The 2020 Illuminations Tour will have a new COVID twist this year. Even though the traditional trolley led Illuminations Tour this winter will not take place, the spirit of Somerville will shine through. The Somerville Arts Council believes that our neighborhoods and squares have much to share, so they are going to deconstruct their tour to allow you to develop your own self-guided tour. Come celebrate the folk artistry of residents who transform their houses and yards with lights, illuminated ornaments, and shrines of devotion and fantasy. Somerville Lights Up! They will be developing a Google Map so you can take a social distance personal tour. Their map will be available for viewing starting on December 12. The map will include different emojis and map layers to indicate the different kinds of locations you can visit. Are you illuminating and bedazzling your home or business? Tell them about it here: https://forms.gle/K1x53vimTadT1k1d6.

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

There will be a Public Hearing before the City Council’s Committee on Housing and Community Development, on Wednesday, November 18, at 6:00 p.m., on the Order of Councilor Kristen Strezo, Chair of the Committee, for public testimony on the proposed Winter Hill Urban Renewal Plan (#210787). Because of Governor Baker’s and Mayor Curtatone’s recent orders limiting the number of people that may gather in one place, this meeting will be conducted via remote participation, online in a webinar hosted on the GoToWebinar platform. You have two ways to be heard at this meeting: To attend and be heard, enter this link exactly as it appears into your internet browser any time before the meeting: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9179575600740006156. You can also find this link on the city website’s calendar. You will then be asked to register, and after registering, you will receive an email with instructions to join the webinar. If you are unable to attend but wish to be heard, you may send written comments by US mail to the City Clerk at 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143, or by email to cityclerk@somervillema.gov. Your comments must arrive no later than 12 noon on the day of the Hearing in order to be sure they are conveyed to the Committee.

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

Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to our very special guy Bobby Potaris, who celebrates this week. A great guy and a great father, he also writes those quirky dad jokes here in the paper. Happy birthday to Joan Puglia, a lifelong resident and activist who is celebrating this week as well. She’s the wife of former alderman Andy. A very nice couple who love Somerville. Happy birthday to another great friend of ours, Malitta Knaut. A great lady who is in Somerville just about every day. She is also a very proud horse owner and trainer as well. We wish her the very best. Happy birthday to Diane Johansen, another lifelong and well-known resident who lives in Winter Hill. A gracious and great lady, we wish her the very best on this her birthday. Happy birthday to a former East Somervillian who also loves Somerville, John Hight. Happy birthday to Joshua Lewin, of Juliet in Union Square. A nice guy, a great place and awesome food. We wish him the very best. Happy birthday to one of Somerville’s well-known activists, Joe Beckman. A nice guy with a great sense of humor. We wish him the very best of birthdays. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Meghann Viens – newly married, congratulations! – Dennis Biondo, Philip D’Arcangelo, Peggy Henderson, Nancy Jones, Joellen Guidi, Mary Silvestro, Suzanne Ferola, Bill Mccoy, Marie Coady, Todd Easton, Peggy Ryan Lookliss and T Leah Pratt 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.

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

A virtual Public Hearing on Affordable Housing Overlay District zoning proposal will be held on Thursday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. The City Council and the Planning Board is holding this Public Hearing. Dan Bartman of the City Planning Department will explain how the Affordable Housing Overlay District (AHOD) would work. After that, members of the public will be invited to speak. Anyone may submit public comment in writing to cityclerk@somervillema.gov. The link and call-in number to get into the meeting, and the agenda, are here: http://somervillecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=3267. To read up on the AHOD proposal before the meeting, go to https://www.somervillezoning.com/

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

Don’t forget the Union Square Farmers Market is still open but in its final week. Union Square Main Streets runs a COVID-19 prepared market with a $15 SNAP match every Saturday until November 21, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Union Square Plaza. 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. is reserved for seniors and immuno-compromised shoppers. For more information visit https://www.unionsquaremain.org/2020-season.

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

On November 6, the governor issued a stay at home advisory. With exceptions for essential activities, such as going to work, grocery shopping, pharmacy and medical visits, or taking a walk, all residents are instructed to stay home with their household (not with guests) between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. For details, go to www.mass.gov/stayhome. Always wear a face covering in public – over your mouth and nose, indoors and outdoors – no matter how far you are from others. Face coverings are one tool we know works. The state now requires all persons over the age of five to wear face-coverings in all public places at all times, even when you are at a distance from others. Previous exceptions including for medical or disabling conditions remain. As a reminder, Somerville’s face covering order applies starting at age 2 and up. Go to https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-state-of-emergency#masks-&-face-coverings– to read the revised face-coverings order.

