Elections

LETTER: Council Candidate Has Many Thank Yous to Send Out

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To the Editor,

Regarding the recent local election, I would like to thank:

Rosemary Caouette, my campaign treasurer and her husband Joe, past VFW Post #1105 Commander, for their outstanding support and confidence in me
Watertown Fire Department, for their holding campaign signs supporting me in Coolidge Square on many Saturday mornings and election day and their total support of me and my campaign
Veterans Carl Miller, Gordon Brown, Phil DeVincentis, Ralph Holmberg, and Bud Krapf for holding signs for me
Emilio and Maria Leone and Bill McMahon for holding signs for me
Shutt Marine Detachment, for their use of their facility for my kick-off event and post-election party
The 45 percent of District A voters who voted for me, who determined that there was not one “clear choice” in this election
Emilio’s Restaurant, Green Peapod, Whale Laundromat, Deluxe Town Diner and Andrea’s House
of Pizza – all Coolidge Square businesses, for allowing me to post campaign signs in their
windows
The 26 residents of District A who allowed me to post campaign signs on their lawns
The many residents who conversed with me as I visited hundreds of homes in the district
passing out flyers and listening to their issues. There were many issues in this election. Patryce Georgopoulos for allowing me to partner with her at the Shutt Marine Detachment for a post-election event

As I quickly found out, it takes financing to run a campaign. A big thank you to the Watertown Fire Union Local #1347, Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and the many supporters who contributed to my campaign. It is important to encourage and support many candidates to run for office, so that voters have a choice among a variety of candidates.

Airplane Noise

Logan Airplane Noise Group Meeting in November

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A group working on noise from airplanes going to and from Logan Airport will meet in Somerville in November. The Boston West Fair Skies will hold its next monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, from 7-8:45 p.m. at the Somerville Public Library Auditorium, 79 Highland Ave.,
Somerville. The organization is a coalition formed by towns west of Boston that are affected by the permanent changes in runway 33L RNAV departures made by the FAA at Boston Logan Airport in June 2013. For more information go to:

http://www.bostonwestfairskies.org/

https://www.facebook.com/bostonwestfairskies?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

https://twitter.com/noonBBL/lists/bwfs

Schools

Google Laptops a Big Hit with Watertown Middle School Students

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This year, each eighth-grader at Watertown Middle School has his or her own laptop to use at school, and the reviews have been very positive from both students and teachers. 

As part of the pilot project known as the 1:1 Chormebook Initiative, the students get to use a Google Chromebook while they are at school. They also have access to the Google Drive to look up assignments, organize their papers and keep track of the assignments, a group of students told the School Committee Monday night. WMS Student Council President Susie Howard said the students save about 15 minutes per class by not having to pick up, turn on the Chromebooks at the start of class, and then put away and make sure the wires are plugged in at the end of class. A feature called Google Classroom allows student to look up homework assignments so that they do not lose them or forget about them. Students said as long as they have internet access, they can use the Chromebooks anywhere, anytime.

Government

LETTER: Property Rights at Risk in Proposed Residential Design Guidelines

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To the Editor

There will be a very important meeting this Thursday Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School on Waverley Ave., Watertown. It is important that people who own property in Watertown show up to protect their property rights. Some are seeking to encumber a homeowner’s rights by putting style restrictions on new construction, additions, or modifications to their homes. This goes beyond the reasonable setbacks and frontage requirements, but deals with style.

Election 2015

LETTER: Councilor At-Large Sends Out Thanks Regarding the Election

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Dear Editor:

Thank you to the voters for returning me to the Town Council for another two-year term. 

I look forward to working with the other councilors, new and returning, to implement the Comprehensive Plan, and manage (and reduce) the large number of cars that travel on our streets every day; a concern we all heard repeatedly while campaigning. The school committee and library trustee races enlivened this election season and the questionnaires and interviews and forums from the media and citizen groups showed that it takes more than candidates to make democracy work. Thanks to all who participated.  

Susan Falkoff
Councilor-at-Large

Aging

Discuss How to Make Watertown a Friendly Community for All Ages

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A set of Watertown organizations presents “Shaping an Age-Friendly Community for All Ages” at the Watertown Free Public Library on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 7-9 p.m.

Kara Cohen of AARP will speak about creating well-designed, livable communities than help sustain economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents – of all ages. Hear about the City of Boston, City of Salem, Berkshire County, and New Bedford and their progress since they officially became members of the AARP and World Health Organization (WHO) Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The event is presented by Watertown Community Foundation, WatertownTogether,
and the Marshall Home Fund. Join neighbors, friends, and community leaders to learn more about Watertown’s efforts to become one of the WHO Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

Around Town

Watertown Part of Grant for Youth Mental Health First Aid

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Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Multi Service Center announced that Watertown has been awarded a 3-year Project AWARE-Community grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the training of a diverse group of adults in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). Wayside sent out the following announcement:

This training will help adults detect and respond to mental illness in youth in the towns of Watertown, Belmont, Brookline and the City of Waltham. YMHFA is a public education program that introduces participants to the risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems and builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention. Participants are introduced to local mental health resources, national organizations, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support. “When a loved one is struggling with mental health disorders and/or the illness of addiction family and friends are concerned and also often confused about how to best support that person.

Obituaries

OBIT: Dominic Zaccagnini, 94, Navy Veteran, Worked at Hood Rubber

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A Funeral Mass for Dominic Philip Zaccagnini will be celebrated in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown on Thursday Nov. 12, 2015 at 9 a.m.

Mr. Zaccagnini, son of the late Pietro and Rosa (Piscatelli) Zaccagnini, passed away Saturday, Nov. 7, after a period of declining health. 

Phil was born in Watertown, where he lived his entire 94 years. Phil worked for the Hood Rubber Company as a pipefitter and the B.F. Goodrich Company as a mechanic.