Community members are invited to celebrate the renovation of Henry Hansen Park honoring Sgt. Henry O. “Hank” Hansen, a Magoun Square resident killed in action just one week after participating in the first flag-raising on Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi. The new park features include a memorial wall and plaques honoring Sgt. Hansen and main branches of the armed services, a seating wall, water bottle filler, native landscape plantings, and more. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Henry Hansen Park, located at 70 Partridge Ave. at the corner of Medford St. and Partridge Ave. Learn more about the park and the ribbon cutting.

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Free Flu Vaccination Clinic and an Info Session on how to obtain a driver’s license in MA, hosted by the Somerville Health and Human Services Department, SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs, and ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Massachusetts. To schedule an appointment in advance: https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/somerville?site=soia-office-of-immigrant-affairs. Wednesday, November 6, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., SomerViva Office, 42 Cross St., Somerville, MA.

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Happy birthdays this week: We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Edward Robaczewski, Herc Kalos, Betsy Almeida Pesce, Ivy Powers, Peggy Foley Arbeene, Mary Bean Fitzgerald, Victoria Macrokanis, Donald Gallarelli, Elena Clamen and Mark AuBuchon 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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CAAS’s Somerville Movement Meeting: We keep us safe: no matter who the president is. Join your neighbors to build community and power. Register here: bit.ly/Somerville-Renters, Saturday, November 9, at 10 a.m., East Somerville (Register for location). Masks will be mandatory when not eating or drinking. Registration will close at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 7. Space is limited. Childcare and breakfast will be provided.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services are inviting the Somerville community to honor the service of all those who have served in U.S. Military this Veterans Day. On Monday, November 11, community members are invited to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the George Dilboy VFW Post 529 (351 Summer St.). The service will begin at 11 a.m. with a speaking program. The event will happen rain or shine. Following the ceremony, veterans and their families are invited to have lunch at the Dilboy Post. For more information, please contact the Veterans’ Services office at 617-625-6600 ext. 4700. City buildings will be closed Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

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The Somerville Musuem will be holding their annual Veteran’s Day Commemoration, Monday, November 11, 2:30 – 3 p.m., Milk Row Cemetery, 239 Somerville Ave. Join the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Mass, HM 10th Regiment of Foot and 54th Massachuetts Volunteer Infantry as they honor our veterans at the 1863 Civil War Monument and the gravesite of an unknown British Soldier.

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Visit the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, this weekend for the Introduction to Plant and Wildlife Monitoring for Conservation with Earthwise Aware, Saturday, November 9, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Join Claire and Earthwise Aware (EwA) citizen scientists and learn how to observe and record the plants, insects, and animals of the Growing Center, and about EwA’s arthropod (insect and spider) and phenology studies. Contact: Claire O’Neill at claire.oneill@earthwiseaware.org. Qi Gong with Michael Saturday, November 9, 11 – 12 p.m. or 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Come to the Center to experience the mindful movements of Qi Gong with a local practitioner who has been teaching for many years. Contact: Michael at michaelsdream@gmail.com

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The Somerville Council on Aging will be hosting Rental Registry Presentation and Feedback Session on Tuesday, November 12, at 11:30 a.m. at the Ralph and Jenny Center located at 9 New Washington Street. Garrett Anderson from the Office of Sustainability and Environment will give a short presentation on a proposed rental registry ordinance where landlords would be required annually on their rental properties disclosing information about the buildings and energy characteristics of the units for prospective tenants. He will be available after the presentation to receive comments and feedback from the community. He will also be available for office hours at the Holland Street Center on November 8 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to talk efficiency projects in people’s homes as well as the rental registry.

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Show your Highlanders Unified Basketball team support on Thursday, November 7, as they continue their incredible season. It’s been a fantastic second year for the team, an undefeated 3-0 record so far. The Unified Basketball team is made up of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, who train and compete together while representing the high school. The team allows students who might typically be excluded from participating in sports to enjoy competing on a team. Learn more about Unified Basketball at the organization website or watch a video about Unified Sports: https://vimeo.com/369963599. https://miaa.net/unified-basketball/.

