Learn about rodent control at a virtual information session. The city’s Inspectional Services Department and the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs invite community members to attend a virtual workshop about rodents on Thursday, January 9, from 5 to 6 p.m. online via Zoom. Attendees will learn about identifying if rats are on your property, rodent control methods, tips for prevention, and city resources that can help. Interpretation into Spanish will be available. Learn more and attend or get tips now at somervillema.gov/rodentsaway.

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Community members who could not attend the city’s Mid-Term Ceremonies and Addresses can watch them on online on CityTV’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Katie McDaid. We wish her a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to retired high school teacher Marion Joyce. We hope she enjoys her day. Happy birthday to Ken Kotch, a great photographer. We hope he has a nice day. Happy birthday to Phil Forsyth, we wish him the best. Happy Birthday to a great guy, Matt Hoey. We wish him a nice day with his family. Happy birthday to Donna Desrescente. We wish her the very best. We wish all our Facebook friends, such as Linda M. Alves, Rose Amabile, Chris Walsh, Alberta Healey, Janice Burpee, Paul Nunziato and Suzanne Ryan Marks 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 the Athletics Department in honoring the first inductee, Jerry Knight, into the Somerville High School Athletics Ring of Honor. He was chosen for his amazing contributions to the Somerville High School athletic community. Jerry was a standout student athlete who ran track and played basketball for Somerville High School until graduating in 1961. He coached at SHS, then served as Athletic Director until he retired in 2005. Come to the ceremony on Friday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Somerville High School Brune Field House.

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Join the city for an informative Tax Preparation Seminar designed to help individuals and small businesses navigate the complexities of tax season. Led by experienced tax professionals, this seminar will cover essential topics such as tax deductions, credits, filing requirements, and strategies to minimize your tax liability. Whether you are filing for the first time or looking to improve your tax preparation skills, this session will provide valuable insights to ensure you stay compliant and maximize your returns. Saturday, January 11, 10 a.m. 12 p.m., 42 Cross St., Somerville.

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Riverside Early Head Start is hosting a free community baby shower on Wednesday, January 15, at 474 Broadway, Somerville, from 4 to 6 p.m. Pregnant women and parents with infants up to three months old are invited to this unique event where they can form connections with other parents and community service agencies. Attendees will receive important resources, enjoy snacks, develop new parenting skills, and celebrate this transformative time in their lives. Everyone at the baby shower will leave with a goodie bag designed to support newborns. Call 781-516-2922 or text “SHOWER” to register today.

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Vernon Street Studios 50th Anniversary retrospective exhibit has opened at the Nave Gallery. This exhibit features over 50 artists. Celebrate artist both past and present. Exhibit open Saturday and Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m. Closes January 9, 6 – 8 p.m. Nave Gallery, 155 Powerhouse Blvd., Somerville.

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The community is invited to see the creativity and holiday spirit of their neighbors by embarking on a self-guided Illuminations Tour through January 2025. The Illuminations map is available to take a self-guided tour: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour.

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A reminder that Christmas tree pickup is underway in Somerville through Friday, February 14. Trees can be placed curbside on your regular trash day after removing all decorations. Do not put trees in a plastic bag. Constituents should contact 311 (617-666-3311) if their tree has been out for over two weeks.

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Our sincerest condolences to the family of Florence E.(Kennedy) McWatters who passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bob McWatters and the entire family during this sad time. The full obituary can be found here:https://www.dohertyfuneralservice.com/obituary/florence-mcwatters.

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The Somerville Public Library will be hosting an open mic night in the Central Library Auditorium. You’re welcome to bring and read your own poetry or a work by another poet! Registration is encouraged: visit https://tinyurl.com/57xkteyt. Poetry Open Mic Night, January 23, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., 79 Highland Ave.

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Join the Somerville Community Growing Center for their annual Seed Swap. Bring seeds to share and/or take some home to start dreaming up your 2025 growing plans. Seed Swap & Tabling at Somerville Winter Farmers Market, 191 Highland Ave, Saturday, January 18, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. They will have some native seeds harvested at the Center or locally. Join local efforts to encourage more native pollinators in Somerville. Place an order for our High Mowing Organic Seed Sale (check here for online ordering). Learn about ways to get involved this year, including volunteering for the Maple Syrup Project. Contact: lisa@thegrowingcenter.org.

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You are invited to a virtual public meeting to discuss improving water quality in our rivers through the development of an updated CSO Control Plan on Wednesday, January 22, at 6 p.m. This meeting is a collaboration between the City of Somerville, the City of Cambridge, and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Join us for this joint public meeting to learn about the alternatives developed so far to control combined sewer overflows and how the affordability will be evaluated for each entity. Learn more about the project and sign up for the meeting by visiting voice.somervillema.gov/joint-cso-planning/.

