PICK UP! Somerville Museum Calling fundraiser, September 10, 6 p.m., Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre. Inspired by Somerville’s role as the site of the world’s first residential telephone call, and the Somerville Museum’s “Let Freedom Ring” public art project for America’s 250th, this year’s fundraising event celebrates connection between the past and the future, and among one another. Jimmy Tingle (pun intended) will entertain us with his comedy and emcee the program. Sambaviva Brazilian dance ensemble will perform a medley of telephone-themed favorites. TJ the DJ will keep the music going throughout the evening. Mix and mingle over passed appetizers while exploring interactive telephone exhibits! For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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On Thursday, September 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., over thirty city departments will set up on the City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.) with a range of fun activities that highlight their work. Issue a fake parking ticket with a Parking Dept. handheld device, take a tour of City Hall, get up close with a Somerville Fire truck, meet the Somerville Police K-9 unit, sign up for a library card, and much more. At 7 p.m., attendees are invited to head to the Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall to attend the City Council meeting and see civics in action.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Bob Trane, who is a lifelong resident and a former Somerville Alderman. We wish him a very happy birthday. Also celebrating is Maureen Cuff Bastardi. We wish her a very special day. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as David C. Roberts, Stephen J. Bremis, Maureen McCole, Richard Keller, Felicia Dalelio, Dan Johnson, Alexa Trefonides-Mase, Jeff Meese, Judy Calvey, Cheryl Tucker, Mary Ann Beaton, Jessica O’Brien, Jane Becker, and Gary DiZoglio, 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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On September 3, Ward 2 City Councilor JT Scott announced he will resign as of December 31, 2026. Also on September 3, Ward 3 City Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen announced he will be resigning from the City Council at the end of the year in order to take up his new role as State Representative. You can find both announcements on their Facebook pages and on our website. In May, City Councilor Will Mbah announced that if elected as Representative for the 34th Middlesex District, he also intends to resign his seat on the Somerville City Council. A special election will be held to fill the City Council vacancies.

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Join Mayor Jake Wilson and Somerville’s Council on Aging for the annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic at 11 a.m. at Trum Field on September 10. Call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319 with any questions. Enjoy good food, music, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends.

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9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, September 11. To mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, community members are invited to join in as the city honors all victims of 9/11, including first responders, workers, and volunteers who rushed to the scene to save lives or to later help carry out the dangerous cleanup. Friday, September 11, at the 9/11 Memorial in Davis Square at 6 p.m.

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This year’s Gilman Square Arts & Music Festival is Saturday, September 12. This annual neighborhood celebration will feature local art, food vendors, acrobatic performances, children’s activities, plus live music and a beer garden. The festival will take place at Ed Leathers Park, from 12 to 5 p.m., and it’s completely free to attend. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, hang out, and enjoy some tunes. Local veterans, first responders, and community members are invited for a day of movement, fun, and connection. Enjoy fitness classes like yoga and ZUMBA, chair massages, and activities for children. Community partners will also be on-site with resources. Join us on Saturday, September 12, at Lincoln Park (290 Washington St.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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The Somerville Garden Club is holding its annual plant sale on Sunday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain or shine), at 331 Summer Street, Somerville. Discover the perfect plant to enliven your garden or windowsill at this popular yearly sale. Perennials for sun and shade, herbs, shrubs, groundcovers, plus a wide variety of houseplants will be featured. Choose from hundreds of plants donated by Somerville Garden Club members and friends – there’s something for everyone. Horticultural books, decorative containers, and garden tools will also be for sale. Experienced gardeners will be available to answer questions and assist with plant selections. Proceeds benefit the all-volunteer, non-profit Somerville Garden Club.

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The Brazilian Flag Raising ceremony takes place on September 10. The Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA), in proud partnership with the Brazilian Women’s Group, invites community members to celebrate 204 years of Brazilian independence at the fourth annual Brazilian flag raising. Attendees will enjoy live music and performances of the national anthems of Brazil and the United States, a speaking program, and a ceremonial raising of the Brazilian flag. City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.) from 3 to 4 p.m.

