Somerville community members are invited to the “Slice of the City” spring meet-up series. This new series of family-friendly pizza parties in the park offers attendees a new way to connect and engage with city leaders and staff, local elected officials, as well as neighbors, all while enjoying Somerville’s parks. Events in each of the city’s seven wards will occur throughout the month of May from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. First up is in Ward 4 on Thursday, May 2, at the Healey School playground (5 Meacham St.). Somerville Recreation will host kid’s activities, and refreshments and pizza will be provided. For more information and to find all event locations, visit somervillema.gov/slice.

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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. For more information, map, artist, trolley and other events visit https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/.

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Join SomerNova on Saturday, May 4, for SomerNightStudio to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Somerville Open Studios. Explore diverse local art, meet the artists, buy more art, see local performers, and bring your roller skates for this unique community gathering. It’s a great opportunity to connect with Somerville’s vibrant creative scene. More information online at somernova.art, 8 Tyler St. at Somernova. Join them on Monday, May 6, at 6:00 p.m. for a free Mario Kart 8 Pilot Tournament @ Somernova. Grab your controllers and get ready for an evening of intense competition and fun. Show off your skills, compete against other players, and see if you have what it takes to come out on top and win some prizes. Free food, great music and good vibes.

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To those celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to Aida Sousa-Braga, who celebrates this week. Happy birthday this week to Linda Beebe, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to Beverly Childers this week. We hope she has a great celebration. Happy birthday to Dennis Sullivan. We wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as George Sharpe, Charlotte Scanzillo Perkins, Ginny Atwater, Barb Balkwill, G.P. Redmond, Eric Pedro Sr., Johnny Ferola, Johnny Ferola, Jack Costello and Karen Mancini 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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Artwear: The SOS 2024 Fashion, the term Artwear refers to clothing and other wearables designed as conceptual or fine art. Artwear operates outside of the boundaries normally presented in fashion to favor an approach that prioritizes style and vision. This year, the SOS fashion show will be held at the Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square on Thursday, May 2. The Crystal Ballroom is directly above the Somerville Theatre. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for cocktail hour with the show beginning at 7:00 p.m. The venue will have a full bar and runway seating. The event is free for the public to view original textile art by Somerville artists.

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The Friends of the Somerville Public Library will be hosting a book sale to benefit the library on May 3 – 5 at the Central Library. On Friday, May 3, join us from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for a Pre-Sale Power Hour. Donate $50 to the Friends and get first dibs on all books in the sale. On Saturday, May 4, the book sale will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. On Sunday, May 5, the book sale will run from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. From 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., you can buy a Friends tote and fill it with books for only $15. Book sales are their biggest fundraisers. With the money they raise, they fund diverse programming at all three SPL branches, and with your continued support, they’re hoping to fund even more amazing programming.

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As part of May Preservation Month, take a “Jane’s Walk” to honor urban activist and writer, Jane Jacobs. A worldwide event, this year’s Somerville walk will be a leisurely stroll through the “Duck Village” neighborhood of Somerville. Guides will be an eclectic mix of local leaders. Free and open to all. Advance sign-up via Eventbrite is appreciated: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/ Saturday, May 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 355 Washington St. at Perry Park near Argenziano School. For more information about Jane Jacobs, visit https://janeswalk.org/. Contact Grace Bryan, Historic Events Manager, at grace@somervillemuseum.org with questions.

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As the city is still trying to figure out how best to handle the water bill issue that has shocked and upset many residents, City Councilor Kristen Strezo has had an order approved for the Committee on Equity, Gender, Seniors, Families and Vulnerable Populations to conduct a Committee of the Whole Public Hearing for public hearing to hear how the increases in water and sewer rates are affecting Somerville residents. Wednesday, May 15, 6:30 p.m. in person and virtually. Copy and paste the following link into your internet browser to view this meeting live: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HjYlNim_RG62H21wtDiyCA.

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Somerville High School proudly presents the 2024 Music and Art Spring Showcase, Thursday, May 16. The Art Exhibit opens at 5:00 and the Concert begins at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy music performed by the Somerville High School Chorus, Orchestra, Band, World Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Guitar Class. Artwork from current High School art students and select 7th and 8th grade students will be on display. All staff, family, and friends of the Somerville Public Schools community are invited to join us for an evening celebrating the arts.

