The city is repaving Tufts Street and reconstructing its sidewalks as part of the citywide Pavement and Sidewalk Management Program. As part of this effort, city staff have, after a year and a half of community engagement, developed a new design for the street to make it safer and more comfortable for everyone. Residents are invited to a virtual community meeting to learn about upcoming construction.The event will take place Wednesday, May 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Visit www.somervillema.gov/tuftsstreet to learn more and attend the meeting.

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The Haitian Flag Festival will take place on May 17, from 2 to 6 p.m., 93 Highland Ave., weather date May 18. A vibrant celebration of Haitian culture and heritage, marking the creation of the Haitian flag. The event brings together the community to celebrate Haiti’s rich history, pride, and unity through music, food, art, and cultural performances. This special day honors the significance of the Haitian flag, which symbolizes freedom, resilience, and the spirit of independence.

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Celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy Birthday to local attorney Ed Smith. Ed is a great guy and we wish him the very best year ahead. Happy birthday to Feargal O’Toole. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to Vinny Vicente. We wish him the best. Happy birthday to Brian Roche. We hope he enjoys his day. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Jordan Harris, Diane Murphy Sullivan, Donny Caprigno, Beth Foley Delacruz, Kevin D. Downey, Ken McIntyre and Karen Keenan McCann 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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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 affect. We sincerely thank all who have already contributed and thank any future contributors. If you are interested in helping you 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 try to help out our advertisers be able to advertise. Thank you all so much for your support!

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Experience Somerville like never before. Join the Somerville Museum for an engaging one-hour trolley tour that begins and ends at the vibrant Assembly Row. Dive into Somerville’s rich industrial history, full of groundbreaking “firsts.” Discover the city’s industrious past as you visit charming brick alleys, historic workers’ cottages, and bustling railroad-side factories that played a pivotal role in shaping the community. Celebrate the diverse contributions of workers from all genders, ages, and countries of origin who crafted the products that symbolize our heritage. May 17 at 10 a.m, May 18 at 3:30 p.m., Opposite 699 Assembly Square Road, on Great River. Discounted tickets are available for low-income families. For more information and tickets, please visit www.somervillemuseum.org. The Trolley Tour will run rain or shine. Please be mindful of uneven ground.

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This Saturday, the city’s Veterans’ Commission on Monuments, Memorials, and Dedications will be dedicating a Heroes Square at 10 a.m. at the East Somerville Community School. Somerville resident and Veteran, Leo S. Mingace, is one of the eight heroes being honored. Leo would like to thank everyone for this honor and congratulate his fellow honorees.

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The family of the late retired firefighter Jimmy Loveless extends an invitation to all to the founding ceremony of the Jimmy E. Loveless Memorial Square. The event will be held on Saturday, May 17, at noon at the East Somerville Community School auditorium.

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In partnership with Arts at the Armory, the Somerville Homeless Coalition is thrilled to announce SHC’s Echos Exhibition, a powerful showcase that features artwork created by clients from their Engagement Center. The exhibition will be on display from May 13 to June 30 at the Rooted Armory Café, 191 Highland Ave. They will kick things off with an opening reception this Friday, May 16, from 5 to 7 p.m.

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The “Slice of the City” spring meet-up series is an opportunity to connect and engage with city leaders and staff as well as neighbors, all while enjoying Somerville’s parks. All events run from 5 to 7 p.m. Pizza and refreshments will be served, and Somerville Recreation will have activities for children available. Wards 4 and 5 Slice of the city events have been postponed due to weather. These events will be rescheduled. Visit www.somervillema.gov/slice to stay up to date. This coming week: May 20, Ward 7, Lou Ann David Park,1060 Broadway and May 21, Ward 2, Lincoln Park, 290 Washington St.

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E-Mobility Expo, Friday, May 16, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m., Davis Square Parking Lot, 44 Day Street, Somerville. Are you interested in EVs? Are you thinking of transitioning to electric mobility be it car or bike? Come through Davis Square’s Day Street Parking Lot to see community members showing off their vehicles. In addition to community members showing off the ways that they move electrically through Somerville, we’ll also have a number of local mobility organizations present to provide information and goodies! Presenters include CargoB, Eversource, the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and the Somerville E-Bike Library, just to name a few.

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YUM – A Taste of Immigrant City, a fun evening hosted by The Welcome Project, will celebrate the amazing contributions of immigrants in our community through food, culture, and connection on Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Get your tickets today: https://artsatthearmory.org/. Ready for a culinary adventure with a variety of dishes, drinks, and conversations that highlight the vibrant flavors of Somerville’s immigrant communities.

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The Somerville Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce the return of the Taste of Somerville festival on Wednesday, June 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Boynton Yards to benefit your favorite nonprofit, the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Returning for its 27th year, Taste of Somerville is the premier all-you-can-eat culinary and creative arts festival of Somerville with over 50+ food and beverage vendors, local artisans, live entertainment, lawn games, and more – all in the heart of Union Square at Boynton Yards. For more information and tickets, visit https://tasteofsomerville.org/.

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You are invited to the Somerville Community Fridge Volunteer opportunity event, on Sunday, May 18, 5 – 7 p.m. They’ll have some food , drink and good conversation. RSVP to somervillefridges@gmail.com. Havurat Shalom, 113 College Ave., Somerville.

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Pedestrians can now access the East Somerville Green Line (GLX) station via Inner Belt Road. You can find more information about projects and detours at https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-extension-glx.

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National Bike to Work Week (May 12 – 18) is a great time to give riding to work a try. Not sure how to get started? Visit https://www.massbike.org/bike-month for tips on how to ride to work.

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Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program begins Thursday, May 15, and continues through late October. This program consists of flushing pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality. Flushing will take place Mondays and Thursdays between 6 p.m. and midnight to minimize potential disruptions to water service. For program information and future updates, visit somervillema.gov/hydrantflushing.