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Craft Vendors Wanted! Do you make or sell crafty items? The Somerville Community Baptist Church in Davis Square is holding a “Spooky-Thankful-Merry Craft Fair,” featuring items for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, on Saturday, October 17, from 9 am to 2 pm. To reserve a table at the Fair, please mail your check for $35 by October 3 to “Somerville Community Baptist Church,” 31 College Ave., Somerville, MA 02144. Or you can bring your check or cash directly to the Church, any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Somerville’s Nepali Street Food Festival has been postponed. A new date will be shared at somerville-ma.gov/news. Eleven food vendors are coming to the Somerville Nepali Street Food Festival. Enjoy your meal while watching live music and dance performances celebrating the best of Nepali culture. Learn more: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/nepali-food-fest/

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Somerville Arts and Culture invites community members to apply as panelists for the 2027 LCC Grant cycle. Panelists review grant applications, learn how the local funding process works, and help support artists and cultural projects across our community. Whether you’re an artist, educator, cultural organizer, or community member who cares about arts and culture, they’d love to hear from you. Apply by October 1. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/lcc/lcc-panelist-application/.

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Calling all local musicians! The interest form for the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market 2026-27 season is now LIVE on the website. Share your talents with the community this winter by filling out the form and getting on stage at the Winter Market. You can find the sign-up form at: https://www.somwintermarket.org/musicians.

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Registration for SHC’s Somerville 5k is open. Every step taken on October 3 supports the community’s most vulnerable, helping raise the critical funds needed to tackle housing and food insecurity. Register today to run and claim your race t-shirt. For more information, visit https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/.

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SFD Collector’s Playing Cards Are Here! September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to launch our once-every-two-years fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each custom deck features the 54 most senior firefighters currently in the Somerville Fire Department, including two jokers, and serves as a unique piece of SFD history. Decks are $20 each, with a portion of every sale being donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support the fight against blood cancers. Quantities are limited. Contact Antonio Cicolini https://www.facebook.com/antonio.cicolini to reserve your deck while supplies last.

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ESMS’s biggest fundraising event of the year is almost here. East Somerville’s Foodie Crawl 2026, Tuesday, September 15 (rain date: September 16), 6 – 8:30 p.m. Join them for an evening of delicious food, local discoveries, live music, and community connection while supporting the work of East Somerville Main Streets. For more information, visit: https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/foodie-crawl-2026.

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The Mission Church of Christ, 130 Highland Ave., will be hosting a free health fair for the community on September 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with many vendors. Contact MC Allied Health & Professionals Group at mcahpg130@gmail.com.

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All SPS Kindergarten students can sign up for a library card and get a FREE BOOK! Just bring an adult photo ID and proof of residency to your nearby library branch, and your child will be able to borrow books, movies, CDs, and more. Visit any of the Somerville branches: Central – 79 Highland Ave, East – 115 Broadway, West – 40 College Ave.

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Raise a glass to Union Square as What the Fluff? turns 21! This year’s theme – Legally Fluff: A Toast to Union Square – is an ode to 21 years of fluff-filled fun for all ages. Put on the party hats, blow up the balloons, grab a bubbly beverage, and celebrate Somerville’s signature sweet spread in style. The 21st Annual What the Fluff? Festival, Saturday, September 19, 1 – 5 p.m. in Union Square.

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The Powder House, Milk Row Cemetery and Prospect Hill Tower will be open to the public on select dates and times through October, as part of History on the Line, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville. History unlocked: Drop-in chat on select Thursdays, 6 – 8 p.m., and select Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. For dates and more information, visit https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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The Somerville Mobile Farmers Market has returned for the 2026 season. The market brings fresh, affordable, local produce to four city locations Thursdays through Saturdays and runs through October 31. All produce is sourced from local farms and priced affordably to make healthy, fresh food accessible to all. The mobile market accepts cash, debit and credit cards, SNAP, Fresh Connect, WIC Farmers Market Coupons, and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. For the full schedule, weekly produce updates, and more information about programs and events, visit the market’s website at somervillemobilefarmers-market.org.

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Assembly Row Farmers Market is being held at 375 Assembly Row, Somerville, on Fridays, 3 – 7 p.m. The market will run from June 12 to October 9. Each week, you’ll be able to find goods from nearly 30 New England-based farmers and producers. Expect a great mix of seasonal produce, baked goods, dairy and eggs, meats and seafood, honey, jams, specialty foods, and more. It’s the perfect place to stock up for the weekend, discover local favorites, or simply enjoy a fresh Friday visit to Assembly Row. https://marketspread.com/market/37299/assembly-row-farmers-market/.

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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, and ready-to-eat meals. 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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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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