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The 10th Annual Holiday Stroll will take place on Saturday, December 7, from 12 to 6 p.m. Keep an eye out for more information including festive offerings from your favorite businesses and ways to earn cash prizes by supporting local.

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Are you a Somerville business or property owner interested in brightening up your building’s exterior? The Somerville Arts Council is looking for partners who would like to host a vibrant mural on their property. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with local artists and enhance the character of our community through stunning public art. If you’re interested in learning more about how they can work together to make your building a canvas for creativity, please reach out directly to discuss potential partnerships and project possibilities. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/resources/calls.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, and city staff invite you to an open house to learn more about flood relief and water quality improvement efforts planned for Winter Hill, Ten Hills, and the surrounding neighborhood. Wednesday, November 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mystic Activity Center (530 Mystic Avenue). The open house will feature multiple stations describing different aspects of the project. Drop-in anytime during the event to review the preliminary design, talk with project team members, ask questions, and share your feedback. Following the event, information about the preliminary design will also be available on the project website at somervillema.gov/mysticoutfall.

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The holidays are just around the corner which means the Somerville Homeless Coalation’s Holiday Gift Drive is now in full swing. This time of year can be especially difficult for their clients and their families which is why they host this drive each year to help spread the joy of the holidays to our less fortunate neighbors. At the moment, they still have 114 clients without a matched sponsor which is why they are asking for your help to make sure that everyone gets to be a part of this year’s festivities. If you are interested in providing a gift for a client(s) contact 617-623-6111.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) invite residents to participate in a series of public meetings on the Central Somerville Avenue project. The series of hybrid meetings, hosted by the Planning, Preservation and Zoning (PPZ) division, is part of efforts to preserve and grow the artist, maker and climatetech industries. OSPCD is proposing a Five Point Plan, including clarifying zoning language, creating a research nd development district, updating the SomerVision map, creating an Urban Design Framework, and writing a zoning overlay district. For future meetings and project information, please visit voice.somervillema.gov/cen-som-ave.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Sustainability are announcing the renewal of the Somerville Community Choice Electricity (Somerville CCE) program, with new, stable prices from December 2024 through January 2028. Visiting cce.somervillema.gov.

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Visit the Somerville Bike Kitchen, a volunteer-run bicycle repair cooperative, hosting open-shop nights at The Dojo (15 Properzi Way, Somerville). Come maintain your bike or learn more about cycling. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. join Parkour Generations Boston for Teen Jams at The Dojo. 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.

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East Somerville Main Streets is calling for vendors to participate in their Cozy Holiday Market on December 6 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot of Deano’s Pasta. If you’re interested, please fill out the form https://forms.gle/mJppkmhXAYj44peRA.

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The Somerville Winter Farmers Market is back at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. on Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. from November 2 to April 12. More info available on their website: https://www.somwintermarket.org/.

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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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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.Looking for snow shoveling services? Apply online or contact Debby Higgins at dhiggins@somervillema.gov.

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Somerville Public Schools is hiring substitute teachers for all of their PK-12 schools. For more information or to apply visit https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire.

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Medical Equipment Program: Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and from the direction of Mayor Ballantyne, the Council on Aging can 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. We currently have available: Commodes, 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 Council on Aging Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Dates at the Holland St. Senior Center, 167 Holland St. Senior Only Clinics, please register by calling the COA directly at 617-625-6600, ext. 2300. For clinics open to the general public, please register via the City of Somerville website. November 18 (ages 19+) noon – 2:00 p.m., December 12 (ages 19+) 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are conveniently offered at multiple locations across Somerville, improving access for all residents. If you do have health insurance, please bring proof of coverage. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Walk-in appointments are limited.

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