Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Veterans’ Services invite the community to join the 4th Annual Health and Wellness Day on Saturday, September 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Park (290 Washington St.). This free, family-friendly event is designed to promote wellness for all ages and to connect Veterans, first responders, and their families with health and wellness resources. For questions or more information, please contact the Department of Veterans’ Services at 617-625-6600 x 4700 or veterans@somervillema.gov.

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Somerville’s Fluff Fest is turning 20, and all are invited to  celebrate the famous treat in Union Square on Saturday, September 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. (rain date: Sunday, September 21). This year’s milestone theme, Forever Fluff: 20 Years of Sticky, Sweet Somerville, marks two decades of celebrating the invention of Marshmallow Fluff in Union Square with zany games, music, fluff-filled snacks, and more.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Mary Jo Rossetti, who is a lifelong resident and a former Councilor At-Large. We wish her a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to Conor Brennan, the owner of PJ Ryan’s in Teele Square. We wish him the very best on his birthday. Happy birthday to the now-retired Somerville Homeless Coalition Director, Mark Alston-Follansbee. We wish him a happy birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Gay H. Sheldon, Carol Clements, Kimberly Vicente, Jackie Shepardhancock, Ed Grandmont, Debra Lawson Kennedy, Ellen Gagliardi, Stephen Green, Jonathan O’Connell, Adele Changer, and Kimberly Barnett, 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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Community members are invited to join Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the City Council, and the School Committee at the 2025 City Hall Community Meetings. These meetings are held every fall in each of Somerville’s seven wards to share the latest city and neighborhood updates – and more – with community members. The in-person meetings kick off with a social half-hour with free pizza and healthy kid-friendly snacks, where you can chat one-on-one with elected officials, including the mayor, your Ward and At-Large City Councilors, and School Committee members, as well as staff, about issues important to you.  The Fall 2025 meeting cycle kicks off next week with a meeting in Ward 3 on Wednesday, September 17, at the Somerville High School Cafeteria (81 Highland Ave.) and in Ward 4 on Thursday, September 18, at the Arthur D. Healey School Cafeteria (5 Meacham St.). All meetings start at 6 p.m.

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Do you live in Somerville?  Have you graduated from high school yet? Scrapheap Showdown is coming … time to get your teams together. Get two more friends and register your team. Choose a crazy name for the team and then all come on October 19 to Breed Memorial Hall at Tufts University at 51 Winthrop St, Medford – a new location last year.

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This fall, the Somerville Museum is offering programs for kids, young and old, on select Friday and Saturday mornings. On September 27, they start with special songs and puppetry with Jef Czekaj, with lyrics matching up with many of the exhibits in the History on the Line exhibition. Kids can stay afterwards for a scavenger hunt. The museum is also starting its next exhibition, Barcode Journeys with Barbara Jo, which opens on September 18. Join them for an opening reception to celebrate from 6 to 8 p.m. and exciting panels, lectures, dance performances, and more throughout the run. Visit  www.somervillemuseum.org

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Are you an artist or craftsmaker who creates objects for sale? You can rent a table to display and sell your wares on Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holiday Crafts Fair at the Somerville Community Baptist Church in Davis Square. The price for renting a table is $35.  The Fair will also feature food and fun activities for all ages. To rent a table, please make out your check for $35 to Somerville Community Baptist Church, and mail it along with your name and contact information (address, phone, email) to SCBC, 31 College Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144. For more information about the Fair, contact Marion Annacone, mari-on.annacone@gmail.com.

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Dilboy Post will be holding their 3rd Annual Comedy Fundraiser, Elaine Pelino & Friends, hosted by John Harrington. The event will be held on November 9, 2 – 5 p.m., 351 Summer St. For tickets ($25) and more information: www.dilboyvfw529.com, dilboy.post@comcast.net, 617-666-8794.

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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. The deadline to complete the survey is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 22. For general assistance in taking the survey or interpretation support for other languages, please contact 311 (617-666-3311).

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Registrations are now open for Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services’ fall Savvy Caregiver course. Savvy Caregiver is an evidence-based training program designed to help family caregivers best support a loved one with dementia and care for themselves. The course has been proven to decrease caregiver distress, burden, and depression, while increasing a caregiver’s sense of competence and confidence in their care role. Participation is free. Savvy Caregiver will be held virtually via Zoom each Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m., starting October 1 and concluding on November 12. To register, call 617-628-2601 ext. 3153 or email katherine.bonilla@eldercare.org.

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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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The Somerville Garden Club is holding its annual plant sale. Sunday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to 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, 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 on 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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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Somerville Police Chief Shumeane Benford, and the Somerville Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invite community members to a neighborhood meeting on Monday, October 6, to discuss public safety and homelessness in the Davis Square/Seven Hills area. All members of the community, including individuals and businesses, are invited to attend. Monday, October 6, 6-7:30 p.m., Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave., in the Sanctuary. This meeting will also be livestreamed on City YouTube at youtube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Submit questions in advance: For people watching the livestream, questions may be submitted in advance to davissafetymeeting@somervillema.gov. Please submit by Friday, October 3.

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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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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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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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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 pap