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The Ginny Smithers Pool, 5 Cherry St. is officially back open. For more information on spring pool hours for Swim Lessons, Water Exercise, Lap Swim, Family Swim, and Open Swim. Please visit their website, https://somervillema.myrec.com/info/default.aspx or email aquatics@somervillema.gov.

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.Join Union Square Main Streets and 60+ of your favorite local food producers for the 21st Annual Union Square Farmers Market. Shop local Saturdays from May 10 to October 25, except September 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. Thanks to our partnership with the City of Somerville and the Somerville Farmers Market Coalition, they are proud to continue to offer our SNAP match. Check the market webpage for the latest info and to see which vendors accept SNAP. For more information about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit www.unionsquaremain.org/2025-season.

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Davis Square Market will reopen for the 2025 Season on Wednesday, May 21. The market will run every Wednesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., from May 21 through November 26, 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.

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Join the School Readiness Playgroup for Somerville families with children 3 and 4 years old, who are brand-new to school. Mondays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. from May 5 to June 16, at the Somerville Public Library, West Branch, 40 College Avenue. Register using this link: tinyurl.com/SFLCsupportandplaygroups.

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Join the Arts at the Armory for their monthly recurring music events in the ROOTED Café. Upcoming events for May include: Songwriters in the Round, Wednesday, May 21, at 7 p.m., Tunefoolery Coffee House, Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m., and Strummerville Ukelele, Tuesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. More info available for each event on our website. https://artsatthearmory.org/upcoming-events/.

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10,000 Maniacs take the stage at Arts at the Armory on Wednesday, May 28. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, the band continues to captivate audiences with the same independent spirit and storytelling that earned them a devoted following. It’s easy to see how their ability to make waves without bowing to the mainstream has developed into something of a cult-like legacy. Tickets are going fast, and with fewer than 100 remaining, they’re expecting a full house. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the music will start at 8 p.m. with a local opener https://artsatthearmory.org/.

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The City of Somerville is launching Neighbors Talking to Neighbors (N2N), a new dialogue series designed to bring residents together for open, respectful conversations on important community topics. Led by the Departments of Racial and Social Justice and Health and Human Services, the series will focus on Race, Immigration, LGBTQIA+ issues, and Interfaith Relations. Each session is free, virtual, and professionally facilitated, with separate times for youth and adults. Space is limited. Learn more and register, visit www.somervillema.gov/rsj.

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The City of Somerville invites all residents to join the waitlist. Rental units become available at 50%, 80%, and 110% of the Area Median Income. For example, the income level is $130,250 for a four-person household at 80% of AMI. If you would like to apply for the Consolidated Inclusive Housing Waitlist, visit them at one of our application events or go to www.somervillewaitlist.org and apply before May 30.

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This May, the Union Square Neighborhood Council is holding its bi-annual election for the USNC board. All members are invited to vote in the election, as well as run for a board seat. (If you have any questions about the USNC or what it means to be a member, please consult their website at: sites.google.com/view/usnc. The election will be held in person as follows: Day 1: Saturday, May 17, 8 am – 12 p.m., Argenziano School, 290 Washington Street. Day 2: Tuesday, May 20, 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., [TBA] Somerville.

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Thinking about running for local office? Starting May 5, nomination papers for Mayor, Councilor at Large, Ward Councilor, and School Committee will be available to take out. To begin the process, make an appointment with the Elections Department to pick up your nomination papers. A separate appointment is required to return them. Appointments are available from May 5 through June 9. Important deadlines: June 9 at 5 p.m., last day to take out nomination papers. June 11 at 5 p.m., deadline to submit completed papers to the Board of Election Commissioners. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/elections.

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Street sweeping in Somerville resumed on Tuesday, April 1. Somerville’s street cleaning program is an essential public works program that not only keeps our city cleaner but also reduces the risk of flooding and icing due to clogged storm drains. Signs indicate the time and date of no parking due to sweeping. The street sweeping season runs from April 1 until December 31 each year. On designated street sweeping days, vehicles must be moved from the side of the street being swept, as noted on signs posted on each street. The penalty for not complying with street sweeping parking regulations is a $50 fine. Check the signs on the streets where you park and visit www.somervillema.gov/sweeper for more information.

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Somerville Animal Control is in need of towels/blankets/linens. They can arrange a porch pickup if you message them on Facebook or they can be dropped off at the police station at any time.

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You can download a helpful packet of Know Your Rights resources and information in the language of your choice below. Somerville Public Schools has also created a list of resources on the One Somerville Resource page, which can be found here https://somerville.k12.ma.us/district-departments/somerville-family-learning-collaborative-sflc/one-somerville-resources.

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SCES is teaming up with City Fresh Foods to offer a five-pack of frozen home-delivered meals. This new meal delivery option is ideal for consumers who want the convenience of home-delivered meals but are not able to be at home each weekday to receive deliveries. Meal recipients can choose which weekday they would like to receive the frozen meals, with up to five meals in each bulk delivery. Each meal comes with bread, milk, and a dessert. Current SCES clients who are interested in receiving meals should call their office at 617-628-2601 or contact their case manager for more information.

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City Alerts are a great way for those who live, work, or own a business in Somerville to receive important city information that affects your neighborhood. City Alerts provide information about emergencies (including snow emergencies), construction and road closures, water service interruptions, community news, and more. To sign up, visit somervillema.gov/alerts and click on the button for your preferred language. Step-by-step sign-up instructions are available at: somervillema.gov/alerts. Having trouble signing up? You can call 3-1-1 (617-666-3311) for assistance.

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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 can 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. We currently have available: Commodes, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies, and Transport Wheelchairs. For additional information or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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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.