The city is hosting its second citywide cleanup as part of the Year of the Neighbor initiative. Somerville community members are invited to spend a couple of hours outside, meet people nearby, and leave your street a little better than you found it. Join in on Saturday, November 7, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Cleanup events have been scheduled in all seven wards. Learn more and find your ward’s meeting point here. https://www.somervillema.gov/news/somerville-invites-neighbors-join-fall-neighborhood-cleanups-november-7.

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Turn pumpkins into compost at the 2nd Annual “Pumpkin Smash” on November 7. As spooky season comes to a close, don’t trash your pumpkins, smash ’em. Community members are invited from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chuckie Harris Park (17 Cross St. East). The rain date is Sunday, November 8. Bring and smash your Halloween pumpkins (our smash one provided). Enjoy additional family-friendly activities, a bake sale, learn about Somerville’s Food Waste Collection Pilot, and more.

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Congratulations to all the elected officials who won their respective races on Election Day. We wish them the best as they take on the jobs that they have successfully earned.

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There will be a meeting at the East Somerville Community School at 6:30 p.m to learn about the Eversource Construction Project in Somerville.The November 5, 2025 meeting in Somerville is related to the Union Square to Portland Street Distribution Project, a major Eversource electrical upgrade improving reliability for Somerville and Cambridge.
Learn how it will affect you.

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Happy birthdays this week: We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Edward Robaczewski, Herc Kalos, Mike Campbell, Betsy Almeida Pesce, Ivy Powers, Peggy Foley Arbeene, Mary Bean Fitzgerald, Victoria Macrokanis, and Donald Gallarelli, 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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Serena Hollmeyer Taylor, a longtime community advocate, social entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader, announced her candidacy for Somerville City Council in Ward 3. Taylor, who serves as President Emeritus of the Somerville Homeless Coalition, is running to bring her experience solving problems, building coalitions, and delivering results to City Hall. For more information about the campaign, visit serenaforward3.com.

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Layne Staley Tribute East returns following a powerful inaugural year as a mission-driven concert honoring the legacies of Layne Staley and Mike Starr while raising awareness and support for people affected by addiction. Modeled after the long-running Seattle Layne Staley Tribute, now in its 24th year, the East Coast event carries that spirit forward through a night of music, remembrance, and purpose. Proceeds will support musicians struggling with fentanyl and opioid addiction and provide resources for their families through donations to the Layne Staley Memorial Fund via Therapeutic Health Services (THS) in Seattle and the CASPAR Men’s Recovery Home in Somerville. Saturday, November 7. Doors: 6:45 p.m. Show: 7:45 p.m., Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville, All ages. Standing room only. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.

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The last days for hazardous and yard waste collection this season are quickly approaching. DPW collection of these materials will resume in Spring 2027 as per the usual seasonal cycle. The two final hazardous waste drop-off events this fall at the DPW yard (1 Franey Road) are on: Thursday, November 5, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information on materials accepted and how to safely prep them, visit somervillema.gov/HazWaste or download the Somerville Waste Wizard (somervillema.gov/wastewizard) app for Android or Apple phones. The final week for residential yard waste collection in 2026 will be Monday through Friday, December 7–11. Place yard waste curbside for pickup on your scheduled trash collection day. After December 11, yard waste may be brought to the DPW yard (1 Franey Rd.) on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. or between 1 and 3:30 p.m. To learn more, please visit somervillema.gov/trash.

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The City of Somerville is seeking two new volunteer members to join the Somerville Human Rights Commission (HRC). Responsibilities include: Investigating human rights issues and concerns affecting the community. Promoting public discourse on issues of discrimination and equity. Educating residents about their rights under federal, state, and local law. Working collaboratively with other city departments and commissions to advance equity. The Human Rights Commission meets monthly. Additional participation in subcommittees is voluntary at the discretion of the member. To apply, please submit a letter of interest. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications can be sent via email: hrc@somervillema.gov or U.S. Mail to: Attn: Sarah Anders, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143. For questions or more information, email hrc@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311).

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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.

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Bow Market is launching a campaign to bring free rent to Experiential Artists for the full year. The pitch to artists is simple: use space to bring experiential art to Somerville; pay $0 in rent. To make it sustainable, Bow Market is working to attract roughly 300 people to pay $100 to become a 2027 Patron. As patrons, they will receive access to artist-led events, exclusive merch, name recognition outside the YEA space, and inclusion in this burgeoning arts community. To learn more and become a Patron, visit www.bowmarketsomerville.com/experientialart. For more information on becoming an artist in residence, visit https://www.bowmarketsomerville.com/yeaartistfaq.

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The city is planning to build a new school at 115 Sycamore Street. All community members are invited to come learn more about the project and share their perspectives at an upcoming community forum: Tuesday, November 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., Somerville High School, Highlander Forum, 81 Highland Avenue. During this meeting, Mayor Wilson and Superintendent Carmona will speak to the city and district’s shared vision for the project, which is informed both by community process as well as district needs. Project architects, Perkins Eastman, will then present the preferred design option for the project, which was submitted to the state in late August, providing an overview of how the building will support the diverse learning needs of Somerville’s students and incorporate a range of community priorities into the design.

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Registration is now open for the 2026 Gobble GOBBLE GOBBLE race. The 30th annual race takes place on November 26 at 9 a.m. Presented by the Somerville Road Runners, the Gobble Gobble Gobble road race starts and ends in Davis Square (at the heart of Somerville), features a unique 4-mile course, and offers a fun opportunity to start Thanksgiving on a high and healthy note. Proceeds benefit the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Somerville Track PAC, Stride for Stride, and the Dilboy VFW Veterans Relief Fund. For more information, visit https://www.srr.org/.

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The Center for Arts at the Armory (CAA) will host and manage the 17th Annual Somerville Winter Farmers Market (SWFM) every Saturday beginning November 7 through April 17. This weekly market offers the best locally grown and regionally produced agricultural items, including vegetable produce, cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, and sweets. In addition to cash, credit and debit, SNAP / EBT is also accepted at the market. CAA raises funds to be able to provide a $15 match for every SNAP/EBT customer who spends at least $15 of their SNAP/EBT dollars at the market. To learn more and for a complete listing of vendors, weekly specials, and live entertainment, please visit www.somwintermarket.org.

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The Council on Aging can provide Durable Medical Equipment at no cost to Somerville residents. Residents with a documented need for medical equipment must be over the age of 60, or have a permanent disability, and must be otherwise unable to afford or access needed medical equipment. We currently have available: Commodes, Bath Benches and chairs, Rollator Walkers, Incontinence Supplies, and Transport Wheelchairs (wheelchairs are intended for transport and are not self-propelling or self-breaking.) For additional information, or for an application, please contact Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600, ext. 2321.

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Please reserve your spot for the Kiwanis Thanksgiving Dinner or the Somerville Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon by calling the COA Reservation Line at 617-625-6600, ext. 2323. Please leave your name, phone number, and your preference for celebration. It is our goal that everyone gets to enjoy a Thanksgiving celebration with friends this year. As space is limited, please reserve your spot for one event. They will call you to confirm your reservation. Tuesday, November 10, at the Highlander Café located at Somerville High School, 81 Highland Avenue. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by Somerville Kiwanis and prepared by the Somerville Culinary Arts program. This event is for Somerville Residents only.

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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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