Mayor Jake Wilson, Ward 1 Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, and city staff invite you to a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, June 17, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. to discuss the quick-build safety improvements project on Washington Street between Tufts Street and the city line. Hear an overview of the project, learn more about the opportunities in quick-build projects, and share your questions and feedback. Following the community meeting, they will launch an online survey to gather community input and host pop-ups along Washington Street. Please find more information about the event and other opportunities for engagement at voice.somervillema.gov/eastwashington.

************************************

All city offices are closed. Trash and recycling are delayed by one day for the Juneteenth holiday, Friday, June 19.

************************************

The World Cup is here. Celebrate with fellow fans in Somerville. Visit somervillema.gov/worldcup throughout the tournament to find upcoming matches and where to watch locally.

************************************

Celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to a good guy, Jonathan Buck, who celebrates this week. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Martin Janet, Steven Mirabella, Pindi Singh, Donna M. Gilberti, Gail Chambers, Chris Marshall, Marie Kearns, and Terra Yan, 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.

************************************

Somerville is hosting the SomerCup 2026 community soccer tournament for kids and adults, and all are invited to participate. Games will take place in July at Dilboy Stadium (110 Alewife Brook Parkway). Sign up for yourself or build a team of neighbors, colleagues, and friends. Schedule is as follows: Sunday, July 12, 12 to 5 p.m.: Kindergarten to Grade 4. Monday, July 13, 5 to 10 p.m.: Adults (ages 18 and up). Friday, July 17, 1:30 to 5 p.m.: Grades 5 to 8 and 9 to 12. Players of all skill levels are welcome to participate. Register individually or as a team (8 to 10 players) now through Friday, June 26, at somervillema.gov/worldcup.

************************************

Save the date for the 21st Annual What the Fluff? Festival, Saturday, September 19, 1 – 5 p.m. in Union Square. Are you interested in being a vendor at this year’s Festival? Go here to find out more: unionsquare-main.org/fluffvendors.

************************************

Join Somerville Emergency Management for the upcoming workshop, “Prepare Kids for a Safe Summer.” The workshop will be held at Somerville Public Library’s West Branch (40 College Ave.) on Thursday, June 25, from 4 to 5 p.m. and will cover how to prepare kids for extreme heat, severe weather, and more. This workshop is child-friendly! All are welcome. This event is part of the Preparedness and Resiliency through Neighborhood Engagement and Readiness (PARTNER) Program. Sessions will be held throughout the year, covering different topics to help you build skills and confidence to prepare for emergencies. Learn more at somervillema.gov/em.

************************************

The Somerville Museum will host Patterns from the Collection, a mini bowl painting workshop. June 18, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 1 Westwood Rd. Inspired by patterns found in the Somerville Museum’s collection, participants will paint their own miniature ceramic bowl to hold tiny treasures, keepsakes, or everyday small objects. You’ll look closely at historic designs, decorative borders, floral motifs, and color combinations, then use them as inspiration to create something personal and new. No painting experience is needed. This workshop is a relaxed, hands-on way to explore museum objects, pattern-making, and the joy of creating a small, beautiful object to take home. For more information, visit http://somervillemuseum.org.

************************************

June’s Somerville Arts Council Artist of the Month: Ethan Dussault. Ethan is a recording engineer, producer, musician, and co-owner of New Alliance Studios in Somerville. Inspired by the music and records that shaped his youth, Ethan built a career that blends technical expertise with creative collaboration. Find out more in his interview, here https://somervilleartscouncil.org/aotm/ethan-dussault/

************************************

Ward 2 Slice of the City will take place on Wednesday, June 24, 5 – 7 p.m., Lincoln Park, 290 Washington St. Slice of the city is an early evening, drop-in style meetup at green spaces in each of Somerville’s wards. The mayor, City Council, and city staff will be present to mingle with residents. Join in to celebrate Somerville’s open spaces, engage with the city outside of formal meetings, and of course – enjoy some pizza. For more information and rain locations, visit: https://www.somervillema.gov/slice

************************************

Celebrate the start of summer at the city’s 20th Annual Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Trum Field (541 Broadway). This free event, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, invites families, neighbors, and community members of all ages to enjoy an afternoon of kid-friendly activities, entertainment, and summer fun. This year’s activities include bounce houses, magic shows, face painting, live music, arts and crafts, outdoor games, and more. To learn more, please email ParksRec@somervillema.gov. or call 617-625-6600 ext. 2980.

************************************

The Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue near Davis Square, will present a free Vacation Bible School from Monday, August 10, through Friday, August 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All children, from age 4 up to 5th grade, are welcome to attend. This rainforest-themed program includes Bible stories, music, creative activities, games, and free snacks each day. For more information or to register your child, see www.ILoveSCBC.org/events.

************************************

The Big Gay Dance Party takes place on June 27. Dance the night away in celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride. The theme: Gender Euphoria. Enjoy live music, drag performances, and more. All LGBTQ+ individuals and allies are welcome. This event will be held on Sunday, June 27, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. (rain date: June 28), at Union Square Plaza (90 Union Square). https://somervilleartscouncil.org/.

************************************

Connexion needs your support for a new projector. If you’ve been to an event at Connexion recently, you’ve probably noticed the projectors aren’t doing well. They’re dim, spotty, and there’s a broken chip leaving a permanent blemish right in the middle of every image. After 12 years of faithful service, it’s time for an upgrade. Connexion has received a $7,500 Together For Tomorrow grant, and they need your help to match it. Every dollar you give is doubled. Whether you’ve celebrated a birthday there, grabbed a meal at Come to the Table, or attended a community meeting – help them make Connexion shine for everyone who walks through the doors. https://app.easytithe.com/app/giving/connexion.

************************************

Join Union Square Main Streets and 60+ of your favorite local food producers for the 22nd Annual Union Square Farmers Market. Shop local Saturdays through October 31, except July 4 and September 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. They continue to offer our SNAP matches. Check the market webpage for the latest info and to see which vendors accept SNAP. To get the latest updates about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit www.unionsquaremain.org/2026-season.

************************************

Friendly Caller Program. The Somerville Council on Aging has many wonderful volunteers who are waiting to give you a call. Whether you are looking to make a new friend or would just like a friendly chat to look forward to every week, this program has you covered. Call Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317, to learn more about the program and to sign up.

************************************

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Meal Program. All are welcome. Registration is required. You will need to register on a weekly basis. Each week, on Monday or Tuesday, call the COA Reservation line at 617-625-6600 ext. 2323 to reserve your spot for the following week.

************************************

The Davis Square Market has opened for the 2026 Season. The market will run every Wednesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., through November 25, 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.

************************************

A reminder that yard waste pickup began the week of April 13. Yard waste should be put out with your trash and recycling on your normal pickup day and be in either a paper bag or a trash barrel with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker. Get stickers free of charge at the DPW building (1 Franey Rd.), at the entrance desk at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.), or by emailing 311requests@somervillema.gov.

************************************

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!

************************************

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.