Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Health have announced that facial coverings will be mandatory starting Wednesday, April 29. In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, anyone over the age of 2 must wear a facial covering when in any indoor or outdoor space that is open to the public.

********************

On May 1, ONCE will be launching a brand new platform: The ONCE Virtual Venue (VV) will be a place for fans of the venue to interact and enjoy performances under the ONCE Presents identity. The programming will range from music to comedy, yoga, tutorials, and more. They have reached out to a lot of our favorite local artists and beyond to participate in the unique programming and have some amazing folks lined up. For a complete list visit www.oncesomerville.com.

********************

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Big happy birthday to our good friend over at Ball Square Café, the man with the smiling face, Mike Moccia. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday to another great restaurant owner, Brett Henry, of the famous Henry family at Mt. Vernon Restaurant. We hope he has a great day. Happy birthday this week to Linda Beebe, who is celebrating this week. We hope when this pandemic is over she gets out to celebrate, she deserves it. Also, happy birthday to Anthony Fraser, who grew up in East Somerville. Happy birthday to attorney Frank J. Kautz II, celebrating this week as well. Sal Ferro III is celebrating this week. He is well known here in Somerville and the son of our photographer, Claudia. He comes from a great family and we wish him a great birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Chris Lavelli, Joseph DeSousa, Rose Lister, George Sharpe, Barbara A. Balkwill, G.p. Redmond, Lillian Bove Litchfield, Johnny Ferola, Fred Parker, Bernie Duggan and Eric Pedro Sr. 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.

********************

Applications are open for the Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund. Businesses should apply by Monday, May 11, at 3:00 p.m. to be considered. Eligible applicants should apply online at www.somervillema.gov/BizRelief. Multilingual application support is available.

********************

Somerville Open Studios (SOS) is a citywide art event, where hundreds of artists open their studios and invite the public in to see their art. Somerville Open Studios 2020 will not take place this weekend. This was not an easy decision, but health concerns due to COVID-19 and difficulties in rescheduling mean that for 2020, SOS will not be taking place. Instead, they are putting together virtual artists’ video visits. It’s not the same, but these videos will be available all year round and easy to get to. More announcements will be made soon. As always, visitors can check out out the art on our members’ profile pages.

********************

Be sure to visit the Remote Learning page for information about the district strategy for educating your children. https://somerville.k12.ma.us/remotelearning.

********************

In the midst of a global worker health and safety crisis, it feels all the more important for us to come together to honor and remember those who lost their lives due to dangerous work in whatever way we can. With this in mind, please join MassCOSH, the MA AFL-CIO, the Greater Boston Labor Council, Jobs with Justice, and Community Labor United on April 28 at 12:00 p.m. for their Virtual Workers’ Memorial Day Commemoration, the annual gathering for remembering, healing, and action. The bilingual event (Spanish and English) will honor workers who were killed, injured, or suffered from illness on the job as well as the families who have been impacted by preventable workplace tragedies. This powerful memorial will include a special tribute to our frontline and essential workers who continue to risk their lives in the battle against COVID-19, including six essential workers who passed away from COVID-19 and were likely exposed to the virus on the job. The event will close with a call to action for stronger workplace health and safety protections so that one day we will no longer need to hold this event. The event will be broadcast via Facebook Live from the MassCOSH Facebook page. The live video will be posted in the event discussion as soon as it begins. Contact Ben Weilerstein at ben.w@masscosh.org or by calling 617-379-0146 for more Workers’ Memorial Day information or other resources about health and safety in the workplace.

********************

Project SOUP is looking for donations. They are looking to stock up with plastic bags, pasta and rice (normal sized bags) this week. Hours of operation and times to drop off deliveries are provided on their website https://www.somervillehomelesscoalition.org/food-security/. Please arrange to drop off or have deliveries sent to our food pantry during their hours of operation. Their address is 165 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145. The telephone number during hours of operation is 617 776 7687.

********************

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Fast and Furriest 5K will be held virtually. Between now and Sunday, May 31, you can run, walk, or wag with your dog to help animals in need. Choose your course: on the road, in the park, on the trail, or even on your treadmill. Choose your pace: whether you run, walk, hop, canter, skip, or jump, what matters is that you are helping animals. Ask friends and family to support your effort. Once you register, you’ll be able to fundraise, helping the MSPCA-Angell continue providing essential services to homeless, sick, or injured animals in need. Raise $100 and we will send you a race medal for you and your dog. Raise even more, and you will be eligible for great prizes. Now more than ever, the animals need you. Every dollar you raise will make a difference. Register now at www.fastandfurriest.com. Use code FBEVENT to save $5 when you do. Questions or interested about sponsoring the event? Contact fastandfurriest@mspca.org.

********************

Support local business and enjoy the best of Somerville’s culinary scene by ordering takeout or delivery during this difficult time. Check out https://www.somervilledelivers.com for a list of restaurants accepting orders now. Don’t see your restaurant listed? Add it here: Somervillema.gov/covidbizhelp.

********************

Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is accepting masks. The link provided here offers a pattern and provides more details. Thanks to many local sewers who have already been hard at work on this. The link for CHA’s Call for Masks is: https://www.challiance.org/about/newsroom/personal_protective_equipment_ppe_homemade_donatio_1180.

********************

To contact us at The Somerville Times during these closures, please go to news@thesomervilletimes.com. We are still up and running but will be working remotely.

********************

The Ryan Harrington Foundation is honored to be hosting their 5th Annual Just One Run in Memory of Neil Naugler. Please join them on Sunday May 31, at 10:00 a.m. for the Just One Run with a free Kids Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. The Ryan Harrington Foundation is a group dedicated to helping people with the disease and struggle of addiction while raising awareness and funding. The Foundation maintains the simple message: If we can help “JUST ONE” individual find and maintain their recovery, we have succeeded. This 5k race will start and end at the Blessing of the Bay Boat House in Somerville, looping around the Mystic River on Rt. 16 to Medford, through the Mystic River Reservation, and back over the Wellington Bridge to the finish. Shirts are guaranteed to the first 200 registered and to all kids registered prior to race day, 12 years of age and under. The event includes a free half mile Kid’s Fun Run, post-race refreshments, music and family activities! Informational stations provided by local resources. Online registration fees for the 5K race are $30 for participants ages 13 (plus processing fees). Participants for age 12 and under are $15. Adult registration fees increase to $35 on race day. Kids 12 and under are welcome to come and run at no cost, but please register your child. For more information about the Ryan Harrington Foundation and its mission, please visit http://www.ryanharringtonfoundation.org/the-foundation/