Community members are invited to celebrate the completion of the Phillip Reavis, Sr. Field, the high school’s first ever onsite field space. This 45,000 square foot practice field consists of artificial turf with a natural wood infill and is built in the area of a former steep slope behind the high school and adjacent to the new Gilman Square MBTA stop. A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 26, at noon, Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave.).

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The City of Somerville will be hosting Somerville’s 2nd annual Truck O’ Treat on Thursday, October 26, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Enjoy safe trick-or-treating on the City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.), a spooktacular visit from a decorated City of Somerville truck, refreshments and more. Costumes are encouraged. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, along with Somerville’s Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation Office, invite all local ghosts and ghouls. In the event of inclement weather, Truck O’ Treat will move indoors to City Hall.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great guy and local realtor, Clifton Verdieu, who grew up in East Somerville. We wish him a great birthday with his family. 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, we hope he enjoyed his birthday. If you see him out delivering the papers for us, say “Hi” and wish him a great year to come. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Harry Levasseur, Kip Lyall, Patricia Capadanno, Diana Riel, Dorothy O’Malley, Jeffery Varney, Russell Chiary, Erin DiBenedetto, Gene Beraldi, Candy Feldt, John Blute, Katie Marsh and Diane Sylvester Ames 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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East Somerville Main Streets Halloween Block Party And Pet Spectacular 2023 is here. They have a wide range of family activities, a pet costume contest, raffles, vendors, food, music, and so much more. Come and see the spookiest and cutest costumes on Saturday, October 28, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Chuckie Harris Park.

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Tufts University invites families to attend the annual “Halloween on the Hill,” a family-friendly and free afternoon of fun activities, live student performances, and trick or treating on Sunday, October 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tufts’ Medford/Somerville campus. The event will begin inside Barnum Hall from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. with live student performances and then will move directly outside to the Academic Quad for trick or treating.

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Somerville’s Municipal Election is on Tuesday, November 7. Take steps to make sure you are prepared. Register to vote or submit a change of address by October 27. Submit your “Vote by Mail” application by October 31 at 5:00 p.m. Vote early at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) November 1-3. To find your polling place and more information visit: www.somervillema.gov.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Commission for Women, and RESPOND, Inc. are honored to invite residents to join the annual Domestic Violence Vigil on Monday, October 30, commemorating Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year’s vigil aims to remember those who lost their lives to domestic violence in the last year, celebrate survivors’ resilience, and recommit ourselves as a community to ending domestic violence. The vigil and community art-making event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. at The Dojo @ Somernova (15 Properzi Way, Somerville). The event is free and all are welcome to attend. There will be American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation at the event. For more information about the vigil, please contact Latoya Saulters, Commissions Coordinator at lsaulters@somervillema.gov

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MAMAS Free Clothing store takes place on November 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School. They are looking for volunteers to help organize and fold clothes the day of. Email askyourmamas@gmail.com. They are also accepting monetary donations to purchase clothing: opencollective.com/mamas (Select Free Clothing Store). La tienda de ropa gratuita MAMAS está el 11 de noviembre de 9:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. en la Escuela Comunitaria de East Somerville en Somerville. A loja de roupas gratuitas será dia 11 de Novembro, das 9h às 13h, na East Somerville Community School. Magazen rad gratis la se 11 novanm soti 9 am jiska 1 pm nan East Somerville Community School.

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Join a Tufts University Community Relations Family and Children’s Concert called Testimony: A Jazz Trio Concert at the Distler Performance Hall, Granoff Music Center, 20 Talbot Ave., Medford. This Saturday, October 28, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Joel LaRue Smith and guest performers Evan Palmer on bass and Yoron Israel on drums will explore jazz, blues, funk, and Afro-Latin compositions with his trio and the audience and examine the connection between play, improvisation, and imagination.

