The City of Somerville’s Fireworks Celebration will be held tonight, June 25, at Trum Field (inclement weather date is scheduled for Friday, June 27). In collaboration with the Somerville Museum and the Somerville Arts Council, this year’s annual “What to the slave is the 4th of July” reading will take place during the Somerville July 4th fireworks celebration. Join the annual public Reading of Frederick Douglass with event scholar and musician John Hughes. Stay for a conversation afterwards. 5:30– 6:30 p.m. at the corner of Cedar and Broadway. Festivities will continue at 6:30 p.m. and will feature music by DJ Desy and funk band Search Party. Food vendors this year include Italian Wizard, Dos Manos Kitchen, and more. At approximately 9 p.m., Mayor Ballantyne will welcome and address the crowd and then start the countdown to the fireworks show. Please visit www.somervilleartscouncil.org/fireworks for details on the event, road closures, and parking restrictions.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to our former mayor, Joe Curtatone. We hope he has a great birthday. We wish all our Facebook friends, such as Hugo A Volpe, John O’Rourke, Mike Bonanno, Diane Dee-Dee Smith, Mark Anthony Anderson, Dave Bertocchi, and Peter Tsairidie, 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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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the City of Somerville’s Public Space and Urban Forestry Division, and the Urban Forestry Committee invite you to celebrate Arbor Day in Somerville. Enjoy kid-friendly activities, welcome a newly planted tree, get tree planting tips, and more. This year’s event is Thursday, June 26, at West Branch Library (40 College Ave.) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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For the 8th year, Union Square Main Streets and local businesses (https://www.unionsquaremain.org/good-food-for-all ) proudly present Good Food for All, June 21 – June 28, a week-long community campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Union Square Farmers Market’s local SNAP match. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously Food Stamps) recipients often find fresh, local food at farmers markets inaccessible, yet these foods are vital for strong and healthy

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Arts Editor, Doug Holder, for setting up a GoFundMe campaign for The Somerville Times. With the cost of printing going up and a lack of businesses having the resources to advertise, free papers feel the effect. We sincerely thank all who have already contributed and thank any future contributors. If you are interested in helping you please visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-somerville-times. Or if anyone is interested in advertising, please contact Bobbietoner@aol.com. We offer great discounts to try to help out our advertisers be able to advertise. Thank you all so much for your support!

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SomerMovie Fest returns July 10. Movies begin at dusk, and showtimes are approximate. Arrive early to grab a good spot, get comfortable, and enjoy the summer evening with neighbors and friends. The series kicks off with The Wild Robot on Thursday, July 10, at approximately 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Softball Field. For more information, please visit somervillema.gov/moviefest.

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Join Green City Growers for an all-ages gardening workshop. Learn how to plant, maintain, fertilize, and harvest successful crops. This event will be held on Saturday, June 28, at Central Branch Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Future workshop dates are listed online. Learn more and register at https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/.

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The Somerville Foundation (TSF) is hosting a summer music series. Their first event is Thursday, June 26, at Redbones Underbones, 7 – 9 p.m., 55 Chester St. Bring your friends. Enjoy good music, and you can order drinks/BBQ too. Minimum donation for entry is $10; students are free. Donations help TSF continue its activities to support youth, adults, and educators in the community. Read more at www.somerville-foundation.org.

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The Somerville Police Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will partner to host the Somerville gun buyback initiative on Saturday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will take place on Franey Rd. adjacent to the Somerville Department of Public Works yard, 1 Franey Rd. The regional initiative has included several communities in Middlesex County over the past couple of years. The focus is on providing residents with a safe and secure way of removing unwanted firearms from their homes.

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ArtBeat 2025 is coming to Davis Square on Saturday, July 19 (rain date Sunday, July 20). This year’s theme is FREEZE – think snowflakes, frozen moments, and glacial vibes on the hottest day of the year. Stay tuned for artist lineups, performances, and surprises. Find more details in our bio link or right here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/artbeat-freeze/

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On Wednesday, July 9, 6 – 8 p.m., SMC will host an opening reception along with a member mixer at 29 Properzi Way. They invite you to join them for an evening of lively conversation, where new and longtime members alike will gather in the spirit of art and community. Meet their newest Gallery artists, Valerie Prosper Imparato and Flor Delgadillo. Light refreshments will be served.

