Somerville’s 2026 high school graduates are invited to apply for City of Somerville Municipal Scholarships designed to help students launch their next steps, be that professional training, college, or a job in the trades. Selected applicants will receive $2,000 to help with post-secondary education expenses, including tuition, professional programs and certifications, and union fees. The deadline to apply is March 27. To qualify for consideration, students must be in high school, a resident of the City of Somerville at the time the financial aid is awarded, and be accepted to an accredited post-secondary institution. Awards are granted both on the basis of merit and need. To apply, students must complete the online application at bit.ly/municipalschol26 by Friday, March 27, at midnight. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/scholarship or contact 311 (617-666-3311).

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Somerville’s Council on Aging St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon takes place Tuesday, March 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Dilboy Post located at 351 Summer Street. Join them for an afternoon of music, a lunch of corned beef and cabbage, and a performance by the Rebecca McGowan School of Irish Dance. $10 per person. Please reserve your spot by calling Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: a big Happy birthday to Dennis Fishman. You can enjoy his book reviews published here in The Times. We hope Dennis has a wonderful birthday. Happy birthday to former Alderman and a great guy, Jack Connolly. We hope he has a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Patrick Callinan, Toni Vetrano, Jackie Levy Harrington, Donald Coutoumas, Kiette Murphy Jones, Jim Halloran, Okie Oconnell, Patrick Fitzgerald, and Kristin Gore, a very happy birthday. To all those who are also celebrating this week, we wish them a happy birthday.

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The Rás na hÉireann USA 5K, takes place on Sunday, March 15, at 11 a.m. The race course is an accurately wheel-measured 5Km, beginning and ending in Davis Square. Rás na hEireann is the most genuine Irish race this side of the Atlantic. Everyone is invited to Somerville, all runners and walkers, to celebrate life, the coming of spring, and to enjoy a memorable race and St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The Ras na hEireann U.S.A. 5Km is open to all, from beginners to international stars. To register, visit: https://www.theraceofireland.com/.

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Liam Mannion and Bob McWatters invite the public to join them on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at Sally O’Brien’s, 335 Somerville Ave., to celebrate Irish heritage with music, corned beef cabbage, and a pint of Guinness. At Sally O’Brien’s on St Patrick’s Day, there will be plenty of laughter, libations, and many special guests coming by throughout the day to join in the festivities.

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Book signing by Somerville author Bansari Mitra, author of Ghosts From The Past: Gothic and Postcolonial Themes in 19th & 20th Century Novels, Wilderness House Press. Lovestruck Books, 44 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. March 22, 1 – 3 p.m.

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The Somerville Recreation Adaptive Sports Clinic is a welcoming, inclusive program designed for participants of all abilities to explore hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, and football in a supportive and fun environment. With an emphasis on skill-building, teamwork, and confidence, this free clinic creates opportunities for athletes to move, play, and shine at their own pace. Saturdays, March 14 – April 11. Register online at www.somervillerec.com.

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Somerville Media Center is hosting a special 3-part workshop series, Women in Film, on March 15 and 22. Sign up here: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/smc/shop/activities/6682997. Celebrate Women’s History Month and learn about women’s and nonbinary filmmaking history, get hands-on production and camera training, and create your own film project. All three classes are free for members and $30 for non-members. Sign up at the link or email frontdesk@somervillemedia.org.

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Attend the next SomerWrites event at Portico Brewing on March 17 at 7 p.m., featuring an open mic and guest talk with Somerville poet David Blair, 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. Read more and stay updated: https://somervilleartscouncil.org.

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East Somerville Main Streets is looking for artisans, craftspeople, and small business owners to join them for Carnaval on June 7, 2 – 6 p.m. Rain date: June 14. Interested in being part of one of East Somerville’s most vibrant community events? Find more details and apply now: https://forms.gle/oWgWoh6BNFmy32g57.

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Please join Somerville Media Center in honoring former Mayor Joe Curtatone with their Public Service Award on Thursday, June 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 119 Highland Ave, in Somerville. The celebratory evening will feature cheeses and specialty bites provided by Formaggio Kitchen and more, tasty drinks from Arts at the Armory, live music by Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, raffles, and a special presentation honoring Joe Curtatone’s long-standing advocacy for community media and Somerville Media Center. Proceeds from the event will directly support our programs and services. Tickets are available online: https://tinyurl.com/joecurtatone.

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Uprooted / Transplanted – Stories of Displacement Call for Entry, Deadline: March 30. The Nave Gallery, in partnership with the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church (CHPC), invites artists to contribute to the curated exhibition. This exhibition will present images and stories of displacement, the forced movement of people from their homes due to conflict, violence, or natural disaster. Learn more at https://navegallery.org/wp/uprooted-transplanted-call-for-art/.

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Please return your completed City of Somerville Census. Participation in the census is essential for keeping an accurate population count, and it updates or maintains your status as an active voter for upcoming elections. Completed census forms can be returned via the postage-paid return envelope included in the mailing, by scanning the form and emailing it to census@somervillema.gov, or in person at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.). Please call 311 (617-666-3311) with any questions.

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Join the Somerville Museum for the closing reception of Crafting the Mind, an exhibition of contemporary fiber art that speaks to the early history of crafts as a therapeutic practice at McLean Hospital, the country’s first psychiatric hospital. McLean patients created textiles and other crafts for therapeutic benefit as part of the hospital’s “moral cure,” an approach to treatment that emphasized compassionate care, access to nature, and patient activities. Crafting the Mind explores the evolving definitions of “care,” “health,” and “treatment” in different cultural contexts, as well as today’s advocacy movement for mental healthcare equity. Sunday, March 28, 2 – 5 p.m. Somerville Museum, One Westwood Rd. http://somervillemuseum.org.

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On Friday, April 10, GLOWBALL will transform the Armory Performance Hall into an immersive Rave created by DJ WhySham and visual projectionist Jay Medina, all in support of The Center for Arts at the Armory. GLOWBALL is an “anti-gala”—there will be no speeches, presentations, or auction. There will be pop-up performances by Sean Bjerke and RHOUSE Dancers; The House of Nahdra, AfroFuture Fashion Portal, and Circus 617. This year’s honorees: Ellen Waylonis, Lifetime Achievement Award; Willie Burnley, Community Arts Advocate; and Wendy Jehlen, Outstanding Artist. GLOWBALL tickets include complimentary international bites and glow-in-the-dark styling and face painting. This will surely be Somerville’s most illuminating party of 2026. For tickets and more information, visit: https://artsatthearmory.org/

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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 warm-ingcenter@somervillema.gov. The Cummings Building, 42 Prescott St.

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Join this year’s Guns & Hoses with Somerville Fire and Somerville Police, Saturday, March 21, 5 – 7 p.m., Loconte Memorial Rink, 97 Locust St, Medford. After Party at Public Tavern, 565 Broadway, Somerville, 8 p.m. Knock-Out 50/50, $100 each, cash only. All Proceeds to benefit the Somerville Youth Hockey and SHS Hockey Programs.

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The Irish Film Festival Boston tickets are now on sale for their March Screening Series with the Consulate General of Ireland, Boston, on March 20 and 21 at the Somerville Theatre. Visit their website for tickets and film details: https://www.irishfilmfestival.com.

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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: 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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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. For support or additional information, please contact mconlan@shcinc.org.

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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. Next clinic will be Thursday, March 12, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Council on Aging, 167 Holland Street.

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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 Council on Aging is able to 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. They currently have available: Commodes, Bath Benches, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies, and Transport Wheelchairs (wheelchairs are intended for transport and are not self-propelling or self-breaking). 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.