliance vaccine clinics have larger supplies of doses and can vaccinate kids ages 12 – 17. You do not need to be a CHA patient to use these clinics. They are free and open to all. Local CVS pharmacies and the Stop & Shop on McGrath Hwy. are also offering walk-in vaccines. Local Walgreens pharmacies require a brief pre-registration, but can process people quickly if they have open slots and you walk in. Here are the CHA walk-in sites: CHA Somerville Vaccine Center at 176 Somerville Avenue in Somerville, Mon. – Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tufts University Gantcher Center at 161 College Ave. in Medford, Wed – Thurs. 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Encore Boston Harbor at 1 Broadway Center in Everett, Mon. – Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Help support your neighbors through the Somerville Cares Fund. If you’re lucky enough to have some extra money, please consider a donation to the Somerville Cares Fund. This donation-based fund provides direct assistance to Somerville residents, workers, and parents of school children so that they can cover basic expenses like housing, food, and utility bills. If you’re unable to donate you can still help by sharing information about the Somerville Cares Fund with your friends and family.

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