Schools

LETTER: Couple Endorses School Committee Candidate

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Dear Neighbors and Friends,

Many are cynical or feel hopeless about politics. Let’s concede that some reasons for that exist. But there are even more reasons for recommitting ourselves to the honorable tradition of “P”olitics as service to community and to others, especially so for us in Watertown. With no need to deny the gamesmanship aspect of electoral politics, politics in Watertown is vibrant and decent. It is incumbent on all of us to keep it this way by shutting our doors to any attempts to undermine the service to the common good, rational, and compassionate spirit of our politics.

Around Town

Watertown Dispensary Hosting Author of Book on Medical Use of Cannabis

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The following announcement was provided by Ayr Wellness:

Ayr Wellness will host a book signing of The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook with local author, Dr. Benjamin Caplan at their Watertown dispensary on October 26. LEVIA will be popping-up at Ayr Watertown on the same day, with uninfused samples of their fan-favorite flavor, Blueberry Cobbler available for customers to sample while they wait for their copy to be signed. Dr. Ben Caplan is a Boston-based, board-certified Family Physician, and has become the authority on cannabis medicine with the release of his book, The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook. Dr. Caplan’s book provides a safe and comprehensive way that adults looking for relief from a variety of illnesses can explore the possibilities of cannabis. He will be on-site at Ayr Watertown to sign copies of his book and answer questions. Attendees can also sip complimentary samples of LEVIA’s flagship flavors, Celebrate, Achieve, and Dream, along with their limited-edition flavor at their pop-up.

Schools

Hear From Watertown School Committee Candidates at Town Democrats Meeting

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The five candidates running for three seats on the Watertown School Committee will appear at a forum this week. The Watertown Democratic Town Committee sent out the following information:

The Watertown Democratic Town Committee has invited all candidates running for Watertown School Committee to its October monthly meeting. The meeting will be held this Thursday, October 26th at the First Parish Church in Watertown, 35 Church Street, and starts at 7:30 p.m.

For more information please contact Will Pennington, Chair of the WDTC at  watertowndems@gmail.com.

Schools

Roads Near Watertown High School to be Closed for Utility Work

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The following information was provided by the WHS construction project management firm, Vertex:

Dear Community Members,

Activities to complete the underground utility service improvements for the New High School Project are scheduled for Monday 10/23 and Tuesday 10/24. Please be aware that during work hours Columbia St. will be closed from Common St. to Barnard Ave. Resident access to driveways will be protected on Columbia St.

Around Town

City Seeks Your Help on Design Improvements to Bemis Playground

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Recreation Department:

How to get involved: Come to an Event! Bemis Playground Improvements is by the Watertown Recreation Department, the Watertown Department of Public Works, and CBA Landscape Architects

Conversations at Bemis Playground: Chat with the designers and City staff about design options & your priorities. Tuesday, October 24th, 2023Bemis Playground, 4 PM – 6 PM

and

Saturday, November 4th, 2023Bemis Playground, 11 AM – 2 PM

Review the Final Design Proposal:

To be scheduled. Follow Us Online! https://www.watertown-ma.gov/948/Parks

Coming Soon: Online Survey!

Schools

LETTER: Group of Residents Advocate for School Committee Candidate

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Dear Watertown community members,

Lisa Capoccia’s commitment to equity in the Watertown schools over the past 10 years, her skills in working with groups, her role as an advocate and her professional occupation as a school social worker are just a few of the many reasons we encourage you to vote for Lisa on November 7th for School Committee member of the Watertown Public Schools. In her community work Lisa has interfaced with several community groups that focus on equity. She was a member of the first Diversity Council at the Lowell Elementary School and as her daughter advanced to the WMS she became a member of the Watertown Middle School Diversity Council. Lisa is a Kingian advocate and trainee, a member of the WPS Anti-Bias Coalition (ABC), and for a year she co-facilitated the Equity in Schools subcommittee of the Watertown Community for Black Lives (WCBL). A number of us have come to know and admire Lisa through her work with the WPS Anti-Bias Coalition and leadership of the Equity in Schools subcommittee of WCBL.

Around Town

LETTER: A More Walkable Watertown … And an update on Unwalkable Highland Avenue

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Some of you will remember that I wrote a letter to the editor of the Watertown News on September 7th regarding the serious nature of the conditions on Highland Avenue for school children. A day or so later, I thought that I’d been heard. Construction on this project picked up, especially near the hidden school crossing that had no signage warning of that crossing, where a child had been hit in 2018. There was a police cruiser there, I presumed for extra help with this child safety crosswalk issue. Wow!

Around Town

Traffic Signals & Safety Improvements at Newton Corner to be Discussed at Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing a virtual public workshop on Tuesday, October 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to discuss traffic signal and safety improvements at Newton Corner in Newton. The goal of the project is to address safety and operational deficiencies associated with the roadway and ramp network of I-90 exit 127, (formerly exit 17), at Newton Corner. The project limits include Washington Street circulatory roadways over I-90, I-90 ramps connecting Washington Street service roads, the two overpass bridges, associated I-90 eastbound and westbound ramp termini, as well as intersecting streets. This meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request, (e.g interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, live captioning, videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats), as available.