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JoyFest will be a block party/festival in Somerville at Prospect Hill Park on Saturday, May 18, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. (rain date May 19). JoyFest is a celebration of local arts and culture, highlighting local artists and organizations that support artists and musicians and advocate for affordable spaces for living and playing. Five bands are lined up to perform, with an open mic hour and DJs between sets. Community organizations will be tabling at the event, and artists will be there to share and sell their work. A few local organizations are hosting some in-person workshops. They will have food available for folks throughout the day. For more information visit thier event page https://partiful.com/e/o0C4VXs4IcCDKiGg2rIB.

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Somerville Rotary Club is planning an event to celebrate 100 Years of Service to the Community. The celebration will take place Tuesday, May 14, 6:00 p.m., at George Dilboy VFW Post 529, 351 Summer Street, Somerville. Individual Event tickets are $75, purchase tickets at somervillerotary.org. For any additional event information, contact David Worzala at dworzala@gmail.com or 608-695-3278.

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On Thursday, May 2, at 7:00 p.m. (doors 6:30 p.m.), enjoy YUM: A Taste of Immigrant City. Experience a culinary journey celebrating our city’s diverse flavors of immigrant communities. Indulge in a variety of dishes, drinks, and discussions that will transport you around the world. Come hungry and ready to savor the vibrant tastes of our community. Join The Welcome Project in its first in-person event in five years in a celebration of the wonderful diversity and tastes of Somerville. More info and tickets here: https://artsatthearmory.org.

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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.

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Applications are now available for an income-restricted homeownership lottery for four affordable condominium units through the city’s Inclusionary Housing Program at 71 Bow Street. Two 2-bedroom units will be offered to households with an annual gross income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). One 1-bedroom unit plus study and one 2-bedroom unit will be offered to households with an annual gross income between 81% and 110% AMI. Applications should be submitted by Wednesday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m. Learn more and apply at somervillema.gov/inclusionary

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The Somerville Public Library will host a Poetry Reading with Local Poets on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. West Branch Community Room, 40 College Ave. Join local poets Holly Guran, Gloria Mindock, and Timothy Gager as they read from some of their recent work. Questions? Contact Brigid at bblack@somervillema.gov.

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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.

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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 be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, May 27, at the Somerville Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to our country. To learn more, visit somervillema.gov/memorialday.

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Join Union Square Main Streets and 50+ of your favorite local food producers for the 20th Annual Union Square Farmers Market, 66-70 Union Square. Shop local Saturdays from May 11 to October 26, except September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. The market provides visitors and residents with top-quality, fresh, and local produce at fair prices; encourages active lifestyle values; educates consumers about farming and locally sourced foods; and gives customers opportunities to interact directly with farmers. For more information about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit unionsquaremain.org/2024-fmseason.

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Visit CultureHouse Union Square, 64 Union Square, Somerville, Wednesday – Sunday: 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. This week they will be hosting Neurodiversity and Asian American Identity – a writing workshop, May 2, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Let’s Make Zines!, May 4, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Bolly Fusion Dance, May 4, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., May 5, LGBTQ+ Improv Comedy Community Meetup, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. For more information visit https://culturehouse.cc/.

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This May, join the Somerville Public Library and the City of Somerville Health and Human Services Department to “Paint Your Pride!” in a joy-filled series of community art events. The completed works will be displayed in the Library’s Gallery @ SPL for Pride Month (June 2024). During the month of May, patrons of the Somerville Public Library, and citizens of Somerville can: Attend a library painting program in-person at one of their three locations. Pick up a “Paint Your Pride” Kit and attend a virtual painting program. All completed canvases and artwork should be turned back into the Library by June 1 to be included in our “Paint Your Pride Tiny Art Show,” showcased in the Gallery @ SPL during the month of June. Contact Kerry: keodonnell@somervillema.gov with any questions. The first event in our Paint Your Pride series will take place this Thursday, May 2, to register https://somervillepubliclibrary.org

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Celebrate music citywide. 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. Somervillians share their love of playing and listening to music … from their porch, driveways, yards, etc. Plan your visit ahead, take public transport to avoid traffic congestion. Remember to be kind to neighbors, no drinking on streets, use the porta-potties and tip the bands. https://bit.ly/somervilleporchfest2024.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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