Join Somerville’s Finance Committee to give input on priorities for the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget at a virtual community budget meeting on Tuesday, February 10, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held on Zoom and is open to all residents. Register:  bit.ly/49PuSvU. And if you want to learn more about past budgets, visit somervillema.gov/budget.

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Ms. G, the groundhog from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, saw her shadow on February 2, which means six more weeks of winter will follow. Keep your home warm and energy efficient this winter. During colder months, older homes can bring drafts that drive up heating costs and reduce energy efficiency. To stay warm this winter, the Office of Sustainability and Environment is sharing tips to weatherize your home: Seal drafty areas like mail slots, pet doors, and spaces around external doors. Insulate windows using window film. Let sunshine in. On sunny days, open curtains and blinds to let as much sunshine into your home as possible. Not using a room? Consider closing the door permanently for the winter. This will help keep both the cold air from that room from moving into the rest of the house and all the warmth from seeping into unused spaces. For more long-term solutions, take advantage of a no-cost home energy assessment from Mass Save. To schedule an assessment, call (617) 329-4825 or visit MassSave.com/Somerville. Resources are available to landlords, renters, and homeowners.

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Happy birthday this week to the following: Happy birthday to Cheryle Snow. We wish Cheryle the very best on her birthday. Happy birthday to Bernard Gibbons. We wish him the very best on his birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Tanya Kalousdian, Sarah Martino, Steven DeCarlo, Alan Carvalho, Carolyn Dacey Corbett, Amy Ferreira, Jill Koerber, and Joan Marshall, 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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Attend the community meeting to see the updated designs for ArtFarm Park. Plans for Somerville’s unique ArtFarm park are taking shape. Join in-person at Triangle Coffee Bar (100 Chestnut St.) or virtually on Monday, February 9, at 6 p.m. to get the latest community-driven designs to transform the city’s former waste transfer site into a creative hub where gardens, public art, and recreational space bloom. Join via Zoom: bit.ly/4sWOnf8.

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The City of Somerville opened an overnight Winter Warming Center during the coldest months of the year to provide a safe, warm place to sleep for our residents experiencing homelessness. Open 5 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. daily through April 12. For questions about the Warming Center, call 311. If you need assistance getting to the Warming Center or after-hours assistance, please call (339) 242-4744. Email warmingcenter@somervillema.gov. The Cummings Building, 42 Prescott St.

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Somerville High School (SHS) and Somerville Public Schools invite all interested community members to visit during one of three Open House events on February 11 and February 12. Staff will provide an overview presentation on the state-of-the-art facility before students lead community members on a walking tour of the building. Tours will be held on Wednesday, February 11, from 8:15 to 10:00 a.m., and on Thursday, February 12, during two sessions: 8:15 – 10:00 a.m. and 12:45 – 2:15 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, tours will be rescheduled for February 24, with times to be determined. For more complete information and office hours, please visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us/enrollment.

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Go Pats Bingo with the Council on Aging. Thursday, February 5, 10:00 a.m., Holland Street Center, 167 Holland Street. Help the COA recognize and honor celebrations throughout the year with their themed Bingo’s in 2026. Wear your favorite football gear as we get ready for Superbowl Sunday.

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Local Somerville non-profit arts organization Around Hear is holding, in partnership with the Somerville Housing Authority, a free concert on Saturday, February 7, 2 – 4 p.m., Mystic Activity Center, 530 Mystic Ave. Get in the mood for Valentine’s Day with a program of heart-on-sleeve music for violin and piano, performed by Around Hear co-directors Marji Gere and Dan Sedgwick. For those of you who listen best with your hands, this concert will feature a special Valentine’s active listening activity. Choose cards from their Valentine card station and write messages to your special someone(s) while you listen. There will be a dessert potluck following the concert. Bring a sweet to share or just come and taste the sweet offerings.

