Join the Somerville Museum for a Tavern Talk with Dan Breen: The March from Prospect Hill to Quebec: America Invades Canada, 1775. Wednesday, September 3, 7 – 8 p.m., at Aeronaut Brewery, 14 Tyler Street. “250 years ago this September, Benedict Arnold led a thousand members of Washington’s army to the north, away from the lines around Boston, in an attempt to drive the British out of Quebec. On the way, they battled trackless bogs, debilitating hunger, bone-chilling cold, and the ravages of disease – and that was the easy part! Join us as we relate the story of this, the first, and in some ways the most remarkable, military expedition in United States history.”

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Ward 3 voters, save the date. Thursday, September 4, 7 p.m. at the Somerville High School. The Ward 3 Democratic Committee will host the Ward 3 School Committee Candidates Forum featuring three exciting candidates who want to represent Ward 3 on the Somerville School Committee. All members of the community are invited. The forum offers an opportunity to hear from the candidates about K-12 education, early childhood programs, special education, and the future of Somerville schools in our rapidly changing community. Neighbors are invited to submit questions or topic ideas to ward3dems.somerville@gmail.com. At the primary on Tuesday, September 16, the top two vote getters will advance to the final election in November, so this is your chance to hear directly from the candidates and to make an informed decision. The forum is cosponsored by the Somerville Democratic City Committee.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Jodi Gallo. We wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to Juscelia LoRusso of Juscelia’s Cakes. She makes the best cakes around. Happy Birthday to Nancy Gaudet-Bacci, who is celebrating this week. We wish her a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Len Glionna, Dennis Kacoyanis, Nick Stavre, Guillermo Hamlin, Billy Harrison, Paul Mercier, Judith Medeiros, Sabrina Faria Caprigno, and Joe Fothergill, 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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A Somerville Town Hall on Libraries and Schools will be held on September 5, 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross Street. Join in for a discussion with the mayoral candidates about education issues, co-hosted by the Somerville Public Library Foundation, Friends of the Somerville Public Library, and the Somerville Council of PTAs. 6:30 p.m. Doors open for free pizza and free books in the cafeteria, 7 – 8 p.m. The three candidates for Somerville mayor will discuss libraries and schools. Questions for the candidates will be sourced from you, the community, ahead of time.

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Mark your calendars for Tuesday, September 9. The Foodie Crawl is back. This one-of-a-kind tasting tour transforms Broadway into a global dining experience, where every bite tells a story of culture, tradition, and community. From Brazilian barbecue and Haitian stews to Colombian arepas, French pastries, Italian specialties, Mexican tacos, Salvadoran pupusas, and more, the Foodie Crawl is your passport to East Somerville’s rich and vibrant culinary scene, all in a single evening. The Foodie Crawl is East Somerville Main Streets’ largest annual fundraiser, and every ticket sold directly supports our mission to promote a vibrant and diverse commercial district in East Somerville. Food will be served from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Purchase tickets: www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/foodiecrawl. Pre-sale tickets only; no tickets will be sold at the event.

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To mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services invite all community members to a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Thursday, September 11, at 6 p.m. in Davis Square. The observance will honor all victims of 9/11 as well as first responders, workers, and volunteers who rushed to the scene to save lives or to later help carry out the dangerous cleanup. It will include a moment of silence and feature an invocation and benediction by Father Paul Coughlin as well as remarks by Mayor Ballantyne and Veterans Director Jerome Thomas. For more information, please email veterans@somervillema.gov or contact 311 at 617-666-3311.

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Challapalooza, a one-day outdoor Jewish music festival, will be held on Sunday, September 7 (12:00 – 6:30 p.m.) at Prospect Hill Park. A captivating lineup of local Jewish musicians spanning Appalachian folk, klezmer, Middle-Eastern pop, brass-band hip-hop, rock, big-band swing, and more. Kosher food trucks (shawarma, local chocolate, ice cream), plus local Jewish artists. 100% volunteer-run by young Jewish adults in Boston; all proceeds go directly to the artists.Website and tickets: challapalooza.org.

