Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City of Somerville Department of Health and Human Services invite community members to attend Somerville’s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience on Thursday, November 20, at the Council on Aging (167 Holland St) from 5 to 6 p.m.The program will include remarks from Mayor Ballantyne, members of the Somerville LGBTQ+ community, and the city’s LGBTQ+ Services Co-ordinator. The event is free and open to all, and live ASL interpretation will be provided. For more information about LGBTQ+ programming, events, and resources, please email lgbtqservices@somervillema.gov or visit somervillema.gov/lgbtqservices.

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Free all ages Vaccine Clinic (Flu and COVID-19), Thursday, November 20, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. West Library, 40 College Ave. The best way to reduce your risk from these respiratory viruses and their potentially serious complications is to get a flu and COVID-19 vaccine every year. Both flu and COVID-19 vaccines are conveniently offered at multiple locations across Somerville, improving access for all residents with no out-of-pocket costs. Visit https://www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations to see more clinics.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Somerville’s oldest recycler, Allen Nissenbaum, as he celebrates his 82nd birthday. Happy birthday to Tracey Leah Pratt, who is celebrating this week. We wish Tracey a very happy birthday. Happy birthday to Bobby Potaris, who celebrates this week. A great guy and a great father. Happy birthday to Craig Resmini. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to Joan Puglia, a lifelong resident who is celebrating this week as well. She’s the wife of former alderman Andy. Happy birthday to a great friend of ours, Malitta Knaut. A great person. We wish her the very best. Happy birthday to Diane Johansen, another friend of ours, a lifelong resident of Winter Hill. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Dennis Biondo, Philip D’Arcangelo, Peggy Henderson, Nancy Jones, Joe Beckmann, Joellen Guidi, Mary Silvestro, JoEllen Guidi, Suzanne Ferola, Bill McCoy, Todd Easton, Marie Coady, and Peggy Ryan Lookliss 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 Connexion closet is accepting clothing donations, all seasons, all genders, and all sizes. The most wanted items are pants and jackets. You can drop off donations at Connexion, 149 Broadway, this week, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please make sure you leave donations inside the building with a label that says “For Connexion closet”. Need clothes? The Connexion closet opens Mondays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m. Want to donate and can’t drop it off? Email closet@connexionumc.org to coordinate a pick up. Questions email: closet@connexionumc.org.

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Calling all Antiques Roadshow fans! Rick Keller, from Perfect Pastime 617, is offering a community-wide collectibles appraisal event. Saturday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Library, 79 Highland Ave. So gather up all your Pokémon/sports cards/memorabilia, coins, watches, video games/consoles, comics, fine/broken jewelry, sterling silver, etc., to see if you have treasure or trash. All antiques and collectibles are welcome. Register for an appraisal or to be an audience member, visit: https://somervillepubliclibrary.org/library/hours-locations/central-library/.

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On Thursday, December 4, the Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.). Activities begin at 5 p.m. Special gifts will be available for children. Includes live entertainment and light refreshments. Rain date: December 9.

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On Monday, December 15, the Menorah Lighting takes place on the City Hall Concourse (93 Highland Ave.). Activities begin at 6 p.m. Traditional songs and sing-alongs. Special gifts will be available for children. Light refreshments will be served.

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Somerville Illuminations begins Friday, December 12. Showcase and admire Somerville’s best and brightest holiday lights. Add your home or business by Thursday, December 11, to be featured on the online Illuminations map https://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminations/.

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Brickbottom & Joy Street Open Studios will take place on November 22 and 23, 12 – 6 p.m. Brickbottom Artists Building, 1 Fitchburg Street, and Joy Street Studios, 86 Joy St. Brickbottom & Joy Street Open Studios is an annual event where artists in the Brickbottom district open their studio doors to the public. Visitors can explore a wide range of artwork, meet the artists, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how and where the work is made. It’s one of the longest-running Open Studios events in the region and a highlight of the local arts calendar.

