Did you know that failure to return your completed Census form could impact how long you stand in line on Election Day? If you did not vote in the September 4 Primary Election and haven’t returned this year’s census form you could now be an inactive voter. To keep your voting status active – and to help avoid those longer lines on November 6 – return your census form to the City by emailing census@somervillema.gov, faxing it to 617-625-5643, or dropping it off at the Elections Desk in the basement of City Hall no later than Wednesday, October 17. Blank forms can be found at www.somervillema.gov/vote by clicking on the ‘Census’ tab.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is launching three new wellness and stress reduction groups for older adults this fall.

The groups are free, and feature a mix of techniques to help people reduce stress and improve mood, explained SCES social worker Cassie Cramer.

The Somerville community is invited to join Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley next week for a dialogue on ‘The State of Latino Education’ in Massachusetts. The Somerville event is the third in a series of town hall meetings being hosted by Commissioner Riley and Latinos for Education, Amplify Latinx, and Greater Boston Latino Network, and will be held at the East Somerville Community School (ESCS) auditorium, 50 Cross St., on Wednesday, October 10, from 6:30-8:30pm.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Board of Aldermen invite residents to the Fall 2018 ResiStat Community Meetings, a twice-yearly effort to share the latest City news, data, and neighborhood updates directly with residents and gather their feedback. ResiStat is both a great way to learn more about what’s happening in your neighborhood and around Somerville and a chance to talk with elected officials, City staff, and neighbors. A social half hour before the meeting and time after the meeting provide an easy opportunity for one-on-one chats. (We serve pizza and kid-friendly, healthy snacks to make it more fun to come and chat.)

On Monday, October 8, City offices will be closed in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Trash and recycling collection will be on a one-day delay all week.

There will be no street sweeping on Monday and parking meters and residential parking passes will not be enforced.

The City of Somerville Elections Department is seeking polling place workers for the Tuesday, November 6, election. The Elections Department has openings for several polling place staff and one experienced warden. To be eligible to work in a polling place you must be a registered Massachusetts voter. For the warden position, you must have served as a warden previously in Somerville or another community. Polling place workers are paid $165 for the day and wardens are paid $225. For more information, please contact the Elections Department at elections@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 4200.

~Photos by Claudia Ferro

A Ball for Squares – the Ball Square edition – took place on Sunday. Attendees joined in Somerville’s bounciest square for a beer garden from The Pub, food from all of Ball Square’s wonderful restaurants, crafts, activities, bands, and more!
This was a great opportunity to celebrate Ball Square in advance of the Broadway bridge closure for GLX construction in late 2018 or early 2019.

Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

As I am recovering from my recent hip surgery, I came up with a silly bunch of questions. As a fan of Facebook, I always see all kinds of various quirky quizzes. I thought it would be fun to list a few questions from those formative, youthful, insane days growing up in Somerville with my fellow Baby Boomers. Feel free to add more!