A big celebration throughout Somerville took place on Saturday as the results of the 2020 Presidential Election were finally announced. We congratulate all who participated peacefully, safely, and without incident. This is how we show the world how well Somerville works.

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As of 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.

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Happy birthday’s this week: Happy birthday to favorite local Joe Lynch, of Somerville Media Center. We wish him a great birthday. Happy birthday also to Sheila Meehan MacEachern, who is celebrating this week. Happy birthday to Marsha Eileen Hamel Urquilla. We wish her all the very best. Happy birthday to our good friend Artie “Ernie” Mason, a great family man who served in Vietnam with distinction and valor. We wish him a great birthday, celebrating with his many friends, wife Susan and his family. Happy birthday to Joe Nardella. We wish him a very happy birthday. One of the nicest ladies here in Somerville, a former Alderman At-Large amongst many of her accomplishments, we wish Helen Corrigan the very best of birthdays. Happy birthday to lifelong resident Joseph McKeon. We wish all of our Facebook friends, such as Cindy Bowen, Victoria Macrokanis, Donald Gallarelli, Sharon Alley, Elena Clamen, Jerry DiGiovanni, Cheryl Bertocchi, John Kane,Dottie Bowman, Joe Lynch, Helen Corrigan, Antonette Biondo, Tanya Kalousdian and Jim Powers 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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Starting on or around November 9, over the course of approximately 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.

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Sligo Pub announced they will close until March 2021. During the pandemic they teamed up with Dragon Pizza with patio seating to stay open since they did not serve food. They look forward to partnering with Dragon Pizza again in March when they will reopen.

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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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Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and city staff invite you to a virtual public meeting to discuss the design of the Conway Field playground and renovation. City staff and consultants will discuss designs for the reconstructed multi-use sports field, new splash pad, and refurbished playground. Following the presentation, staff will answer questions and get feedback from community members. Please note that this meeting will not discuss the soil remediation at the site. A later meeting with the EPA and DEP will be scheduled to discuss remediation. The meeting will be Tuesday, November 17, at 6:00 p.m. on the GoToWebinar platform. To register for the meeting or learn more about the project, visit somervillema.gov/conwayfield.

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Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne, and city staff invite you to a virtual community meeting to discuss plans to redesign the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Alewife Brook Parkway. Following a presentation by city staff on the project background and current design concepts, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share priorities for this project. The redesign will aim to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at this complex intersection and streamline access to the Alewife Brook recreation area and Dilboy Field. The city is in the initial phases of the design process, and stakeholder feedback will help inform the final plans. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, at 5:30 p.m. via GoToWebinar. To register for this meeting visit tinyurl.com/IntersectionRedesign.

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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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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.

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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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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.