Celebrate Week of the Young Child on April 16. Somerville families, educators, and caregivers are invited to a community celebration on Thursday, April 16, on the Somerville High School concourse (81 Highland Ave.) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event will include family-friendly food, music, and activities. For more information regarding Somerville’s child and youth programs or initiatives, please visit www.somervillehub.org.

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Patriot’s Day Colonial Fair will take place on Monday, April 20,  from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Foss Park, 49 Fellsway West. Enjoy History In The Park. Join in for the 250th Patriots’ Day Commemoration. Enjoy colonial games and activities, delicious refreshments, and a chance to greet Paul Revere. Presented in collaboration with the City of Somerville. Admission is free.

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To those celebrating their birthdays this week: A big happy birthday to former Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, who is celebrating this week. We hope she has a great day. Happy birthday to former alderman and great guy, Jack Connolly. We hope he has a nice day. Happy birthday to Jesse Moos. We hope he enjoys his day. Happy birthday to a nice guy, Blake Maddux, who has written in the past for this us. We wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Julie Phelan Brady. We hope she enjoys her day. Happy birthday to Jim Cook, who is celebrating this week. We wish a happy birthday to all of our Facebook friends, such as Mark Hnl Kaye, Eilen Langille, Karen Muti Standel, Missy JT, Olga Solomita, Joanne Veneziano Finnegan, Patricia Ferrelli, Carol Duffy, Jackie Coviello, Lee Erica Byron Palmer, and Benjamin Holmes, who are all celebrating this week. To all the others we may have missed and, yes, we must admit there are a few more out there. We sincerely wish them the very best of birthdays.

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All city offices are closed on Patriots’ Day, Monday, April 20. All city offices are closed. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day.

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We Create Diamonds closing reception will take place on April 18, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.,155 Powder House Blvd. We Create Diamonds is a call to the creative community in response to the widespread events sweeping the nation. With each day, we seem to be facing a new hardship – as well as pre-existing ones – that push us as a society to the limit of what we as a people can endure.

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Somerville High School is currently accepting prom donations on behalf of our senior class. We welcome attire to help make this special night accessible for all students. Monetary gifts are appreciated; however, we ask that cash donations not be given. Thank you for being so supportive in making prom a memorable experience for our seniors. All donations can be dropped off at the Somerville Police Station.

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The city has been busy lately fixing potholes. Residents who spot a pothole, especially larger or more hazardous ones, are encouraged to submit a 311 report, which can be done via phone, email, app, web form, or social media. Phone: 311 (dial 617-666-3311 if calling from outside of Somerville) TTY/Hearing Impaired (only) dial 866-808-4851 or Email 311requests@somervillema.gov.

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PorchFest in Somerville is back on Saturday, May 9. Rain or shine. West Zone 12 – 2 p.m.(West of Willow Ave), Central Zone, 2 – 4 p.m. (Willow Ave to Central St), East Zone 4 – 6 p.m. (East of Central St). Check out the map ahead of time to plan out which locations you want to visit. Somerville PorchFest is a community-powered music event where neighbors host musicians on porches across the city. Each year, thousands of residents and visitors walk, bike, and attend performances throughout the city. Severe weather and other emergencies can happen. PorchFest attendees can sign up for day-of emergency text alerts for this year’s event: text SOMPORCHES26 to 888777. Check out the website for updated information: www.somervilleartscouncil.org/porchfest/

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Fair Housing Month Film Screening and Discussion, April 16. In recognition of Fair Housing Month, join in for a film screening and panel discussion of Segregated by Design, which will touch on fair housing, discrimination, and how it impacts us locally. This event will be held on Thursday, April 16, at Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

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The Somerville Community Growing Center is looking for donations of soup cans. Please save and donate your well-washed-out cans and milk jugs for upcoming lantern-making workshops for Now Is Still Here. They need soup cans (the size of a Progresso soup can is perfect), metal coffee cans (both smaller and larger sizes), and half-gallon milk jugs. Please drop off clean items in the designated bin at the Growing Center during future Open Hours or reach out to Tom King (Tom_in_Davis_Square@comcast.net).

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Join Union Square Main Streets and 60+ of your favorite local food producers for the 22nd Annual Union Square Farmers Market. Shop local Saturdays from May 9 to October 31, except July 4 and September 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Union Square Plaza. They continue to offer our SNAP matches. Check the market webpage for the latest info and to see which vendors accept SNAP. To get the latest updates about the Union Square Farmers Market, visit unionsquaremain.org/2026-season.

