These are just some of the municipal meetings and civic events for the coming week. More are on the City of Somerville website.
Pot shop and Dunks seek permit
Planning Board, 6 p.m. Thursday. Haze of Somerville seeks to establish a cannabis retail shop on Mystic Avenue at the border between East Somerville and Assembly Row. The applicant, a minority-owned business, would be a second location for Simplicity Dispensary, which is opening soon in North Grafton. A Dunkin’ Donuts location wants to reopen near Assembly Row at 74 Middlesex Ave. after being displaced from 76 Middlesex Ave. due to construction of 74M, a life-sciences building. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Bonuses for affordable housing
Land Use Committee, 6:30 p.m. Thursday. City councilor Matt McLaughlin chairs a meeting that asks the city’s director of Planning, Preservation and Zoning to change zoning to give developers transit-oriented height and density bonuses to build more affordable housing and other community benefits. Watchable by Zoom videoconferencing.
Bake sale for abortion fund
Mutual aid for Indiana, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. A group sells baked goods in support of The All-Options Hoosier Abortion Fund, which helps Indiana residents seeking resources and access to abortion care. Indiana has some of the country’s most restrictive access laws. Maggie Fryerwood, Laura Mandelberg and Nikki Haug – a mutual aid fundraiser organizer, a reproductive justice advocate and a “nerd who wants to help make peoples’ lives better” aim to raise $2,000. At Powderhouse Park, Broadway and College Ave., Powder House. (Rain Date: Sunday, May 4)
SustainaVille Week is back
SustainaVille, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Advocates for climate, environmental and biodiversity justice gather for Climate Convening 2025: Building the Somerville Area’s Capacity for Climate Action to “explore shared concerns and goals, network and build resilience” through conversation and a focus on responses to the ongoing global emergencies, including the impact on vulnerable folks. Somerville-area workers, visitors and residents are encouraged to attend. This event is supported in part by a Public Humanities/Community Engagement Grant from the Mandel Center for the Humanities at Brandeis University. Hosted at the Somerville Community Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave., near Union Square. (Rain Date: Sunday.)
Gilman Square group meets
Gilman Square Neighborhood Council, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday. The council considers drafting a response to the proposed addition of a fence along McGrath Highway and Dana Street at Pearl Street as part of the McGrath Boulevard Project to lower the highway. Members plan to push for a focus on safety and the addition of a bus lane. Mayoral candidate Jason Mackey is asked questions about his candidacy. He is the third and final candidate attending a Q&A. Watchable via videoconferencing.
Western Pearl Street talk
Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. The city hosts an outdoor open house to view designs for the Western Pearl Street Reconstruction Project and provide feedback and input. As part of the city’s Pavement and Sidewalk Management program, the city plans to repave and reconfigure and replace sidewalks on Pearl Street from McGrath Highway to Medford Street. The city hosted an engagement meeting and conducted a concerns survey in the fall. At Edward L. Leathers Community Park, between Skilton Avenue and Walnut Street in Gilman Square.
Education budget hearing
School Committee Finance and Facilities Subcommittee, 6 p.m. Wednesday. This meeting of the whole looks at the education budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross St., and watchable online.
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