Two popular Somerville Arts Council events – PorchFest and the Ignite! Global Food and Fire Festival – are happening Saturday, October 2 (rain date Sunday, October 3). PorchFest musicians of most genres you have heard – and probably a few you haven’t – will be playing live music around the city on porches and in yards between noon and 6:00 p.m. Performers will be given a time to play based on where they are located: west of Willow Avenue performs from noon to 2:00 p.m., between Willow Avenue and Central Street performs from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and east of Central Street performs from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. A full list of performers and a map of performer locations is available at somervilleartscouncil.org. There is also still time to sign up to play PorchFest. Registration is open on the Somerville Arts Council’s website until Thursday, September 30.

*******************************

After PorchFest, celebrate Union Square’s sizzling food landscape at the Ignite! Global Food and Fire Festival from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Union Square plaza. Expect an evening of international eats, fire throwers, roving entertainment, and a raucous celebration of global culture. In addition to many local food vendors, there will be interactive light installations, numerous illuminated music and dance performers, and to top it all off, fire throwers. Local eateries throughout the square will be featuring Ignite! themed specials. A $2 donation is suggested. Visit somervilleartscouncil.org for a full Ignite! schedule.

*******************************

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin Parish’s Annual Holiday Bazaar will take place on Friday, October 15, from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in St. Catherine’s Parish Hall, 179 Summer Street, Somerville. Free Admission.

*******************************

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Somerville has risen from 32 in June to 147 in July to 328 in August. See the latest Somerville case data at somervillema.gov/covid19dashboard. Need a COVID test? Go to somervillema.gov/covid19testing to find a testing location.

*******************************

Pfizer vaccine clinic is open to all people age 12+ will be held at the location below. The vaccines are free, regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Identification is not required. The CHA vaccine site at 176 Somerville Ave. (next to Target in Union Square) and many local pharmacies also offer walk-in vaccinations. To find out more about these clinics and where else you can get vaccinated, visit somervillema.gov/vaccine. If you’re not vaccinated, make a plan today to get your shot. Monday, October 18: City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. At-home vaccinations available: Massachusetts offers in-home vaccinations for anyone who can’t travel to a vaccination location. To learn more and sign up for an in-home vaccination, call (833) 983-0485.

*******************************

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to AnnMarie Carey-Browne. We hope she has a great birthday for herself with her great family. Happy birthday to Karen F. McWatters, who celebrates this week. We hope she has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Sal DiDomenico, who is also celebrating this week. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Linda Malone, Edward Barry, Rick Gaetano, Terri Monsalve, Kevin Driscoll, Millie Vecchia Curley and Diane Kerins Conneely 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.

*******************************

Somerville High School students are encouraged to enter the Somerville Mathematics Fund 2nd Annual Game Jam. Teams of three students vie for top honors and prizes in a game-creation competition. Students can register individually or as a team. Registration deadline is October 13. Participating students must be residents of Somerville who have not yet graduated high school. For more information and to register, visit http://somervillemathematics.blogspot.com.

*******************************

Brunchin’ @ Warehouse XI, Sunday, October 3, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Pam and Bruiser are back and better than ever with a brand-new drag brunch featuring queens from all over New England. Tickets are for the 1:00 p.m. seating at Warehouse XI. This time around they are partnering with local chefs to give you an a la carte dining experience. Ticket price includes a mimosa and the rest goes to the talent. Make sure to get your tickets now. Masks and vaccine cards required at the door. Location: Warehouse XI, 11 Sanborn Ct., Somerville MA 02143. Source: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brunchin-warehouse-xi-1pm-seating-tickets-169212594425

*******************************

A Somerville Girl Scout troop has started a petition for a crosswalk at Somerville Ave. and Spring St., which they see an important desire line, and one that is not currently safe. To support them visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMYDFDOVo9sHZwgwcNdkoxRwVVZwmQzOulYuVLIMOXZz7nYw/viewform.

*******************************

SAC and the Inside-Out Gallery present featured artist, Bethany Noel Murray. Bethany’s paintings are renderings of the world as it appears through the lens of her chronic migraine symptoms, including ocular aura and a plethora of Alice-in-Wonderland effects. Bethany’s aura transforms the world around us and she paints the transformation. This otherworldly vision brings an unexpected eerie joy and shines a spotlight on an otherwise invisible disease. To find out more visit our website at https://somervilleartscouncil.org/insideout/noel and check out her work in person at the Inside-Out Gallery at One Davis Square.

*******************************

Beginning Monday, September 20, and continuing through Friday, October 29, excluding weekends, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement a closure of the Foss Park/ Latta Brothers Memorial Pool parking area in the City of Somerville from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to accommodate work on the Latta Brothers Memorial Pool Modernization Project. No roadways will be closed or blocked due to this work, but the public is advised to be cautious of construction vehicles entering and exiting the site at the Fellsway West/ Jaques Street intersection.

*******************************

Due to rain expected on September 28, the Healey Community Play Area ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 Meacham Street has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 7, at 1:45 p.m. Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan invite you to celebrate the newly renovated playground, formerly known as the tot lot, which features state-of-the-art play structures for children ages 2 through 5, an expanded natural area with log seating, and bright colors and graphics. The design was developed in partnership with the Healey School community and the Friends of Healey group. Renovations were funded entirely using Community Preservation Act funds. The Healey Community Play Area is the first phase of a larger, transformational schoolyard renovation project focused on equity and access that is currently under construction and expected to be complete in the summer of 2022.

*******************************

The Somerville Board of Health (BOH) approved a face-covering mandate for all indoor public places that went into effect as of Friday, August 20. The mandate applies to anyone two or older, and face coverings can be removed when people are actively eating or drinking. Masks should have a snug fit and cover the nose and mouth. The order can be read at https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/COVID-19-Mask-Order-Proposed-8.21.pdf.

*******************************

The East Somerville Market takes place on Sunday, October 3, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at their new location: East Somerville Library, 115 Broadway, Somerville. For a list of vendors visit https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/market.

*******************************

The Somerville High Class of 1971 is looking for classmates for their 50th reunion on Saturday, October 23, at Anthony’s Function Hall in Malden from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The price is $65 per person. Please contact Rosalie DeLucia or Jimmy Del Ponte, or the SHS71 page on Facebook for more information. Wave high your guilded banners as SHS 71 celebrates their 50th!

*******************************

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.