Readers who pick up our print edition this week will notice a slight change in size that we are trying out. We will be covering the same local events and issues as always, but the leaner format will allow us to move forward with a number of changes for the better that we are striving for. Let us know what you think.

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Join the Somerville Arts Council for a gathering of good cheer and light refreshments. Come out to meet the staff and board, provide feedback and ideas. Learn more about how they are easing into the reopening phase, as well as their upcoming programs and events, especially ArtBeat, SomerStreets, Nibble, Ignite, and much more. This also a good time to sign up to volunteer. If you want to find out more about their work and meet other folks, please come out: Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (rain or shine). Location: Powder House Park.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised the COVID-19 Community Level for all of Middlesex County including Somerville to HIGH on Thursday evening, May 5. The city is strongly encouraging that high-quality masks be worn indoors in public while the CDC COVID-19 Community Level remains high and that all persons ensure they are up to date on vaccination. Free KN95 masks provided to Somerville by the Commonwealth are being offered to residents at all city libraries and at City Hall. For more information visit https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/programs/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources.

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Celebrating their birthdays this week: Happy birthday to Mr. Feargal O’Toole. We wish him the very best on this his birthday. Happy birthday to Vinny Vicente. We wish him the best. Happy birthday to Brian Roche. We hope he enjoys his day. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Kevin D. Downey, Ken McIntyre, Helen Martino Mccallum, Karen Keenan McCann, Rick Driscoll, Gene Duggan, Deirdre Grace, Shirley Valentine, Danielle Scrima and Iona O’Brien 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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This week is National Public Works Week. Join in this week in thanking the City of Somerville Department of Public Works (aka DPW) staff who every day (and sometimes overnight) care for our streets, walkways, public buildings, parks, trees, civic spaces and more in our city. When the roads are clear of snow, the trash is off our streets, free masks are stocked at the library, and the parks, playgrounds, and schools are cared for, it’s the committed staff at DPW who got the job done. Thank you, DPW!

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The City of Somerville, Somerville Community Corporation (SCC), Boynton Yards, and USQ are hosting a job and resource fair to connect residents with local employers and opportunities. The event will take place Thursday, May 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mystic Activity Center, 530 Mystic Avenue. Meet with representatives from nearly 30 local organizations across technology, hospitality, health care, construction, retail, education, and more. See the full list and register to attend at somervillema.gov/jobfair. SCC’s First Source Career Coaches are available to help with résumé development, interview practice, or other preparation. To learn more and schedule a coaching session, visit somervillecdc.org/firstsource.

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Somerville residents who otherwise do not have a means of transportation can once again sign up for free taxi rides to access food and local medical care through the city’s Taxi to Health program. Ride vouchers are also available to use in the future. To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/somervillecab. Open to all over age 18. Residents aged 60 60 and over can book rides directly by calling Connie Lorenti at the Council on Aging: 617-625-6600 ext. 2319.

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The mural bike tour is back! Join Cyclopolitan and Assembly Connect on Sunday, May 22, for a beautiful, mural-filled ride through East Somerville and Assembly.  Added Bonus: the ride will make a stop at the East Somerville farmers market. Follow the link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebMmkn4P8psWIxO8Ce7YzSr993I4bNg60Z5-567YCcM_Ghag/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3U-Mb4FLutFkO7gU9ejA9Ll0AoA5aGLYKQTfkP38uRZ9M2TmmMUrm45c4

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Throughout the month of May, the Somerville Historic Preservation Commission (SHPC) partners with other local organizations to host events honoring Somerville’s history and historic assets. All events are open to the public, ADA accessible, and free. Thursday, May 19, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Docent Tour of Milk Row Cemetery. Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Docent Tour of Prospect Hill Tower.

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Somerville Council on Aging will host Movie Matinee and Pizza. Wednesday, May 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ralph and Jenny Center, 9 New Washington St. (behind the Holiday Inn). Showing will be: Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players. $2 for Pizza. Please RSVP to Debby Higgins at 617-625-6600 ext. 2321 or dhiggins@somervillema.gov. Grab and Go Lunch Available after the movie.

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East Somerville Carnaval is back. Sunday June 5, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Broadway. Music from Lookie Lookie, Grupo Los Nitidos, Lechuga Fresca, Grooversity and more to be announced. Food from many East Somerville restaurants will be available, plus ice cream from Tipping Cow. Family friendly activities with Somerville Youth Soccer, Parkour, Esh Circus, Play with Clay at Mudflat, Somerville Recreation and a Dunk Tank.

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Somerville Council on Aging’s May Boxed Lunch Pick Up, Friday, May 20, at the Ralph and Jenny Center, 9 New Washington St. (behind the Holiday Inn) starting at 10:30 a.m. They hope you can stop by. Please reserve your lunch by calling Connie Lorenti at 617-625-6600, ext. 2319.

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The City of Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program has begun and will conclude in late October. This annual program flushes pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality. Flushing will be done on Mondays and Thursdays between 6:00 p.m. and midnight to minimize disruptions to water service. In most cases, residents will not notice any changes to their water service. Residents will be notified via signage when their neighborhood will be affected by the Flushing Program. For more information, please contact the Water Department by email at water@somervillema.gov, or call 617-625-6600 ext. 5850.

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