Around Town

City Taking Applications for Rental Assistance & Other Expenses

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is pleased to announce that a COVID-19 Direct Assistance Program is now accepting applications. This program, which includes rental assistance and other common household expenses (PDF), is aimed at helping those who still face challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is funded through the City of Watertown’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and is administered by Metro West Collaborative Development for the City. The Direct Assistance Program (DAP) is available to households with income at or below 60% of the Area Median Income for the greater Boston area. The income limit for a single individual is $68,520, for a two-person household is $78,360 and for a three-person

household is $88,140.

Government

Watertown Square Zoning Meetings to Begin Oct. 16, See New Dates & Agenda

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City Council and Planning Board Joint Hearings to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning amendment will begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library. NEW placeholder dates have been set in the case the Public Hearing is continued. Please see the updated dates below! When is the Joint Public Hearing on Zoning? October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Watertown Public Library at 123 Main Street.

Around Town

Harvest Halloween Festival Will Raise Funds for Activities for Watertown Seniors, Tickets Available

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Friends of the Council on Aging at the Watertown Senior Center will be hosting a Harvest Halloween Festival to raise funds to supplement various activities (shows, field trips, in-house programs) and take-out meals (Grab ‘n’ Go) for Watertown seniors. The Friends sent out the following announcement:

SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024

WHAT: Harvest Halloween Festival

Join the Friends for fun time – music, dancing, food, drinks available, even an optional costume contest with prize, a 50/50 raffle and more … WHERE: Hibernian Hall

151 Watertown St., Watertown, MA 02472

WHEN: Oct.

Schools

WPI Student from Watertown Completes Intensive Research Project

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The following announcement was provided by WPI:

Marley Fortune, a member of the class of 2025 majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), was a member of a student team that recently completed an intense research project titled “How Bazar? Creating Interactive Media for Community Building.” At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology that addresses an important societal need or issue. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university’s 50-plus off-campus project centers, which are located around the world. A signature element of the innovative undergraduate experience at WPI, the project-based curriculum offers students the opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge to develop thoughtful solutions to real problems that affect the quality of people’s lives-and make a difference before they graduate.

Around Town

LETTER: Is Watertown in Balance?

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Are We in Balance? Balance: “An even distribution of weight, enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” Oxford Languages

I was reading a Watertown News article entitled: “Life Science Building Could Potentially Go on Part of the Home Depot Parking Lot” and the comments that ensued and felt the need to write. As usual, it got long! Balance in Bio Lab Development

First, thanks, Corey Dillon for the list of labs that are empty and/or underutilized at this time. May I add to your list with other lab spaces in Watertown?

Around Town

Unity Breakfast Seeks Nominations for Unity Award

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Charlie BreitroseA mural created by Watertown High School students for the 20th annual Unity Breakfast. The following announcement was submitted by the Watertown Unity Breakfast Planning Committee:

Who is Your Unsung Hero? Do you have an unsung hero in your Watertown life? Perhaps your hero is an individual, or a group of folks, who have worked hard to make our community more welcoming and inclusive, and to ensure fair and equal treatment for all who live or work in Watertown? If you know of a person or a group who might fit this description, now is the time to recognize and thank them for their work!

Around Town

See How to Participate in the Winter Celebration of Light & Make Your Own Lantern

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The following announcement was provided by the Public Arts & Culture Committee and the Watertown Cultural Council:

River of Light is a celebration of light in winter featuring a parade of community-made lanterns. Presented by the Public Arts & Culture Committee in partnership with the Watertown Cultural Council, the lantern making workshops and wintertime parade build community and bring light. The parade is free and open to the public and will take place on January 18th, but it’s time to start building the lanterns! There are four Lantern Making Workshops in October at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. All workshops will be taught by experienced artist and educator Gowri Savoor. Using materials such as willow branches, tissue paper, and LED lights, participants will learn how to make lanterns and later can join the outdoor parade River of Lights on January 18th.

Around Town

LETTER: Progressive Watertown Endorses 2 Ballot Questions

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The following piece was submitted by Progressive Watertown:

There are the five state-wide ballot questions on the November 5, 2024 ballot. Question 1: Determining State Auditor’s Authority to Audit the Legislature

Question 2: Eliminating the use of the MCAS as a Graduation Requirement

Question 3: Unionization for Transportation Network Drivers (Uber and Lyft)

Question 4: Limited Legalization and Regulation of Certain Natural Psychedelic Substances (such as Psilocybin)

Question #5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers. Progressive Mass has endorsed all five ballot questions. Progressive Watertown, a chapter, has reviewed and endorsed Questions 2 and 5. Progressive Watertown did not review the other questions. 

Yes on 2 supports the elimination of the MCAS as a high school graduation requirement. It does not end the use of MCAS for evaluative purposes. Massachusetts is one of only 11 states still including a test as a high school graduation requirement.