Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 7 Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld, and city staff invite community members to attend a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, April 10, at the Dilboy Auxiliary Fields (300 Alewife Brook Pkwy.) at 1:00 p.m. Construction kicks off this spring to transform the Dilboy Auxiliary Fields into a state-of-the-art sports and recreational facility with natural turf fields. Highlights of the work include full reconstruction of the baseball and softball fields, installation of a sand-slit drainage system, new sports lighting, and more.

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The Somerville Democratic City Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. to hold its reorganization, where they will elect Somerville Democratic City Committee officers for two year terms. Please visit this link to sign up and for more information: https://www.somdems.org/april_sdcc_reorganization_meeting.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: We wish a happy birthday to all of our Facebook friends such as Linda Camiel Butler, Patricia Garrity, Warren Goldstein-Gelb, Carmen Dolores Ferreira, Mark Hnl Kaye and Eileen Langille who are all celebrating this week. To all the others we may have missed and, yes, we must admit there are a few more out there. We sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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In recognition of Week of the Young Child, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Public Schools, and Somerville’s early childhood community invite parents, children and educators to enjoy music, pizza, and games at the One Somerville, Every Child celebration on Thursday, April 11, on the Somerville High School concourse (81 Highland Ave.) from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

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The City of Somerville will celebrate the Nepali New Year by raising the National Flag of Nepal at City Hall on Friday, April 12, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., 93 Highland Ave.

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Municipal Scholarships are available for high school seniors. Five $1,000 municipal scholarships are available for high school seniors graduating in 2024 through the City of Somerville Municipal Scholarship Committee. Applicants must be residents of Somerville who have been accepted to an accredited post-secondary institution. To apply visit https://www.somervillema.gov/somerville-municipal-scholarship-2024

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Join the Somerville Museum and the City of Somerville for the annual Patriots’ Day celebration at Foss Park on Monday, April 15, from 10:00 a.m to 11:30 a.m., 49 Fellsway West. Play colonial games and activities, enjoy refreshments, and greet Paul Revere.

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The 2024 street sweeping season has resumed and will continue through December 31. Check signs in your neighborhood for sweeping days. Visit somervillema.gov/sweeping for a full schedule and to sign up for complimentary street sweeping reminders by text, email, or phone. For more information on street sweeping procedures, visit park-somerville.com.

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On Friday, April 26, GLOWBALL will transform the Armory Performance Hall into an immersive Glow-in-the-Dark Rave created by DJ Saucy Lady with hypnotic visuals by Jay Medina, all in support of The Center for Arts at the Armory. Visit their website for more information: https://artsatthearmory.org

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Somerville’s Memorial Day parade will return this year on Sunday, May 26, it will begin at 11:00 a.m. from the Davis Square Rotary (9/11 Memorial Granite Circle Site), and end at Broadway and North Street. The city’s annual remembrance ceremony will occur on Monday, May 27. Sign up to volunteer or participate and march along with local Veterans and first responders by contacting Somerville VETS at 617-625-6600 ext. 4700. Parade participants should register by April 26. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/memorialday.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 7 Councilor Judy Pineda Neufeld, and the City of Somerville Office of Mobility are inviting the community to an open house to discuss proposed new designs for Broadway between Clarendon Avenue and Alewife Brook Parkway. The event will be held on Saturday, April 13, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the West Somerville Neighborhood School (177 Powder House Blvd). Questions and comments can also be submitted by emailing transportation@somervillema.gov and by calling 311 (617-666-3311). Visit somervillema.gov/westbroadway to learn more about the project and stay up to date.

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Blackout poetry kits are available at all three Somerville Public Library locations, starting today, to celebrate April being National Poetry Month. Pick up one of these take-and-make crafts and impress us with your poetry. Visit https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/

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Around Hear will be holding a free concert at the Concert at the Mystic Activity Center in Somerville on April 20, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., 530 Mystic Ave. Somerville. Free, open to the public, listeners of ages are welcome.Refreshments served, write, draw, move while you listen.

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Visit CultureHouse Union Square, 64 Union Square, Somerville, Wednesday – Sunday: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. This week they will be hosting, Neighborhood Doc Night presented by Fableworks Studio, April 11, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Saggy Jams Music and Art Showcase, April 13, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., Botanical Embroidery Workshop, April 15, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Office Hours with Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr., April 14, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. For more information visit https://culturehouse.cc/.