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

Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne is looking for your help with “naming” recommendations. She is gathering a list of Somerville notable women who you’d recommend for “naming” a civic space, public building, public pathway etc. Please provide name and background and email her at Katjana@Katjana.org.

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

Over the course of approximately the next four to six weeks, Eversource Electric crews will install underground conduit in Ball Square to support the Green Line Extension. Work is expected to primarily be conducted overnight to preserve on-street parking at local businesses. Where: Broadway from Bristol Rd. to Boston Ave. When: Monday through Friday, 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Work hours may shift to daytime as the crew approaches Boston Ave. If you have questions, please contact Project Supervisor Matthew Viens at matthew.viens@eversource.com or 617-541-5709.

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

The City of Somerville is currently seeking applicants for 10 open positions on the Somerville Commission for Women. The Commission works to ensure the equal status of women in educational, economic, political, health, legal, and social spheres and provides information, referrals, and guidance. The Commission meets monthly, typically on the third Tuesday for an hour and a half. Its volunteer members are appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Applicants interested in volunteering to serve on the Commission are asked to attend three meetings and then contact Jennifer Mancia at jdutra@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2406 for an application. Information on upcoming meetings, which are currently being held virtually, can be found on the city’s meeting and events calendar at www.somervillema.gov/events. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.

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

CHA Somerville Hospital offers free COVID-19 testing at Assembly Row. To make an appointment, call 617-665-2928 (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.). The mobile COVID-19 testing unit also offers testing in our neighborhoods to make access easier for residents. Mobile testing schedules and more information on both can be found under the “Symptoms, Testing, & Medical Info” tab on somervillema.gov/covid19.

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

Following months of suspended enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Somerville will resume residential parking enforcement on December 1. All city buildings, including the Parking Department, remain closed for the foreseeable future, but residents can renew or apply for new permits online, by mail, or by dropping off completed applications in a secure drop box at 133 Holland Street. There are several ways to apply for or renew your resident parking permit: online, by mail, or by dropping off a completed application in the secure drop box at the Parking Department office. To apply online visit www.somervillema.gov/parking and follow the instructions carefully. This will be the fastest, easiest way for most people to get a permit. Online applications will be approved or denied within two business days of submission, and approved permits will be issued and mailed within two business days of payment. To apply by mail or drop box, gather the necessary materials in one envelope and leave it in the drop box at the Parking Department, 133 Holland Street, or mail it to the City of Somerville Parking Department, 133 Holland Street, Somerville, MA, 02144. For more information, visit somervillema.gov/parking or call 311.

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

Reminder: city buildings are still closed to the public. Although city buildings remain closed to the public, a number of city services are still available online or by calling 311. Check the “City Service Status” tab on the city’s COVID-19 page for more information.

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

Don’t forget, if you would like to subscribe to receive a digital edition of our paper, go directly online to our website over to the right side and fill out your email address to receive a free, full PDF copy of the paper.

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

New Learn-To-Skate classes for children, ages 4 to 18 at the local ice rink in Cambridge at the Simoni Rink, on Gore Street in Cambridge, classes start Saturday, December 5 at 2:00pm for five weeks. Use figure, recreational or hockey skates. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes taught. For information and to register, call Bay State Skating School at 781-890-8480 or visit online at www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org. Bay State Skating School is compliant with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Covid-19 guidelines. The number of students allowed on the ice will be limited. Masks and social distancing are required.

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

Have you thought you’d like to do some writing, a little story about Somerville as either a newbie or Villen? We have about 80K people and we would love to hear about your adventures here in the city. Maybe you want to write about a particular subject like our Bob Doherty and Dorothy DiMarzio, or like Jimmy Del Ponte with his stories about the city. Or maybe you’d like to express your opinion like Bill Shelton. Not just the politicians, but those from our community. Give us a call at 617-666-4010 or email news@thesomervilletimes.com and tell us about your idea. We would love to tell it to the rest of Somerville.