Several community groups will jointly host a multi-community forum for the 2nd Middlesex State Senate candidates on July 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The forum features all five candidates: Burhan Azeem of Cambridge, Christine Barber of Somerville, Tom Hopcroft of Winchester, Matt McLaughlin of Somerville, and Erika Uyterhoeven of Somerville. Each candidate will deliver a short opening presentation and closing remarks. Moderators will ask questions submitted pre-forum by community groups, residents, and businesses. Community members from all four municipalities are encouraged to attend. To submit a question in advance and register for the event for either an in-person or virtual event, attendees can fill out the forms on the Neighbors in Action Forum Page: https://www.neighborsaction.org/forum or the Union Square Neighborhood Council Forum Page: https://sites.google.com/view/usnc/middlesex-second-forum.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Leeann Rollins. We wish her the very best for her birthday. Happy birthday to Richard Nilsson. We wish him a very happy birthday. Happy Birthday to Ward 4 Somerville School Committee member, Andre Green. We wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Corinne Brune Dellanno, Joanne Parziale, Paul Burke, Michael Dunn, Joey Sainato, Christine Desrochers-Broderick, Richard Spinosa and Joseph Cottiera 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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Enjoy a free family movie on the lawn: Babe, Wednesday, July 15, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Central Library Lawn, 79 Highland Ave. The movie will start as soon as it’s dark enough. In case of bad weather, they’ll show the movie in the auditorium.

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Aeronaut Brewing Co., 14 Tyler St, is bringing live music to Somerville this summer with Patiopalooza, a free outdoor concert series featuring some of New England’s most exciting emerging and established bands. On Saturday, July 18, they’ll host Somerville favorites, 2 p.m., Clifford, 4 p.m., Tiberius Wright, and 5:30 p.m., Makeout Palace. Admission is free.

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The World Cup is here. Celebrate with fellow fans in Somerville. Visit www.somervillema.gov/worldcup throughout the tournament to find upcoming matches and where to watch locally.

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Community members are invited to “ArtBeat 2026: REVolution” on Saturday, July 18, from 12 to 9 p.m. in Davis Square (rain date: Sunday, July 19). Admission is free and open to all. The festival will feature over 70 craft vendors, multiple food vendors, two performance stages showcasing a dynamic mix of music, dance, theater, literary readings, and interactive activities, all highlighting Somerville’s diverse and vibrant arts scene. The event takes place throughout Davis Square, including Seven Hills Park, Elm Street, and Holland Street, which will be closed to traffic. Find photos, descriptions, and start times for all ArtBeat performers at: bit.ly/artbeat2026.

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July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, strength, and achievements of individuals with disabilities. Visit the SCPD table at ArtBeat, Davis Square, for crafts, free books, and information about how to join the SCPD as an Associate Resident Member on July 18. For questions about SCPD Disability Pride Month activities, please contact ADAcommission@gmail.com.

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Friends of District Attorney Marian Ryan will be holding a meet-and-greet and a fundraiser on Thursday, July 20, at Sally O’Brien’s, 335 Somerville Ave., from 5 – 7 p.m. Seniors can attend for free. Suggested donations: $100, $250, and $500. All are welcome to attend to meet the District Attorney.

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The city’s annual SomerMovie Fest is set to return, bringing you exciting evenings of family-friendly films to be shown in parks around Somerville this summer. The next free movie screening, School of Rock (PG-13), is held on Thursday, July 16, at the Lincoln Park softball field (290 Washington St.). The approximate start time is 8:30 p.m. For more information, please visit https://www.somervillema.gov/moviefest. Persons with disabilities who need ADA accommodations to access this program, please contact ada@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311).

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Somerville’s Veterans Breakfast for Purple Heart Recipients takes place on Thursday, July 23. The city’s Veterans Services Division is hosting a breakfast for local veterans and their families. Ahead of National Purple Heart Day on August 7, this breakfast will honor Purple Heart medal recipients. This event will take place at the Highlander Cafe at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave.) at 9 a.m. Register to attend by emailing veterans@somervillema.gov.

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The City of Somerville’s Sustainability and Environment Division (SED) is now accepting applications for Cooling East Somerville, offering eligible East Somerville residents up to $5,000 to remove pavement from their property and replace it with shade trees, plants, and other cooling landscape improvements. Go to www.voice.somervillema.gov/cooling-east-somerville to learn more and apply. Interested residents can also contact Elyse Belarge at ebelarge@somervillema.gov or 781-823-9332.

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Take a survey on Bilingual Education in Somerville. Somerville Public Schools (SPS) is gathering information to better understand community perspectives on bilingual education opportunities. All families with children currently enrolled or with the potential to enroll in SPS are invited to take a brief, 10-question survey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F76SD5N. The data gathered is for informational purposes only and will help inform future planning. All responses are voluntary and confidential.

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Looking for a creative summer activity for your child? Join the Somerville Museum for the Somerville Museum Vacation Arts Program, a week of hands-on artmaking designed for ages 7–11. From August 17 to 21, young artists will explore a new mix of creative workshops each day, including beads and books, terrariums, mosaics, rhythm, printmaking, corn husk doll making, crochet, shell etching, clothing upcycling, and stuffed animal making. All materials and daily snacks are provided. 9 a.m.–12 p.m., Somerville Museum, 1 Westwood Road, $60 per day or $250 for the full week. Discounts available for siblings, Somerville Museum members, and EBT cardholders. Space is limited, register through Eventbrite. https://www.somervillemuseum.org/vacationarts.

