Groundwork Somerville’s Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday, October 4, 12 – 4 p.m. at South Street Farm, 138 South Street. This Harvest Festival, they are celebrating Groundwork Somerville’s 25th Anniversary of its founding. Activities for the day include: Hands-on stations for all ages, interactive community art project, live music from local artists, free food from local restaurants, and informational stations. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 5, from 12 to 4 p.m.)

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Community Get Together – Chocomingle Edition will take place on October 2, 6 p.m., Edward L. Leathers Community Park,104 Walnut Street. A relaxed and fun afternoon filled with music, games, ice cones or “fres-co” and most importantly, a goal-setting activity where youth can reflect and share their intentions for the school year. This event will be a great opportunity to celebrate diversity, foster connection, and create a fun and inclusive space for young people to gather, learn, and engage. It’s a great chance for community members, especially youth, to unwind, meet new friends, and enjoy a welcoming, multicultural atmosphere.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: We wish Sal Mingace a very happy birthday. We wish him well and hope he enjoys his day. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Rick Gaetano, Terri Monsalve, Kevin Driscoll, AnnMarie Carey-Browne, and Diane Kerins Conneely a 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, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, Ward 1 Councilor Matt McLaughlin, and city staff invite you to an open house on Saturday, October 4, at Ed Leathers Park (between Skilton Ave. and Walnut St.) from noon to 2 p.m. The City of Somerville is working to make the western segment of Pearl Street between McGrath Highway and Medford Street safer and more accessible by redesigning and reconstructing the street. Community members can talk directly to staff while exploring different stations for various aspects of the design. Learn more or visit somervillema.gov/westernpearl for more information.

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Tufts Community Day takes place on Sunday, October 5, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Academic Quad at Tufts University. Tufts Community Day is an annual Tufts tradition, celebrating arts, innovation, and community. Campus neighbors are invited to the Medford/Somerville campus, along with community partners, students, staff, and faculty, for a day of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, and free food.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Police Chief Shumeane Benford, and the Somerville Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invite community members to a neighborhood meeting on Monday, October 6, to discuss public safety and homelessness in the Davis Square/Seven Hills area. All members of the community, including individuals and businesses, are invited to attend. 6 – 7:30 p.m., Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave., in the Sanctuary. This meeting will also be livestreamed on City YouTube at youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Submit questions in advance: For people watching the livestream, questions may be submitted in advance to davissafetymeeting@somervillema.gov. Please submit by Friday, October 3.

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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, 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 help our advertisers be able to advertise. Thank you all so much for your support!

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The Burren in Davis Square will be holding a fundraiser for the Somerville Museum on Saturday, October 4, in honor of their 100th Anniversary fundraising effort. The event will feature the music of the Irish Miami Showband, and legendary Tavern Talk presenter, Dan Breen, will fill in the story. $55 gets you in to enjoy a complimentary buffet along with the program. Find tickets at Burren.com.

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We have a new tab on our website, “Campaign Releases.” Go there to see the latest endorsements and campaign info for this year’s election candidates.

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The Somerville Public Library is asking for community feedback to help shape its next five-year strategic plan. Residents, workers, and visitors are invited to share their ideas for how the Library can best develop its collections, programs, services, and spaces. The survey is open through Wednesday, October 15, takes about five minutes to complete, and is voluntary and anonymous. Participants can take the survey online at
tinyurl.com/58vmk4vw or complete a paper copy at any Somerville Public Library location. For more information about Somerville Public Library programs and services, visit www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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Community members are invited to join Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the City Council, and the School Committee at the 2025 City Hall Community Meetings. These meetings are held every fall in each of Somerville’s seven wards to share the latest city and neighborhood updates – and more – with community members. The in-person meetings kick off with a social half-hour with free pizza and healthy kid-friendly snacks, where you can chat one-on-one with elected officials, including the mayor, your Ward and At-Large City Councilors, and School Committee members, as well as staff, about issues important to you. The next meetings will be on Tuesday, October 7, Ward 5, Kennedy School Café, and on Wednesday, October 8, Ward 6, Somerville Community Baptist Church. All meetings start at 6 p.m.

