Kick off the holiday season with the City of Somerville on Thursday, December 7, at 5:00 p.m. at the Holiday Lighting on the City Hall Concourse. Enjoy live entertainment, a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus in the Somerville High School Cafeteria, and light refreshments. All children who attend will receive a special gift from Santa. Santa Claus will be escorted by the Somerville Fire and Police Departments making his grand entrance atop a shiny red fire truck.

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Join the City of Somerville on Sunday, December 10, for a ceremonial Menorah Lighting event on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.) beginning at 5:00 p.m. A program of traditional songs and sing-alongs will be performed, special gifts will be available for children, and light refreshments will be served. The Menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great guy and good friend, Billy Murphy, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Irene Bremis. We wish her the very best. Happy birthday to Kevin McDevitt. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Ann Cassesso-Ercolini. We wish her the very best of birthdays as well. Happy birthday to Cheryl Callahan, we wish her a great day. We wish all our Facebook friends, such Rochelle Jennings, Gordon Crook, Jason Castle, Steve Prescod, Kat Rutkin, James V Avila, Rita VanSteensburg, Kristen Chiaraluce, Annmarie Costante, Sandy Piccolomini Ryle, Barbara J Pinnelle Vivian and Barbara Jewers 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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As the holiday gift shopping season intensifies, it’s important to remember that our local merchants are depending on us all to do our best to shop local. With the challenges they have dealt with over the past couple of years, let’s help them to get back to business and be here for years to come.

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Families and students in grades kindergarten to 8 are invited to join Somerville High School students and teachers in exploring computer science and robotics in a fun, relaxed environment. You are encouraged to sign up at bit.ly/familycode23 but you should join in even if you do not register. December 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Somerville High School Café.

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Visit Assembly Row, Thursday, December 7, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for their annual holiday Ice Sculpture Stroll. Enjoy live ice sculpture carvings, giveaways, and more. Use the holiday map to visit each sculpture, collect holiday-themed freebies, and turn your map in once you’re finished for a free Christmas ornament. Details on more holiday happenings here: https://assemblyrow.com/visit/events/

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Visit Mudflat’s annual holiday exhibition and sale of functional and sculptural clay by 96 Mudflat artists, faculty and students. Purchase unique handmade pottery for holiday gifts or for your own home. Take a chance on the pottery raffle of over 50 beautiful pieces to benefit Mudflat’s scholarship funds. Stop by on Friday, December 8, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 10, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

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East Somerville Main Streets’ Cozy Holiday Market invites you to savor a warm drink while exploring a variety of artisans, materials, and charming supplies to prepare for the winter ahead. Gather with friends, family, and even bring your pets to relish in the cozy atmosphere. Unearth that festive, ugly sweater from the back of your closet and capture memorable moments with Santa. Embrace the joy of the season and have fun at our cozy market. Friday, December 8, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m., 15 Garfield Ave., Somerville.

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In the giving spirit of the season, the city is collecting toy and gift donations at city buildings, libraries, and firehouses through Friday, December 22. If you are able and wish to donate, please bring new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children of all ages and age-appropriate gifts, clothes, and winter boots for teens. Donations will support two community gift drives: Toys for Local Children and MAMAS – Mutual Aid Medford And Somerville. More information on their gift drives and other ways to help support the drives can be found at mutualaidmamas.com and toysforlocalchildren.org. Learn more and find a donation box near you: bit.ly/47O4wYK.

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Join The Somerville Flea for their annual Holiday Market. Find two floors and over 30 vendors of vintage and artisan wonders. Shop local and keep it in the community. Find that perfect gift that you never even knew existed. Sunday, December 17, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave.

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Somerville Youth Soccer will host a Holiday Registration and Information Event on Sunday, December 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bow Market (1 Bow Market Way) in the second-floor meeting area. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more and to register on-site for their Spring 2024 programs for players from ages 2-18 (Tykes, In-Town, and Travel) as well as their new six-week Just For Kicks Clinic for players in grades 2-4 who are looking to learn to play in a relaxed environment. Learn more about the programs and receive a $10 one day in-person only discount off your registration purchase.

