The city is inviting residents, artists, cultural organizations, and creative businesses to help shape what could become the first Municipal Cultural Trust in Massachusetts, a new tool designed to protect affordable creative space and prevent artist displacement. Community members can give feedback during a three-part meeting series that begins Wednesday, August 5, at the Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) at 6 p.m. Each meeting will focus on a different stage of the Cultural Trust discussion. Full schedule: https://www.somervillema.gov/news/somerville-seeks-community-input-first-its-kind-cultural-trust

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Somerville’s Yart Sale returns August 8. Somerville’s porches, driveways, and front yards will transform into mini galleries and pop-up markets as Yart Sale returns on Saturday, August 8 (rain date: August 9) from noon to 6 p.m. Expect to find paintings, photography, handmade objects, jewelry, art supplies and tools, collectible items, plants, frames, vintage clothes, and more. For full event guidelines, visit: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/yart-sale/.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Donna Cassaro-Sides. We hope she has a great day. We wish all of our celebrating Facebook friends, such as Montague Helen Kern, Zach Corey, Keith Anderson, John Alan Roderick, Heather Hanson, Barry Atkins, Maria Mancini, Heather Marie Driscoll, Kathleen J Gatta, Trish Bean Oakland, and James Bimbo, 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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Be an ARTIVIST! Hands-on arts-advocacy workshop, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Somerville Museum, One Westwood Road. For all ages, families too! Make your own advocacy postcards and campaign signs promoting the value of arts in Somerville. Work with artists from Humphreys Street Studios and Central Street Studios to express your creative ideas and support artists and artist workspaces. All materials supplied. No registration necessary, just drop in.

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Join Mayor Jake Wilson and Somerville’s Council on Aging for the annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic at 11:00 a.m. at Trum Field on September 10. Call Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600 ext. 2319 for a free ticket by September 4. Enjoy good food, music, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends.

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The Somerville Bicycle Committee’s August Streetwise will be held August 19 at 6 p.m. at Aeronaut Brewing Company, 14 Tyler St., featuring BCU Labs. From their website: “BCU Labs seeks to draw insight and tell stories from the wealth of biking data in Boston. Our mission is to leverage the power of data through creative experimentation, learn where Boston can improve its infrastructure…and continue to empower BCU’s advocacy one pedal at a time.”

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Experience the fabric of our community at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave. Somerville Quipus, created by artist Leddy Saenz and on view at the Growing Center, is inspired by the ancient Andean quipu – a sophisticated system of knotted cords used throughout the Andes to record knowledge, tell stories, and preserve history. The colorful cords that make up the installation were handcrafted by Padres Latinos families, each representing shared experiences, memories, and cultural heritage. Together, they create a living artwork that honors migration, resilience, belonging, and the strength of community. Visit the Somerville Community Growing Center through August 31 to experience this evolving community installation and discover the stories woven by Padres Latinos families that continue to connect us all.

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Our biggest fundraising event of the year is almost here. East Somerville’s Foodie Crawl 2026, Tuesday, September 15 (Rain Date: September 16),6:00–8:30 p.m. Join them for an evening of delicious food, local discoveries, live music, and community connection while supporting the work of East Somerville Main Streets. For more information, visit: https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/foodie-crawl-2026.

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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, The Wiz,  (G), is held on Thursday, August 6, at Seven Hills Park in Davis Square. Approximate start time is 8:15 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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Groundwork Somerville is partnering with Gerly’s Ice Cream for a fundraising event on August 19. Join them for a hands-on workshop where they will make their own homemade ice cream from scratch with Gerly and her team. Every ticket includes two pints of ice cream to take home and a tasting of some of Gerly’s signature flavors. August 19, 6 – 8 p.m. at The Foundry, 101 Rogers St, Cambridge, MA 02142. Adult Tickets: $55 / Youth Tickets: $35. Buy your ticket here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/groundwork-somerville-gerlys-ice-cream-workshop-fundraiser. Tickets are limited, and every registration for this event will go towards sustaining Groundwork Somerville’s youth programs and bring them closer to achieving their mission of building a healthier, greener, more equitable community.

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Eat Your Way Around the World at Nibble Kitchen this summer. The City of Somerville’s Nibble Kitchen is serving up a rotating lineup of Peruvian, Guatemalan, and Ethiopian cuisine this summer at Bow Market in Union Square. The tiny space offers big rewards for diners – and chefs. For more information and the complete schedule, visit nibblesomerville.com.

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The Boston Bruins have teamed up with libraries across the Commonwealth to encourage kids and teens to keep reading over the summer. Blades will join readers at West Branch Library for a story, fun, and crafts. Attendees can design and make their own Bruins fan button, take pictures at the ice rink photo station, and more. This event will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at West Branch Library (40 College Ave.) at 4 p.m.

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The risk of West Nile Virus has been raised to Moderate in Somerville. Community members are encouraged to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases. For more tips and information, visit www.somervillema.gov/mosquito-advisory.

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Kelly’s Diner will be celebrating their 30 Anniversary on Wednesday, Sept 16. On Sept 16, everything will be free. Limited menu. Just breakfast. Open 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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Somerville Flea is back. Stop by Sundays through October, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 52 Holland St. Discover the area’s best collection of artisan makers and vintage vendors. With 13 Sundays running from August through October, there’ll always be something new to explore. Support local businesses, shop one-of-a-kind finds, and uncover that treasure you never knew you needed or even existed.

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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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Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program continues through late October. This program consists of flushing pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality. Temporary drops in water pressure and/or discolored water can occur. In these cases, though the water may be discolored, it is safe to drink. Until the water runs clear, it is advisable to avoid washing laundry, especially white fabrics. To find out when your neighborhood will be affected and to learn more: somerville-ma.gov/hydrantflushing.

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Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Saturday, August 8: Next monthly Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day at DPW (1 Franey Rd.), 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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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. Applications for community groups at What the Fluff? A Tribute to Union Square Inno-vation are live and filling up fast. Are you a non-profit or community group looking to get the word out about your work? Fill out the Fluff Fest Community Group Application: https://form.jotform.com/261824906044154 What the Fluff? A Tribute to Union Square Innovation will reserve up to fifteen (15) complimentary 10’x10′ spaces within the festival footprint for Community Groups. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

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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 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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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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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”.. 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 has returned 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 paper.