Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services invite residents to a remembrance ceremony marking the anniversary of 9/11. On Monday, September 11, the city will hold a procession and memorial ceremony to recognize the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. Anyone interested in joining the procession should meet at the Cedar Street entrance to the Community Path at 8:30 a.m. A speaking program and wreath laying ceremony will follow at approximately 9:00 a.m. at the 9/11 memorial in Davis Square, with the presentation and retiring of the colors by the Somerville Police and Somerville Fire Honor Guards. For more information, email veterans@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600 ext. 4700. 

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The Somerville Community Growing Center holds Open Hours for the Arts: Poetry, Saturday, September 9, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., 22 Vinal Ave. Visit the Center to join poet Denise Provost in a garden setting. Nurture your creative muse by taking time to look, listen and write. Bring a notebook for some responsive writing. Enjoy discussion with other participants. Share your own poems or others that inspire you. Any questions? Contact: Denise Provost at denise.provost@verizon.net.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to local realtor Stephen Bremis. We wish a great birthday. Happy birthday to Jodi Gallo. We wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to a great guy, Bob Trane, a former Alderman for Ward 7. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to Juscelia LoRusso of Juscelia’s Cakes. She makes the best cakes around. Happy Birthday to Nancy Gaudet-Bacci, who is celebrating this week. We wish her a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Billy Harrison, Paul Mercier, Judith Medeiros, Joe Fothergill, Sabrina Faria Caprigno, David Roberts, Maureen McCole, Jeff Meese, Richard Keller, Alexa Trefonides-Mase, Dan Johnson, Felicia Dalelio and Judy Calvey 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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MassDOT announced that September 18 will be the start of Squires Bridge Work Construction. Green Line service to Union Square will temporarily terminate at Lechmere for 25 days. An open house will be hosted to provide the public with additional details about the project and answer any questions about travel alternatives. At the open house, there will be MassDOT Highway Division representative there to speak to the bridge work and there will be representation from the MBTA to speak about the Green Line impacts and alternative service options. Open house information: Somerville Public Library (Central), 79 Highland Ave, Somerville, Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. A telephone hotline has also been set up to answer rider questions about the project and service: 617-927-9957.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services invite residents to the second annual Health and Wellness Day on Saturday, September 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Lincoln Park (290 Washington St.). All are welcome at this free event to promote physical and mental health and well-being. Come check out fitness classes for all ages (yoga, Zumba, strength training), chair massages, free consultations with wellness coaches, a bounce house, Army Combat Fitness Test demos, face painting, healthy snacks, a DJ, and more. Experts will also connect first responders, veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families with vital mental health resources and support. In the event of rain, the event will be canceled. For more info, email veterans@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600. ext. 4700.

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Join the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council and the Somerville Arts Council for their latest SomerStreets event, as the Gilman Square Arts and Music Festival takes place on Saturday, September 9, from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. (rain date on Sept.10). Come out to hear live music from: Matt Heaton, Hot Molasses, Eminent Domain, The Spicy Condiments and Sold by Weight Brass Band. Activities, artists, and food vendors will be out on Pearl St. and in the Mad Oyster lot, including Daddy Joes, Dean’s Concession, Neighborhood Produce, Scott Brothers Kitchen, Tipping Cow, and Winter Hill Brewing.

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The Somerville Rock + Roll Yard Sale returns with locally sourced indie vendors selling a fun and eclectic mix of vinyl records, vintage + DIY handmade goods. This is the perfect way to support independent small businesses. Showcasing New England’s top vinyl dealers in the heart of Union Square on Sunday, September 10 from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. (rain date Sunday, September 17). Admission is free and open to all: Follow the Facebook event page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/800471684462494/.

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Tufts University invites campus neighbors to join for the annual free Outdoor Movie Night. Grab your lawn chairs and head over to Fletcher Field on the Medford/Somerville campus on Friday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m. Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG) will be playing on the big screen, while Jumbo the Mascot will be greeting guests for a quick photo-op. Popcorn and other tasty treats will be served at this family-friendly event. Entry is free, please RSVP if you plan to attend. Parking details and other logistics will be shared with registrants. RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tufts-university-presents-minions-the-rise-of-gru-tickets-699774453227?aff=oddtdtcreator.

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This week, Arts at the Armory is focusing on closing out their 30-day petition window to refocus the City of Somerville’s Armory Master Plan. They are about 200 signatures short of their goal of 1,000 signatures by September 8. If you have not done so already, please go to https://fm.addxt.com/form/?vf=1FAIpQLSfCkLv9Ak9V_maJzh9zch3oB9RCXW-668pZQllJkJ3Ky3rpZg to sign the petition and circulate to people you know. If you need more context about this petition, please visit their webpage: https://artsatthearmory.org/about/armory-master-plan/.