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The Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., will be hosting a DIY Milkjug Greenhouse workshop on February 7, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., led by volunteer Danielle Krcmar. Get some cold-hardy plants started for spring. Please bring a clear plastic milk jug, but they will have some extras. Soil and seeds are available. Register here to get a spot: https://thegrowingcenter.org.

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The Council on Aging’s Valentine’s Day Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, February 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dilboy Post, 351 Summer Street. Join them for a performance by Chris Carter, who plays fingerstyle guitar arrangements of songs by The Beatles, Elvis, U2, Blondie, etc. $10 per person, lunch will be short ribs with vegetables and mashed potatoes. 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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The next Small Mart at The Crystal Ballroom, in Davis Square, returns on February 8. Shop small, support local independent businesses! Find something thoughtful, funny, beautiful, or unexpected from a mix of 40+ vintage sellers, makers, and artists. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving you plenty of time to shop and make Superbowl kickoff time. Free entry, all ages, wheelchair accessible, full bar. The Crystal Ballroom is located above the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

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Join the Valentine’s Day Community Event, brought to you by Cambridge Health Alliance and Somerville Health and Human Services. Join in at the Somerville Public Library on Tuesday, February 17, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the following: community resources, Valentine’s Day crafts, free STI testing and free pizza. All ages are welcome, Central Library 79, Highland Ave.

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Valentine’s Day Mixer by the Somerville Museum on Friday, February 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 1 Westwood Road. Bring a special someone, a friend, or treat yourself to a special pre-Valentine evening at the Museum with live Latin music from CuraSón, promoting love and connection by playing original music that comes from the heart. Enjoy mocktails, a chocolate tasting, sweet and savory snacks, and a free digital portrait while exploring our galleries featuring their current exhibit: Crafting the Mind. Sip and chat, dance and laugh, or sit and craft at the weaving table while meeting new people. For more information, visit: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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Join the Somerville Homeless Coalition for a night of local love at The Crystal Ballroom featuring some of Somerville’s best. Their 2026 Spring into Action celebration on March 26 brings together local flavors and fantastic live music from West of Willow and The Loomers. Be part of it and celebrate their community with them. Save the date; tickets drop in February. For support or additional information, please contact mconlan@shcinc.org.

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The Winter Hill Community Innovation School PTA is hosting a Cutest Critter Contest, a fun fundraising event for their school. Submit your pet’s photo with a $20 donation and give them a shot at awesome prizes: 1st place: A free exam by a local veterinarian, as well as six months’ worth of preventative. 2nd place: A pet gift basket tailored to your pet – worth over $50. 3rd place: A gift card to Scritches and Boops Pet Boutique Shop. Not entering a pet? No problem, you can vote for your favorite furry pals for just $1.50 per vote. Voting ends on PuppyBowl Sunday, February 8. For more info or to donate, visit: https://givebutter.com/CfLdZn.

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East Somerville Main Streets is inviting artists to apply to create the official Carnaval poster. This is a chance to showcase your creativity and help shape the visual identity of one of East Somerville’s most beloved community events. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your art featured and celebrated across the neighborhood. The deadline to apply is February 20. Apply now visit:eastsomervillemainstreets.org/carnaval2026.

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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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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 somervillema.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. For more information, visit: https://www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations.

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Do you love to sing? You are invited to join the Community Gospel Choir and sing in their free Gospel Music Concert, which will be held on Sunday, February 22, 3 – 5 p.m., at the Somerville Community Baptist Church in Davis Square (the concert is in honor of Black History Month). Singers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join the Choir. The only requirements are that you love to sing and you want to sing Gospel music. All songs will be taught. Rehearsals led by Choir director Stacie Clayton will be held on Sundays, February 8, and February 15, from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. in the Sanctuary at the Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue, two blocks from Davis Square. For more information, see www.ILoveSCBC.org.

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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/armorymasterplan. Upcoming dates to learn more about the Armory lease RFP, connect with others, and receive hands-on support as you prepare your proposal: February 10, Technical assistance session for compiling your RFP proposal, February 12, Community mixer.

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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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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 Wilson, 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 PDF copy of the paper.