Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Commission for Women, and RESPOND, Inc. are honored to invite residents to join them for the annual Domestic Violence Vigil on Wednesday, October 26, to remember those who lost their lives to domestic violence in 2022. The vigil is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. at Statue Park in Davis Square. In the event of inclement weather, the vigil will move to the West Branch Library, Atrium, located at 40 College Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144.

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The City Hall Community Meetings for Ward 7 will take place on Thursday, October 27, at West Somerville Neighborhood School. The Ward 6 Community Meeting has been postponed until Thursday, November 3, and will be held at Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave. Join in person or online via Zoom from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Ask questions and get updates from city staff on subjects like rodent control, affordable housing, public safety, and much more. Interpretation and additional accommodations are available upon request. Learn more and join in online at somervillema.gov/communitymeetings.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great guy, Clifton Verdieu, who also grew up in East Somerville. He works for Century 21 NorthEast. Happy birthday to a former alderman and great guy, Dennis Sullivan. A nice guy who served Somerville for many years. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to poet and writer Timothy Gager, a very talented guy. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to our own Mike Rais, who celebrated last week. You see him out delivering the papers each week for us. We wish him a great year to come. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Diana Riel, Dorothy O’Malley, Jeffery Varney, Russell Chiary, Erin DiBenedetto, Gene Beraldi, Joe Bear, Candy Feldt and John Blute 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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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville are excited to invite all local ghosts and ghouls to “Truck O’Treat” on Thursday, October 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. outside City Hall. Costumes are encouraged at the family-friendly event, which will include safe Trick-or-Treating on the City Hall concourse, a spooktacular visit from a decorated City of Somerville truck, refreshments and more.

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The Massachusetts general election is being held on Tuesday, November 8. This election will determine Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Representative in Congress, Governor’s Council, Senator in General Court, Representative in General Court, District Attorney, and Sheriff. There are also four ballot questions. Sample ballots are available at somervillema.gov/sampleballots. Somerville voters can vote early, by mail, or on Election Day. For all information about voting in Somerville, go to somervillema.gov/elections.

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Somerstreets: Monster Mash is this Sunday, October 30, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. (rain date November 6), Somerville Ave., between School St. and Warren Ave. Join the School of Honk for the costume parade at 3:00 p.m. Meet on Somerville Ave. at Warren Ave. Make sure to wear your costume. Invite friends and family for the fun! https://fb.me/e/3zyGXjiw1

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On Sunday, October 30, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. visit the city’s 19th century (1804) burial grounds as part of the October SomerStreets Festival Monster Mash along Somerville Avenue. This ghostly gathering treats visitors to a guided tour of the cemetery’s grave sites, tombs, and Civil War monument. At each site a ghost will engage in conversation about their life in Somerville in centuries past. A wonderful way to learn more about Somerville from those who lived in it. 400 Somerville Ave. Suggested donation of $5 for those over 12 years. Proceeds support the preservation and educational activities of the Somerville Museum.

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Due to upcoming construction on Holland St., there will be no MBTA outbound service on Holland St. through October 26. The contractor will be installing three raised crossings: One at Paulina St., one at Hodgkins Curtin Park, and one at Winter St. This will require a 24/7 detour: 1. Road closed to Westbound traffic (Davis to Teele Square). Detour College Ave to Broadway 2. One-way Eastbound traffic will remain open on Holland Street (Teele to Davis Square).

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Strummerville is back every fourth Wednesday at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Join in on October 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. More info on the meetup at: https://www.meetup.com/bostonuke.

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The Halloween Block Party and Pet Parade will be held Saturday, October 29 (rain date Sunday, October 30) from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Cross St. East and Chuckie Harris Park. There will be family activities like story hour with @allshewrotebooks and pet training demonstrations by @zendogtraining. Take your pet down the red carpet in our pet parade and costume contest. Shop artisan vendors like @luxandknox and @lucid.leathers and buy yourself a treat from @petrovachocolates. Don’t forget to treat your pet with something from @stinkysgrooming.

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Witchcrafting at West, Wednesdays in October, 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. at the West Somerville Branch Library. Get into the spooky season spirit each Wednesday in October as they will be crafting together, nibbling on tasty snacks, and watching some of your favorite witchy shows. Check out all of the offerings: (October 26): Design your own tarot and oracle cards and The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell. Please contact ShanTil at syell@somervillema.gov with any questions.

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Donate to the MAMAS free store. MAMAS – Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville is seeking gently used winter clothes of all sizes and ages, especially coats and boots. The free store is on November 12 (rain date November 13). Call or text 339-545-1315 for drop off locations and times. They are also accepting monetary donations: opencollective.com/mamas (Select Winter Free Clothing Store).

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Somerville Songwriter Sessions at the Armory Cafe presents a live, in-person concert with singer/songwriters Tim Foley, Doug Kwartler and Sam Bayer on Saturday, November 5. The concert will feature a solo set by each artist, followed by a round robin song swap. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and there is a suggested donation of $15. The Armory Cafe is at 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville. For more information call 617-718-2191 or visit artsatthearmory.org or www.facebook.com/SomervilleSongwriterSessions.

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Registration for Somerville Youth Hockey Learn to Skate/Learn to Play Hockey is open. All sessions take place at either Veterans or Founders rinks in Somerville. Beginner classes are geared towards kids 3-9 who have never skated nor played hockey before. There’s also a new Advanced option for kids aged 9 and older who are ready for a more fast-paced introduction to the fundamentals of hockey and skating. To learn more and register, visit https://www.somervilleyouthhockey.org/lts-ltp. Financial aid (and some equipment) is available.

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Somerville Public Schools is hosting clinics at school sites in October for children, families, and staff. Registration and more information at: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/vaccineclinics. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. October 26, Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at West Somerville Neighborhood School. Influenza vaccine only. The City of Somerville is also hosting weekly vaccine clinics offering the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Those clinics start on October 5 and operate Wednesdays (except October 26) from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave.

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The SHS Class of 1982 40th Reunion will be held at 117 Swanton St., Winchester, MA on November 15, 6:30 – 11:30 p.m. Cost: $40 per person, dinner included, cash bar. ($50 after November 4). Payment methods: include Paypal: mbmbrennan44@gmail.com, Venmo: SHS Class of 1982 @shsclassof1982, Check: made out to SHS Class of 1982 mailed to Marybeth Caturello, 85 MacArthur Road Stoneham, MA 02180. For any other questions, please email Marybeth Brennan at mbmbrennan@comcast.net or call Marybeth Caturello at 617-851-2519.

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Make your perceptions of local policing and public safety known by taking the Somerville Department of Racial and Social Justice’s survey. Feedback will set the course of future work for the RSJ department. All residents are encouraged to participate. To learn more about the RSJ department, visit somervillema.gov/rsj.

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Every Wednesday through November 23, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. visit the Davis Square Farmers Market, across from American Flatbread at 44 Day St. Visit: https://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis.

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This weekend is the final weekend for The Union Square and East Somerville Farmer’s Market. Saturday, October 29, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., the Union Square Farmers Market takes place at 66-70 Union Sq. visit: https://www.unionsquaremain.org/2022-fmseason. East Somerville Farmers Market will be Sunday, October 30 the East Somerville Library, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. There is a $15 SNAP match at all Farmers Markets across Somerville.

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