Mayor Ballantyne, Somerville’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ), and Somerville Public Schools’ Department of Equity and Excellence invite community members to a panel discussion to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 20, at East Somerville Community School (50 Cross St.) from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. During the event, RSJ will collect donated items to help support our unhoused neighbors which will be delivered to community partners supporting unhoused and displaced residents. Find a full list of personal products, stable foods, and baby supplies needed at somervillema.gov/rsj. City buildings are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.For questions about the MLK Day event or donation drive, please contact rsj@somervillema.gov.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy Birthday to Philip Ercolini, from East Somerville. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Katie Lathasha Harris, we wish her the very best of birthdays as well. To Nancy Huber Coutoumas, who is celebrating this week as well, we wish her the very best. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as James Ribeiro, Leslie Figueira, Rachel Tonello, Rosemary Ardagna and Joseph William Schenkenfelder 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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Riverside Early Head Start is hosting a free community baby shower on Wednesday, January 15, at 474 Broadway, 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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Registration is open now for The Artist’s Way writing workshop. From January 23 to April 24, the group will meet at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. in the Lavender Room on Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. More info and registration available visit https://artsatthearmory.org/.

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On Tuesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m., visit the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. for The Moth: StorySLAM – Happy Accidents. More info and tickets available here: https://artsatthearmory.org/. Happy Accidents: Five-minute stories about positive setbacks, failing upwards, or blessings in disguise. Did you try to cure the common headache but ended up with a multi-million dollar soda company? Call it serendipity or call it a fluke. Get called up on stage and tell your story.

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The Somerville High Trivia Team is competing on WGBH’s High School Quiz Show this year. Congratulations Ella, Calla, Jack, Sam, Nate, Oliver, Coach (and SHS History Teacher) Theodore Blake and the rest of the SHS Team. Only the top 17 trivia teams in the state qualified for the annual tournament. Show your support by cheering them on as part of the studio audience during the show’s recording on January 25, (Tickets https://gbhevents.ticketbud.com/qualifying-match-2-somerville-vs-wild-card-winner-c9ffb18d-04cb7f409149) The next match (if they win) will be recorded on January 26 (Tickets: https://gbhevents.ticketbud.com/quarterfinal-1-tbd-vs-tbd-70d3f02d-55b6b4f68a2b). Somerville’s first match will air on WGBH and Youtube on February 22.

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Are you looking for a way to get involved? The City of Somerville needs board and commission members. Learn more and apply for current openings by visiting somervillema.gov/besomerville.

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On Sunday, January 19, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., cheer on the Somerville Boys and Somerville Girls Basketball teams at the annual Tufts Basketball Classic. Visit the Tufts University website for details about attending: https://communityrelations.tufts.edu/community-programs/tufts-basketball-classic.

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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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If you love art and yoga visit the Museum of Modern Renaissance, 115 College Ave. Join them for their upcoming yoga classes on January 22, 6 – 7:30 p.m. and January 24, 7 – 8:30 a.m. The artwork in the space is breathtaking and the perfect backdrop for an authentic yoga experience. To sign up, visit this page: https://authenticpathyoga.com/renaissance-museum.

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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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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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With the winter cold over the coming days, here are some important tips for staying safe and warm: Dress in layers and cover as much exposed skin as possible when outdoors, minimize time outside, including for pets, check in on family and neighbors, follow all safety precautions if using space heaters. Do not use a stove or oven as a heat source. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are working and have fresh batteries. Learn more about carbon monoxide safety: mass.gov/info-details/carbon-monoxide-co-safety. Prevent frozen water pipes: somervillema.gov/frozenpipes. For more, visit: somervillema.gov/coldweather.

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A painting, Nissenbaum, midday, was included in a show called Visions of Somerville, set to open last weekend. Someone in a ski-mask walked into the show and cut down that painting and that of another artist, then walked out with them. This theft caused the show to be immediately taken down and the opening reception to be cancelled. If you know anything about the theft, or if you happen to see this painting out in the wild, please contact the Somerville Police Department at 617-625-1600.

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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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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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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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