The 20th Annual Honk Festival of Activist Street Bands will be hitting the streets of Somerville this weekend from October 9 through 12 (rain or shine). HONK! 2025 will feature a wide variety of musical/activist events planned for Tufts University, in Medford (HONK! U Conference on Thursday), Davis Square, in Somerville (street music, workshops, lantern parades on Friday and Saturday); and Harvard Square, in Cambridge (with a vast Parade out of Davis Sq. to then participate in Oktoberfest, on Sunday). More info at: https://honkfest.org/.

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All city offices are closed Monday, October 13, for Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day.

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Happy birthday greetings this week to several locals: Happy birthday to City Councilor Will Mbah. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to Valerie Spinale. We hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to Steve Hardy. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Naomi Harrison, daughter of Kaitlin Denk. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Kerri Shannon Schaefer, Michael Buckley, Ben Echevarria, Lusann Wishart, Sue Casazza Smith, Alan Ball Blydenburgh, Phyllis D’Anna, George Bevans, Mary Marshall, and Ron Sensale, a 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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The City of Somerville is seeking polling place workers and standby poll workers for the upcoming Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 4. Many poll workers are needed to support operations and conduct a successful election. Poll workers must be ready to step in as needed on Election Day. The workday starts at 6:30 a.m. and ends after the polls close at 8 p.m., with a two-hour break. The compensation is $240 per day. To apply, please email Human Resources at hradmin@somervillema.gov. To learn more, please contact the Elections Office at 617-625-6600 ext. 4200.

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Voter registration deadline for the General Election by mail or in person, or online until midnight (www.registertovotema.com) by 5 P.M., Friday, October 24.

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

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The Somerville Public Library is asking for community feedback to help shape its next five-year strategic plan. Residents, workers, and visitors are invited to share their ideas for how the library can best develop its collections, programs, services, and spaces. The survey is open through Wednesday, October 15, takes about five minutes to complete, and is voluntary and anonymous. Participants can take the survey online at tinyurl.com/58vmk4vw or complete a paper copy at any Somerville Public Library location. For more information about Somerville Public Library programs and services, visit www.somervillepubliclibrary.org.

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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 next meetings will be on Wednesday, October 8, Ward 6, Somerville Community Baptist Church, and All Ward Virtual Meeting: Interpretation into Spanish and Portuguese available, Tuesday, October 14, online via Zoom. Webinar ID: 839 4843 1643, Dial-In: +1 305-224-1968. https://www.somervillema.gov/communitymeetings.

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East Somerville Fall Clean Up 2025. Enjoy community time, meet your neighbors, and take a walk through a brand-new East Somerville. Join them on Saturday, November 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. They will provide delicious coffee and pastries from Ola Café, meet at 115 Broadway, East Branch Library.

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Somerville’s biggest spooky party is back with SomerStreets: Monster Mash. Sunday, October 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. (Severe weather date, October 26) in Union Square. Get ready for a spooktacular afternoon of activities, food, music, and more: www.somervilleartscouncil.org/events/monster-mash.

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The Somerville Museum will host Ghosts of Somerville at the Milk Row Cemetery, Somerville Ave, Sunday, October 19, 2 – 4 p.m. Visit the city’s oldest burial ground, where friendly ghosts will tell you about their lives in 18th-century Somerville. Discover our city’s history through the eyes of those who lived it. Part of Somer-streets: Monster Mash.

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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, 51 Winthrop St, Medford.

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Terra Firma, an exhibit of paintings and prints, will be on display October 4 – 23 in the auditorium of the Central Library, 79 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA. The public is invited to a reception and Q&A with the artist on Friday, October 10, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

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Child Find Screenings: Free for Somerville residents ages 3–5 years, Thursday, October 9, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., Capuano Early Childhood Center, 150 Glen Street. Somerville Public Schools is offering free preschool and kindergarten screenings for young children residing in Somerville who are not enrolled in our schools. Screenings are a way to assess children’s developmental progress and identify children who may need further evaluation for special education services. There are two additional screening dates on January 13, 2026, and March 26, 2026.

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The Somerville Community Growing Center is starting to plan for its annual Winter Wreath Project. This critical end-of-year fundraising effort is also a fun way to come together in the fall and winter. Pop-up work sessions for flower and cone prep take place on October 19 and 24 and November 1 and 2. Help prep the dried flowers and pine cones in preparation for wreath assembly, and learn how to make bows. Sign up to help on their Sign Up Genius page https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AA9AC2DA5FDC07-59207939-wreath#/.

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Free Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Visit somervillema.gov/vaccinations to find Flu and COVID vaccine clinics this year and register for your appointment. More clinics will be added throughout the season.

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Night at the Museum: A Stuffed Animal Sleepover, Thursday, October 9, 5 p.m., Friday, October 10, 11 a.m., Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road. Bring your child’s favorite or second favorite stuffed animal to the Somerville Museum for a special overnight adventure. Drop off toys for a cozy storytime and a slideshow of all the fun the stuffed animals had after hours. Visit https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Saturday, October 11. Next monthly Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day at DPW (1 Franey Rd., 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.).

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Attend the Broadway Magoun Reconstruction Project kick-off meeting. Community members are invited to attend a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. online via Zoom. City staff will introduce the project, and attendees are welcome to share their ideas and experiences travelling along Broadway. Get all project information at www.somervillema.gov/broadwaymagoun.

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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, marion.annacone@gmail.com.

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Dilboy Post will be holding its third 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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Somerville Media Center and The Somerville Beacon will host candidate debates for Somerville’s City Councilor At Large and Mayoral races on Monday, October 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Crystal Ballroom at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. Admission is free and doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. for drinks and refreshments from the cash bar (ID required for alcohol). No signs, banners, backpacks, or oversized bags will be permitted. The At Large debate, 6 – 7 p.m., will be moderated by Keri Rodrigues, founder and president of the National Parents Union. The Mayoral debate, 7:30-8:30 p.m., will be moderated by Ben Orenstein, founder of The Somerville Beacon.

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On Thursday, October 23, join in on the City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.) at 5 p.m. for the fourth annual Truck O’ Treat. Attendees can trick-or-treat on the concourse and enjoy lawn games, activities, and more. Rain date is Thursday, October 30.

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Kitty Connection, a non-profit that facilitates pet adoptions throughout Greater Boston and the North and South Shores, will host a Silent Auction and Lasagna Dinner on Saturday, November 1 (6-9 p.m.) at the Irish American Club, 177 West Street, Malden. To learn more about Kitty Connection and pets available for adoption, visit: www.kittyconnection.net

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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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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 P