It has been announced that the City of Somerville will move into a modified Phase 4, Step 1 of the state’s reopening plan starting on Friday, May 7. This means that indoor capacity for several businesses will be increased significantly, something that the local economy desperately needs. For specific details and general guidelines, go to https://www.somervillema.gov/reopeningphase4. Beginning on Tuesday, June 1, additional reopening steps that allow for expanded athletic activities and indoors performances will go into effect in Somerville. Somerville is joining with Boston in rolling out these reopening steps on a delay from the State schedule. All of the newly allowed activities will be subject to regular City permitting and safety rules and sector-specific COVID-19 guidelines.

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The City of Somerville joined the state in relaxing outdoor face covering guidelines. Since Friday, April 30, residents no longer have to wear a face covering when outdoors if they can socially distance. Masks will still be required in public indoor spaces, outdoor spaces where social distancing is not possible, at large events, and at any City-permitted activities, including outdoor fitness and yoga classes. At smaller gatherings in private homes face coverings are recommended but not required. Although face covering restrictions are loosening, residents should still be vigilant and continue to take precautions against spreading COVID-19. Because Somerville is a densely populated city, some public spaces like the Community Path and parks and playgrounds can get crowded, so residents are advised to bring a face covering whenever they go out. For more information and regular COVID-19 updates, visit www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus and sign up for City alerts at www.somervillema.gov/Alerts. Community members are encouraged to sign up for every alert method: phone call, text, email. Also follow FB.com/SomervilleCity and @SomervilleCity.

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Looking for some Mother’s Day treats? Support a local business and your local museum. This weekend 10% of all proceeds from Lyndell’s Bakery will be donated to the Somerville Museum’s Access for All & More Campaign. For more info visit: http://somervillemuseum.org/accessforall/, http://lyndells.com.

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To those celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to Aida Sousa-Braga, who celebrates this week. Happy birthday to Beverly Childers this week. We hope she has a great celebration. Happy birthday to Dennis Sullivan. We wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Fred Parker, Eric Pedro Sr., Johnny Ferola, Jack Costello, Karen Mancini, Millie L McCarthy, Cynthia Saltman, Jill Marie, Jim Breath, Karen Dupont, Carla Manganella-Cook, Janet McLaughlin and Lisa Dervishian 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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If a vehicle is booted, all unpaid parking tickets must be paid in full within 48 hours to have it released, otherwise the vehicle will be towed. While the Parking Department office remains closed to the public, payments can be made online at somervillema.gov/parking, over the phone (call 1-844-807-9069), or by placing a certified bank check made out to “City of Somerville” in the secure dropbox outside the Parking office at 133 Holland Street. For more information, please visit somervillema.gov/parking.

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We want to wish our favorite couple a very happy anniversary. Sal and Claudia Ferro celebrated 58 years of marriage this week. They have brought up a large very close family during those years and it really showed how close they are this year when they have been going through so much. We wish them many more years of happiness!

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Speaking of Claudia, we are very happy to have our photographer back this week taking photos. We missed her.

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Do you have ideas on how to keep cool in the heat? The City of Somerville, in partnership with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, is now accepting applications for the Keep Cool Somerville Community Projects Grant Program to support creative and impactful cooling solutions this summer. Residents and community groups are invited to propose small-scale pilot projects to improve resilience to hot weather. A handful of projects will be funded to be implemented over the summer. No project is too small. Grants can range from several hundred dollars to just under $10,000. Potential projects could seek to raise awareness of extreme heat risks and coping strategies, improve access to cooling resources, promote mutual aid during heat waves, or any other idea that improves community resilience to hot weather, especially among residents most likely to be impacted. Grant applicants are encouraged, but not required, to draw on the Cooling Strategies Toolkit for inspiration. There are several opportunities for interested applicants to get feedback or assistance before submitting a proposal. Multilingual assistance is available. Applications are due Wednesday, May 26. For more information, including application instructions, virtual event links, and the Cooling Strategies Toolkit, visit somervillema.gov/keepcool.

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CHA Somerville Hospital offers free testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). The mobile COVID-19 testing unit offers testing for all in our neighborhoods. To make a mobile appointment, call 617-682-0583. Mobile testing schedules, as they become available, and more testing information can be found at somervillema.gov/covidtesting. The state’s Stop the Spread testing sites are also an option, including in the nearby communities of Chelsea and Everett. For more information, visit the state’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.

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Applications are now available for Somerville youth 14 and up to apply for the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. Applications will be accepted through Friday, May 14. Employment opportunities are available in the Parks and Recreation Department, Department of Public Works, and other city departments. Some positions can be done remotely or in a hybrid of remote and in-person work. Youth who are hired can expect to work 20 hours for approximately six weeks starting in late June or early July. All positions pay the city’s living wage rate, which is currently at $15.46 per hour. Youth who would like to apply can do so by visiting http://bit.ly/SomerJobs2021. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis upon receipt of applications.

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Hate incidents impact victims as well as the community. In an effort to make reporting hate incidents easier for the residents of Somerville, you may now report them using an online form. Visit the Somerville Police website under the Home tab and submit your Hate Incident report: www.somervillepd.com/home/.

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If you need assistance accessing food, there are several resources available to you locally. Visit the COVID-19 Help page at https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/covid-19-help-food-housing-and-financial-assistance to learn more. There you will find a chart that includes local food pantry schedules, contact information, languages spoken at the food pantry, and whether or not you need to bring ID.

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Reminder: city buildings are still closed to the public. Although city buildings remain closed to the public, a number of city services are still available online or by calling 311. Check the “City Service Status” tab on the city’s COVID-19 page for more information.

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