The staff of The Somerville Times would like to wish everyone a very happy New Year. May the year to come bring one and all good health and prosperity, and continue through to the following years to come.

*****************************

City offices will be closed for the New Year’s Holiday on January 1, 2026. Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be delayed by one day. All Somerville Public Library locations will be closed all day Thursday, January 1, for the New Year’s holiday. Regular hours will resume on Friday, January 2.

*****************************

The last day for street sweeping is December 31, 2025. Street sweeping resumes April 1, 2026.

*****************************

Ring in the new year on Thursday, January 1, 2026, as they raise the Grand Union Flag on Prospect Hill to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the first flag raising. A processional led by “George Washington” will leave from City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.) at 11:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at Prospect Hill Park from 12 to 1 p.m. This event is held in partnership with the Somerville Museum.

*****************************

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Sophia Carafotes. We wish her the very best. We hope she enjoys her day. Happy Birthday to Kevin O’Donovan. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to everyone here and from the city that is celebrating this week. We wish all our Facebook friends, such as Win Win, Helene Messina, Christopher Kenney, Thomas Ross, John Brady, Matthew Martino, Marie Miele, and Steven Anthony, 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.

****************************

The community is invited to see the creativity and holiday spirit of their neighbors by embarking on a self-guided Illuminations Tour through January 2026. The Illuminations map is available to take a self-guided tour: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/illuminationstour.

****************************

Low-income households may be eligible to receive help with winter heating costs through the Home Energy Assistance Program. This program serves residents of Somerville and Cambridge. Participants receive assistance with their heating costs between November 1 and April 30. Learn more about the program, check if you qualify, and apply for assistance today at somerville-ma.gov/heatingassistance.

****************************

Take steps to protect yourself and loved ones against COVID-19, the flu, and other illnesses in the new year. Somerville’s Health & Human Services Department is hosting free vaccine clinics at locations across the city. Find all vaccine clinics on the city website and register online at www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations

****************************

The trailer for Voices of Somerville, produced by Olivia Huang, can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGKV2LhT7WA. It concerns the voices of poets from Somerville and others in the area. The movie includes Somerville residents Gloria Mindock, Doug Holder, Lloyd Schwartz (Somerville Poet Laureate), Denise Provost, and others. The full movie will be released next month.

****************************

School meals are free for all students. Nutritious breakfast and lunch are free for all students in Somerville Public Schools. Breakfast starts at 8:15 a.m. for prekindergarten students, at 7:30 a.m. for students in grades K–8, and at 7:15 a.m. at Somerville High School and Next Wave/Full Circle. Check out the menu: https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/FE53U3.

****************************

Apply today for Creative Space at Somerville’s Armory. All creative disciplines are encouraged to apply for open spaces now through March 11, 2026. The city is now accepting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from arts and creative enterprises interested in leasing space at the city-owned Armory at 191 Highland Ave. The RFP will remain through March 11, 2026. Full details on eligibility, available spaces, lease terms, evaluation criteria, and how to submit a proposal are available on the Armory Master Plan SomerVoice page, which will serve as the primary hub for this process: www.voice.somervillema.gov/armory-master-plan. To help applicants feel confident throughout the process, the city will soon offer building tours, Q&As, and workshops. Subscribe to project updates on the SomerVoice page to be the first to know when new resources are posted. The full RFP is available on the SomerVoice page and at www.somervillema.gov/procurement.

********************************

Some reminders for the 2025/2026 snow season: Snow emergency parking is on the odd side of the street all winter, unless posted signage says differently. Sign up for alerts or update your information at somerville-ma.gov/alerts. You can call 311 (617-666-3311) if you need assistance. Flashing blue lights at major intersections indicate a snow emergency. Snow emergencies are announced on the city’s website, social media feeds, City TV, and via information shared with local media. Property owners are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks within six daylight hours of the end of snowfall. For more information on the city’s snow policies, visit somervillema.gov/snow.

********************************

Somerville’s Teen Shoveling Program is back for the 2025/26 season, providing a paid opportunity for youth to assist local seniors and homeowners with disabilities in clearing snow after a storm. The program is available for teens aged 14 to 19 years old. All interested youths must submit an application. Youths aged 18 or 19 must also submit a CORI form. For questions and to learn more, visit somervillema.gov/shoveling, contact Daniel Harris at dharris@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2406, or 311 by phone (617-666-3311), email, text, mobile app, chat, social media, web, and more at somervillema.gov/311.

********************************

The City of Somerville is seeking one new member to join the Mayor’s Appointments Advisory Committee (AAC). If you care about fairness, transparency, and community voice in local government, this is a great opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The AAC plays a key role in strengthening how Somerville selects members for its regulatory and decision-making boards and commissions. By helping review applicants and recommend finalists, AAC members ensure that appointments reflect the needs, values, and diversity of our community. How to appy: online,somervillema.gov/besomerville, email, send materials to Careers@somervillema.gov with the subject line: “AAC Member Application”, mail: City Hall – Attn: HR / Kristen Hill, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143.

********************************

For anyone in need of food resources, go to the Somerville Food Coalition’s website: www.https://bit.ly/4ocJ6NB. Free local 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.

********************************

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!

********************************

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.