Happy Easter and Passover this week to all who celebrate. May the holidays bring joy and fun to families, friends and everyone who gathers together to observe the occasions.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen invite you to a virtual meeting on Monday, April 10, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about construction progress and to get an overview of what’s planned for this spring and summer. To learn more and register, visit somervillema.gov/springhill.

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Connexion and East Somerville Main Streets will be hosting their annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 8, at 1:00 p.m. in Chuckie Harris Park, Cross Street E. Stop by or some Easter fun.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Big happy birthday to Steve Mac. We hope Steve enjoys his day. Happy birthday to Sissy McWatters-Ankenbauer who is celebrating this week. We hope she had a great day too. Happy birthday to Bruce Rollins II, who also celebrates this week. We hope he enjoys his day as well. Happy birthday to our good friend Ida Fasano. We’re wishing her a great day as well. She is probably in Florida enjoying the nice weather. Happy birthday to Chris Pedersen. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to Linda Rock Coutoumas, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Cheryl Constantine Leatham, who is also celebrating. We hope she is having a great day. We wish a happy birthday to all of our Facebook friends such as Patricia O’Leary Shanahan, Carolyn Ryan, Jeanine Jenks Farley and Linda Camiel Butler, who are all celebrating this week. To all the others we may have missed and, yes, we must admit there are a few more out there. We sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Public Schools, and Somerville’s early childhood community invite Somerville parents, children and educators to celebrate the Week of the Young Child from April 10 to 14, including the One Somerville, Every Child celebration on the Somerville High School concourse (81 Highland Avenue) from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The Week of the Young Child was designated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families. The One Somerville, Every Child celebration will begin with a proclamation by Mayor Ballantyne advocating for young children, and include family friendly music, food, and activities.

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City staff will be tabling at the corner of Broadway and Cross Street to share information and answering questions about upcoming bus and crosswalk improvements on East Broadway. Learn more about the project and other in-person and virtual engagement opportunities at somervillema.gov/eastbroadway. On April 11, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., city staff will be tabling at the corner of Everett Avenue and Cross Street (near East Somerville Community School) to share information and answering questions about upcoming bus and crosswalk improvements on East Broadway.

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Help celebrate Paul Revere’s famous ride from Boston to Lexington and Somerville’s revolutionary history by volunteering to be a part of Somerville’s Patriot’s Day festivities. The city is seeking volunteers to help publicize and support activities at the Colonial Fair on Monday, April 17, at Foss Park, which follows a reenactment of Revere’s ride. Both adults and Somerville students are welcome to sign up. For more information or to volunteer, contact Historic Events and Education Coordinator Brandon Wilson via bwilson@somervillema.gov or 617-776-3938.

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Stop by Lyndell’s Bakery, 720 Broadway, April 14 – 16, for a half moon in loving memory of Officer Sean Collier. Proceeds will go to the SAPD (Somerville Auxiliary Police Dept.) Sean Collier Memorial Scholarship. Grab a friend and stop by for a treat, and maybe even win some raffle prizes.

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How can we help arts and culture thrive in Somerville? The city and Somerville Arts Council have launched the next phase of the Cultural Capacity Plan that features a series of community conversations with interest and identity groups facilitated by local cultural advisors to explore how best to expand Somerville’s cultural capacity. To see the full schedule and register to attend, visit https://somervilleartscouncil.org/culturalcapacity/conversations . For additional accommodations, please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

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On Saturday, April 29, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., East Somerville will be holding their Spring Clean Up. Meet at the East Somerville Library, 115 Broadway, for coffee and pastries from Ola Cafe, and then help beautify the neighborhood.

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Applications are now open for the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Through this annual program, the City of Somerville hires teenage participants to work in the Parks and Recreation Department, Somerville Public Libraries, and other city offices as well as local businesses. Applicants must be Somerville residents, at least 14 years of age, and enrolled in high school. Summer jobs require approximately 20 hours per week for six weeks starting in July, though actual schedules will vary by employer. Some jobs require an orientation before the program begins. Apply online at somervillema.gov/summerjobs, or pick up a printed application in the Human Resources Department at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. Applications are due by Friday, April 28, at 12:30 p.m. Applicants will be interviewed the week of May 8. For more information, contact summerjobs@somervillema.gov, or call 311.

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Visit Aeronaut, 14 Tyler St. on April 19 at 6:00 p.m. or zoom in to April’s Streetwise Talk to hear an update on the Community Path extension that should be open any day now. Friends of the Community Path Co-President Lynn Weissman, Alan Moore and Transportation Planner Viola Augustin will be presenting a history and the latest news. For Zoom info visit bit.ly/3ORnXHn.

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Somerville residents can once again drop off household hazardous waste at the DPW yard on designated days. Drop offs are accepted on the first Saturday of each month, April through November, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the DPW yard (1 Franey Rd.). Accepted materials include motor oil, aerosol paint, household cleaning chemicals, rechargeable batteries, and more. Proof of residence such as a driver’s license or utility bill is required. Waste materials should be placed in sturdy boxes and not in loose or plastic bags. Residents can learn more about other accepted items by visiting somervillema.gov/trash or calling 311 (617-666-3311).

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Street sweeping not only keeps our streets clean, but is essential for reduced flooding by preventing clogged street drains. The 2023 season began on Monday, April 3, and continues through December 31. A reminder to: Check signs in your neighborhood for sweeping days. Get familiar with the street sweeping schedule in areas where you park. Visit somervillema.gov/sweeping for a full schedule and to sign up for complimentary street sweeping reminders by text, email, or phone. For more information on street sweeping procedures, visit parksomerville.com.

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Somerville Recreation summer program registration is now open. Visit their website to learn more. https://somervillema.myrec.com/info/default.aspx

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Somerville PorchFest 2023 will take place on Saturday, May 13 (rain date May 14) from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Perhaps you’ve sat on your porch and overheard a neighbor strumming guitar on another porch? Porchfest takes this idea and multiplies it. This is not a festival per se but rather a community event where Somervillians share their love of playing and listening to music … from their porch, driveways, yards, etc. Registration is now open: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest.

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The Somerville Public Library in partnership with the St. Mark Community Education Program is offering a free, 10-week U.S. Citizenship Preparation class. The class will prepare students for the citizenship interview including the 100 civics questions, the reading and writing sections, and interview questions based on the N-400 application. The class will be held in-person at the Central Library (79 Highland Avenue) on 10 Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from March 4 to May 6. Requirements: Basic level of English and 5 years as a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) or 3 years, if married to a U.S. citizen. Visit https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/ellcitizenship to register.

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