Congratulations to all our local public servants who were sworn in for new or additional terms this week. We especially congratulate our new mayor, Katjana Ballantyne. She will have her hands full, but we are confident that she will do an exceptionally fine job. Let’s wish all of them the best and hope that they serve all of our interests as fairly and effectively as possible.

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The cases numbers in Somerville have risen to 822 for the month of December, making it already the third-highest monthly total since the beginning of the pandemic and creating the potential to surpass last December and January in terms of local transmission of the virus. See the latest Somerville case data at somervillema.gov/covid19dashboard.

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COVID-19 vaccine booster clinics will be held January 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Ave. The Moderna booster will be offered. Registration is required. Please register at tinyurl.com/SomervilleVax or call 311. The clinic is free, and open to all people 18 years or older, regardless of immigration status or health insurance. Identification is not required. Please bring your vaccine card with you to your appointment, and arrive at the time of your appointment to avoid overcrowding in the building.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to a great local guy, Matt Hoey. We wish him the very best on this his birthday week. Happy birthday to Dominick Silvestri Jr. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to Theresa Rodriques, who is also celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Bonnie Raboin Carriger, who also celebrates this week. We hope she enjoyed her day. Happy Birthday to Kevin O’Donovan. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday to everyone here and from the city who is celebrating this week. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Marie Miele, Matthew Martino, Gale Mahan, Steven Anthony, Sophia Carafotes, George Allen, Linda M. Alves, and Simon Shapiro 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’s King Solomon’s Lodge is holding a community blood drive, Monday, January 31, at the Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG and enter “KSL” to schedule an appointment.

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The fifth annual competition for Community Curators has been extended. All applications are now due by Friday, January 14, 11:00 p.m. The Somerville Museum welcomes proposals and encourages applicants to visit both the Museum and its website to learn more about the Museum’s wide-ranging exhibition history. Two finalists will be selected to install their proposed exhibits in the Museum’s gallery spaces at One Westwood Road, Somerville, MA. The chosen applicants will also receive a seed grant of $2,500 towards exhibition costs. All applications must be submitted digitally to info@somervillemuseum.org.

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The Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment analyzes the impact of development pressure on arts organizations across the city and makes recommendations for how to protect art spaces and support the creative economy. Join them on January 19 at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about our Somerville Arts Space Risk Assessment work. Hear about policy recommendations to support Somerville arts spaces. Please spread the word and invite colleagues and fellow artists. Register now for this online meeting: https://bit.ly/somerville-art-space RSVP to their Facebook event page for updates and reminders. In this public meeting we will learn more about the Somerville Arts Council work this year concerning arts spaces, zoning and planning. As a community let’s get ready for the New Year to roll out these policies and initiatives. There will be a Q and A and break out rooms to discuss topics and ask questions.

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The Greater Boston League has temporarily halted all athletic events for the remainder of the week, due to COVID-19 concerns. Somerville High School plays in the Greater Boston League.

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Brickbottom Gallery, 1 Fitchburg St., Somerville, presents: Somerville as Muse: 12 Artists Influenced by the City through January 15. This exhibition, curated and organized by Debra Olin, highlights 12 artists, including painters, photographers, collage artist, illustrators and printmakers whose work is heavily influenced by their Somerville surroundings. It features lost landmarks of the city’s past, shows the Somerville of today – including the overwhelming scenes of construction – and offers a glimpse of possible futures. Somerville as Muse is made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Somerville Arts Council, and support from the Somerville Museum.

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The City of Somerville invites Somerville residents, workers, and visitors to complete a survey to inform citywide parking policies. This survey will provide vital insights into existing travel patterns and public priorities for parking management and curbside space. It is one component of the Citywide Parking and Curb-Use Study, a multipronged effort to collect data and develop recommendations to make Somerville’s parking system work more equitably, efficiently, and consistently for residents, businesses, and visitors. Responses will be accepted through January 14. The survey is available in multiple languages at somervillema.gov/parkingstudy.

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Join LoVeSeXy for a very special intimate brunch show. On Sunday, January 9, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Premiere On Broadway, 517 Broadway Somerville. Advance tickets on sale now at: www.premiereonbroadway.com.LoVeSeXy is New England’s premier tribute 2 the music of Prince.

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The Best of Somerville 2021 results will be published in the January 12 edition of the paper. There’s still time to cast your vote for the best. Email us at news@thesomervilletimes.com for who and what you think is the best. We’re looking for the Best Idea of 2021 here in the city. If you have one you’d like to suggest, let us know.

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Elfland was started by a local 8-year-old boy and some elves. Organically grown in an empty lot at the corner of Summer and School Streets, it epitomizes the creativity of Somerville residents. Poised for possible future eviction, the Somerville Museum offered part of their front garden to house the tiny buildings and sites over the winter months. Stop by the Museum, One Westwood Road, Somerville to see the Elfland “archeological site” grow.

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Prepare for the 2021/2022 snow season by reviewing parking rules and signing up for alerts. Because this winter begins in an odd-numbered year, snow emergency parking will be on the odd side of the street all winter, unless posted signage says differently. Check streets signs in your neighborhood so you know where you can park ahead of winter weather. You can also learn more about the city’s snow policies at somervillema.gov/snow.

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It’s time to turn a new leaf and celebrate with a New Year, New Plant Market. An indoor space for plant enthusiasts, 20+ local artists and small businesses to gather, support local and chat with others who share the same passion. Free event and open to the public Location: Arts at the Armory in Somerville, 191 Highland Ave. Sunday, January 9, from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

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Somerville’s Winter Farmers Market takes place Saturdays, 9:30 – 1:30 p.m., December 4 through April 16, at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave. Offering the best locally grown and produced agricultural items and more. They offer a diverse range of local and New England produce, as well as cheese, eggs, meats, fish, breads, pastries, chocolate, and wine. They feature rotating guest vendors each week, as well as live entertainment and activities. Check out the schedule and map at www.somwintermarket.org. They accept SNAP/EBT & HIP, CREDIT and DEBIT cards. $15 SNAP match for EBT customers.

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Somerville’s requirement to wear a face covering in public indoor spaces remains in effect. Make sure your mask covers your nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces and that it fits snugly around the sides of your face. The CDC has recommendations on how to improve your mask effectiveness. In general, masks with more layers offer better protection and masks with nose wires help achieve a secure fit around your nose. We’ll say it again though, be sure your mask covers your nose too and not just your mouth for effective protection.

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If you are unable to access a COVID-19 vaccine due to transportation challenges, but otherwise are able to leave your home, please call 3-1-1 to get connected to transportation assistance.

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Individuals who are homebound are encouraged to schedule an in-home COVID-19 vaccine appointment through the state’s COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program. The program is open to all individuals who are homebound, including 5- to 11-year-olds, and individuals seeking both initial or booster doses. To schedule an appointment, call the In-Home Vaccination Central Intake Line at (833) 983-0485. The Intake Line is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Representatives are available in both English and Spanish, and also have access to translators for over 100 languages. Due to high demand, the current estimated wait time for an in-home vaccination appointment is 4-6 weeks.

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