The City of Somerville is participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this month, hosting two collection events for residents to safely dispose of prescription medications. Collection events will take place Saturday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 220 Washington St. and 6 Newbury St. Staff from the city’s Community Outreach, Help, and Recovery (COHR) Department and the Prevention Services Division will be at both locations to collect unused or expired medications and used sharps (needles and syringes) and to provide overdose prevention information and resources. Free harm reduction materials including Narcan, fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields, and syringe disposal boxes will also be available. For more information, contact Prevention Services Manager Matthew Mitchell at mmitchell@somervillema.gov or (617) 625-6600 ext. 25.

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To those celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to former alderman and great guy, Jack Connolly. We hope he has a great birthday. Happy Birthday to a nice guy, Blake Maddux, you have seen his music reviews here in the paper. We wish him a great day with his family. Happy birthday to Julie Phelan Brady. We wish her a great day. Happy birthday to Jim Cook, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Bob DiGuardia, who is also celebrating this week. We wish a happy birthday to all of our Facebook friends such Olga Solomita, Joanne Veneziano Finnegan, Carol Duffy, Jackie Coviello, Patricia Ferrelli, Lee Erica Byron Palmer, Paul Stanford, Benjamin Holmes, Celia Miller-Saltman, Jim Ospenson, Susannah Buzard, Sylvia Cabrera, Tina Kneeland, Bella Khadijah, and Dinunzio Angelmarie 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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On Saturday, April 22, Groundwork Somerville will host a farm workday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., along with a community-wide celebration from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. filled with hands-on educational activities, games, music, and more. Enjoy family-friendly activities including scavenger hunts, voting on their next farm-mural, live music, seed-starting demonstrations, seed-packet give aways, tours of the farm and greenhouse, and additional activities presented by local environmental and climate organizations such as Conscious Planet and MAMAS Gardening Collective. This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP for the workday and the celebration visit groundworksomerville.org. Rain date: Sunday, April 23.

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Unions and Racial and Economic Justice: A Labor Spring “Teach-in” – All of Somerville is invited to learn about the accomplishments of the labor movement and the challenges Somerville workers are facing today. Explore how race and racism has weakened working class power. Learn and share the struggles of workers of color in Somerville today. Develop and refine our vision for a municipal “Green New Deal” that addresses both economic and racial inequality. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Somerville Stands Together and the Racial Justice Collaborative. Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave.

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Nibble Kitchen is proud to present the Nibble Cooking Class Series 2023. Each class is led by a Nibble Program Graduate representing their home countries, cultures, and of course cuisines. Our upcoming chefs will be highlighting cuisines from countries including Jamaica, Laos, and Benin. This year’s series will be a weekly cooking class from May 9 to June 6 and will be led by an all women group. Learn more at https://nibblesomerville.com/classes-events. Nibble Kitchen is a space and program supported by the Somerville Arts Council.

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Somerville’s Memorial Day Parade will return this year on Sunday, May 28 (rain date: May 29), stepping off at noon from Davis Square, proceeding west on Holland Street through Teele Square and onto Broadway, and ending at the Veterans Cemetery between Alewife Brook Parkway and North Street. The city’s annual remembrance ceremony will immediately follow. Sign up to volunteer or participate and march along with local Veterans and first responders by contacting Somerville VETS at 617-625-6600 ext. 4700. Parade volunteers should reach out by Friday, April 21 and participants by Friday, April 28. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/veterans.

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Open Studios 2023 will take place on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7. More than 300 artists across Somerville will open their studios to the public to display their latest work and meet visitors. The artist directory is now online, so you can find your favorite Somerville artists and preview this year’s event at any time. Physical maps will be available at a corner near you in Somerville this Friday, April 21. Somerville Open Studio 2023 weekend hours: Saturday and Sunday, May 6 – 7, noon-5:00 p.m. Visit www.somervilleopenstudios.org.

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Kicking off Somerville Open Studios weekend, Upstairs at Bow Market is hosting the Lexie Butterfly Fashion Show. This show will feature three designer’s collections: Lexie Griffith, Martha Friend, and Consuelo Perez. These Three Musketeers have each put together an eight-look collection to send down the runway. Avant garde, thought provoking, and full of creativity, this event is a must see. Come join in for an exhibition of unique fashions and fun. Tuesday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., 1 Bow Market Way.For more information visit:  https://www.lexiebutterflyvintage.com/fashion-show. 

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The Welcome Project is excited to announce the 14th Annual YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City. Please join in to celebrate the work of immigrants across the Boston area and highlight local restaurants that reflect the diverse and beautiful community Somerville has become. If you would like to be a sponsor of this event or purchase tickets, please use this link: https://bit.ly/YUM2023

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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 continues through December 31. 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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The city’s Inclusionary Housing Program has eighteen income-restricted rental opportunities at Union 346 (346 Somerville Ave.). The lottery includes fifteen studios and three 1-bedroom units. Attend a virtual information session on Monday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom to learn more. Applications for the lottery are due Thursday, May 4, by 2:00 p.m. For more information or to apply, visit https://sebhousing.com/property/union-346.

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RESPOND, Inc., the Somerville-based nonprofit organization serving survivors of domestic violence throughout Middlesex and Suffolk counties, will host its first back-in-person fundraising gala since 2019.The event will take place at 6:00 p.m. on May 4 at The Kimpton Hotel Marlowe, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge. The cocktail reception will feature hearty, passed hors d’oeuvres, an open wine and beer bar, silent auction packages, and other fun prizes. The program culminates with the presentation of the 2023 Timothy White Take a Stand Award to Shaquera Robinson, and a live auction, emceed by A. J. Burnett. Tickets are available on RESPOND’s gala website: www.respondinc.org/gala. Tickets are $125 each, with event host blocks of 10 tickets for $1,200.

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