The SMEA Union will be hosting a clothing drive at their stand during the upcoming Jingle Bell Race on Sunday, December 17, in Statue Park to support the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s clients experiencing homelessness this holiday season. SMEA will be collecting new and lightly used winter clothing and apparel that are crucial to keep our most vulnerable neighbors warm.

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Visit Magpie Kids and shop for your little ones while supporting the Kennedy PTA. On Wednesday, December 13, from 2:30 to 8:00 p.m. Magpie Kids will donate 10% of sales to the Kennedy PTA. From 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. they will be serving wine and coffee. MAGPIE kids, 46 White St, Somerville.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great photographer and a great person, Iaritza Menjivar. We wish her a very special day. We would like to send a special birthday wish to lifelong resident of Somerville, Frances Vallone, who will be celebrating her 95th birthday on December 17. We wish her a wonderful day with her family and friends and wish her many more to come. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Heather Balchunas, Kimberly Pedersen, Erin Madden Capasso, Olivia Huang, Glenn DiMasse and Toni Guarinoa 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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See Somerville’s best and brightest holiday light displays now through early January. This year’s Illuminations includes both self-guided tours and a bike tour led by the Somerville Bike Advisory Committee. Celebrate the artistry and creativity of residents and businesses that transform their spaces and yards with lights, ornaments, and shrines of devotion and fantasy. Take self-guided tours using Somerville’s official online Illuminations Map. On December 16, take the Illuminations Bike Tour, starting at Somerville High School main entrance at 5:45 p.m., departure at 6:00 p.m. (rain date December 17). For map and more information visit https://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour.

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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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How about making your holiday a little greener by creating a holiday greeting on video free at the Somerville Media Center? Make yours by scheduling at frontdesk@somervillemedia.org.

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Visit the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. on Saturday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m. (doors at 6:15 p.m.) for the Ciricus Up 2023 Benefit Show. Tickets available here: https://www.betterunite.com/CircusUpcircusupbenefit2023. This year’s benefit will be at the beautiful Arts at the Armory and will feature delicious treats and refreshments, an exciting raffle, and a live performance. They will showcase their community troupe, Kirkos, as well as beloved local circus artists and dancers.

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Enrolling a prekindergarten or kindergarten student? The next PK8 School Open House events are January 9, 2024 and the online enrollment portal opens on January 3, 2024. Watch a video about enrolling your student in prekindergarten or kindergarten. https://youtu.be/HgdlsI8IapM, The video is also available in Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole on the Enrollment Office website, where you can find many more resources: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/enrollment.

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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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Learn about The Growing Center’s Maple Syrup Project, December 13, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave. The project is right around the corner (tapping starts at the end of January, and the boil will happen in early March). The Maple Project is an opportunity for Somerville residents to connect with each other and the natural world by tapping local maple trees, boiling sap, and making delicious maple syrup. If you are interested in helping, join in to learn more about how you can get involved and to help set intentions for this year’s activities with some related writings by professor, botanist, author and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Robin Wall Kimmerer. Share herbal tea from the Center (and maybe even some Maple Project maple syrup). Contact: Connor at crohwer@hds.harvard.ed.

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Small Mart Holiday Market, your favorite fun sized vendor market, is back. The Small Mart marketplace has a sense of humor and wants to turn the idea of the big box store on its head by empowering local businesses to come together to create a space of accessibility for a thoughtful shopper. The vendors have been carefully chosen and their goods are unique and small. Stop by December 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, crystalballroomboston.com.

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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 15, 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 16, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 17, 12:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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COA’s Brown Bag Supplemental Food Program pick up is Thursday, December 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Ralph & Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street. For an application contact Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317.

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Children and caregivers are welcome to come create mini “gingerbread” houses out of graham crackers. Supplies will be provided. Ages 3-10, younger kids please be accompanied by an adult. December 23, 2:00 p.m. Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave. To register visit www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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The Fuel Assistance Program, also known as the Home Energy Assistance Program, helps low-income households pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30. Renters and homeowners in Somerville are eligible to apply if they meet federal income guidelines. Learn more at somervillema.gov/heatingassistance.

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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/historiceventsmanager.

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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 COVID19. Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department is hosting a series of COVID19 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 somervillema.gov/vaccines.

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COA Holiday Luncheon takes place Thursday, December 14, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dilboy Post located at 351 Summer Street. $10 per person. Please reserve your spot by calling Debby Higgins at 6176256600, ext. 2321.

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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 Welcome Project humbly asks 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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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 MondayFriday 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/culinaryentrepreneurship.

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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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