Community members are invited to join Mayor Jake Wilson, the City Council, and the School Committee during the 2026  “Neighborhood Connect” meeting series. The series kicks off on Wednesday, September 23, in Ward 4 (Winter Hill, Ten Hills, and more) at the Healey School cafeteria (5 Meacham St). from 6 – 8 p.m. Free pizza and refreshments will be available starting at 6 p.m.  Neighborhood Connect (formerly City Hall Community Meetings) will debut a new meeting format, moving from formal presentations to a science-fair format with City staff setting up at tables. Meetings will kick off with quick citywide updates and a brief welcome from the Mayor and Ward Councilor before breaking to allow attendees to move about for one-on-one and small group conversations. Unsure about which ward you live in? Find out with the MySomerville address lookup tool at somervillema.gov/mysomerville.

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As your family adjusts to another school year, check one simple thing off your list: confirm your child is riding in the right car seat for their age and size. The Somerville Police have officers who are Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians who will be available to help you determine the right seat for your children and demonstrate how to correctly install and use those seats. This is a free event next Saturday, September 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Somerville Police Headquarters, located at 220 Washington Street, Somerville.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy Birthday to Lori Pino of Amal Niccoli Salon in Ball Square. We wish her the best and hope she enjoys her day. Happy birthday to Karen F. McWatters, who celebrates this week. We hope she has a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Kimberly Barnett, Ann Sylvester, Julia Gilligan Corsetti, Scott Breen, Lisa Monaco, Joell Johns, Roy Carreiro, Joseph Leblanc, Debbie Price King, and Linda Malone 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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Somerville Rec is calling for all young ballers! If you are ready to hit the court and sharpen your basketball skills? Somerville Rec’s Somerville Youth League Basketball Clinic is the perfect opportunity for players in Grades K–5 to build their fundamentals, improve their game, and have fun! Players will work on their skills while learning the importance of teamwork, confidence, and good sportsmanship.  Saturdays, October 3–November 14, Grades K–2: 9:00–10:30 a.m., Grades 3–5: 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Somerville High School. $100 Residents | $150 Non-Residents.  Register online at somervillerec.com!

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HONK! Festival 21st Annual Festival of Activist Street Bands takes place October 9 –11. Held throughout Somerville, Cambridge, and a few Boston neighborhoods.Rain or shine.Free and open to all; if interested in volunteering, contact volunteer@honkfest.org. If interested in hosting visiting musicians in your home, please contact housing@honkfest.org.For HONK! updates:honkfest.org, facebook.com/honkfestival, instagram.com/honkfest/.Contact info: honkfest.org/contact/, info@honkfest.org, (617) 702-2977.

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Bansari Mitra, author of GHOSTS FROM THE PAST, Wilderness House Press, will have a book launch at Just Bookish Store in Dorchester on October 3, 4 – 5.30 p.m. (Saturday), 1463 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02122

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Somerville neighbors need your help. On Tuesday, September 8, a fire on Dartmouth Street left four households — including multiple vulnerable residents and their pets — without homes. Please consider donating whatever you can to the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s Emergency Displacement Fund developed in partnership with the city. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/emerfun

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Somerville Recreation’s Fall Festival returns on October 3. A Free festival welcomes fall with bounce houses, pumpkin decorating, a magician, and more, October 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Founders Memorial Rink (8 Garden Court).  Costumes and cozy sweaters are welcome but not required. To learn about more programming from Somerville Recreation, be sure to sign up for the Parks and Recreation newsletter at somervillema.gov/subscribe.  To view this update and more city news on the city website, visit somervillema.gov/news or somervillema.gov/calendar.