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Scavenger Hunt Saturday at West, September 6. A scavenger hunt with a bear theme – just in time for SeptemBEAR! Find all the bears and get a prize. Intended for children up to age 12. This event will be held on Saturday, September 6, at the West Branch Library (40 College Ave.) from 9 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA), in proud partnership with the Brazilian Women’s Group, invite community members to celebrate 203 years of Brazilian independence at the third annual Brazil flag raising on Thursday, September 4, on the City Hall Concourse (79 Highland Ave.) at 3 p.m. Rain date: Thursday, September 9. For more information, contact soia@somervillema.gov.

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The City of Somerville is planning to build a new PK-8 public school building, and the Construction Advisory Group (CAG), Mayor Ballantyne, and Somerville Public Schools want to hear from you. To learn more about the project and take the survey offered in seven languages, please visit somervillema.gov/newpkto8.

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Ignite: A Global Street Food & Fire Festival is returning to Union Square on Saturday, September 27. Get ready for a magical afternoon filled with flavors from around the world, incredible culture nd fire performances, and entertainment that will light up the evening. Expect more opportunities for hands-on experiences. 3:30 – 7:30 p.m., Union Square. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/ignite-festival-2/.

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Somerville’s Preliminary Election takes place on Tuesday, September 16. This election will narrow the candidate pool before the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 4. Offices on the ballot include: Mayor, Councilor At Large, Ward 7 Councilor, and Ward 3 School Committee. Register to Vote. The last day to register to vote is Friday, September 5. Election Day: September 16. Vote at your designated polling location. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. To look up your polling place, get instructions for voting by mail, review a sample ballot, or for other election info, please visit somervillema.gov/elections or call 311 by dialing 3-1-1 or 617-666-3311.

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We have a new tab on our website, “Campaign Releases.” Go there to see the latest endorsements, campaign info for this year’s election candidates.

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Outdoor Movie Nights at Aeronaut, Saturday, September 6, Jaws, 9 – 11 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing Company. Head to Aeronaut on Saturday nights over the summer for outdoor movie nights on the patio featuring some favorites. Admission is free. Weather permitting. 9/6 Jaws, 9/13 Zoolander. 14 Tyler St., Somerville.

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The Somerville Garden Club is holding its annual plant sale. Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m. (rain or shine), 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 house plants, 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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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 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 help our advertisers be able to advertise. Thank you all so much for your support!

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The Somerville Naloxone Distribution event takes place, Thursday, September 18, 1 – 4 p.m., Davis Square Plaza, Somerville, intersection of College and Highland Avenues. Somerville Public Overdose Prevention Training takes place Tuesday, September 23, 6 – 7 p.m., Auditorium, Somerville Public Library Central Branch, 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville. Registration link: bit.ly/4mJcOsw.For more information, please contact Director of Prevention Services Tina Los at tlos@somervillema.gov.

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Somerville voters, save the date. Monday, September 8, 7:00 p.m. at the Somerville High School. Somerville City Councilors At-large Candidates Forum. The Ward 3 Democratic Committee will host a forum featuring eleven of the twelve brave candidates who want to represent you on the City Council. All members of the community are invited. 12 candidates are on the ballot. Only 8 will be nominated for the November General Election. Many new faces. Are these people the future of Somerville? The forum offers an opportunity to hear from the candidates about issues in our rapidly changing community. Neighbors are invited to submit questions or topic ideas to ward3dems.somerville@gmail.com. At the primary on Tuesday, September 16, the top eight vote getters will advance to the final election in November, so this is your chance to hear directly from the candidates and to make an informed decision

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Holding Up The Sky, by Bob Nesson, Somerville filmmaker and documentarian, follows Ed and Jimmy, two formerly incarcerated men who have successfully rebuilt their lives – yet are still bound by the constraints of lifetime parole. Their stories expose the power of second chances through education and community – as well as barriers to reentry. The film challenges us to rethink justice, redemption, and what it truly means to be free. Bob Nesson’s documentary Holding Up the Sky will be previewed on September 10 at the Somerville Theatre. The screening will be followed by a conversation with the filmmaker and special guests. Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144.Suggested arrival: 6:30 p.m. (to pick up tickets and get seated).