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The Somerville Police Department has chosen the Mystic Learning Center to be the recipient of the “Fill the Cruiser” Toy Drive Campaign. In partnership with Target, the SPD will be collecting new, unopened gifts that will directly benefit the families of the MLC Community. Stop by the Somerville Target over the next three weekends during the listed times to support. Friday, December 8 and December 15, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9 and December 16, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 and December 17, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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The Somerville Public Library will host Asian Art Series: When the Tiger Smoked a Pipe: The Art of Korea on Sunday, December 10, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. on Zoom. Spend your Sunday afternoon learning about the arts of Asia from experts at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Each session will focus on a unique topic from this vast, diverse, and ever evolving continent. Korean stories of long ago begin “When the tiger smoked a pipe…” Explore the varied and fascinating art that Koreans have produced for thousands of years. Renowned throughout Asia for their ceramics and textiles, Korea also has created, adapted, and refined a broad spectrum of art forms. Today Korea is one of the leaders in contemporary art production. To register visit www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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The Somerville Museum is hiring. Are you interested in history? Do you like planning community events and working with volunteers? This might be the role for you. They have recently received funding for a new position, Historic Events Manager. Check out their website for more information: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/historic-events-manager.

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Last day for street sweeping until spring is December 31. Street sweeping resumes April 1.

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Is your teen looking to make some extra money? The city’s Snow Shoveling Program is hiring youth to assist shoveling seniors and homeowners with disabilities out after snowstorms this winter. Teens and homeowners are paired for the season. After each storm, the homeowner will contact their assigned youth to request shoveling services. Somerville teens ages 14 to 19 are welcome to apply. Learn more and apply at somervillema.gov/shoveling. Looking for snow shoveling services? Contact Debby Higgins at dhiggings@somervillema.gov.

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Take steps to protect yourself and loved ones against COVID-19. Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department is hosting a series of COVID-19 booster (Moderna) vaccine clinics throughout December at locations across the city. Vaccines are available for community members age six months and older. Register for a vaccine clinic at somerville-ma.gov/vaccines.

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Come hear about what the City of Somerville is doing for climate and environmental health. What can the city do for you regarding high heat, flooding, air pollution, water quality? Plus, share your priorities for your family and community. Spanish and Portuguese translation will be provided. This event will take place on Monday, December 11, at Somerville Public Library East Branch (115 Broadway) at 6:30 p.m. Register to attend, www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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Experience the bursts of colorful hues in the Somerville Arts Council’s latest exhibit, Art in Bloom: Works by Alison Drasner, at the Inside-Out Gallery in the CVS window in Davis Square. As a designer and painter to stalwart community member, Alison Drasner is an active participant in the local cultural art scene in Somerville. To learn more about Alison, go to somervilleartscouncil.org/insideout/drasner.

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Since 1987, The Welcome Project has worked tirelessly to give a voice to the immigrant community of Somerville and provide them with the education and support they need to advocate for themselves in their new home. Through English language classes for parents, translator training for high school students, and workers’ rights campaigns, we are always advancing the mission of equity and highlighting how immigrants are an integral piece of our Somerville community. As we come to the end of 2023, the The Welcome Project humbly ask if you could support their work and donate today. As the immigrant community continues to grow in Somerville, your generosity allows your new neighbors to get the education they need to succeed in their new home. To donate visit: https://www.welcomeproject.org/eoy_appeal.html

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An all-volunteer non-profit dedicated to rescuing and finding safe, loving homes for local cats and dogs, Kitty Connection will hold a holiday-themed Online Auction from Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10. Auction proceeds will go toward the cost of pre-adoption medical procedures for cats and kittens. Visit https://www.myminiauction.com/kittyconnection for more information.

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In preparation for the cold months ahead, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is in urgent need of winter clothing and apparel to keep their clients warm and safe. Donations of socks, hats, jackets, hand warmers, sweatpants, and more will go a long way towards keeping the most vulnerable clients protected against the unpredictable New England weather. All donations can be dropped off at their Engagement Center located at 1 Davis Square, Somerville between and Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed each day from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. for lunch. Help keep our neighbors safe this winter.

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Call for new Nibble culinary entrepreneurs for Winter 2024 workshop series. Application deadline: December 18. For more information and to fill out an application, go to: https://nibblesomerville.com/culinary-entrepreneurship.

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Help keep our waterways clean in your neighborhood by joining Somerville’s Adopt-a-Drain program. A storm drain clear of leaves, trash or other debris allows water to flow into the catch basin sump and can prevent flooding. When you adopt a drain (or drains), you commit to caring for a local storm drain of your choice by checking on it before and after heavy rain, wind, or snow. Bonus perk: you can also give it a name. Claim your drain at somerville.mysticdrains.org.

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The Center for the Arts at the Armory offers a weekly winter market with 71+ local food vendors with the best locally grown and regionally produced foods, including fresh produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, tamales, pastries, chocolate, skincare products, and more. The market accepts SNAP/EBT and HIP benefits. They also offer a $15 SNAP match to customers each week. Visit the Somerville Winter Farmers Market on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 191 Highland Ave. Through April 6, except 12/30. For a list of weekly events visit www.somwintermarket.org

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