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Halloween Kids Costume Swap will be held on Sunday, October 5, at the Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 1 to 4 p.m. Get in the spooky spirit and join in for a free kids Halloween costume swap. Families interested in donating can drop off gently used costumes now through October 2 in drop boxes at all three library locations.

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Do you live in Somerville? Have you graduated from high school yet? Scrapheap Showdown is coming. Time to get your teams together. Get two more friends and register your team. Choose a crazy name for the team and then all come on October 19 to Breed Memorial Hall at Tufts University, 51 Winthrop St, Medford.

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Child Find Screenings: Free for Somerville residents ages 3–5 years, Thursday, October 9, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen Street. Somerville Public Schools is offering free preschool and kindergarten screenings for young children residing in Somerville who are not enrolled in our schools. Screenings are a way to assess children’s developmental progress and identify children who may need further evaluation for special education services. There are two additional screening dates on January 13, 2026, and March 26, 2026.

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Somerville’s biggest spooky party is back with SomerStreets: Monster Mash. Sunday, October 19, from 2 to 6  p.m. (Severe weather date, October 26) in Union Square. Get ready for a spooktacular afternoon of activities, food, music, and more: www.somervilleartscouncil.org/events/monster-mash

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Free Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Visit somervillema.gov/vaccinations to find Flu and COVID vaccine clinics this year and register for your appointment. More clinics will be added throughout the season.

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This fall, the Somerville Museum is offering programs for kids, young and old, on select Friday and Saturday mornings. The museum is also starting its next exhibition, Barcode Journeys with Barbara Jo. Barcode Journeys Zine Workshop, for the young and young at heart, Saturday, October 4, 11 a.m., 1 Westwood Rd. Visit www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Saturday, October 11. Next monthly Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day at DPW (1 Franey Rd., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

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Are you an artist or craftsmaker who creates objects for sale? You can rent a table to display and sell your wares on Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holiday Crafts Fair at the Somerville Community Baptist Church in Davis Square. The price for renting a table is $35. The Fair will also feature food and fun activities for all ages. To rent a table, please make out your check for $35 to Somerville Community Baptist Church, and mail it along with your name and contact information (address, phone, email) to SCBC, 31 College Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144. For more information about the Fair, contact Marion Annacone, marion.annacone@gmail.com.

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Dilboy Post will be holding its third Annual Comedy Fundraiser, Elaine Pelino & Friends, hosted by John Harrington. The event will be held on November 9, 2 – 5 p.m., 351 Summer St. For tickets ($25) and more information: www.dilboyvfw529.com, dilboy.post@comcast.net, 617-666-8794.

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Somerville Media Center and The Somerville Beacon will host candidate debates for Somerville’s City Councilor At Large and Mayoral races on Monday, October 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square. Admission is free and doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. for drinks and refreshments from the cash bar (ID required for alcohol). No signs, banners, backpacks, or oversized bags will be permitted. The At Large debate, 6 – 7 p.m., will be moderated by Keri Rodrigues, founder and president of the National Parents Union. The Mayoral debate, 7:30-8:30 p.m., will be moderated by Ben Orenstein, founder of The Somerville Beacon.

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Registrations are now open for Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services’ fall Savvy Caregiver course. Savvy Caregiver is an evidence-based training program designed to help family caregivers best support a loved one with dementia and care for themselves. The course has been proven to decrease caregiver distress, burden, and depression, while increasing a caregiver’s sense of competence and confidence in their care role. Participation is free. Savvy Caregiver will be held virtually via Zoom each Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m., starting October 1 and concluding on November 12. To register, call 617-628-2601 ext. 3153 or email katherine.bonilla@eldercare.org.

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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. 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 paper.