Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Inspectional Services Department announced Somerville’s 2024 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. Aimed at enhancing rodent management efforts, the updated plan incorporates Integrated Pest Management principles to effectively address rodent issues across residential, public, and commercial areas within the city. The detailed presentation of the City of Somerville’s Integrated Pest Management will take place at the city’s Board of Health meeting on Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 p.m. Community members, stakeholders, and interested parties are encouraged to attend the meeting, which will be hosted on Zoom, and participate in discussions surrounding rodent management strategies. Interested attendees can join the meeting here: somervillema.gov/events/2024/04/18/board-health-meeting.

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

A reminder that yard waste pickup has begun. 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 311updates@somervillema.gov.

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

To those celebrating their birthdays this week: A big happy birthday to Mayor Katjana Ballantyne who is celebrating today. We hope she has enjoys her day. Happy birthday to former alderman and great guy, Jack Connolly. We hope he has a great birthday. Happy birthday to Jesse Moos, we hope he has a great day. Happy Birthday to a nice guy, Blake Maddux, who has written in the past for this us. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Julie Phelan Brady. We wish her a great day. Happy birthday to Jim Cook, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Bob DiGuardia, who is also celebrating this week. We wish a happy birthday to all of our Facebook friends such Karen Muti Standel, Jaqueline Meneguel, Missy JT, Olga Solomita, Joanne Veneziano Finnegan, Carol Duffy, Jackie Coviello, Patricia Ferrelli, Lee Erica Byron Palmer, Rachel Strutt,Paul Stanford, Susannah Buzard, Jim Ospenson, and Celia Miller-Saltman, who are all celebrating this week. To all the others we may have missed and, yes, we must admit there are a few more out there. We sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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

Come out and meet other young artists at Somerville Open Studios Kids and Teens Art Show. Join in this Thursday, April 18, to create art for the upcoming exhibition. There will be art supplies available. Local artist and curator Vicdan Şanli will be offering art instruction and support. 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Rooted Café at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Stay afterward for bread and puppet theater. RSVP: https://forms.gle/FMizDmSqu6ezwjD67. Exhibition is May 1 – 12, open call for 2D work by artists under 18 living in Somerville, email: exhibits@artsatthearmory.org for drop off locations.

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

Join Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Office of Sustainability and Environment for a series of free and family friendly events and interactive activities to celebrate SustainaVille Week, April 20-27, an annual celebration of climate action in Somerville during the week of Earth Day. See the full schedule of events online at: www.somervillema.gov/sustainavilleweek.

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

Celebrate Somerville’s newly updated community climate action plan, Climate Forward. Step into Somerville in 2050, an inspiring community where our collective efforts have triumphed in creating a climate-forward society. Enjoy live music, refreshments, and interactive art installations that depict our shared vision of resilience in the face of climate change. Wednesday, April 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Greentown Labs (444 Somerville Ave). Registration recommended but not required:https://greentownlabs.com/

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

Municipal Scholarships are available for high school seniors. Five $1,000 municipal scholarships are available for high school seniors graduating in 2024 through the City of Somerville Municipal Scholarship Committee. Applicants must be residents of Somerville who have been accepted to an accredited post-secondary institution.To apply, students are asked to complete a profile and answer three short essay questions by May 1. Learn more at somervillema.gov/scholarship.

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

Enjoy, Meet Our Poets: Somerville Poets Reading Their Own Poems and Poems They Love, a free event on April 28. The poets include Jennifer Badot, Simeon Berry, David Blair, Zack Bond, Elizabeth Callahan, Parama Chattopadhyay, Jennifer Clarvoe, Linda Conte, Linda Haviland Conte, Donna Donna, Gary Duehr, Kirk Etherton, Michael Franco, Bridget Seley Galway, Seth Garcia, Doug Holder, Katherine Hollander, Lucy Holstedt, Gloria Mindock, Tam Lin Neville, Pat Peterson, Denise Provost, Andrea Read, Hilary Sallick, Lloyd Schwartz, Michael Steffen, Janaka Stucky, Patrick Sylvain, Gilmore Tamny, Christie Towers, Anna Warrock, and Dan Wuenschel. This free event, organized by Somerville Poet Laureate Lloyd Schwartz and the Somerville Arts Council, will take place at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, 1C, on Sunday, April 28, at 5:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/poetry2024.