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Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are conveniently offered at multiple locations across Somerville, improving access for all residents. Both vaccines are available with no out-of-pocket costs, and we accept those without health insurance. If you do have health insurance, please bring proof of coverage. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Walk-in appointments are limited. January 9, 4:30 – 6 p.m., West Library, 40 College Ave. https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/somerville?site=somerville-public-library-west-branch.

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Join in for a 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 the 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. January 16, 4:30 – 6 p.m., SomerViva Office, 42 Cross St., Somerville.

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Help Connexion gather winter coats for the community. Coats can be delivered to Connexion, located at 149 Broadway in Somerville. Available drop-off times: Weekdays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sundays: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Donations accepted until January 24. The Giveaway will be Saturday January 25, 2 – 5 p.m. Please consider donating New or gently used coats. You can also purchase coats on their Amazon wish list.

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Head to Rococo for Winter Plant Care 101 (+ Plant Swap) and learn the key steps to maintaining happy and thriving indoor plants, especially during the colder months. The workshop will cover the essentials of year-round houseplant care, so you can confidently keep your plants healthy and thriving. Discover helpful tips for caring for your plants during the winter months, including light, watering, humidity, and troubleshooting common issues. Tuesday, January 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Rococo Floral, 1 Bow Markey Way. Post-session, there will be a plant swap raffle, where everyone will get to take home a plant.

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Low-income households may be eligible to receive help with winter heating costs through the Fuel Assistance Program. This program is part of the Home Energy Assistance program (HEAP) and serves residents of Somerville and Cambridge. Participants receive assistance with their heating costs between November 1 and April 30. Learn more about the program, check if you qualify, and apply for assistance today at somerville-ma.gov/heatingassistance.

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The Somerville Arts Council and the Inside-Out Gallery present Vernon Street Studios 50th Anniversary Retrospective Exhibit, curated by Steven Cabral. This showcase was a part of Steven’s community benefit project as a Somerville Arts Council LCC 2024 Visual Arts Fellowship Awardee. 1 Davis Square, Somerville. Learn more about the participating artists here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/insideout/vernonstreet50.

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Somerville High School students are invited to bring their SHS ID to the Somerville YMCA on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. for free. There are free movie nights. On Sundays, students will have access to the basketball and exercise areas (including the weight room). Visit their website to learn more. https://somervilleymca.org/news/somerville-teens-after-hours/. Somerville YMCA asks that students go to their website to register before visiting and this program is for ages 14 to 17 years.

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Community members are invited to welcome the Year of the Snake at the second Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday, January 25. This fun and festive celebration will be held in the Somerville High School cafeteria (81 Highland Ave.) from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Join in for exciting performances, food, and family-friendly activities that highlight the rich traditions of East, Southeast, and South Asia.

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City Alerts are a great way for those who live, work, or own a business in Somerville to receive important city information that affects your neighborhood. City Alerts provide information about emergencies (including snow emergencies), construction and road closures, water service interruptions, community news, and more. To sign up, visit somervillema.gov/alerts and click on the button for your preferred language. Step-by-step sign-up instructions are available at: somervillema.gov/alerts. Having trouble signing up? You can call 3-1-1 (617-666-3311) for assistance.

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With the days growing shorter and temperatures dipping colder, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is in critical need of new or lightly used jackets for their clients currently living outside. If you have any adult sized coats hanging in your closet that you don’t wear, please consider dropping them off at the Somerville Homeless Coalition admin office located at 255 Elm Street, Suite 204 during the hours listed below. Drop Off Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2 – 5 p.m. Each coat donated provides warmth, dignity, and safety for our neighbors having to face the harsh New England winter conditions.

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Feeling fatigued from holiday festivities? Want a quiet activity to do with one or more of your friends and/or relatives? Why not a puzzle? Bring your gently used puzzles to the West Branch library and pick up a new to you puzzle from our supply. No puzzles to drop off? That’s fine too. No registration required.

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If you want to adopt-a-drain in Somerville, perform light maintenance as needed, and give it a creative name. Sign up for the Adopt-a-Drain program today by visiting Somerville.mysticdrains.org.

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City buildings are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20.

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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, (except November 30 and December 28). The Center for the Arts at the Armory is proud to offer 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. More info available on their website: https://www.somwintermarket.org/.

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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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Snow emergency parking is on the even side of the street all winter, unless posted signage says differently. Sign up for alerts or update your information at somervillema.gov/alerts. You can call 311 if you need assistance. Flashing blue lights at major intersections indicate a snow emergency. Snow emergencies are announced on the city’s website, social media feeds, CityTV, and via information shared with local media. For more information on the city’s snow policies, visit somervillema.gov/snow.

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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 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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