Congratulations to the new Mayor of Somerville, Jake Wilson, the City Councilors, and School Committee members. We congratulate them all on their well-run campaigns and wish them the best as they delve into their roles as Somerville’s latest group of civic leaders.

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Somerville’s Pumpkin Smash takes place this weekend. Bring and smash your Halloween pumpkins (or smash one provided) at this family-friendly event on November 8, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Featuring pumpkin-smashing, other fun composting activities, a bake sale, and more. Let’s divert our pumpkins from the trash and compost them instead. Don’t trash ‘em, smash ‘em! City staff will be at the event to share information about Somerville’s Curbside Food Waste Collection Pilot. Rain date November 9. More information at www.somervillema.gov/events/2025/11/08/pumpkin-smash.

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This Thursday, November 6, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m., the Somerville Public School District will host its monthly food markets at both East Somerville Community School and West Somerville Neighborhood School. They encourage families in need to connect with their school’s family liaison to learn more about markets and to access food support through local resources. The date change was made to accommodate Election Day. Regularly scheduled Tuesday food markets will resume in December.

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Happy birthdays this week: We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Edward Robaczewski, Herc Kalos, Mike Campbell, Betsy Almeida Pesce, Ivy Powers, Peggy Foley Arbeene, Mary Bean Fitzgerald, Victoria Macrokanis, and Donald Gallarelli 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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The Green Line service will be suspended between Park Street and Union Square as well as Medford/Tufts beginning at approximately 8 p.m. through the end of service on Tuesday, November 4, and continuing for the following nine days, November 5 – 13. For more information, please visit www.mbta.com/GreenLine or connect with the T on X @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, Instagram @theMBTA, Threads @thembta, or Tik-Tok @thembta.

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Helpful updates about SNAP from the City of Somerville. Find more information at https://www.somervillema.gov/snap. Here are some locations where you can find free food at Somerville’s Community Fridges can be found at 35 Prospect St., Elizabeth Peabody House, 275-277 Broadway, St. Clements, across from 29 St. Clements Road. Donations are welcome at these locations.

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The city will be hosting meetings for business operators interested in opening a cannabis social consumption establishment in Somerville, and in-person and virtual meetings for the public to learn more and offer feedback about cannabis social consumption license types. The next Cannabis Social Consumption Meeting for Somerville Residents and the Public (In-Person), Wednesday, Thursday, November 6, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. West Somerville Neighborhood School, 177 Powder House Blvd. For more information, including the full list of meetings, visit: www.somervillema.gov/socialconsumption.

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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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The city will honor our local veteran community and all those who have served in the U.S.Military this Veterans Day. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services invite community members to attend a Veterans Day Wreath-Laying ceremony at the George Dilboy VFW Post 529 (351 Summer St.), on Tuesday, November 11. The service will begin at 11 a.m. with a speaking program, and a wreath-laying ceremony will follow. This event is rain or shine. At the conclusion of the ceremony, veterans and their families are invited to have lunch inside the Dilboy VFW. For more information, please contact the Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services by calling 617-625-6600 x4700 or emailing veterans@somervillema.gov.

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The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, will host and manage the 16th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 1 through April 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. In addition to cash, credit, and debit, SNAP / EBT is also accepted at the market. CAA raises funds to be able to provide a $15 match so that SNAP / EBT for every SNAP/EBT customer who spends at least $15 of their SNAP/EBT dollars at the market. The market is also participating in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which allows qualifying customers to receive between $40 – $80 worth of free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from participating HIP vendors. To learn more and for a complete listing of vendors, weekly specials, and live entertainment, please visit www.somwintermarket.org.

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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off takes place Saturday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. DPW, 1 Franey Rd. Drop-off events occur on the second Saturday of each month, April through November. Learn more at www.somervillema.gov/hazardouswaste.

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Visit ROOTED Armory Café for their monthly recurring Café events this November. Upcoming events include: Nova Comedy Collective’s Nebula Night, Friday, November 14, at 8:00 p.m., WYRD Queer Comedy, Saturday, November 15, at 7:00 p.m., Atomic Comedy Improv Night, Thursday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m., GottaBal! Balboa Dance, Sunday, November 23, at 4:00 p.m., Nova Comedy Collective’s Big Bang Standup, Friday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. More info available for each event on their website.

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The federal shutdown has caused millions to lose access to SNAP food assistance, and the Somerville Homeless Coalition is preparing for the impact. They are looking for help for their clients fed by cooking a meal or donating a donor dash or restaurant gift card through their Meal Train link – https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/vgelkg.

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Do you have a future prekindergarten or kindergarten child? Join an in-person or online Enrollment Information Session. Sessions are being held on November 12 and 13. Find more information go to: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/tours.

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Artwork: Creating a visual brand to suit your music. Musicians, learn how artwork enhances and amplifies your music through logos, gig flyers, merch, websites, and more. Get some fresh ideas, tools, tips, and tricks to discover what works for you. November 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Somerville Public Library, 79 Highland Ave. Free, open to the public. RSVP: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/artwork-creating-a-visual-brand-to-suit-your-music/.

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Letters Rewoven, a new community art installation by local artist Anna Fubini, will be on view at Lou Ann David Park, 1060 Broadway, through Spring 2026. Join in for a small inauguration reception on Saturday, November 8, from 12 to 1 p.m. to meet the artist and celebrate the unveiling of this work. Visitors can learn more about Letters Rewoven and explore ways to contribute their own writing at annafubini.com.Visit: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/letters-rewoven.

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Yard Waste Pickup: Collection wraps up the week of December 8. Yard waste should be put out with your trash and recycling on your normal pickup day. Yard waste should be stored in either a paper bag or a trash barrel with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker. Tree branches should be tied into 3 ft. x 3 ft. bundles. Learn more at www.somervillema.gov/yardwaste.

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Sign up for the Somerville Police’s R.A.D. Self Defense Classes. Empower yourself and build community. The Somerville Police Department (SPD) is hosting a free, six-week R.A.D. self-defense class for women. This program is designed to empower through awareness, prevention, and hands-on self-defense techniques. The program consists of six classes to be held on Thursdays starting November 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. To learn more and sign up, please email rad@police.somerville.ma.us.

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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 Somerville Museum presents Discover “Ring It On” at Market Basket in Somerville. A glimpse into modern life through digital video projection. By Barbara Jo, Nathan, Fash, and Olga Mesa. On view until December 6. Visit today (2 – 5 p.m.) or Saturday (12 – 5 p.m). One Westwood Road. For more information, visit www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Generative AI and the Art of Co-Creation by the Somerville Museum takes place on November 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. One Westwood Rd. Explore how humans and AI create together, blending imagination, code, and questions of creativity, bias, and belonging. For more information, visit www.somervillemuseum.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.