Congratulations to the candidates who won their races in this week’s State Primary Election. They will face off with their respective opponents in the General Election on November 3. We thank all the candidates for their participation in the electoral process and wish them the best in the future. Updated election results will be posted on our website: www.thesomervilletimes.com.

********************************

Somerville Stands Together will be holding a rally at Tufts University on Thursday, September 3 at 3:30 in front of West Hall, 115 Packard Ave, Medford. The rally will be held to show Tufts University that our community expects it to respect workers’ rights and bargain in good faith to make sure that employees have the good jobs our community needs.

********************************

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to our own special photographer, Claudia Ferro. We wish her the very best birthday ever. Happy birthday to Jodi Gallo. We wish her the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to Juscelia LoRusso of Juscelia’s Cakes. She makes the best cakes around. Happy Birthday to Nancy Gaudet-Bacci, who is celebrating this week. We wish her a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Mary Casavant, Len Glionna, Dennis Kacoyanis, Patty Oppedisano, Nick Stavre, Guillermo Hamlin, Billy Harrison, Donna M Morabito, Paul Mercier, and Judith Medeiros, 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.

*******************************

Eleven food vendors are coming to the Somerville Nepali Street Food Festival. Enjoy your meal while watching live music and dance performances celebrating the best of Nepali culture. The Nepali Street Food Festival will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 5 (rain date: September 6) at City Hall, 93 Highland Avenue. Learn more: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/nepali-food-fest/

*******************************

Somerville Arts and Culture invites community members to apply as panelists for the 2027 LCC Grant cycle. Panelists review grant applications, learn how the local funding process works, and help support artists and cultural projects across our community. Whether you’re an artist, educator, cultural organizer, or community member who cares about arts and culture, they’d love to hear from you. Apply by October 1. https://somervilleartscouncil.org/lcc/lcc-panelist-application/.

*******************************

Civic Day will take place on Thursday, September 10, from 5-7:30 p.m. at City Hall. Civic Day offers an array of family-friendly ways to learn about your local government and how it can serve you with free pizza too. Complete a 311 scavenger hunt, meet the Somerville Police K9 unit, take a photo with a Somerville Fire truck, sign up for a library card, and more.

*******************************

SAC & the Inside-Out gallery (CVS Davis Sq.) present the “Power of Print” Viva la Revolution! If you missed its debut during ArtBeat, you still have plenty of time to check out this prolific exhibit. This showcase features linoleum relief prints by 64 artists from our local community. To find out more, visit https://somervilleartscouncil.org/events/power-of-print/.

*******************************

Join Mayor Jake Wilson and Somerville’s Council on Aging for the annual Mayor’s Senior Picnic at 11 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.

********************************

This year’s Gilman Square Arts & Music Festival is Saturday, September 12. This annual neighborhood celebration will feature local art, food vendors, acrobatic performances, children’s activities, plus live music and a beer garden. The festival will take place at Ed Leathers Park, from 12 to 5 p.m., and it’s completely free to attend. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, hang out, and enjoy some tunes.

********************************

Registration for SHC’s Somerville 5k is open. Every step taken on October 3 supports the community’s most vulnerable, helping raise the critical funds needed to tackle housing and food insecurity. Register today to run and claim your race t-shirt. For more information, visit https://somervillehomelesscoalition.org/.

********************************

Overdose Prevention Training takes place on September 8. Join Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department to learn about opioids and their impact on our community, how to recognize signs of an opioid overdose, the importance of calling 911, and how to administer Naloxone (Narcan). This event will be held on Tuesday, September 8, at Central Library (79 Highland Ave.) from 6 to 7 p.m. Learn more and register: https://somervillepubliclibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/hold-for-overdose-prevention-training-3/.

********************************

Intercambio Fall 2026 applications are now open. Looking for a welcoming space to practice English or Spanish, meet new people, and connect across cultures? Join in for eight weeks of conversation, cultural exchange, interactive activities, and community. At Intercambio, everyone has something to learn – and something to share. Applications are open through September 21 at noon. Learn more and apply through the link here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/intercambio/intercambio-fall-2026/.

********************************

Moving season is here, and the City of Somerville is welcoming new and returning residents with a guide to getting settled, finding city services, and becoming part of the community (it is the Year of the Neighbor https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/office-mayor-jake-wilson/year-neighbor). Have a question about city services and aren’t sure where to begin? Start with 311 (617-666-3311), available 24/7 to answer city-related questions, address service requests, or to connect you with the right department. Find the full guide to get additional information on moving permits, trash and recycling schedules, signing up for city alerts, and more: https://www.somervillema.gov/news/new-somerville-start-here.

