Exchanging Notes Performance takes place at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave., this Friday, September 29, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. An evening showcasing the first of its kind cross-cultural exchange between Somerville artists and artists from the country of Georgia. Join in for a celebration of songs and stories that fuse Georgian and American themes, connect cultures, and enrich our common humanity. Special guests will be the members of the choir from Somerville High School. The event is free to the public.

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Reminder: Green Line Union Branch service is suspended through Thursday, October 12, to allow for MassDOT work on the Route 28 Squires Bridge. Riders can use Routes 86, 91, and CT2 between Union Square and East Somerville Station on the Medford Branch. These routes also service Sullivan Square Station on the Orange Line. Route 87 can also be used between Union Square and Lechmere Station.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Karen F. McWatters, who celebrates this week. We hope she has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Sal DiDomenico, who is also celebrating this week. A special happy birthday to Ena Johnson, who will be celebrating on October 2. She has lived in Somerville for 60+ years and we wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to AnnMarie Carey-Browne. We hope she has a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Joell Johns, Laureen Marie, Roy Carreiro, Joseph Leblanc, Debbie Price King, Linda Malone, Edward Barry, Rick Gaetano and Terri Monsalve 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 Somerville 5K Road Race returns for a 28th year on Saturday, September 30, in Davis Square. Staff, clients, supporters, and local partners will come together once again to raise awareness and support for our most underrepresented neighbors. Help in the fight to end homelessness, hunger, and eviction? Whether you want to run, jog, or walk alone or with a team, your support will help is needed to go the distance for our clients. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/Somerville5KRoadRace.

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Stop by the East Branch Library, 115 Broadway and try your hand at capoeira from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, October 7, October 14, and October 28. These classes will combine the Brazilian art of capoeira with fitness science to deliver a full body workout that showcases the elegance of dance, the power of martial arts, and the rhythms of Brazilian music. No registration is required for this event and it’s open to all ages.

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Somerville Prevention staff will host a Narcan Distribution Event to distribute free overdose prevention information and harm reduction materials, including Narcan, Fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields, and syringe disposal boxes. September 28, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Statue Park, College Ave. and Davis Square.

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This year Červená Barva Press celebrated 18 years of publishing in April. Founded in 2005 by Gloria Mindock, editor and publisher, the press has continued to grow every year. The press has offered numerous events every year. This year, the press is offering an exciting new event. Červená Barva Press Poetry and Fiction Online Summit, Saturday, September 30, from 9:50 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 1, from 9:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Online access information will be sent out prior to the summit. Presenters include award-winning authors with years of publishing experience. Registration is $42 for both days. For registration, descriptions of the events and bios, please visit: http://www.cervenabarvapress.com/index.html#PO ETRYFICTIONSUMMIT.

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School season is in full swing, but the Somerville Homeless Coalition still have a handful of children in need of backpacks. They have babies in need of diapers too – sizes 1-5. For a full list of items please see their Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PKG3LS84XJMF?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwAR2hGRE_D8M8Jr2TUUV6fN0PlqOrGCRHFXsDBqfK6alM2jR3dsxNUv3AFus or, drop off your donations at their food pantry, Project SOUP, at 165 Broadway, Somerville. Visit https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/.

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Somerville Math Fund’s high school engineering challenge is coming. Time to sign up (deadline is October 6), for the October 22 event. Get details and links here https://somervillemathematics.blogspot.com/.

