The City Hall Community Meetings kick off in your area this week. Tonight, Wednesday, April 26, the Ward 5 meeting will take place at the Kennedy School (5 Cherry St.). The in-person meetings run from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Ask questions and get updates from the mayor and city staff. Swing by early at 6:00 p.m. for pizza and refreshments. Learn more at somervillema.gov/communitymeetings.

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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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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Big happy birthday to a good friend over at Ball Square Café, Mike Moccia. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Anthony Fraser, who grew up in East Somerville. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Kate Sherlock Guiliano, Debbie Shansky Murray, Dom Panzino, Chris Lavelli, Joseph DeSousa, Rose Lister, Charlotte Scanzillo Perkins and George Sharpe 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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Join the Somerville Public Library and the Office of Sustainability and Environment at the West Branch Library in honor of Earth Day. View An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017), a documentary about former Vice President Al Gore’s continuing efforts to fight climate change globally. Register at: https://rb.gy/diqhn. Wednesday, April 26, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., West Branch Library (40 College Ave.).

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In 2023 bus service and crosswalk improvements are coming to East Broadway between McGrath and Rush Street to reduce bus delays and improve safety and visibility for all people walking, wheeling, and driving around intersections. There will be a pop-up on Thursday, April 27 at Broadway and Franklin Street from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. to ask questions and provide feedback. For more information and full project details, visit somervillema.gov/eastbroadwaybus.

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The Independent Film Festival Boston returns for their 20th anniversary. The festival will run from April 26 through May 3. To view the full schedule visit https://iffboston.org/series/the-festival/.

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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. The 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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East Somerville’s clean-up will take place April 29. Join East Somerville Main Streets at 115 Broadway at 10:00 a.m. and enjoy pastries and coffee from Ola Cafe.

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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 participants should reach out by Friday, April 28. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/veterans.

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Every year the Somerville Museum and Somerville Open Studios (SOS) hosts the First Look Exhibit in the Museum’s gallery spaces. This show is open to all artists who are currently registered with Somerville Open Studios. The exhibition opens before SOS weekend and runs through May. It’s a great opportunity for visitors to view artists’ work and plan their open studios weekend visits. www.somervillemuseum.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, 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. for more information visit https://www.lexiebutterflyvintage.com/fashion-show.

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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. 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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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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Join the Center for Teen Empowerment and the Dojo at Somernova for our Block Party Friday, May 5, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Alley, 24 Dane street in Somerville. There will be a bouncy house, music, prizes, food trucks and more.

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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. 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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