Community members are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the city’s annual celebration. The event will take place on Saturday, January 17, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave). The celebration will include light food and refreshments, arts and crafts for all ages, youth performances including speeches, poetry, and music, and a keynote address delivered by Dr. James “Jimmy” McCarty, focused on the life and legacy of Dr. King. Light food and refreshments will also be served. RSVP to attend at bit.ly/MLK_2026.

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City buildings will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day. All Somerville Public Library locations will also be closed. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, January 20.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy Birthday to former At-large city councilor Willie Burnley Jr, we wish him well. Happy birthday to Katie Lathasha Harris. We wish her the very best of birthdays as well. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Suzanne Ryan Marks, Paul Nunziato, James Ribeiro, Leslie Figueira, Rachel Tonello, and Rosemary Ardagna, 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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Veterans Lunch and Learn on January 15. Local veterans, their families, and community members are invited to come together to connect, share stories, and access helpful resources. West Branch Library (40 College Ave.) from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://somervillepubliclibrary.org/.

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On Saturday, January 17, at 7:00 p.m. in the Performance Hall, Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Dreamworldgirl Zine and LoveCashionista are excited to officially announce the first-ever DreamLove Fashion Show in Boston. More info and tickets available here: https://posh.vip/e/the-dreamlove-show.Tickets are $20. All Ages are Welcome.

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A reminder that Christmas tree pickup is underway in Somerville through Friday, February 13. Trees can be placed curbside on your regular trash day after removing all decorations. Do not put trees in a plastic bag. Constituents should contact 311 (617-666-3311) if their tree has been out for over two weeks.

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The Somerville Arts Council is celebrating its 2025 Artists of the Month. Meet the artists, learn about their work, and celebrate creativity in Somerville. Join in on January 21, 6:30 p.m. at Connexion (149 Broadway). Light refreshments served. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/aotm/.

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The Somerville Fair Housing Commission is seeking one new member, and all Somerville residents are invited to apply. The Fair Housing Commission works to ensure that all current and prospective Somerville residents have equal access to housing, free from discrimination and prejudice. Learn more and apply by January 30.Visit www.somervillema.gov/BeSomerville to stay up to date on opportunities with all of our boards and commissions.

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Registration for Somerville Open Studios 2026 is open through February 15. If you want to apply for financial aid, the deadline is Sunday, January 18. The event is Saturday and Sunday, May 2 – 3. Visit their website for registration details https://www.somervilleopenstudios.org/web/join.

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The Cities of Cambridge and Somerville and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority are working together to create plans for future sewer improvements that will reduce pollution in our rivers. Join virtually for a public meeting on Thursday, January 15, at 6:00 p.m. to learn more about the alternatives being considered, cost implications on rate payers, and share your feedback. Register online for this Zoom meeting: tinyurl.com/CSOZoomreg.

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Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson is collecting information for his transition office. This survey is a way for you to tell the incoming mayor what is important to you. There are 18 topics – everything from arts to schools – to choose from. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts and then share the survey with your Somerville friends and neighbors. Take the survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccTinrTVBzR6yCWP-6ZZ4JtBvJ5Z6476u3ijF5HGlIIFceA/viewform.

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Lego Derby, January 24. Bring your creativity to build and race LEGO vehicles. Prizes will be awarded. This program is intended for children ages 6 and up. Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

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Somerville Fire Local 76 Bfit Skate with Blades will be held on January 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., LoConte Rink, 97 Locust St, Medford. Admission is $20. Includes skate rental while supplies last. Enjoy a night of skating, raffles, and pizza all in one spot.

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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.

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Take steps to protect yourself and loved ones against COVID-19, the flu, and other illnesses this winter. Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department is hosting free vaccine clinics at locations across the city. Upcoming clinics include: Thursday, January 15, Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (42 Cross St.), 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, January 22, West Branch Library (40 College Ave.), 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Find all vaccine clinics on the city website and register online at www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations.

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Attend the inaugural SomerWrites event on Tuesday, January 27, at 7:00 p.m. at Portico Brewing, featuring an open mic and guest talk with Somerville Poet Laureate Lloyd Schwartz, and moderated by Somerville Arts Council Board member Sarah Beckmann. These events are free and open to all, no matter your genre or background. Whether you have academic experience in a writing field or are simply curious to learn more about different types of writing, this space is an opportunity for you to share your work and/or network with local artists. Contact Sarah (beckmann.sarah12@gmail.com) to add your name to the open mic list or to become a featured guest during one of these events.

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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.

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Apply today for Creative Space at Somerville’s Armory. All creative disciplines are encouraged to apply for open spaces now through March 11. 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. 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. Interested in leasing space and responding to the upcoming Armory RFP? Join us for an Armory Walkthrough and Matchmaking Mixer. Explore the Somerville Armory in person, learn more about the opportunity, and meet other creatives who may be interested in collaborating on a proposal. Somerville Armory (191 Highland Ave), January 15, Walkthrough: 4 – 6 p.m., Matchmaking Mixer: 5 – 7 p.m. Open to artists, designers, and creative teams at all stages. RSVP by emailing fgarate@somervillema.gov by 1 p.m. on January 15.

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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.

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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. 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 pickup. Questions email: closet@connexionumc.org.

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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.

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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.

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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 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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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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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 the medical equipment needed. 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