********************************

ESMS’s biggest fundraising event of the year is almost here. East Somerville’s Foodie Crawl 2026, Tuesday, September 15 (rain date: September 16), 6 – 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.

********************************

This fall, Somerville Recreation is offering all that and more. Residents can explore youth sports and enrichment programs, adult fitness classes, aquatics and swim lessons, seasonal special events, community celebrations, and much more, including a range of new programs. www.somervillerec.com.

********************************

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced the first two human cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the state this year. Both cases were reported in Middlesex County. As a result, the risk level for WNV has been raised to “High” in Somerville and other neighboring communities. WNV is usually transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe illness. For more tips and information, visit mass.gov/dph/mosquito or somervillema.gov/mosquito-advisory.

********************************

Somerville Firefighters Local 76 announced their annual Davy Fitz Memorial Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Monday, September 14, at Hillview Golf Course in North Reading, MA. Registration is due by September 1. Players can sign up as a foursome or individual golfer. For any interest in playing and/or sponsorship opportunities, contact VP Jay Kenney at 266 Broadway, Somerville. Enjoy a great day of golf, a catered function, raffles/ prizes, and help support Somerville Firefighters.

********************************

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.

********************************

PICK UP! Somerville Museum Calling fundraiser, September 10, 6 p.m., Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre. Inspired by Somerville’s role as the site of the world’s first residential telephone call, and the Somerville Museum’s “Let Freedom Ring” public art project for America’s 250th, this year’s fundraising event celebrates connection between the past and the future and to one another. Jimmy Tingle (pun intended) will entertain us with his comedy and emcee the program. Sambaviva Brazilian dance ensemble will perform a medley of telephone-themed favorites. TJ the DJ will keep the music going throughout the evening. Mix and mingle over passed appetizers while exploring interactive telephone exhibits! For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

********************************

The Mission Church of Christ, 130 Highland Ave., will be hosting a free health fair for the community on September 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. with many vendors. Contact MC Allied Health & Professionals Group at mcahpg130@gmail.com.

********************************

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.

********************************

The Brazilian Flag Raising ceremony takes place on September 10. The Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA), in proud partnership with the Brazilian Women’s Group, invites community members to celebrate 204 years of Brazilian independence at the fourth annual Brazilian flag raising. Attendees will enjoy live music and performances of the national anthems of Brazil and the United States, a speaking program, and a ceremonial raising of the Brazilian flag. This event will take place on Thursday, September 10, on the City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.) from 3 to 4 p.m.

********************************

Harvest Festival: The Three Sisters and Strands of Connection takes place Sunday, September 27, 2 – 4:30 p.m. at the Somerville Community Growing Center at 22 Vinal Ave. Enjoy free, family-friendly harvest activities and celebrate the traditional Three Sisters indigenous system of growing corn, squash, and beans together – crops native to the Americas. Activities include: Learning about the Three Sisters, Pumpkin Decorating, Seed Guessing Game, Making Corn Husk Dolls, Harvest Storytelling, and Three Sisters Bake Sale. Check out a showcase of the products of the Strands of Connection: From Seed to Scarf project, which has engaged community members since April in learning about natural dyes, spinning, and making a scarf. Contact: info@thegrowingcenter.org.

********************************

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: www.somervillema.gov/hydrantflushing.

********************************

Want to share feedback with the City Council? Public comments are accepted on a rolling basis via email at publiccomments@somervillema.gov. Find information about the Council or see the full schedule of Council meetings at somervillema.gov/council. Stream meetings at youtube.com/somervillecityTV. The next City Council meeting of the whole is on Thursday, September 10.

********************************

Somerville Firefighters Local 76 will be hosting a UDS Cancer Screening Event at the Dante Club on September 8, 9, and 10. Cancer continues to be one of the greatest threats facing firefighters, killing far too many of our brothers and sisters. Early detection is one of our best weapons in the fight against this devastating disease. Dante Club, 5 Dante Ter., Somerville. For questions, call 646-553-5803.

********************************

Raise a glass to Union Square as What the Fluff? turns 21! This year’s theme – Legally Fluff: A Toast to Union Square – is an ode to 21 years of fluff-filled fun for all ages. Put on the party hats, blow up the balloons, grab a bubbly beverage, and celebrate Somerville’s signature sweet spread in style. The 21st Annual What the Fluff? Festival, Saturday, September 19, 1 – 5 p.m. in Union Square.

********************************

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/.

********************************

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. For the full schedule, weekly produce updates, and more information about programs and events, visit the market’s website at somervillemobilefarmers-market.org.

********************************

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/.

********************************

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. 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.

********************************

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!

********************************

Don’t forget, if you would like to subscribe to receive a digital edition of our paper, go directly online to our website, on the right side, and enter your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper.