Join the city’s Mobility Division for a pop-up event: try out BlueBikes (e-bikes too), learn about current mobility projects in the city, and register for annual and income-eligible BlueBikes memberships. This event will be held on Wednesday, June 26, on the Community Path at Lowell St. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For any questions, email transportation@somervillema.gov.

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Join the Somerville Police COHR Unit and the Somerville District Court Office of Probation to learn more about initiatives to divert individuals from the Criminal Justice System. Wednesday, June 26, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Public Safety Building, 220 Washington St. Parking is available at the Target Parking lot at 180 Somerville Ave. Please contact COHR Director Patty Contente if you are interested in attending and need a parking placard, have any questions or need further information: 617-625-6600 ext. 7281.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: This week a lot of local celebrities are celebrating their birthdays. Happy birthday to our former mayor, Joe Curtatone. We hope he has a great birthday for himself. We wish Devon Moos of East Somerville a very happy birthday. Happy Birthday to our friend, Len Ferrari, of Century 21 North East, who is also celebrating this week. We wish him the best. Happy birthday, Lenny. Also this week, happy birthday to Andy Puglia. We wish Andy a very happy birthday. We wish all our Facebook friends, such as Diane Dee-Dee Smith, Mark Anthony Anderson, Dave Bertocchi, Peter Tsairidie, Leslie Phelan, Kristina Ann, John Correia and Suzan Baltozer 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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Join Somerville’s annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Trum Field (541 Broadway) on Thursday, June 27 (rain date Friday, June 28). The celebration begins at 6:00 p.m. and will include food by Italian Wizard and Dos Manos Kitchen along with music by DJ Philip Tan and funk band Search Party. Somerville High School graduate Britney Flores will sing the Star-Spangled Banner to lead into the fireworks countdown by Mayor Ballantyne. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:00 p.m. For more information on the Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration, please call 311 (617-666-3311 outside Somerville), or visit somervillema.gov.

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RSJ is partnering with the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Bow Market, and the Somerville Museum to host the annual reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” The reading and discussion will take place on Thursday, June 27, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. upstairs at Bow Market (1 Bow Mkt. Wy.). Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Interested community members are encouraged to RSVP online as space at the venue is limited. www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Teresa Vincente, Administrative Assistant for the City of Somerville, is retiring this week after a long and distinguished career. Teresa has dedicated 30 years to the department and community. Wishing her the best for this exciting new phase of her life, she deserves it.

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Bubble Blast: Kids park meet-up, Sunday, June 28, 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Do you have a little kid who likes bubbles? Are you a kid at heart who also loves bubbles? BYOB (bring your own bubble blaster) to Hodgkins Curtain Park, 121 Holland St, as they try to make a billion bubbles. This informal family event will feature a giant bubble station, bubble machines, lots of bubble wands, and a sidewalk chalk station.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council are inviting the community to NibbleFest, a celebration of Nibble Kitchen’s five-year anniversary at Bow Market, on Sunday, June 30, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bow Market (entrance by 345 Somerville Ave). To celebrate five fantastic years, Nibble Kitchen will host pop-ups from some of their favorite Chefs-in-Residence, past and present. In addition to delicious food, there will be live music courtesy of Juan Carlos Ruiz, and activities including the Test Your Nose! game, and face painting.

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All city offices are closed on Independence Day, July 4. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day.

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CultureHouse has its next pop-up space. They have been working with the City of Somerville to transform the vacant lot in Gilman Square (also known as the Homan’s lot) into a three-month outdoor community space. Gilman Park is a gathering space for local organizations, a hangout space for residents, and an opportunity for development for local businesses, artists, and creatives. The park will be open all summer from June 15 to September 9. Join in for lawn games, vendor markets, beer gardens, food, workshops and music performances. Keep an eye on the website for more information https://culturehouse.cc/projects/gilman-park/. CultureHouse is looking for artists, creatives, non-profit organizations, and local businesses to participate in collaborative programming at Gilman Park. Interested groups should fill out the Program Interest Form. For questions, email rishika@culturehouse.cc. Small Mart is hosting bi-weekly vendor markets all summer at Gilman Park. If you are interested in joining the market, please visit https://culturehouse.cc/projects/gilman-park/.

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Mark your calendars for August 10 for the Somerville Arts Council’s annual citywide Yart Sale. Explore an entire city’s worth of front yards, driveways, and porches transformed into mini art galleries and bustling markets. Here’s what you can expect: paintings, photography, handmade objects, band merch, art supplies, art tools, collectible items, plants, art supplies, frames, vintage clothes, etc. Your purchases help support the vibrant local art community. This citywide event is fun for all ages, we highly encourage you to bring your friends and family. Interested in registering as an art vendor? Check out https://somervilleartscouncil.org/yartsale.

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Share your Growing Center Memories. Do you have any photos from your experiences over the years at the Growing Center, whether from 1994 or last week? Or maybe some images of plants that you got from the Center that flourished? Or know someone who was around during some of the early years who may have photos? You can email them in jpeg format to 30th@thegrowingcenter.org Or visit their website to other options www.thegrowingcenter.org

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Historic Somerville stickers are available. Collect all of the Historic Somerville Stickers. You can pick them up at local businesses, including Mudflat in East Somerville, 81 Broadway.

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The Somerville Arts Council is calling all local arts vendors, volunteers, businesses and community organizations for SomerStreets events. For information on how to table please visit: somervilleartscouncil.org/somerstreets.

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Families are invited to join in as the East Branch kicks off their Children’s Summer Reading Program with Mr. Vinny’s Shadow Puppets. Mr. Vinny (of the acclaimed Toe Jam Puppet Band) will host an evening of magical storytelling told through shadows. Best for ages 5+ and families. June 27, East Branch Library, 115 Broadway. The East Branch is a one-room library. This event will be in the children’s area and library lights will be dimmed during the performance. For more info, contact Meghan: mforsell@somervillema.gov.

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Docent tours take place from May through October at three historic sites in Somerville, Milk Row Cemetery (Somerville Avenue), Prospect Hill Tower (above Union Square), and Old Powder House (Nathan Tufts Park), they are open to the public on certain days and evenings. Inclement weather cancels any event. For full schedule and more information on the Docent Program: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/docent-program.

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Somerville Recreation is gearing up for a summer packed with weekly programming for local teens. There’s something for everyone – programs include pick-up soccer, volleyball and basketball clinics, pick-up flag football, open gym, and Friday crafting at the Powderhouse. Programming begins July 1, is free, and open to Somerville teen ages 12-18. The whole family can join the fun during scheduled events like National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6. Get the full Teen Summer Guide to sign up for a specific program or learn more about all programs and events https://somervillema.myrec.com/info/default.aspx.

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Beginning in July, public charging stations will charge 25 cents per kilowatt-hour. Fees will be used to directly support the city’s electric vehicle programs and expand our station network. For more information, reach out to SustainaVille.ma or visit somervillema.gov/electric-vehicles.

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Each month, The Dojo at Somernova hosts Gaming is Not a Crime: YouthStream. Come build community through playing your favorite games. The event features cash prizes and pizza and starts at 6:00 p.m. Hosted at The Dojo at Somernova, 15 Properzi Way, Somerville. Youthstream, June 26: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Somerville Bike Kitchen, a volunteer-run bicycle repair cooperative, hosts open-shop nights at The Dojo at Somernova. Come maintain your bike or learn more about cycling. Upcoming Bike Kitchens: June 27, July 2. Every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., come join Parkour Generations Boston for Teen Jams at The Dojo at Somernova. This is a flexible time for teen community members to use the pop-up training space at The Dojo @ Somernova and connect with fellow community members in the process. Upcoming Teen Jams: June 27.

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For 39 years, children, teens and adults have learned circus skills with the OPENAIR Circus of Greater Somerville. People of any age can learn new skills and join the circus community on Tuesday and Wednesday late afternoons at Prospect Hill and Powder House Park. Classes will be 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Prospect Hill and Wednesdays at Powderhouse Park. Classes started on June 25 and will end July 25, with rehearsals the week of July 29 and performances the first weekend of August. Equipment loans are also free so students can practice at home. Some items require measurements, so be sure to register in time to get your equipment. Register soon, or invite friends to register for free. A donation of $30 per child, $50 per family is suggested but not required and includes as many classes as the student wants. View the schedule below and register at www.openaircircus.org.

