Join MassDOT this Wednesday, January 31, at 6:00 p.m. for an in-person public information meeting at the Somerville Central Library for the Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements Project. The meeting will feature a presentation delivered by project team members after which attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

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Somerville Positive Forces (SPF) middle and high school youth will present the 2023 Middle School Student Health Survey results in a trivia format this Thursday, February 1. After trivia, stay to discuss strategies for addressing topics such as substance use, mental health, physical violence, physical health, and sexual health in breakout rooms led by local professionals. This virtual event will take place online via Zoom at 6:00 p.m. To learn more and attend, visit bit.ly/surveytrivia24.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy birthday to our good friend and a great guy, former Alderman Bob McWatters. We wish him the very best and hope he enjoys his day Happy birthday to John Arvantis, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Jason Ribeiro. We hope he has a great day this week. Happy birthday to Eleanor Pye. We hope she has a great day. Also celebrating this week, Steve DeCarlo, Director of CityTV. We hope he has a great day as well. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Matt Sullivan, Karen Crane Brisbois, Sarah Martino, Alan Carvalho and Carolyn Dacey Corbett 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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Families are invited to join Leigh Baltzer of Through Me to You Puppetry for an interactive Saturday morning story time. Newton and his puppet friends will read stories and lead us in our favorite songs. This event will take place on Saturday, February 3, at the Somerville Public Library East Branch (115 East Broadway) from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.

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The City of Somerville is hiring polling place workers for the upcoming 2024 Presidential Primary Election. Poll workers must be available on Election Day: Tuesday, March 5. The workday starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends after the polls close at 8:00 p.m., with a two-hour break. Poll workers earn $200 for the day. Interested? Register to attend an information session on Tuesday, February 6, at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) at 2:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. If you cannot make an information session but would like to learn more, please call the Elections Office at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200.

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Somerville teens are invited to the Career Exploration Workshop. Is your teen planning for the future? Somerville’s Youth Services division is hosting a career exploration workshop for teens on Thursday, February 8, at the Somerville Public Library West Branch (40 College Ave.) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Teens will gain insight into their strengths, interests, values, and personality traits to help better understand themselves and potential career options. Register your teen or contact Dan Harris at dharris@somervillema.gov with any questions.

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The City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Office, and Housing Families Inc., opened an overnight warming center for the remainder of the winter 2024 season. The warming center will operate seven nights a week from 6:45 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., on the second floor of the Armory (191 Highland Ave). Guests will have access to free hot and cold meals, water, bathrooms, yoga mats, and space to sleep. Learn more at somervillema.gov/warmingcenter.

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Somerville Public Schools is looking for substitute teachers. Join an amazing team of educators, earn $150/day, and play an important role in our schools. Learn more about job requirements and apply here: https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=1146.

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FabVille Family Night: FabVille invites parents to join their kids on the last Wednesday of every month for open shop hours, where they can participate in guided projects together. This is an excellent way for parents and kids to bond over shared interests, learn new skills, and create unique projects that they can take home. At the end of every get-together, the group gets to choose a new project for the following month’s open shop hours. This way, parents and children can work together on something that interests them and learn new skills while having fun. Wednesday, January 31, at 6:00 p.m., Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. Email contact@fabville.org with any questions. Event will take place in Room B032 (FabVille).

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Call to artists: East Somerville Main Streets is gearing up for Carnaval 2024 and they are looking for your talent to create the perfect poster that captures the essence of the festivities. Fill out the Google form to participate: https://forms.gle/unApjMVwYagLHbRn6

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Visit the ROOTED Armory Café for their Sunday Brunch, 9:00 – 5:00 p.m. with live music 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 191 Highland Ave. Enjoy French toast, pancakes, frittata, pulled pork tacos, mimosas, espresso drinks and much more.

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The Somerville Community Baptist Church will be holding a free Gospel Concert, Saturday, February 17, 6:30 p.m. at Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue, Somerville (2 blocks from Davis Square). The concert will feature the Community Gospel Choir and SCBC Gospel-Jazz Band. With special guests Ballet Africa Teranga. For more information, see www.ILoveSCBC.org.

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Visit the Somerville Museum for the ongoing Museo Inmigrante: Stories of Resilience from Somerville’s Padres Latinos exhibit. A Community Collaboration Project with Somerville’s Padres Latinos. Padres Latinos is a mutual aid group of more than 230 Spanish and Portuguese-speaking parents with children in the Somerville Public Schools (SPS). The exhibit runs through March 23. Visit the museum website for more information and hours www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Be sure to cast your ballot for The Somerville Times’ Best of Somerville 2023. Categories are listed on our ballot (see page 9), and If you don’t see your favorite category there, you can simply add it to the list. To cast your vote, email us at thebestofsomerville@yahoo.com. You have until February 2 to vote for your favorites in each category. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 7.

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Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and from the direction of Mayor Ballantyne, the Council on Aging is now able to provide Durable Medical Equipment at no cost to Somerville residents. Residents with a documented need for medical equipment must be over the age of 60, or have a permanent disability, and must be otherwise unable to afford or access needed medical equipment. They currently have available: Commodes, Bath Chairs, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies and Transport Wheelchairs (wheelchairs are intended for transport and are not self-propelling or self-breaking). For additional information, or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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The Somerville Homeless Coalition announced the return of their annual Spring Into Action event to be held on Thursday, March 28, at the Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square. Join them for an evening packed with live music, local Somerville grub, and get the opportunity to meet the SHC team as they share impactful updates about our work and discuss our new transformative vision for the future. To learn more and buy tickets please see the link below. Tickets and Information: bit.ly/SIA24.

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CultureHouse at 64 Union Square is now open, visit their newest pop-up and enjoy coffee and tea, games and comfy seating, and a line-up of exciting events happening. Working alongside the Union Square Neighborhood Council, CultureHouse has transformed a vacant storefront into a community-driven pop-up to test ideas for a future community center. This free-to-enter intergenerational pop-up will be a public space pilot, a living room for the community, a resource center, and an arts, culture, and business incubator. They will be there until June 9, Monday–Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday–Sunday: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. For more information, visit: https://culturehouse.cc/projects/union-square/.

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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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Join the Somerville Council on Aging’s Friendly Caller Program. They have many wonderful volunteers who are waiting to give you a call. Whether you are looking to make a new friend or would just like a friendly chat to look forward to every week, this program has you covered. Call Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317 to learn more about the program and to sign up.

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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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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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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. For a list of weekly events visit www.somwintermarket.org.

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