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Ye Olde Comix Con at Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave, July 26, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join the Somerville Public Library for their fifth annual all-day fan-themed event, with programming from your favorite fandoms, stalls with local artists and vendors, cosplaying, and more. Go here to find out more and register for reminders: https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/comix-con.

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Summer is here, and so is the heat. Visit the city’s website at somervillema.gov/keepcool for heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville are below. Safety tips are also available in multiple languages.

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In partnership with Arts at the Armory, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is thrilled to announce SHC’s Echos Exhibition, a powerful showcase that features artwork created by clients from their Engagement Center. The exhibition will be on display from May 13 to June 30 at the Rooted Armory Café, 191 Highland Ave.

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The Somerville Museum presents Kaleidoscope: Reflecting the Moment through August 23. Kaleidoscope: Reflecting the Moment is an immersive, multi-sensory exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Flor Delgadillo that invites us to reflect on shifting ideas of home, family, neighbors, and community in a rapidly changing world. Blending opportunities for pause and reflection with moments of interaction and creation, Kaleidoscope explores how light transforms space, how sound carries memory, and how collective experience deepens our sense of belonging, connection, and resilience. For more information, visit: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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The City of Somerville is reminding residents that the season of growth is also the season of pollinators. As you shop for plants to fill garden pots or garden beds, you can play a role in feeding and sheltering the insects that keep our global ecosystem functioning. Somerville’s Pollinator Action Plan is your go-to guide for planting a beautiful garden and protecting the creatures that keep our environment blooming. Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, seasoned gardener, or total beginner, the Plan is full of practical steps and inspiring ideas to help create a vital habitat right here in the city. Check out the full Pollinator Action Plan at: www.voice.somervillema.gov/somerville-pollinator-action-plan.

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Celebrate the start of summer and join the City of Somerville Parks and Recreation Department for the annual Family Fun Day event on Saturday, June 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Conway Park (550 Somerville Ave.). In the event of inclement weather, activities will move indoors to Founders Memorial Rink (8 Garden Court). There will be fun for kids of all ages, including bounce houses, face painting, games, music, arts and crafts, and more. To learn more, please visit www.somervillerec.com or call 617-625-6600 ext 2980.

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National Night Out is back again. Celebrate bringing police and community together with fun activities for the whole family. Join in on Tuesday, August 5, at Dilboy Stadium, 110 Alewife Brook Parkway, from 5 to 8 p.m., for a fun night.

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The Ginny Smithers Pool, 5 Cherry St., is officially back open. For more information on spring pool hours for Swim Lessons, Water Exercise, Lap Swim, Family Swim, and Open Swim. Please visit their website, https://somervillema.myrec.com/info/default.aspx, or email aquatics@somervillema.gov.

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The Davis Square Market is open for the 2025 Season. The market will run every Wednesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., from May 21 through November 26, at 44 Day St., Somerville. 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. Visit https://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis.

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The Council On Aging’s Walking Club meets every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Meet at the entrance of Holland Street Center, 167 Holland St. Weather permitting,

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Somerville Animal Control is in need of towels/blankets/linens. They can arrange a porch pickup if you message them on Facebook, or they can be dropped off at the police station at any time.

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You can download a helpful packet of Know Your Rights resources and information in the language of your choice below. Somerville Public Schools has also created a list of resources on the One Somerville Resource page, which can be found here https://somerville.k12.ma.us/district-departments/somerville-family-learning-collaborative-sflc/one-somerville-resources.

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Street sweeping in Somerville resumed on Tuesday, April 1. Somerville’s street cleaning program is an essential public works program that not only keeps our city cleaner but also reduces the risk of flooding and icing due to clogged storm drains. The street sweeping season runs from April 1 until December 31 each year. On designated street sweeping days, vehicles must be moved from the side of the street being swept, as noted on signs posted on each street. The penalty for not complying with street sweeping parking regulations is a $50 fine. Check the signs on the streets where you park and visit www.somervillema.gov/sweeper for more information.

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SCES is teaming up with City Fresh Foods to offer a five-pack of frozen home-delivered meals. This new meal delivery option is ideal for consumers who want the convenience of home-delivered meals but are not able to be at home each weekday to receive deliveries. Meal recipients can choose which weekday they would like to receive the frozen meals, with up to five meals in each bulk delivery. Each meal comes with bread, milk, and a dessert. Current SCES clients who are interested in receiving meals should call their office at 617-628-2601 or contact their case manager for more information.

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Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and under 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. They currently have available: Commodes, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies, and Transport Wheelchairs. For additional information or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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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 pap