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Somerville Winter Farmers Market is hiring an Assistant Manager for the Somerville Winter Farmers Market 2024-25 season. This is a part-time position, and applications close on July 8. If you are interested in local food systems and community engagement, apply today. Send a resume and cover letter to swfm@artsatthearmory.org.

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The Somerville Public Library is encouraging our community to connect with nature and our collections. While previous adult summer reading challenges at the SPL have been bingo cards, this year, they are offering a raffle. With challenges like “Read outside,” and “Read a book about a particular animal,” you can live out this year’s theme through the library. Additionally, you can check out our curated book displays at the Central Library, or our booklists online for some inspiration. For more information visit https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/.

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Help stop black swallow-wort this summer. Have you seen this invasive weed in your area? Black swallow-wort (BSW) is an aggressive weed that’s harmful to native plants, butterflies, birds, and more. BSW has shiny green leaves that come in pairs, thin green pods, and small dark purple flowers that grow in clusters. BSW can often be found around fences and shrubs in late May and early June. If you see BSW, dig it up by the root and seal it in a trash bag.

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As the weather changes, essential items such as sunscreen, bug spray, and rain ponchos will become vital to keep the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s most vulnerable clients safe and healthy while they’re out in the unpredictable New England weather. Donations can be made through their Amazon wish list or by submitting a donation inquiry. For more in-formation visit Client Needs: https://bit.ly/SHClientNeeds.

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Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program began on Thursday, May 16, and continues through late October. This program consists of flushing pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality. Flushing will take place Mondays and Thursdays between 6:00 p.m. and midnight to minimize potential disruptions to water service. Temporary drops in water pressure and/or discolored water can occur. In these cases, though the water may be discolored, it is safe to drink. Until the water runs clear, it is advisable to avoid washing laundry, especially white fabrics. Learn more at: somerville-ma.gov/hydrantflushing.

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Attention all artists, makers, and more in the greater Somerville area! Somerville Public Library’s Comix Con returns this July and they are looking for local artists to sell their pins, prints, unique art objects and more. They are celebrating fandoms of all types and want you to be a part of their Con. Please fill out this form to be considered for a spot in their Artists Alley: ti-nyurl.com/splccvapp.

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If you happen to visit the Stop & Shop at 105 Alewife Brook Parkway in Somerville, make sure to grab a “Give Back” reusable community bag to help support the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Now through the end of June, proceeds for each bag purchased at this store will be donated to SHC to support the most vulnerable members in our community.

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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Saturday, July 13: Next monthly Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day at DPW (1 Franey Rd., 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

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A reminder that yard waste pickup has begun. Yard waste should be put out with your trash and recycling on your normal pickup day and be in either a paper bag or a trash barrel with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker. Get stickers free of charge at the DPW Building (1 Franey Rd.), at the entrance desk at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.), or by emailing 311updates@somervillema.gov.

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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 parksomerville.com.

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Join Union Square Main Streets and 50+ of your favorite local food producers for the 20th Annual Union Square Farmers Market, 66-70 Union Square. Shop local on Saturdays through October 26, except September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. The market provides visitors and residents with top-quality, fresh, and local produce at fair prices; encourages active lifestyle values; educates consumers about farming and locally sourced foods; and gives customers opportunities to interact directly with farmers. For more information about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit unionsquaremain.org/2024-fmseason. SNAP customers get $1 for $1 match up to $15. See the Market Manager tent for more info.

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Davis Square Farmers Market is now open. Every Wednesday through November 22, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. visit the Davis Square Farmers Market, across from American Flatbread at 44 Day St. Visit: www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis. This long-running market features over two dozen Massachusetts farmers and food producers offering a vibrant selection of delicious produce, protein, baked goods, ready-to-eat meals, alongside a host of other locally made products. The market accepts cash, credit/debit cards, WIC/Senior coupons, and EBT cards and offers a weekly $15 SNAP Match.

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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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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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