Somerville poet and State Representative Denise Provost will read from her new collection of poetry, Curious Peach, in the Central Library auditorium, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville, on Thursday, August 15, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Brandon Wilson, the Executive Director of Somerville Preservation Commission. We wish her a great birthday. Happy birthday to Donna Cassaro-Sides, we wish her the very best on her birthday. To all the others here in the city who are celebrating their birthdays this week and we missed you here, we wish a happy birthday to you.

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The Friday Night Fight this year is scheduled for Saturday, August 17, at Dilboy, hosted by Somerville Youth Development & Boxing Club, located at 18 Otis Street. The event starts at 5:00 p.m. and will run most likely to 10:00 p.m. $20.00 for adults and $10.00 for teens. Children under 13 free. For more info, visit the Somerville Youth Development & Boxing Club Facebook page.

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The deadline to register to vote in the primary to be held on Tuesday, September 10, is August 21. It’s easy to register, just head up to City Hall, School St. entrance at the Elections Department.

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August 13 was International Left Hander’s Day. So, on behalf of the few left handers here at The Times, and to all those out there in Somerville: Happy Left Hander’s Day! FYI, in the USA today it’s estimated that 13.1% of the population is left handed.

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Attention shoppers and those that have frequented the several food establishments in Ball Square: Letting you know that the square is not that difficult to get to, especially since the bridge has been out. All the businesses would appreciate you still dropping by to shop, eat, or just say “Hi” – it would be very welcome. The Ball Square Café, Sound bites, Kelly’s Dinner – or almost everyone’s favorite, Victor’s Deli – don’t forget Lyndell’s Bakery and, of course, True Grounds are open for business as well. Traffic around the square is good, with plenty of parking. So there’s no excuse for not shopping there.

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Jack Connolly has announced that he will be running for City of Somerville Councilor At-Large in the Tuesday, November 5, election. Jack has served Somerville for a total of 16 terms for over 30 years. Go to his website to learn more about Jack and his candidacy: http://www.connolly4counciloratlarge.com/

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The next Somerville Garden Club meeting will take place Wednesday, August 14, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This month’s topic is Local Mushrooms: How do they grow? This talk will be presented by Elizabeth Almeida, owner and farmer at Fat Moon Mushrooms, a local farm that supplies gourmet, organic mushrooms to the finest restaurants, grocery stores, and farm stands in the Merrimack Valley. Elizabeth will talk about the science and business of producing locally grown mushrooms. The program will include demonstration of mushroom cultivation techniques you can try at home such as tissue culture, grow kits, and log inoculation. This evening is for those who support our local food system, foodies who love mushrooms, and life-long learners who are curious about the science of mushrooms. There will also be our usual plant roundtable and raffle. All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings are held 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Tufts Administration Building (TAB), 167 Holland Street, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Parking is available, and the building is a ten-minute walk from the Davis Square MBTA stop. For additional information please visit www.somervillegardenclub.org.

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The Somerville City Club manager Donny Johnson is looking all the time for new members to join the club, if you think you’d be interested give him a call at 617-623-9340. It’s a great local club for the residents of Somerville, and has been around now for over 40 years, their location on Innerbelt Road. Call and ask for details at 617-623-9340.

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In its 24th year, the Somerville 5K has hit a detour. Major road closures throughout Somerville have necessitated a temporary detour to Arlington. The race will be held Sunday, October 6 at 9:00 a.m. at the back of Arlington High School. This is a major fundraiser for SHC and we can’t afford to “miss a step” in getting everyone out to the race. For more info, visit https://www.somervillehomelesscoalition.org/events/.

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Don’t forget, if you would like to subscribe to receive a digital edition of our paper, go directly online to our website over to the right side and fill out your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper.

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The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection of all fire hydrants on Monday, August 19 and conclude on Saturday, August 31. This procedure requires the flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of the hydrant. The inspection/testing program will take approximately two weeks to complete. As a result of testing, some sediment may be disturbed in the water mains causing rusty water in homes or business establishments. It is suggested that residents and businesses draw sufficient water for drinking and cooking. The rusty water will appear dirty or discolored but does not pose a health hazard. This rusty condition will be a temporary one and should clear in a few hours. Though water will remain safe to drink, it is suggested that residents refrain from washing clothes, especially white fabrics, until the water runs clear. If rust stains do appear on wet laundry, the clothes should not be dried, and residents may call 617-666-3311 to obtain a free bottle of rust remover. Inspections/testing will be conducted Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and if necessary, in the evening, from 6:15 until 8:15 p.m. Annual fire hydrant inspection is a safety measure. Testing is necessary to ensure hydrants will operate properly during an emergency. Anyone with questions regarding this procedure may contact the Somerville Fire Department at 617-623-1700.