The Somerville Board of Health (BOH) approved a face-covering mandate for all indoor public spaces at its August 19 meeting that is in effect as of Friday, August 20. The mandate applies to anyone two or older, and face coverings can be removed when people are actively eating or drinking. Masks should have a snug fit and cover the nose and mouth. The order can be read at https://www.somervillema.gov/sites/default/files/COVID-19-Mask-Order-Proposed-8.21.pdf. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone in areas of high or substantial COVID-19 transmission wear face coverings when in indoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status. Currently, all Massachusetts counties have either high or substantial transmission. For more coronavirus and vaccine information, visit somervillema.gov/COVID19 or somervillema.gov/vaccine and sign up for City alerts at somervillema.gov/Alerts. We urge you to sign up for every alert method you are able to receive phone call, text, email. Also please follow FB.com/SomervilleCity and @SomervilleCity.

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The deadline to register to vote or update your party affiliation or address for the September 14 preliminary election is today, Wednesday, August 25, at 8:00 p.m. Massachusetts voters have the option to register online or via a paper form. To register by mail, you can call (617) 625-6600 ext. 4200 and request a form be mailed to you, or you can download one from the Elections website. Don’t forget that your form must be returned to the Somerville Elections Department by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25. You can also visit the Elections Department in City Hall to register to vote. Please note face coverings are required in all city buildings. This year there will be preliminary votes held to narrow the field of candidates for Mayor, Ward 5 City Councilor, and Ward 7 City Councilor.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy Birthday to our own Bob “Monty” Doherty is celebrating this week. You can enjoy his historical columns in our paper every other week. Ask him anything about the history of Somerville and he will have the answer. We wish him the best. Happy birthday to State Representative Christine Barber, who is also celebrating. We hope she has a great day with her family and friends here in the city. Happy birthday to Jonathan Bowers. We wish him a great year ahead. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Bob Osborne, Kathleen Goss, Louise Cruz-Partee, Ellie Loder Chute, John McDermott, Bob Baxter, Cheryl Endicott-Ribeiro, Leesette Bengar, Michael Madden and Isabel Mercauto 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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A walk-in clinic for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be held Wednesday, August 25, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School, 50 Cross Street. No appointment is necessary, but pre-registration is highly encouraged. You can pre-register at somervillema.gov/vaccine. The clinic is free, and open to all people 12 years or older, regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Identification is not required. All minors must have parent or guardian permission. Anyone 12-15 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Permission forms will be available onsite, or you can download one here. If you need assistance, please call 311 (617-666-3311).

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The Somerville High Class of 1971 is looking for classmates for their 50th reunion on Saturday, October 23, at Anthony’s Function Hall in Malden from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The price is $65 per person. Please contact Rosalie DeLucia or Jimmy Del Ponte, or the SHS71 page on Facebook for more information. Wave high your guilded banners as SHS 71 celebrates their 50th!

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The Somerville High Class of 1961 is holding their 60th reunion on September 28, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Seasons 52, 6 Wayside Rd., Burlington. The cost is $40, you can mail checks to SHS Class of 1961 c/o 30 Murray Hill Rd, Cambridge, MA, 02140.

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Rosebud American Kitchen & Bar, Davis Square is hosting Hostess & Little Debbie Milkshake Month. Grab a milkshake with your favorite Hostess/Little Debbie treat. Each week through mid-September, a different dessert will be showcased: Twinkies from August 22 to August 28, Cosmic Brownies from August 29 to September 4, HoHos from September 5 to September 11, and Nutty Buddies from September 12 to September 18.

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Seek housing assistance before eviction moratoriums expire. Somerville’s residential eviction moratorium is in place until September 15, 2021, and the federal moratorium has been extended until October 3, 2021. In light of these extensions, the city is urging anyone who may need it to proactively seek financial support now to avoid later threats to housing stability. Support is available through the Office of Housing Stability (OHS) for tenants who need help making overdue payments or upcoming payments. Services are also available to help landlords pay mortgages and bills that would be covered by rental income. Somerville residents in need of assistance can contact OHS at 617-625-6600 ext. 2581 or fill out the referral form at somervillema.gov/ohs.

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Please join Zili Misik and musician Peniel Guerrier for the third workshop in their series In A Somerville Yard. Zili Misik and featured guests Solomon Murungu, mbira; Harrison Tei, Ghanaian drum and dance; Peniel Guerrier, Haitian drum and dance; and Becky Bass, steel pan are spotlighting music and dance from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago are inviting all into a space to be created together to learn a little bit, play music and dance and most of all to have fun with each other. All events will take place at the Blessing of the Bay Boathouse Park, on the grassy area. Reserve for the workshops here: www.projectmisik.com/somerville-events Guest artists throughout the series along with dates and times from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.: August 25 (rain date August 26) is Peniel Guerrier; September 1 (rain date September 2) is Becky Bass; final event on September 11 (rain date September 12) with Harrison, Solomon and Becky.

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The City of Somerville Elections Department is hiring polling place workers for the municipal elections on September 14 and November 2. Polling place workers will be paid $200 per day and work from 6:30 a.m. until shortly after the polls close at 8:00 p.m., with a two-hour break. You must be a registered Massachusetts voter to work at a polling place. No prior experience necessary. Email personnel@somervillema.gov or call 617-625-6600 ext. 3300 to learn more today.

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All city buildings are now open, with limited staffing. Both visitors to city buildings as well as staff will be required to wear face coverings while inside the buildings. Staff will be available on a walk-in basis in all departments for quick transactions like paying a bill or picking up a document. For matters that will take longer, residents will need to schedule an appointment with city staff. Many city services are also available online and, whenever possible, residents are encouraged to continue to use online services.

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The Somerville Flea kicked off their 10th year in Davis Sq. on Sunday, August 1, at 10:00 a.m., 56 Holland St. The best local vintage purveyors and artisans are back. Come on out and support them after a year-long hiatus. Shop local!

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With the spread of the Delta variant on the rise, don’t delay getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The Cambridge Health Alliance Vaccine Center is right here in Somerville at 176 Somerville Ave., open for walk-ins five days a week to anyone 12 years and older.  Monday, Tuesday: 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No insurance needed, no ID needed. Free for all, regardless of immigration or health insurance status. No appointment necessary, just walk right in.  Open to anyone, you do not need to be a Somerville resident or CHA patient

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Help support your neighbors through the Somerville Cares Fund. If you’re lucky enough to have some extra money, please consider a donation to the Somerville Cares Fund. This donation-based fund provides direct assistance to Somerville residents, workers, and parents of school children so that they can cover basic expenses like housing, food, and utility bills. If you’re unable to donate you can still help by sharing information about the Somerville Cares Fund with your friends and family.

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