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

The 2024 street sweeping season has resumed and will continue through December 31. Check signs in your neighborhood for sweeping days. Visit somervillema.gov/sweeping for a full schedule and to sign up for complimentary street sweeping reminders by text, email, or phone. For more information on street sweeping procedures, visit park-somerville.com.

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

On Friday, April 26, GLOWBALL will transform the Armory Performance Hall into an immersive Glow-in-the-Dark Rave created by DJ Saucy Lady with hypnotic visuals by Jay Medina, all in support of The Center for Arts at the Armory. Visit their website for more information: https://artsatthearmory.org.

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

Somerville’s Memorial Day parade will return this year on Sunday, May 26. It will begin at 11:00 a.m. from the Davis Square Rotary (9/11 Memorial Granite Circle Site), and end at Broadway and North Street. The city’s annual remembrance ceremony will occur on Monday, May 27. Sign up to volunteer or participate and march along with local Veterans and first responders by contacting Somerville VETS at 617-625-6600 ext. 4700. Parade participants should register by April 26. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/memorialday.

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

Upcoming events at Somernova this week. Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., The Dojo at Somernova (15 Properzi Way, Somerville) hosts Youth Hours. This is a safe space to find community, work on some homework, spend time with friends, do an arts and crafts project, play video games, participate in city programming, and have a snack. Welcome to all Somerville youth. Upcoming Youth Hours April 17 and April 18. In partnership with Riverside Community Care, will offer health and wellness coaching and mindfulness activities on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Wellness Wednesdays will include health and wellness coaching, peer mentoring, and self-care workshops. Upcoming Wellness Wednesdays: April 17 and April 24. Parkour Generations Boston is hosting a 3-day ADAPT Instructor Course at The Dojo over April break, free for Somerville teens. Students that attend this course can move onto becoming coaches over the summer and beyond. The course takes place April 17 to April 19 from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. each day. Located at 15 Properzi Way, Somerville.

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

The community is invited to The Dojo from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on April 21 for a Pop-up Shop. The pop-up will feature local vendors as well as addition of games and performances. Located at 15 Properzi Way, Somerville.

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

Blackout poetry kits are available at all three Somerville Public Library locations, starting today, to celebrate April being National Poetry Month. Pick up one of these take-and-make crafts and impress us with your poetry. Visit https://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/

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

Around Hear will be holding a free concert at the Concert at the Mystic Activity Center in Somerville on April 20, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., 530 Mystic Ave. Somerville. Free, open to the public, listeners of ages are welcome.Refreshments served, write, draw, move while you listen.

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

Visit CultureHouse Union Square, 64 Union Square, Somerville, Wednesday – Sunday: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. This week they will be hosting, Improvised Music Performance, April 18, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Japanese Paper Theater and Origami, April 19, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., Death Cafe, April 20, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., LGBTQ+ Improv Comedy Community Meetup, April 21, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Office Hours with Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr., April 21, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. jill mccracken, full band/tiny room, April 21, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. For more information visit https://culturehouse.cc/.

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

Join a family oriented Spanish immersion for those who practice the language or for those who want to learn. The program includes bilingual storytelling, music and dance, dynamic games, and arts and crafts. In celebration of Mexican-American culture, hear The Real Cinco de Mayo Story. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/2spjprsy. Questions? Contact Keri at kbradeen@somervillema.gov. Central Library, April 28. Ages 5 and up.

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

The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church and the Somerville Garden Club are hosting a plant swap in honor of Earth Day, April 20, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 29 Central St. Stop by and share the plant love. You don’t have to bring a plant/cutting/seeds to take something. While there, take a tour of the newly renovated church. Free coffee and pastries from Lyndell’s Bakery will be served.