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With the hot weather here to stay for a while, community members are encouraged to review ways to stay cool, healthy, and safe. Tips are available in multiple languages at www.somervillema.gov/keepcool.

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Save the date for the 21st Annual What the Fluff? Festival, Saturday, September 19, 1 – 5 p.m. in Union Square. Are you interested in being a vendor at this year’s Festival? Go here to find out more: unionsquare-main.org/fluffvendors.

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Dilboy Pool and Stadium are now open to the public. Dilboy Pool has a swimming and wading pool for all ages, open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Lap Swim hours from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Admission is free. Dilboy Stadium is open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m.to 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Only walking and running are permitted on the track. Admission is free. More information can be found at www.somervillerec.com. For more information on all Somerville pools, visit somervillema.gov/pools.

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Applications for Yart Sale are live. On Saturday, August 8, porches, driveways, and yards across Somerville will transform into pop-up markets fsomervillema.gov/poolseaturing artwork, crafts, collectibles, and more. Join in on the fun and apply to participate by 11:59 p.m., Monday, July 20. Rain date: August 9. For full event guidelines, visit: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/yart-sale/.

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The Powder House, Milk Row Cemetery and Prospect Hill Tower will be open to the public on select dates and times through October, as part of History on the Line, a series of exhibitions and programs organized by the Somerville Museum and funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism’s MA250 initiative and the City of Somerville. History unlocked: Drop-in chat on select Thursdays, 6 – 8 p.m., and select Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. For dates and more information, visit https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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Join the Arts at the Armory to celebrate the work of long-term collaborative partners Samuel D. Bondi and Holly Megan Sverdrup Hoyer. They will be displaying solo works as well as pieces from their ongoing collaborative project “OWÄG.” July 18, 3 – 5 p.m., 191 Highland Ave, Somerville (in The ROOTED Cafe @ Arts at the Armory).

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The Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Avenue near Davis Square, will present a free Vacation Bible School from Monday, August 10, through Friday, August 14, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All children, from age 4 up to the 5th grade, are welcome to attend. This rainforest-themed program includes Bible stories, music, creative activities, games, and free snacks each day. For more information or to register your child, see www.ILoveSCBC.org/events.

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Somergloom Festival returns for year 6 at Crystal Ballroom, August 6, 7, 8, 9. Somergloom is an underground heavy music and arts festival based in Somerville, Massachusetts, in the Greater Boston area. Unencumbered by genre, Somergloom showcases and celebrates the richness of today’s heavy music scene, centered around music that is introspective, creatively ambitious, evoking a melancholic quality that we like to call “gloom”. Limited-Time Ticket Sale Tuesday 7/7/26-7/10/26. For lineup details, visit Somergloom.com

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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 through 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 www.unionsquaremain.org/2026-season.

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Friendly Caller Program. The Somerville Council on Aging has many wonderful volunteers who are waiting to give you a call. Whether you are looking to make a new friend or would just like a friendly chat to look forward to every week, this program has you covered. Call Natasha Naim at 617-625-6600, ext. 2317, to learn more about the program and to sign up.

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Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Meal Program. All are welcome. Registration is required. You will need to register on a weekly basis. Each week, on Monday or Tuesday, call the COA Reservation line at 617-625-6600 ext. 2323 to reserve your spot for the following week.

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The Somerville Mobile Farmers Market returned on Thursday, July 9, for the 2026 season. The market brings fresh, affordable, local produce to four city locations Thursdays through Saturdays and runs through October 31. All produce is sourced from local farms and priced affordably to make healthy, fresh food accessible to all. The mobile market accepts cash, debit and credit cards, SNAP, Fresh Connect, WIC Farmers Market Coupons, and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. All are welcome. For the full schedule, weekly produce updates, and more information about programs and events, visit the market’s website at somervillemobilefarmers-market.org.

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Assembly Row Farmers Market is being held at 375 Assembly Row, Somerville, on Fridays, 3 – 7 p.m. The market will run from June 12 to October 9. Each week, you’ll be able to find goods from nearly 30 New England-based farmers and producers. Expect a great mix of seasonal produce, baked goods, dairy and eggs, meats and seafood, honey, jams, specialty foods, and more. It’s the perfect place to stock up for the weekend, discover local favorites, or simply enjoy a fresh Friday visit to Assembly Row. https://marketspread.com/market/37299/assembly-row-farmers-market/.

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The Davis Square Market has opened for the 2026 Season. The market will run every Wednesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., through November 25, at 44 Day St., Somerville. This long-running market features over two dozen Massachusetts farmers and food producers offering a vibrant selection of delicious produce, protein, baked goods, and ready-to-eat meals, alongside a host of other locally made products. The market accepts cash, credit/debit cards, WIC/Senior coupons, and EBT cards and offers a weekly $15 SNAP Match. Visit https://www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis.

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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 pap