The Ignite Festival will not be extinguished. Instead of a festival per se, this year Ignite will be more like a festive and delicious night out. On November 7, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. this en plein air gastronomic gala will take place at restaurants throughout Union Square, from the Plaza to Bow Market and beyond. Each eatery will feature special fiery dishes and libations to warm you up and delight your tastebuds. Diners are encouraged to dress up in festive and toasty attire. so come as an arctic explorer, Sasquatch, or don your giraffe onesie. Ignite is a chance to taste something new, be festive, and support Union Square restaurants. Oh yeah, it’s B.Y.O.B. (bring your own blanket). Get updates on restaurant specials and sneak peaks of the art on the event Facebook page: https://fb.me/e/1MHjcyv4s.

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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 dropbox, 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.

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Happy birthday this week to several locals: Happy birthday to Amanda Fee. We wish her the very best on her birthday. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Herc Kalos, Edward Robaczewski, Mike Campbell, Betsy Almeida Pesce, Peggy Foley Arbeene, Mary Bean Fitzgerald and Billy Coiley 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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Don’t forget the Union Square Farmers Market is still open but in its final stretch of the season. 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.

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The Alpine Restaurant Group announced that Elm Street Sweets is expanding to an additional location due to the popularity of the delectable desserts that it creates daily. Elm Street Sweets is now partnering with its sister company, Posto Bedford, to indulge their customers with a wide array of cakes, pies, and cookies, available during the day inside the 158 Great Road, Bedford, MA location. The bakery is now open and customers will still be able to purchase sweets from the original Davis Square location as well.

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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.

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Join SCC on November 7 at 6:00 p.m. for a Light Up Somerville Illuminated Walk. Join in for a socially distant and safe Illuminated Walk to spread awareness about the dire need for affordable housing in Somerville. Walk participants will be given a handmade lantern representing one of SCC’s 100 Homes. They will walk from Dunkin’ Donuts, 220 Broadway through the streets in safe pods of less than ten and end in Leathers Park. If you care about keeping Somerville equitable, inclusive, and affordable, please be a part of our inaugural walk. This is a family friendly event. Masks required. #SomervilleforAll #KeepSomervilleLit.

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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.

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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.

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The Somerville Bicycle Committee will be hosting Bike Talk Virtual Hour on November 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This is the Somerville Bicycle Committee’s Monthly Bike Talk Series. November’s talk features master bike mechanic, Emily Thibodeau, and she will tell you everything you need to know about getting your bikes, and yourselves, ready for the winter. Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/30zkHJd

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East Somerville Main Streets is hosting November Holiday Market on November 15. Support local businesses and pick-up gifts and goodies for the holidays at the November Holiday Market in East Somerville. Pre-order online at https://www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org/market.

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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.