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A full sit-down Senior Picnic has been rescheduled for Thursday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Trum Field. For any questions and to get a new ticket, call the Somerville Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319.

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East Somerville Main Streets will hold their last Block Party of the summer on Sunday, September 10, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., 115 Broadway. Get back to school ready with businesses like Fadil African Hair Braiding, Marlon’s Barbers, and All She Wrote Books. A Trike Called Funk returns.

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Do you have an opinionated kid in the 8-12 age range? Stop by the West Branch Children’s Room and pick up a not-yet-published book, and share your thoughts with LittleBrown publishers before anyone else reads them. For more information visit somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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September is also Recovery Month. Narcan distributions will take place Thursday, September 14, at 165 Broadway and Thursday, September 28, at Statue Park in Davis Square, both from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit: www.somervillema.gov.

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Somerville Jr. Highlanders Softball is looking for more participants. Please email jrhighlander-softball@gmail.com with any questions.

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September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. There’s so much you can do with a library card from the Somerville Public Library. Having a card allows you to: Check out books, movies, CDs, and more from our library collection, log in to computers at the library and use your daily printing credit and much more. To sign up for a card visit, the Circulation desks at any of the three branches. All you need is a photo ID, and proof of Somerville address. Children ages 5 and up can also get a library card with their parents’ information. Visit: somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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Visit the Somerville Flea, Sundays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., through October 29. Four dozen local vintage and artisan vendors, farm stand, live music, and DJ, all in the heart of Davis Square. The best local vintage purveyors and artisans are back. Come on out and support them and what they do. Shop small and shop local. Explore and discover that special thing you never knew you even existed but can’t live without. One hundred steps from the Davis Square T stop.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville invite community members to provide public comments about rent stabilization at a third and final listening session on Tuesday, September 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Comments should address specific elements of Somerville’s proposed new rent stabilization rules. Attend in-person at the Armory building (191 Highland Ave.) or online via Zoom. Written comments will also be accepted until September 10. Learn more and register to speak at the session: voice.somervillema.gov/adtf.

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The Project Outlook, Low Vision Group meets the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Holland Street Center. Project Outlook is a group of residents with low or no vision who enjoy getting together for camaraderie and socialization. Project Outlook has been active for over 30 years. All are welcome. Call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2319 for more info.

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The Somerville 5K Road Race returns for a 28th year on Saturday, September 30, in Davis Square. Staff, clients, supporters, and local partners will come together once again to raise awareness and support for our most underrepresented neighbors. Help in the fight to end homelessness, hunger, and eviction? Whether you want to run, jog, or walk alone or with a team, your support will help is needed to go the distance for our clients. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/Somerville5KRoadRace.

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The Row’s most anticipated event, Riverfest, returns on September 16. Celebrate the end of summer with a bang – literally – during a free, fun-filled day for the whole family, all culminating with a spectacular fireworks show over the Mystic River. With live music, kids activities, an artisan market and so much more, you won’t want to miss our biggest event of the year. Visit their website for the full event details: http://assemblyrow.com/visit/events/riverfest-2023/.

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On Tuesday, September 19, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., East Somerville Main Streets invites you to Broadway to embark on a culinary journey around the world for the 12th annual Foodie Crawl. They will highlight tastes from El Salvador, Brazil, Italy, France, Mexico, Portugal and more. Come experience the best that East Somerville has to offer and find a new favorite restaurant (or five!). This year, ticket sales will be on a sliding scale, starting at $10 for children, $20 for students and $25 for adults. Purchase tickets here: https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/foodiecrawl.

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Another event coming up is the Somerville Greek Festival. Enjoy delicious, authentic Greek food and pastry, dance under the big tent to live music and enjoy a cold beer or wine while taking in the excitement at the largest Greek food festival in town. The festival will run September 8 and 9, from 12:00 to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 10, from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. Plenty of free parking. The menu will be posted ahead of this event, with plenty of vegetarian options. The Somerville Greek Festival is an annual event of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, 29 Central St., Somerville. and open to the general public. It is a major fundraiser which allows the community of faithful to continue to serve the Somerville community through philanthropy, liturgical services, classes, youth ministries and much more. Visit dormition-church.org.

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Enjoy free outdoor movie, popcorn, candy, and fun at The Block at Boynton Yards, all summer long. Friday Flicks Outdoor Movie Nights at Boynton Yards will start at 7:00 p.m. with yard games and fun, followed by candy, popcorn, and movies once the sun sets. Bring a blanket and get ready for a fun-filled evening. September 15: The Little Mermaid (1995 version). Boynton Yards, 110 South Street.

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