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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council, in partnership with producer Yvette Wilks of Wilks Productions Consultancy, invited community members to the eleventh annual Evolution of Hip Hop Festival of Hip Hop is an annual ArtsUnion festival and is free for all to attend. This year’s event is building an intergenerational community of those who love music, beats and storytelling, which are part of the many components of Hip Hop.

Eligible households in East Somerville pilot area can turn food scraps into compost and help city plan for citywide food waste collection
As part of efforts to support both neighborhood life quality and climate goals, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announces Somerville’s new pilot program for curbside food waste collection. In partnership with Garbage to Garden, the City of Somerville will provide weekly curbside food waste collection to up to 1,200 eligible East Somerville households through mid-2027. The pilot program will help the city better understand how municipal composting could be expanded citywide in the future and how it could support the city’s carbon net-negative Climate Forward goals.
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The Rock + Roll Yard Sale returns to Union Square Plaza this coming Sunday.
UPDATE: Due to inclement weather forecasted for Sunday, September 7, the Rock + Roll Yard Sale will now take place on its scheduled rain date of Sunday, September 14.
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and The Somerville Arts Council are pleased to announce the return of the Rock + Roll Yard Sale to Union Square Plaza on Sunday, September 14, from 12 to 5 p.m. . Now in its 18th year in Somerville, this long-running event celebrates creativity, community, and the city’s do-it-yourself spirit.
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Q: What do elderly people often say they wish they’d focused more on in life?
A: Surprisingly, the answers are incredibly consistent—and they aren’t about money in the bank or job titles!
In a joint effort, the Somerville Police Department, Somerville Fire Department and Massachusetts State Fire Marshall announce an arrest has been made in the relation to a fire that destroyed a home under construction at 75 Thurston St. on August 20, 2025. Police arrested John Grasso, 35, who is currently unhoused for wanton destruction of property and breaking and entering a building in the nighttime. The incident remains under investigation.
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How farmers markets provide an inclusive environment through increased language access and culturally responsive practices.
For many people, good food is their love language. For me, and many others who identify as a cultural or ethnic minority, food is a critical part of our identities.
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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the Somerville Arts Council, and the Gilman Square Neighborhood Council invite community members to SomerStreets: G’25 Gilman Square Arts & Music Festival on Saturday, September 13, from 12 to 5 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, September 14), with activities on Pearl Street from Marshall to James Street.
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Patricia (Carlow) LaFauci, 83 years old and a lifetime resident of Somerville, died May 4, 2025. A private service is planned for family.

















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