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Registration is open for Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Somerville Youth Hockey. All sessions take place at either Veterans or Founders rinks in Somerville. Beginner classes are geared towards kids 3-9 who have never skated nor played hockey before. There’s also a new Advanced option for kids aged 9 and older who are ready for a more fast-paced introduction to the fundamentals of hockey and skating. Financial aid (and some equipment) is available. To learn more and register, visit https://www.somervilleyouthhockey.org/ltsltp.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 1 Councilor Matthew McLaughlin, and City of Somerville staff invite you to a virtual community meeting about proposed transportation safety improvements on Tufts Street. The city is repaving Tufts Street and reconstructing its sidewalks as part of the citywide Pavement and Sidewalk Management Program. This presents an opportunity to redesign the street to make it safer for all users. Tufts Street is designated as a Neighborway in the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan, so the new design will prioritize traffic calming elements to reduce speeds and discourage cut-through traffic. The meeting will take place Wednesday, October 11, at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. Learn more about the project and find the virtual meeting link at somervillema.gov/tuftsstreet.

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The Somerville Community Growing Center is holding their 2nd annual Seasonal Salvage Sale & Makers’ Market on October 21, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., 22 Vinal Ave. Rather than a traditional yard sale, it became a two-part shopping experience: a curated, seasonally-themed secondhand sale where 100% of the proceeds go to the Growing Center, and a new “Makers’ Market” filled with local craft vendors who participate for a nominal fee but get to keep all the proceeds of their sales. To volunteer, be a vendor or donate visit: www.thegrowingcenter.org/yard-sale

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Is your family looking for adventure? Cub Scouts is a program for kids and their families. Every family pitches in to help out. No experience needed, just enthusiasm and a Do Your Best attitude. Pack 3 is an all-volunteer group of families who welcome and embrace people of diverse race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, economic status, family structure, and physical or mental ability. Contact the pack, for more info visit facebook.com/somervillepack3 or email: info@somervillepack3.org. Visit somervillepack3.org.

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Join the Arts at the Armory on October 3 and 4 for “Cirque Us Stories,” a new, thoughtfully curated show that flips through the pages of Cirque Us’s favorite stories to bring you a touching, thrilling narrative about community and identity. Interweaving a collection of folktales, classic literature, children’s stories, modern fiction, and more, this show jumps off the page with twists, flips, rewrites, and retellings of stories you’ll love. The show features aerialists, jugglers, acrobats, contortionists, clowns, and more, all ready to fly off the shelf and straight to you. For tickets and more information https://artsatthearmory.org/events/cirque-us-stories/

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The Welcome Project is holding another semester of English classes. It’s also not too late to register for Somerville and Medford EFP classes. For more information visit: https://www.welcomeproject.org/english-for-parents-efp.html

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Free classes available to parents and guardians. Register on the first Monday of each month from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE) offers free, in-person high school equivalency classes. SCALE is located at 167 Holland Street and can be reached at 617-625-6600 x6920.

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September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. There’s so much you can do with a library card from the Somerville Public Library. Having a card allows you to: Check out books, movies, CDs, and more from our library collection, log in to computers at the library and use your daily printing credit and much more. To sign up for a card visit, the Circulation desks at any of the three branches. All you need is a photo ID, and proof of Somerville address. Children ages 5 and up can also get a library card with their parents’ information. Visit: somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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Congratulations to Dr. Ana Nieto for being named a 2023 Early Childhood Policy Fellowship by BankStreet College of Education. She is one of 13 leaders from across the United States chosen, who are working toward creating high-quality, equitable early childhood systems. Dr. Nieto is Coordinator of Prenatal to School Entry Partnership Alignment and Grant Development at Somerville Public Schools. Learn more: https://www.bankstreet.edu/.

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Did you know students at Somerville High School can access free dental care during the school year? All services are provided at the CHA Teen Connection. Students are encouraged to make an appointment and learn more through the school nurse or by visiting the CHA Teen Connection (phone 617-575-5690).

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Safety tips and resources to help during the current hurricane season: Secure outdoor property and ensure you are in a safe location before the onset of strong winds. Charge cell phones and other electronic devices. Do not attempt to relocate or move any downed wires, as they are dangerous to handle. Reports of downed wires can be reported by calling 911. Downed tree limbs can be reported via 311 (dial 311 or 617-666-3311). Power outages can be reported and monitored via Eversource’s website: eversource.com/cg/customer/reportoutage.

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