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For anyone in need of food resources, go to the Somerville Food Coalition’s website: www.https://bit.ly/4ocJ6NB. Freelocal pantries, community meals, community fridges, and more. Find more information at https://www.somervillema.gov/snap. Here are some locations where you can find free food at Somerville’s Community Fridges can be found at 35 Prospect St., Elizabeth Peabody House, 275-277 Broadway, St. Clements, across from 29 St. Clements Road. Donations are welcome at these locations.

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Next Wave and Full Circle Wreath Sale is the district’s alternative therapeutic middle and high school. They work with kids from across the district who have experienced academic setbacks and need support getting back on track. They are selling wreaths to help fund field trips, experiential learning, community building, and incentives. Wreaths cost $25 and can be purchased at this order link: https://trst.in/s0aASi

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The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., will host and manage the 16th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 1 through April 11, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. In addition to cash, credit, and debit, SNAP / EBT is also accepted at the market. CAA raises funds to be able to provide a $15 match so that SNAP / EBT for every SNAP/EBT customer who spends at least $15 of their SNAP/EBT dollars at the market. The market is also participating in the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which allows qualifying customers to receive between $40 – $80 worth of free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from participating HIP vendors. To learn more and for a complete listing of vendors, weekly specials, and live entertainment, please visit www.somwintermarket.org.

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The 29th Gobble Gobble race takes place on Thursday, November 27, at 9 a.m. Presented by the Somerville Road Runners, the Gobble Gobble Gobble road race starts and ends in Davis Square (at the heart of Somerville), features a unique 4-mile course, and offers a fun opportunity to start Thanksgiving on a high and healthy note. Proceeds benefit Somerville Homeless Coalition, Somerville Track PAC, Stride for Stride, and Dilboy VFW Veterans Relief Fund. For more information and registration, visit https://runsignup.com/gobblegobblegobble.

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The Somerville Police Department is now accepting direct hires. They are looking for dedicated, motivated individuals ready to serve one of the most diverse and dynamic communities in the Northeast. If you’re MPTC-trained and looking for a department that values teamwork, community engagement, career growth, and competitive benefits, this is your opportunity. Join our team and make a real impact. Apply at: CityOfSomerville.ApplyToJob.com.

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Visit ROOTED Armory Café for their monthly recurring Café events this November. Upcoming events include: Atomic Comedy Improv Night, Thursday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m., GottaBal! Balboa Dance, Sunday, November 23, at 4:00 p.m., Nova Comedy Collective’s Big Bang Standup, Friday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. More info available for each event on their website.

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The Somerville Homeless Coalition is preparing for the impact. They are looking for help for their clients fed by cooking a meal or donating a donor dash or restaurant gift card through their Meal Train link: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/vgelkg.

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Somerville Water and Sewer billing is now on a quarterly schedule. As of November 2025, all Somerville Water and Sewer residents will move to a quarterly billing schedule, designed to make managing your water and sewer payments simpler, more predictable, and easier to budget throughout the year. Under this schedule, bills will be issued four times per year. https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/water-and-sewer/billing-schedule.

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Story Circle: Indigenous Tales through film and storytelling at the Somerville Museum on November 22 at 10 a.m., One Westwood Rd. Join in at the Somerville Museum for a powerful and engaging program that brings Indigenous stories to life through film and spoken word. Designed for students in grades K–8, this program introduces young audiences to the rich cultural traditions, histories, and contemporary voices of Indigenous communities across North America.

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The Cosmetology Salon at Somerville High School is open. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by appointment only. Make an appointment by calling 617-629-5250 x611550. All services are provided for a nominal fee.

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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 Museum presents Discover “Ring It On” at Market Basket in Somerville. A glimpse into modern life through digital video projection. By Barbara Jo, Nathan, Fash, and Olga Mesa. On view until December 6. Visit today (2 – 5 p.m.) or Saturday (12 – 5 p.m.). One Westwood Road. For more information, visit www.somervillemuseum.org.

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Revel in this holiday season the Union Square way as you shop indie at locally-owned businesses, sip festive libations, and merrily mingle at the Union Square Jingle on Sunday, December 7. Make your way to Union Square in Somerville from 1 to 6 p.m. (extreme weather date December 14) by foot, bike, bus, Greenline, or sleigh. Metered parking is free on Sundays.

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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.