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The Somerville Homeless Coalition has announced their 4th Annual Sleep Out event will take place on Friday, November 17, at Tufts University. This year, the SHC is partnering with Tuft’s student led group Jumbos For Nonprofits to spread awareness for our neighbors experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. While SHC staff and Tuft’s students sleep outdoors, they are asking you, the community, to spend a night in your car, backyard, couch, or anywhere that isn’t the comfort of your bed. Visit their website for updates about the event https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org.

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Great week for Somerville Public School Athletics. Boys varsity soccer team clinched the Greater Boston League Championship. Last time they won the league championship was 2019. Highlander soccer is having a great season! Boys’ varsity soccer team is currently 13-2-1 and Girls varsity soccer team 13-1-2. Middle grades Boys cross country team also won the Greater Boston League Championship.

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The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) has announced that it will host and manage the 14th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 4 through April 6. This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. Each market will feature more than 35 weekly vendors and several rotating guest vendors while welcoming an anticipated 1,000 visitors every Saturday. The market accepts SNAP/EBT and HIP benefits. And they also offer a $15 SNAP match to customers each week. For more information and weekly updates visit: www.artsatthearmory.org.

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The Somerville Council on Aging Flu Clinic takes place on Thursday, October 26, at the Holland Street Center from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City of Somerville’s Public Health nurse will be hosting the two flu clinics. For more info or to book an appointment please call the COA at 617-625-6600 ext. 2300.

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Fall 2023 City Hall Community meetings are underway. These meetings are held twice a year in each of Somerville’s seven wards to share the latest city and neighborhood updates with community members. They are an opportunity to get an overview of the latest city news, learn more about city programs and initiatives, meet your neighbors, find ways to get involved, and talk with elected officials and city staff. Join them in person from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to ask questions and get updates from the mayor and city staff. Swing by early at 6:00 p.m. for pizza and refreshments. To learn more and find the meeting in your ward visit somerville-ma.gov/communitymeetings.

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Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin Parish Annual Christmas Bazaar, Friday, November 3, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Located in St. Catheine’s Hall, 179 Summer St., Somerville. There will be a silent auction, raffles, games, punch board, refreshments, and much more. Free admission. Plenty of parking. For more info please call (617) 666-2087.

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Open enrollment began on October 15 and runs to December 7. Medicare recipients can change their health insurance plans for January 1, 2024. While having the freedom to change your health insurance plan can save you money, there are many health insurance plans and companies to choose from. You don’t have to make the decision alone, the Somerville Council on Aging has SHINE Counseling available in person, over the phone, or on Zoom, to assist you with comparing what health insurance options are available for you. You can call Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317 or Molly Pagliuca at ext. 2318 to book an appointment.

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East Somerville Main Streets will be holding their East Somerville fall clean up on November 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Help them beautify the neighborhood. Pastries and coffee provided by Ola Cafe. Meet at 115 Broadway at 10:00 a.m.

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The city is hiring polling place workers in preparation for the 2023 election cycle. Polling place staffers work on November 7 and earn at least $200. Contact the Elections Office at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200 to learn more.

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On the night before Halloween, Arts at the Armory co-presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 musical comedy horror cult classic in-person. Costumes and call backs are highly encouraged. The Teseracte Players of Boston, who have roamed New England, bringing Dr. Frank-N-Furter and friends to life for 20+ years, will lead the raucous ride. October 30, Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Screening at 8:00 p.m. 191 Highland Ave. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arts-at-the-armory-and-once-present-the-rocky-horror-picture-show-tickets-706242659807.

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Visit the Blue: The Celebration of a Color exhibit at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Rd. The exhibit showcases paintings, photography, installation, fashion, and video works of local artists who incorporate blue in their studio practice. For hours visit www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Registration is open for Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Somerville Youth Hockey. 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. Financial aid (and some equipment) is available. To learn more and register, visit https://www.somervilleyouthhockey.org/ltsltp.

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Elm Street Taproom, 256 Elm Street, Somerville, will be holding a Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween Bash on Friday, October 28, at 6:00 p.m. There will be lots of spooky fun and cool prizes.

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Somerville teens are invited to get a free membership to the Somerville Recreation Teen Center. Please visit their website to find hours and more information: somervillema.myrec.com.

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