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SomerStreets: Monster Mash transforms Somerville Avenue into a festive Halloween celebration for all ages. Join in on Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 5 p.m. (severe weather date: Sunday, October 25) for live music, interactive art activities, family fun, local food vendors, and more. If you are interested in volunteer at Monster Mash please sign up here: https://somervilleartscouncil.org/somerstreets/monster-mash-volunteer/

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Craft Vendors Wanted! Do you make or sell crafty items? The Somerville Community Baptist Church in Davis Square is holding a “Spooky-Thankful-Merry Craft Fair,” featuring items for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, on Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To reserve a table at the Fair, please mail your check for $35 by October 3 to “Somerville Community Baptist Church,” 31 College Ave., Somerville, MA 02144. Or you can bring your check or cash directly to the Church, any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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The City of Somerville is seeking one new member to join the Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The ZBA is the decision-making authority for development that requires Site Plan Approval or a Special Permit in the Neighborhood Residence, Urban Residence, Commercial Industry, Commercial Business, and Tufts University zoning districts; the ZBA is also the decision-making authority for all Hardship Variances, Comprehensive Permits, and Administrative Appeals. All Somerville residents are invited to apply. Applications are due by Friday, October 30, and should include a resume and letter of interest. Applications can be sent via email or U.S. Mail to: Email: zoningboard@somervillema.gov  Mail: Attn: Planning Division, 167 Holland St., Somerville, MA 02144. For questions or more information, contact zoningboard@somervillema.gov or call 311 (671-666-3311).

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Rockabye Beats returns to the East Branch the 3rd Wednesday of each month, Sep-Dec* (replacing one weekly storytime)! Best for ages 0-5, we’ll enjoy an interactive and engaging 45 minutes of sing-along, dance-along fun! Please note: East Branch is a small 1-room library. Indoor space for strollers is limited and they ask that strollers be parked outside. Questions? Contact Meghan: mforsell@somervillema.gov. Somerville Public Library (MA)115 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145. Next event will be October 21, 11 – 11:45 a.m.

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Calling all local musicians! The interest form for the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market 2026-27 season is now LIVE on the website. Share your talents with the community this winter by filling out the form and getting on stage at the Winter Market. You can find the sign-up form at: https://www.somwintermarket.org/musicians.

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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/.

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SFD Collector’s Playing Cards are here! September is Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to launch our once-every-two-years fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Each custom deck features the 54 most senior firefighters currently in the Somerville Fire Department, including two jokers, and serves as a unique piece of SFD history. Decks are $20 each, with a portion of every sale being donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support the fight against blood cancers. Quantities are limited. Contact Antonio Cicolini https://www.facebook.com/antonio.cicolini to reserve your deck while supplies last.

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Are you a food truck owner? Market coordinator? Performance group? Have a business and a great idea or know somebody who does? The city wants to hear from you. Fill out the survey at bit.ly/gsqac and let them know how your business or organization could make 350 Medford St. a vibrant place for community to spend time. If you don’t have a business or concept ready to launch, please keep an eye out for other opportunities to share your ideas for the space.

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Celebrate the transformation of Tufts Street into Somerville’s newest “Neighborway.” On Tuesday, October 6, at 11 a.m., the City of Somerville will host a ribbon-cutting to mark the completion of the street’s recent redesign and reconstruction to increase safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The event will be held at Leonard Grimes Park, located at the corner of Tufts Street and Glen Street.

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All SPS Kindergarten students can sign up for a library card and get a FREE BOOK! Just bring an adult photo ID and proof of residency to your nearby library branch, and your child will be able to borrow books, movies, CDs, and more. Visit any of the Somerville branches: Central – 79 Highland Ave, East – 115 Broadway, West – 40 College Ave.

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The Somerville Museum presents Common Ground: Photography, Place, and Community, September 17 – December 5, One Westwood Rd. This exhibition features 15 photographers who have chosen Somerville as their home. The works on view range from documentary to conceptual and are united by the perspective of artists living and working within this evolving urban environment. “Common Ground” explores how artists navigate and contribute to Somerville’s shifting identity, examining the relationship between place, community, and creative practice. Visit https://www.somervillemuseum.org/.

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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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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.

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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. 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, on the right side, and enter your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper.