City buildings will remain closed to the public beyond Monday, June 1. In the coming weeks, some city offices may begin to reopen for in-person business. More details will be shared as they become available. As a reminder, all city-sponsored and permitted events are canceled through the end of the year. Many city services are still available online and 311 is available 24 hours a day to answer any questions or for service requests. You can find more information on the city’s COVID-19 response at www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus.

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The bridges are back! Remember when the biggest news in town was that three bridges were being closed for Green Line construction? Well, even though we’re in a world now where their reopening isn’t the top city news, we’d still like to pause and celebrate. We did it. The major work there is done. The Washington Street Bridge reopened on Sunday and the Ball Square Bridge is set to reopen sometime this week. Additional work will continue and travel will be single lane in each direction for a while. More info is at somervillema.gov.

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Celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to a great guy, City Councilor At-Large Bill White is celebrating this week. We wish him a very happy birthday. Michael Albano, a former Somerville resident who still works here, is celebrating his birthday. We wish him a happy birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Richard DiPinto, Dell E. Fisher, Paul Harvey, Roz Cummins, Chris Argeropoulos, Elizabeth Rodrigues Fula and Charlie McCarthy 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 resident Nico Lang has started a GoFundMe to raise money to buy lunches for the staff of our local Market Basket to thank them for their service to our community in the last few months. https://www.gofundme.com/f/somerville-market-basket-staff-appreciation.

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Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Salvatore “Johnny” Sillari, who sadly passed last Tuesday. He will be missed by many.

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There are increasing reports of unemployment fraud, so keep an eye on your mail and email. The state is warning residents that criminals are using stolen personal information to file fraudulent unemployment claims. So keep an eye on your mail and email. If you get an unemployment letter or email saying you applied for benefits but you did not, please report it. If you did apply, read the materials carefully and make sure they fully match your information. To report possible unemployment fraud to the state call (877) 626-6800 or https://www.mass.gov/info-details/report-unemployment-benefits-fraud.

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As part of their efforts to make it safer to move about or do business during COVID-19, the city’s mobility team installed their first sidewalk expansion effort this week on Bow St. in Union Square. The idea is to provide more space for walking, standing in line at a safe social distance, curbside pickup, and outdoor commerce like outdoor dining. It’s done by shifting parking and driving lanes while still keeping them available. They will be monitoring how it works and making improvements as needed. More expansions are to come. Learn more at https://somervoice.somervillema.gov/covid19mobility/news_feed/shared-curbs.

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On Thursday, June 4, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. the Somerville Museum will host a SHS Curator Panel Discussion. Earlier this year students from the Somerville High School Local History Club, with guidance from their teacher Adda Maria Santos and the Somerville Museum, curated an exhibition The Basement Project: Not Your Usual Basement Junk. Through objects from the Museum’s collection, each student thoughtfully reflected on Somerville’s past and their experience as a Somerville resident today. Unfortunately, the show was cut short by the pandemic and the associated events were cancelled. Join them over Zoom to hear about the exhibit development process and the students’ object selections, as well as their reactions to the exhibition being cut short. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/693535668138203/.

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The Somerville Board of Health strongly urges all residents to be tested for COVID-19. The more people that get tested, the safer our reopening will be. You do not need to have symptoms or a doctor’s referral. To sign up for free COVID-19 testing for Somerville residents, call 617-665-2928, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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Healthy, local food is important. The Farmers Markets are open again in Davis Square (www.massfarmersmarkets.org/davis) and Union Square (www.unionsquaremain.org/2020-season). But this year they will be different. Both markets will encourage only one person per household to do the shopping, incorporate social distancing guidelines and allow a limited amount of shoppers in the space. Please sign up for a shopping spot in advance at the market websites. SNAP and HIP benefits are accessible for shoppers in both markets. No gathering or socializing is allowed in the markets. See you there and remember that we are in this together … from a responsible 6 ft. distance, of course.

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East Somerville Safe Pick-up Market takes place Sunday, June 7. Pre-order from the list of participating businesses and pick-up your order safely on Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and Noon. For more information, visit https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/market.

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Once Somerville is pleased to announce the launch of their fundraising shirts. They’re printed by Somerville’s Hemlock Ink Custom Screenprinting. When you buy this T-shirt you are simultaneously supporting Once Somerville and another small local business. Order your T-Shirt here: https://stores.inksoft.com/hemlockink_support/shop/product-detail/1002755.

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Help celebrate the Class of 2020. Make a poster or sign to put on your windows or yards to congratulate our 2020 Somerville High School, Full Circle High School, and SCALE graduates.

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