Around Town

Nominations Sought for the Watertown Unity Award to be Presented at MLK Day Breakfast

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Charlie BreitroseA mural created by Watertown High School students for the 20th annual Unity Breakfast. Dear Members of the Watertown Community,

We are pleased to announce that we are seeking nominees for this year’s Unity Award. The Unity Award is given each year at Watertown’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Breakfast to honor individuals or groups who are making significant contributions to civic life in Watertown. We seek to honor community members who are furthering Dr. King’s vision of racial, social and economic justice in our community in concrete ways. We particularly encourage nominations of individuals and groups who identify as people of color or are led by people of color.

Around Town

Works of Watertown Quilters on Display at Library, Hear from Speakers on Nov. 16

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Quilters’ Connection presents “Connected Threads” at the Watertown Library, featuring traditional quilting to modern mayhem. Join three members of Quilters’ Connection as they share the diversity of modern quiltingand invite you to become part of the fun. The speakers will be RoseMary Bilezikian GabonlyianKoch on traditional quilting, Susan V. Polansky on pictorial collage quilts, and Julie Fei-Fan Balzer on playful surface design. Watertown Free Public LibraryWatertown Savings Bank Meeting Room123 Main Street, WatertownTuesday November 16, 20217:00 pm – 8:45 pm

The lecture is free but registration is required. Visit this website for more information:https://reservations.watertownlib.org/connected-threads-traditional-quilting-modern-mayhemFunded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation to Quilters’ Connection(www.quiltersconnection.org) and in collaboration with the Watertown Free Library.

Entertainment

COMICS: A Lesson About Refs for Small Saves & A Scary Monster in Here’s Trouble

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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.”

DeMarco recently added “Here’s Trouble” to his cartooning lineup, inspired by drawings he did in the 1980s when he was in high school.

Environment

LETTER: East End Resident Urges Alternatives to New Gas Lines

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Over the last half year or so, my East End neighborhood has been torn up by National Grid in an epic quest to replace our 100-year-old leaky gas lines. The local contractors have been doing a great job and overall I don’t have any immediate complaints about their work. However, I wonder if all this upheaval is a huge waste? Our old gas lines have been in the ground for 100 years, and are very leaky. The methane that leaks from these lines is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and I definitely agree that these leaks need to stop.

Around Town

Dates of Watertown Winter Parking Ban Announced, See When it Begins

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Charlie BreitroseA street empty of parked cars due to Watertown’s winter parking ban. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:

WINTER PARKING BAN 2021 – 2022

Watertown Chief of Police Michael P. Lawn has announced the 2021-2022 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective Monday November 29, 2021 and continuing to April 1, 2022 the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week.” For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the Town allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

• The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only)

• Any public school parking lot

• Marion Road parking lot at Victory Field

• O’Connell Park, (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street)

• Grove Street parking lot at Filippello Park (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)

• 101 Morse Street – 14 spaces at the rear of the parking lot (currently being constructed, available once completed)

Please note that these locations may be used free of charge, however vehicles may only use available spaces after 7 p.m. and must be removed by 7 a.m. the following day.

Schools

Minuteman High School Hosting Virtual, In-Person Tours for Middle Schoolers

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Minuteman High School vocational technical school in Lexington. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School will hold both in-person and virtual events this month for families of middle school-age students who are interested in attending the career technical education high school for the 2022-23 school year. 

“Minuteman students gain a competitive advantage by finding their passion, engaging in hands-on learning experiences, and developing professional skills integrated with robust academics and faculty support,” said Edward A. Bouquillon, Superintendent-Director. “The open house, tours, and information sessions are great opportunities for families to make informed decisions about their students’ high school careers.”

Minuteman High School now offers 19 career technical education majors with the addition of Animal Science this year. Other majors include engineering, biotechnology, environmental science, robotics, culinary arts, cosmetology, plumbing, heating, automotive, carpentry, multimedia, and more. In addition to offering 14 sports teams and 20 clubs and activities, Minuteman provides robust academic programming. Last year, Minuteman received the Massachusetts Reading Award from the Massachusetts Reading Association – the first time a high school has ever received the honor. In 2018, it received a Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education. 

On Wednesday, November 10, Minuteman will hold its annual “Showcase Day” during the school day.

Around Town

Donohue’s Turkey Trot Run & Walk Returns on Thanksgiving Morning

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Donohue’s Bar & Grill will host the 16th annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Morning starting at 8:30 a.m. Find out more about the 5K run and walk and how to register in the following announcement from Donohue’s. Join us at Donohue’s Bar & Grill (87 Bigelow Ave., Watertown) for our 16th Annual Turkey Trot. Proceeds benefit the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. It’s the best way to start Thanksgiving day! Like 2019, we’ll once again have a team competition with prizes for the fastest team and largest team.

Around Town

New Program Seeks to Make Watertown More Green, Promote Planting of Street Trees

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City of PhiladelphiaTree trenches will allow for improved dispersion of excess storm water. The Town of Watertown plans to install 15 tree trenches around the community. By James Briand, Trees for Watertown

A drive around Watertown quickly reveals that green assets — shade, permeable surfaces, and advanced drainage systems — are unevenly distributed. While some areas have abundant, mature shade trees and street-side planting strips overflowing with flowers, other neighborhoods are treeless, and non-permeable asphalt surfaces define the streets. This is not just a matter of beauty.