We here at The Times wish everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday. Please observe all safety guidelines to make sure we’ll all be together again for next year’s celebration. And don’t forget to shop local when starting your holiday gift gathering. This year more than ever it is important to support local businesses.

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The recent upsurge in COVID-19 cases means we all need to do our part to slow the spread. The safest way to celebrate is to gather only with the people you live with and connect virtually with anyone outside of your household. Need ideas for a special virtual gathering? Check out ideas for a fun, meaningful, and safe holiday at https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/thanksgiving-care-package/. And don’t forget, whenever you are around others who are not a part of your household, make sure you wear your mask, stay socially distanced, and wash your hands. See more holiday recommendations at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html.

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The city is making $500,000 in Covid-19 relief funds available to cover rental and certain mortgage arrears for income-eligible Somerville residents regardless of immigration status who are behind on payments due to impacts of the pandemic. Residents must have an income below the AMI (Area Median Income). Details will be posted to the city website early and funds must be allotted by December 31, so early applications are encouraged. The Office of Housing Stability will be available to answer questions and provide application assistance as needed. Please be sure to check somervillema.gov early next week for more details. (The HUD-approved AMI for Somerville that applicants must be below is $83,300 for an individual, $95,220 for a household of two, $107,100 for a household of three, $119,000 for a household of four, etc.).

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Jason Fucile, who celebrates this week. We miss Jason and Nancy now that Victor’s is closed but we wish them the best. We wish Jason a great birthday. Happy birthday to Craig Resmini. We wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Mary McGuire, Julie Adelsberger, Lisa Hupe, Brian Kirk, Kim Volz, Joseph Di Pietro and Nancy Robinson Faulkner 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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Did you know that Somerville Public Schools serves over 5000 meals per week to students? The Food and Nutrition Services Department staff plays a crucial role, providing Somerville families with food security through healthy, fresh, takeaway meals. Students and families can pick up breakfast and lunch at 8 district schools. Read more about the transition from cafeteria to socially-distanced service at the start of the pandemic in our latest district blog: https://somerville.k12.ma.us/blog/5000-free-meals-every-week. Find out how to pick up free meals, Monday – Friday at the Food and Nutrition Services website (hint- includes menus): https://somerville.k12.ma.us/FNS

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Join the Community Growing Center this December for their twice-weekly Open Hours. All month long, volunteer hosts make sure the garden is open for visitors to enjoy every Tuesday, from 3:00 to 4:40 p.m., and Saturday, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come by the Growing Center, stroll the paths, enjoy the plants in the garden, and take a moment to enjoy this little green oasis tucked right into Union Square. Remember to bundle up to stay warm, dry, and comfortable: dress in layers (base, insulating, and outer shell), bring a thermos of something warm to sip, and keep moving out there. Due to current public health conditions, a limited number of visitors are allowed in the site at any one time. But if you come by and they’re full, please just swing by again soon. To learn more about the Community Growing Center, visit www.thegrowingcenter.org.

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Groundwork Somerville is celebrating 20 years of service to the Somerville community. Join them in a series of free virtual events to celebrate their work and community. To learn more about upcoming events, visit http://www.groundworksomerville.org/help-us-celebrate-20-years-of-groundwork-somerville/.

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The deadline for applying for the second round of Small Business Relief Funds is Monday, November 30, by 3:00 p.m. Visit somervillema.gov/bizrelief for more information about the funding as well as how to apply.

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Calling all young ’Villens. Winter may, in fact, be coming, and daylight hours are dwindling, but don’t forget, SomerSocial is here to brighten your weekday afternoons with fun, free, virtual after-school programming. Perfect your podcast pitch, join a crew for Among Us, or get crafty with local creatives. Sign up for parkour lessons, nature club, animation workshops, theater classes, and more. All sessions are live, synchronous programs for youth in grades K through 8, taught by community partners from Somerville Media Center, the Beautiful Stuff Project, Parkour Generations, Somerville Arts for Youth, Parts and Crafts, and Farrington Nature Linc. Learn more and register now at somersocial.com.

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The Somerville Mathematics 2020 Scrapheap Showdown has gone virtual. Students are invited to team up for a Game Jam. Compete individually or in teams of three on a different kind of challenge, one where you design a game that will be played and judged in part by the other teams. Participants will create their games between December 8 – 13. The winner will be announced by December 20. Register individually or as a team by Wednesday, December 2. Sign up at https://forms.gle/Y2agwREQ56Cb1MgV6.

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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 6 Councilor Lance Davis, and Ward 7 Councilor Katjana Ballantyne invite you to attend the third virtual community meeting about the Holland Street and College Avenue Mobility Improvements project on Wednesday, December 9, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will take place on the GoToMeeting webinar platform. Register to attend at bit.ly/HollandCollegeMeeting3. At the meeting, staff will review the community process to date and present the proposed final design for changes to improve roadway safety for all users and support sustainable, multimodal transportation. The proposed design includes new crosswalks, protected bike lanes, bus priority lanes, traffic-calming bump-outs, and other changes. Staff will take questions and additional input from community members. The proposed final design is available for review at somervoice.somervillema.gov/hollandandcollege. For more information or to provide feedback, please contact the Mobility Division at transportation@somervillema.gov.

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Residential parking enforcement, which was suspended earlier this year, will resume on Tuesday, December 1. If you don’t have a residential parking permit or need to renew yours, now is the time to do it. You can apply for or renew your permit online or via the mail or drop box at the Parking Department office. Visit somervillema.gov/parking or call 311.