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

April is National Fair Housing Month. In recognition, the Somerville Public Library (MA) and Somerville Fair Housing Commission are co-hosting two events. First was is a virtual and in-person discussion on Tuesday, April 16, then on Saturday, April 27, join a film screening of Segregated by Design, and discussion of Richard Rothstein’s book, The Color of Law. For more information, contact Kerry O’Donnell at keodonnell@somervillema.gov, or Hanalei Steinhart at hsteinhart@somervillema.gov. Registration is required. Learn more at somervillepubliclibrary.org/calendar.

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

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, and city staff invite you to join a virtual community meeting to learn about flood relief and water quality improvement efforts planned for Winter Hill, Ten Hills, and the surrounding neighborhood. The meeting will take place Wednesday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Visit the project website at somervillema.gov/mysticoutfall to learn more and attend the meeting. For those unable to attend, a recording of the presentation will be available on the project website, as well as on City YouTube and the City’s GovTV channels. At this meeting, city staff will introduce the project and share initial conceptual designs. Following the presentation, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about the project and provide feedback.

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

East Somerville Spring Community cleanup will take place on April 27, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Join in and make a difference in the East Somerville community. Meet at the East Branch Library.

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

Somerville PorchFest 2024 will take place on Saturday, May 11, (rain date May 12) from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Perhaps you’ve sat on your porch and overheard a neighbor strumming guitar on another porch? Porchfest takes this idea and multiplies it. This is not a festival per se but rather a community event where Somervillians share their love of playing and listening to music … from their porch, driveways, yards, etc. Registration is now open: https://beta.somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest/porchfest2024/.

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

The COA is offering free taxi rides to Somerville residents over the age of 60. Rides are available to go to the grocery store, farmer’s market, and pharmacy in Somerville and routine medical appointments in the surrounding communities. To best accommodate the needs of everyone in the city and to maximize the use of our funding, they will be capping the number of rides per week. To ensure the health and welfare of every resident of Somerville, exemptions will be made for chemotherapy and radiation appointments. To find out more information or to schedule your ride, please call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319. All rides must be booked two business days in advance. This program is funded through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funding.

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

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Somerville Police Department is committed to supporting victims and vurvivors, and as a team, pledge to continue to Start By Believing. Anyone with questions or a need for additional resources can reach out to the Advocate without the pressure to disclose. The Advocate can make advisements about what the process of reporting to law enforcement looks like, what local resources are available, and what rights are afforded to victims of crime in Massachusetts. Maureen DiPaolo can be reached by email at mdipaolo@police.somerville.ma.us, by calling 617-625-1600 x7279, or by call or text at 857-270-8744.

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

The Welcome Project welcomes back YUM 2024: A Taste of Immigrant City to an in-person event on May 2. After a five-year hiatus, they will be returning to the Arts at the Armory for a night of great food, music, and conversations about how the immigrant community continues to be an asset to Somerville and the U.S. For more information visit. https://www.welcomeproject.org/yum2024.html.

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

Are you a member of Somerville High School’s class of 1974? The class of 2024 is looking for participants for this year’s Class Day festivities which will take place on Friday, May 31, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Somerville High School. They are looking for 50 graduates in total from 1974 to participate. The Class of 2024 looks forward to seeing you. Email any questions to Irma Calderon at icalderon@k12.somerville.ma.us.

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

Somerville Open Studios 2024, 25th Anniversary will take place on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 – 5, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. each day at artists’ studios and homes throughout Somerville. Over 350 artists in 90 locations citywide will open their studios to the public. Map, artist, and trolley info at https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/. The SOS First Look Show at the Somerville Museum opened on April 11 and will run through May 11. For more information, map, artist, trolley and other events visit https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/.

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

Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and from the direction of Mayor Ballantyne, the Council on Aging is now able to 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. They currently have available: Commodes, Bath Chairs, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies and Transport Wheelchairs (wheelchairs are intended for transport and are not self-propelling or self-breaking.) For additional information, or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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

Somerville Public Schools is looking for substitute teachers. Join an amazing team of educators, earn $150/day, and play an important role in our schools. Learn more about job requirements and apply here: https://somerville.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=1146.

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

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.