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Lyndell’s Sean Collier Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser will be held April 12 – 15. Raffle tickets are available at $5.00 each. First Prize – 2 Red Sox Tickets Game TBA, Second Prize – $200.00 Lyndell’s Gift Card, Third Prize – $100.00 Lyndell’s Gift Card, Fourth Prize – $50.00 Lyndell’s Gift Card. Lyndell’s, 720 Broadway.

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Interested in history, art, and culture? The Somerville Museum is seeking volunteers to help in a variety of areas, including historic events , museum programming/exhibitions/events, front desk coverage, collection care, grant writing, accessibility, and more. Fill out their volunteer form to indicate which opportunities you’re interested in: https://wkf.ms/49im3cE.

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The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church and the Somerville Garden Club are hosting a plant swap in honor of Earth Day, April 20, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 29 Central St. Stop by and share the plant love. You don’t have to bring a plant/cutting/seeds to take something. While there, take a tour of the newly renovated church. Free coffee and pastries from Lyndell’s Bakery will be served.

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East Somerville Spring Community cleanup will take place on April 27, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Join in and make a difference in the East Somerville community. Meet at the East Branch Library.

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Somerville PorchFest 2024 will take place on Saturday, May 11, (rain date May 12) from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Perhaps you’ve sat on your porch and overheard a neighbor strumming guitar on another porch? Porchfest takes this idea and multiplies it. This is not a festival per se but rather a community event where Somervillians share their love of playing and listening to music … from their porch, driveways, yards, etc. Registration is now open: https://beta.somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest/porchfest2024/.

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The COA is offering free taxi rides to Somerville residents over the age of 60. Rides are available to go to the grocery store, farmer’s market, and pharmacy in Somerville and routine medical appointments in the surrounding communities. To best accommodate the needs of everyone in the city and to maximize the use of our funding, they will be capping the number of rides per week. To ensure the health and welfare of every resident of Somerville, exemptions will be made for chemotherapy and radiation appointments. To find out more information or to schedule your ride, please call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319. All rides must be booked two business days in advance. This program is funded through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funding.

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The city is seeking adult and student volunteers to help with publicity, outreach, and day-of activities at the Colonial Fair on Monday, April 15 (Patriots’ Day). Volunteers are encouraged to dress in Colonial era garb – some clothing can be lent and ‘make your own’ instructions and resources are available. If you are interested in volunteering, visit: https://wkf.ms/49V2W8m. Please be sure to select “Historic Events (across the city).”

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The Welcome Project welcomes back YUM 2024: A Taste of Immigrant City to an in-person event, May 2. After a five-year hiatus, they will be returning to the Arts at the Armory for a night of great food, music, and conversations about how the immigrant community continues to be an asset to Somerville and the U.S. For more information visit. https://www.welcomeproject.org/yum2024.html.

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Are you a member of Somerville High School’s class of 1974? The class of 2024 is looking for participants for this year’s Class Day festivities which will take place on Friday, May 31, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Somerville High School. They are looking for 50 graduates in total from 1974 to participate. The Class of 2024 looks forward to seeing you. Email any questions to Irma Calderon at icalderon@k12.somerville.ma.us.

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Don’t miss the in-person Somerville Public Schools recruitment fair on April 11, 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. at the Kennedy School (5 Cherry Street, Somerville, MA 02144). Bring your resumé, meet district staff, learn more about our district. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/42LJ3hT.

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Somerville Open Studios 2024, 25th Anniversary will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 4–5, from 12:00 to 6:00 pm each day, at artists’ studios and homes throughout Somerville. Over 350 artists in 90 locations citywide will open their studios to the public. Map, artist, and trolley info at https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/. The SOS First Look Show at the Somerville Museum will be open from April 11 through May 11. For more information, map, artist, trolley and other events visit https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/.

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Carnaval will be here soon. If you are a vendor, make sure you submit an application soon, visit. https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/carnaval.

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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 Arts Council also has a call to all musicians for ArtBeat 2024. Calls are now available. The submission deadline is April 15. To learn more visit https://beta.somervilleartscouncil.org/artbeat/. Now in its 38th year ArtBeat is one of their largest festivals of the season. They invite applicants to explore all themes related to “wild.” They seek music that lends itself to a festival environment, typically not classical or purely instrumental jazz for this setting.

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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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