Around Town

Perkins School Hosting Discussion of Housing and Benefits for Families of People with Disabilities

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The following announcement was provided by Mainstay Supportive Housing & Home Care:

Doreen Cummings, Director of Marketing and In-Home Services at Mainstay Supportive Housing & Home Care will share the organization’s expertise on affordable housing and public benefits for families of people with disabilities at the inaugural “Transition Planning: Preparing for the Future Starts Today” event hosted by Perkins School for the Blind on its Watertown Campus Saturday, May 11, 2024 from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to family members, caregivers, and professionals. Mainstay provides supportive housing for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Cummings works closely with Mainstay families to help coordinate a successful transition to living in a Mainstay home. “I’m honored to be included in this event at the Perkins School for the Blind,” said Cummings. “I look forward to sharing information about Mainstay and our supportive housing model.

Around Town

LETTER: Former Councilor Questions Addition to Traffic Commission

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Dear Committee on Public Safety:

Attn: City Councilors John M. Airasian, Chair; Emily Izzo, Vice Chair; and Vincent J. Piccirilli, Jr., Sec. RE: Tuesday, 05/07/2024 Meeting at 6:00 P.M.

Discussion – Amendment to the Traffic Commission Ordinance

Herein, I reiterate my statement, with attachments, as read into the record at the First Public Forum of the 01/23/2024 City Council Meeting. On 01/22/2024, my opinions were also discussed with Councilor Caroline Bays. I offer additional comments and emphasis as follows:

1. Membership of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee is comprised of like-minded individuals in joint efforts to support bicyclists. I see no commitment to protect me, as an elder pedestrian, by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee.

Around Town

LETTER: Local State House Delegation Discusses Pending Bills, Housing, Transportation & More

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Photo by Rita ColafellaSusan Falkoff of Progressive Watertown moderated the discussion with Watertown’s State House delegation, from left, State Rep. Steve Owens, State Rep. John Lawn, and State Sen. Will Brownsberger. Last Sunday, Progressive Watertown held its All Member Meeting at the Apartments at the Coolidge School. The event included a discussion and Q&A with State Senator and President Pro Tempore William Brownsberger, seven-term State Representative John Lawn and two-term State Representative Steve Owens. 

The discussion was moderated by Progressive Watertown co-chair Susan Falkoff, and the initial intention was to learn where the Progressive Mass priority bills are in the legislative pipeline. This was a substantive discussion in which housing, the Watertown Square re-design, MBTA issues, the Make Polluters Pay initiative, and transparency in government were among the topics covered.  The audience saw a delegation that  is very aligned and has a very good working relationship with one another. The two representatives had just finished working long and hard on the state budget. The budget is now with the Senate. After introductions, the legislators were asked to talk briefly about an issue they are excited about working on.

Entertainment

Call for Artists for the 2024 Watertown Arts Market

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Arts Market:

The Watertown Business Coalition is delighted to announce the fourth annual Watertown Arts Market will take place on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, from 12-5 p.m., location is TBD. This celebratory event brings together an abundance of artists, arts and cultural organizations, and arts- and culture-related businesses based in or serving Watertown. More information is available at www.watertownartsmarket.com. 

About the Watertown Arts Market

The Watertown Arts Market is a free, family-friendly, outdoor event that features a diverse selection of artists, authors, creatives, musicians, arts and culture organizations, and businesses who serve Watertown. Attendees can wander through the Market, learning about the artistic and cultural offerings in Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Group Heading to Mother’s Day Walk for Peace for 10th Straight Years

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Walks for Peace:

Please join Watertown Walks for Peace on Sunday, May 12th for our TENTH consecutive year supporting the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and its services to families and communities affected by gun violence. This is our tenth consecutive year participating in the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester. It was founded by Chaplain Clementina Chery, the mother of Louis D. Brown, who was killed by random gunfire in 1993. The Peace Institute is a leader as a center for healing and teaching. Visit our webpage to sign up to walk and/or donate to help achieve our fundraising goal of $5,000.

Entertainment

See This Week’s Small Saves Cartoon

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Government

City Manager Speaks About Climate Efforts During Governor’s Visit

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Photo by City of WatertownGov. Maura Healy spoke about the State’s ClimateTech Initiative at Via Separations, a clean tech startup in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Governor Maura Healey spoke in Watertown at the 64 Pleasant Street lab building on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to announce a 10-year, $1.3 billion investment proposal as part of the Mass Leads Act ClimateTech Initiative. The proposal is expected to generate $16.4 billion in economic activity in the Commonwealth and further Massachusetts’ position as a global leader in climate tech. City Manager George Proakis introduced the Governor, and he spoke about Watertown’s work in leading the way in climate mitigation and resilience in Massachusetts. The City Manager highlighted Watertown’s role in fostering climate innovation, speaking on the City’s aggressive Climate Action Plan and the early adoption of the Specialized Stretch Energy Code. 

The City Manager also spoke of the success of the life science industry and its fiscal impact on Watertown.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Optimistic About Future of Watertown Square

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When the conversation about Watertown Square began a couple years ago, I was not optimistic. How could this massive intersection filled with car traffic become a destination? While I was reminded of our wonderful library, our distance from the river, and a few small stores and great restaurants, I still could not imagine how this could be made into a unified square. Over time, the process for recreating Watertown Square has impressed me. We have had multiple ways to participate and give feedback.