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Explore the intersection of climate action and art at Somerville Open Studios (May 2 – 3). From April 25 to May 17, visit RE New/Recycled Art Locavore Show (62A Summer Street). This exhibit celebrates transformation, sustainability, and creative reinvention. This show explores how discarded and repurposed materials can be re-imagined into compelling sculptural forms and textures that speak to environmental awareness and artistic innovation. Curated by @katpop72. For more information, visit www.somervilleopenstudios.org.

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Want to sell your goods? Applications for 2026 are now open for the Somerville Flea. Join them in Davis Square from August to October. Apply now and be a part of the action. https://www.thesomervilleflea.com/sell

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A reminder that yard waste pickup began the week of April 13. Yard waste should be put out with your trash and recycling on your normal pickup day and be in either a paper bag or a trash barrel with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker. Get stickers free of charge at the DPW building (1 Franey Rd.), at the entrance desk at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.), or by emailing 311requests@somervillema.gov.

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Regular street sweeping schedules resumed on Wednesday, April 1, and will continue through December 31. Community members should check street signs to know when parking is prohibited due to sweeping. On designated street sweeping days, vehicles must be moved from the side of the street being swept, as noted on signs posted on each street. Vehicles that do not move may be ticketed and towed. For more information on street sweeping, visit somervillema.gov/sweeping or call 311 (617-666-3311).

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Somerville teens (ages 14+) can now apply for the 2026 Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program, a six-week paid opportunity to earn money, build skills, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the city runs. Interested youth can apply now through Thursday, April 30, by completing the online application at somervillema.gov/summerjobs. All applicants will be interviewed in early May. Applicants must be Somerville residents or enrolled in a Somerville school and at least 14 years of age by May 4, 2026. Summer jobs require approximately 20 hours per week, with most positions running July 6 through August 14. All positions are paid an hourly rate of $18.85. All applicants will be interviewed in early May. For any questions, please email summerjobs@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311).

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Somerville High School and the Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation are proud to announce the formation of the Somerville High School Alumni Newsletter. Through this newsletter, they aim to strengthen the bonds of the SHS community by providing important updates, honoring the achievements of their alumni through inspiring stories, assisting alumni with opportunities to engage in the SHS Community, and fostering the spirit of SHS pride and belonging that unites them all. The Somerville High School Alumni Newsletter will be published semi-annually in December/January and May/June. Subscribe to the Somerville High School Alumni Newsletter at https://www.shsscholarship.org/shs-alumni-newsletter, and they will email you the alumni newsletter when it comes out this spring. They are also in the process of creating an SHS Alumni Home Page that will be found on both the school’s and foundation’s websites. Make this your go-to place for all things SHS alumni-related. More information on this will be published in the upcoming SHS Alumni Newsletter.

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Celebrate your love of music, vinyl, and independent record stores on Record Store Day 2026 w/Vinyl Index at Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way in Somerville. On Saturday, April 18, Vinyl Index hosts our annual Record Store Day bash throughout all of Bow Market with DJ sets all day, music-inspired food, drinks, and merch from the Bow Market shops, including exclusive designs pressed live on tees and totes by AntiDesigns, and of course lots of records. There are no pre-orders/holds for Record Store Day titles; first-come, first-served, limit 1 per customer. See the full RSD list here – https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases.

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A Somerville Tour of Mount Auburn Cemetery. Join Mount Auburn docent and Somerville resident Robin Hazard Ray for a walking tour of America’s first “garden” cemetery. Established in 1831, the Cemetery boasts not only a sublime landscape and abundant wildlife but also a formidable roster of former Somerville residents. We will visit the graves of university founder Charles Tufts, FDR chief of staff Marguerite (Missy) LeHand, and composer Henry K. Hadley, among other notable spots. Please wear sturdy walking shoes. Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Mt. Auburn Cemetery, 58 Mt. Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA.

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With Fiscal Year 2027 approaching, the Somerville Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is once again inviting residents to help shape the next round of CPA-funded projects through the CPA survey (www.bit.ly/cpasurvey2026) or by giving feedback at a virtual public hearing (www.bit.ly/cpahearing2026) on April 22.

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The Somerville Arts Council is pleased to announce the March Artist of the Month, Barbara Mangum, an art conservator and long-time board member of the Somerville Museum. Read the full interview here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/aotm/2026/barbara-mangum/.

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Sign up for the city’s Planning, Preservation, and Zoning (PPZ) Newsletter. Stay informed on the updates shaping your neighborhood and city. Curated by PPZ staff, get quick updates on planning initiatives, efforts, and zoning updates. Sign up now and explore other cities and department newsletters at www.somervillema.gov/subscribe.

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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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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.