Daphne Kalotay

Three Somerville Authors on Massachusetts Book Awards “Must Reads” Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB) is pleased to announce the “Must Read” longlists in the 20th annual Massachusetts Book Awards. The awards recognize significant works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for adults and young readers written by Massachusetts authors and published during the preceding calendar year.

Dear Community Members,

Hearty Meals For All will served up free to-go meals outside of the Somerville Community Baptist Church Friday.

If you are struggling with food security during this difficult time, sign up for Somerville Emergency Food resource at tinyurl.com/SOMCovidFood and visit somervillema.gov/coronavirushelp “Food Access” tab for more information about where to get food support.

All members of the public above the age of 2 urged to wear a face-covering when outside their homes in order to prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Health have issued a public advisory that, starting immediately, everyone in Somerville should wear a clean face covering, such as a fabric mask, scarf, or bandana, over their mouth and nose when in any public establishment or common area. Community members are also advised to wear face coverings when in parks, on paths, or in other shared community spaces.  

Expert, Trained Volunteers to Provide COVID-19 Health and Human Service Support via Virtual 311 Call Center

From Quarantine Guidance to Unemployment Access to Pothole Repairs: For 311 in Somerville, It’s Still “One Call to City Hall”

Today the City of Somerville’s 311 Constituent Services Division launched a new initiative to provide constituents with access to one-on-one expert guidance during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Normally there is an editorial from Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone in this space, but this week the City is instead sharing important information and updates about COVID-19.

 Updates on City Closures, Event Cancelations, and Tax Payments

City buildings are closed through May 4, but many City services are still available. To find out which services are still available, click the “City Services Status” tab at www.somervillema.gov/coronavirus. You can also 311 for more information. City-sponsored events and events that are permitted by the city are canceled through June to help control the spread of COVID-19.

Facial coverings help prevent people who don’t realize they’re infected from spreading coronavirus to others.

Dear Community Members,

Here is a COVID-19 update for Thursday, April 9.

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers.)

Dear Editor:

During these challenging times, postal employees are working hard to ensure residents stay connected with their world through the mail. Whether it’s medications, a package, a paycheck, benefits or pension check, a bill or letter from a family member, postal workers understand that every piece of mail is important. While service like this is nothing new to us, we need our communities’ help with social distancing.

Amidst a dire, statewide shortage of critical medical supplies, the region’s largest electrical workers’ union, IBEW Local 103, has donated 20,000 medical-grade protective masks to the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) for direct distribution to front-line caregivers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.