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Gathering of the Fairies: Celebrating Nature Spirits, Saturday, September 6, 2 – 5 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave. Rain Date: Sunday, September 7. Experience nature spirits from around the world – and our imaginations. Everyone is invited to come dressed up as their favorite magical being. Celebratory activities in the garden for fairies and their friends include face painting, story read-alouds, building a fairy house, creating a fairy wand, and other fairy crafts. Music by the Magical Ms. Kimberly. Donations are encouraged to support the Growing Center and Gathering of the Fairies. Contact: Kathleen at kath-leen@thegrowingcenter.org.

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Medicinal Plant Walk with Mo, Wednesday, September 10, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Join herbalist Mo Katz-Christy for a meander through the neighborhood to meet city plants and explore their medicinal uses. We will explore weeds and cultivated plants, trees, and shrubs. Note this program begins at the Growing Center, but will then walk throughout the neighborhood. Registration link here. For more information on the entire series, visit their website: https://mokatzchristy.com/.

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Join Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Council on Aging for the annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic at 11:00 a.m. at Trum Field on September 9. Call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319 for a free ticket by September 5.

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The Somerville Flea Market is now open for its 13th year. Vintage vendors, Artisan makers, Farm stand, Live DJ, plus treasures you didn’t even know existed. Sundays, August – October. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 18 Holland St.

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Somerville author Lesley Bannatyne will read and discuss her new novel-in-stories, Lake Song, at Porter Square Books, Cambridge, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 11. Lesley will be joined in conversation with Dr. Talaya Delaney, and a book signing immediately follows the event. Everyone is welcome.

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Save the Date: What the Fluff? A Tribute to Union Square Innovation is a madcap festival honoring the invention of Marshmallow Fluff. It celebrates Somerville’s long-standing tradition of innovation with live music, fluffalicious feasts, sticky games, and so much more happening Saturday, September 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. in Union Square (severe weather date Sunday, September 21).

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The Somerville Farmer’s Market Community Booth Interest form is now open. The market has two community booths available each week (free of charge) for the nonprofits, schools, and other organizations working to benefit the greater Somerville community. Petition the greater Somerville community by tabling for your organization. Community Booth form: https://forms.gle/L62Zr2RtUK4NjqmW9. The priority deadline is September 27. Email swfm_community@artsatthearmory.org with any questions.

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SYS is proud to announce that TOPSoccer will be coming to our community beginning in September. This program for players with mental and physical disabilities will make an incredibly positive impact on our families. The registration link and other information will be available at www.somervillesoccer.org. For more information on TOPSoccer, please visit https://mayouthsoccer.org/events-and-programs/topsoccer/.

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As the next step in realizing Somerville’s Master Plan to transform the city’s Armory building into a public community arts center, the Ballantyne Administration is sharing phase one application guidance for interested prospective arts tenants. For more information, visit voice.somervillema.gov/armory-master-plan.

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On September 13, the Gilman Square Arts & Music Festival will be back to highlight local artists, makers, performers, and food vendors. This event is supported by the Somerville Arts Council and is made possible by an LCC grant, the generous support of local businesses, and volunteers from the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council. Saturday, September 13, from 12 to 5 p.m. (severe weather date: Sunday, September 14), located on Pearl St. from Marshall to James Street.

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The Somerville High School Class of 1980 Reunion Social is taking place Saturday, October 4, from 7 to 10 p.m., Jake n Joe’s, 230 Mishawum Rd., Woburn, MA. Checks should be made out to SHS Class of 1980, c/o Mary Ellen Melaragni, 9 Churchill Circle, Winchester, MA 01890, wasmith1492@gmail.com. No tickets will be sold at the door.

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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 through October 25, except September 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. Thanks to their partnership with the City of Somerville and the Somerville Farmers Market Coalition, they are proud to continue to offer our SNAP match. For more info, visit unionsquaremain.org/2025-season.

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The Davis Square Market is open for the 2025 Season. The market will run every Wednesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., 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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Through the generosity of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and under 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. 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.