Community members are invited to join Mayor Jake Wilson, the City Council, and the School Committee during the 2026 Neighborhood Connect meeting series. The next meetings will be Thursday, October 15, in Ward 6 at Somerville Community Baptist Church (31 College Ave.). Meetings run from 6 to 8 p.m. Free pizza and refreshments will be available starting at 6 p.m. The final meeting in the series will be Ward 2, on Wednesday, October 21. 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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The City of Somerville is inviting all community members to celebrate Italian American Heritage Month with an Italian flag raising on Thursday, October 15, at 5 p.m. on the City Hall concourse (93 Highland Ave.). The event will honor the history, culture, and contributions of Italian Americans in Somerville and beyond. All are welcome.

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Join the Somerville Council on Aging as they celebrate fall with music from DJ Hank and a catered lunch of stuffed chicken and vegetables. Thursday, October 15, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Dilboy Post, 351 Summer Street, Davis Square. $10 per person. Please call Debby to RSVP at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to City Councilor At Large, Vice President, Will Mbah. We hope he has a great celebration and enjoys his day. We wish a Happy birthday to former Alderman Maryann Heuston. We hope she has a great birthday. Happy birthday to one of our own, Mike Reis, who is celebrating this week. He makes sure the newspaper gets out on the streets on Wednesdays. We wish him the best. We want to wish Somerville resident and Vietnam Veteran and Marine, Leo Mingace, a happy birthday. Happy birthday to another of our own, Harry Kane. We appreciate all he does for the paper, and we wish him a great day. Happy birthday to Vicki Potaris. We wish her a great day. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Laurie Tierno Johnson, Bill McCarthy, and Darell Lee Shanafelt, 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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We wish Mr. Phil Chisholm a Happy Birthday. Phil is known as “the Dogfather” for giving treats to dogs that pass by his steps every day. He retired from Winter Hill Innovation Community School after working there for 15 years. Phil will be celebrating his birthday on October 17. We wish him a special day.

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Join community leaders to explore how we can grow city-wide efforts to mitigate climate harms and restore biodiversity during a period of federal setbacks, strengthen conversation between the city and area advocates, and promote justice. Free and open to the public. The event will be followed by open social time. Please RSVP: https://bit.ly/4jkQne. Since the weather is looking chilly for Saturday, Building Somerville’s Capacity to Respond, hosted by the Somerville Community Growing Center, will move to a new location. It will now take place at The Dojo @ Somernova, 15 Properzi Way. Saturday, October 17, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

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

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Somerville’s annual “Truck O’ Treat” is on Thursday, October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. outside City Hall (93 Highland Avenue). Rain date: Thursday, November 5. Costumes are encouraged at this family-friendly event, which will include safe Trick-or-Treating on the City Hall concourse, a spooktacular visit from a decorated City of Somerville truck, lawn games, light refreshments, and more.

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The city is offering free COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics at locations across the city this fall to help community members protect their health. Appointments are strongly encouraged, and walk-up availability is limited. To see the most up-to-date clinic schedule or make an appointment, visit www.somervillema.gov/vaccinations   You can also call 311 (617-666-3311) for information or to make an appointment.

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BOO! Bingo for Kids. Join the East Branch Library for bingo with a spooky theme. Win stickers to create a seasonal scene. Children under 5 years old need adult assistance. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 28, at East Branch Library (115 Broadway) from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

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This year, the SHS football team will be playing our Thanksgiving Game against Cambridge Rindge & Latin at Fenway Park on Thursday, November 24, at 5:00pm. For tickets, visit: http://www.redsox.com/highschoolfootball.

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Rei Da Picanha, which was open on Broadway in East Somerville for 15 years, was destroyed by a devastating fire that affected their block on the night of Monday, October 12. Losing the restaurant means the family lost their income and their ability to cover the immediate costs of daily life and emergencies. They now face the daunting reality of starting over again. There is a GoFundMe account set up to help the family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-somervilles-nonato-family-after-devastating-fire

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The City of Somerville is seeking one new member to join the Somerville Municipal Scholarship Committee as a volunteer member. This vacancy is for a person with a passion and energy to assist high school students (public and private) with pursuing higher education. To apply, please send a letter of interest to ldubuque@somervillema.gov with ‘Scholarship Committee’ and your name in the subject line by Friday, October 30, 2026. Please include your full name, address, and telephone number with your inquiry. For questions, accommodations, or more information, contact the Treasury at (617) 625-6600 ext. 3510 or Linda Dubuque at ldubuque@somervillema.gov.

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Visit the Holiday Craft Fair, Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Somerville Community Baptist Church, 31 College Ave. in Davis Square. In addition to a variety of craft tables offering Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas gifts and other items, the Fair will also feature raffles, food gift baskets, and a Meatball Contest.

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Celebrate Halloween in East Somerville with an afternoon of spooky fun for the whole community! The Halloween Block Party & Pet Spooktacular brings neighbors, families, and furry friends together for a festive day filled with activities, local vendors, live music, a pet costume contest, raffles, and much more. Come dressed in your favorite costume, bring your pets, and enjoy a fun-filled Halloween celebration in the heart of East Somerville! Volunteers Wanted. They are looking for volunteers to help with activities, event set up, welcoming families, and keeping the celebration running smoothly. October 31, 1 – 4 p.m., Chuckie Harris Park. Sign up to volunteer! (https://forms.gle/oAWkUYySYrmNvKBz9)

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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. On September 30, there was a five-alarm fire in Teele Square. The fire impacted 32 homes at 1137-1147 Broadway, displacing 43 residents. 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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On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Massachusetts will hold its State Election. Somerville voters can vote early in person or by mail or on Election Day. The state election is open to all registered voters in Somerville. Register to vote by Saturday, October 24. Learn more and get all election information at www.somervillema.gov/elections.

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A new Somerville ordinance that took effect October 14, 2026, will require rental property owners to notify tenants in writing within 48 hours of putting their residence on the market. Somerville’s Notice of Building Sale Ordinance establishes clear notification requirements, so renters know when their home is being offered for sale and where to turn for housing support. The required form and additional information will be available on the OHS website in October at somervillema.gov/OHS. Questions about the ordinance can be sent to buildingsale@somervillema.gov. Tenants who learn their building is for sale but have not received notice should contact OHS. Residents can request housing assistance online, calling OHS directly at 617-625-6600, ext. 2581, or dialing 311 and asking for OHS.

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Somerville’s Latin American and Caribbean Heritage Month celebration will take place Sunday, October 25, inside Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave.) from 2 to 5 p.m. Somerville’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA), with support from the city’s Division of Equity and Belonging and the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC), invites all community members to the celebration. Enjoy a wide selection of Latin American and Caribbean food and refreshments, from Brazilian cheese bread to Haitian griot, alongside an afternoon of music, movement, and opportunities to join in.

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Somerville PorchFest feedback is sought via a community survey. As planning for 2027 gets underway, community members are invited to complete the PorchFest survey to give input on what’s working and identify areas for improvement as the event continues to evolve. Take the survey now through Sunday, October 25, at bit.ly/somporchsurvey.

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