Around Town

LETTER: Two Parents Back Candidate for Watertown School Committee

By |

We are supporting Rachel Kay for School Committee. Rachel Kay is a passionate parent and caregiver advocate who wants the best for all Watertown families. We like that Rachel is not running to push the agenda of special interest groups or a political ideology. Instead, she cares about fostering a united Watertown and representing the values and priorities of its collective residents. She has consistently held neighborhood gatherings and listening sessions in the community to find out what matters to other Watertown residents, and she has intentionally sought out the thoughts and opinions of people she has never met or might not otherwise hear from.

Election 2021

UPDATED – OP-ED: Resident Concerned About Council Candidate’s Stance on Cutting Police Budget

By |

EDITOR’S NOTE:

This Op-Ed piece has been removed due to questions over the source of the email referenced in the piece. The author did not want to reveal the source of the email. While the email was a public document, having been sent to the members of the Town Council on their official email addresses, the description of the source of the letter was not clear enough. The editor felt the description would likely lead readers to incorrectly infer the writer got the email from one of the Councilors who, in reality, is not the source, and other descriptions might reveal the source. (Letters to the editors can be sent to watertownmanews@gmail.com)

Entertainment

Comics: Small Saves Faces His Fans, Here’s Trouble Checks Out a Soap Opera

By |

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

Election 2021

LETTER: Candidate Has Unique Qualifications for School Committee

By |

As a parent of two children in Watertown Public Schools, I write to encourage fellow Watertown residents to support Rachel Kay for School Committee. Among the candidates for the open seats, she is uniquely qualified to represent our concerns and to work to improve our schools. The past year and a half of the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of making school policy decisions that are informed by science. As a data scientist with a long and distinguished career in education research, Rachel Kay will expand upon this evidence-based approach to running our schools. As Director of Admissions Research and Data Analysis at MIT, with a PhD in Education Research, Measurement, and Evaluation, Rachel brings a unique skill set to the job.

Arsenal Yards

Plenty of Fall Activities and Music at Arsenal Yards in October

By |

The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With fall in full swing, Arsenal Yards invites residents, workers, and visitors to (pumpkin) spice up their fall days through a variety of autumnal events happening throughout the vibrant new neighborhood this October. Guests and residents of Arsenal Yards are invited to enjoy outdoor live music performances, pumpkin carving, games and more at Fall Falladays! The festivities will kick off on Thursday, October 14th at Arsenal Yards’ Fall Falladays Festival, a can’t miss event of fall fun including live music, festive games, harvest treats and complimentary professional family photos with a surprise backdrop, sponsored by Blvd & Bond. For those who are 21+, beer and wine will be available for purchase. The festival will offer two sessions; one from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and the second from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person (children ages 5 and under are free) with all proceeds benefitting the Watertown Food Pantry. Tickets must be reserved online in advanced here.

Around Town

Historical Society Hosting Open House at Historic Home, Unveiling New Features

By |

Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House, home to the Historical Society of Watertown, will reopen in October. Here, the house hosts the Treaty Day celebration. The Historical Society of Watertown will reopen the Edmund Fowle House for the first time since the pandemic shutdown. To celebrate the group is hosting an open house where the house’s new features can be seen. The Fowle House dates back to 1772, it served as the headquarters of the executive branch of the Massachusetts government from July, 1775 to September, 1776.

Election 2021

LETTER: Group of Residents Support Candidate for School Committee

By |

During her current term as School Committee member, Lily Rayman-Read has demonstrated a desire to work with teachers, administrators, and Watertown families, and advocate for all members of our Watertown school community. She is part of a team responsible for the building of 3 new elementary schools and is in advanced planning stages for a new high school in collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The execution of these projects has been impressive, leading to the expected completion of the Cunniff and the Hosmer elementary schools ahead of schedule. Lily has been instrumental in bringing transparency and openness to the Watertown School Committee by providing frequent updates on social media and answering questions from the community whenever possible. This level of engagement is an important and welcome change to the way Watertown families can interact with the School Committee.

Artificial Turf

OP-ED: Town Councilors — Make a Choice: Public Health & the Environment or More Game Days

By |

By Watertown resident Janet Buck

I am writing this letter as a way of trying to make sense of what I heard last week in the debate among the candidates for Councilor at Large. The question asked was about the candidate’s views on the use of artificial turf for town playing fields. Almost everyone expressed a sense of being caught in a terribly difficult dilemma. What is more important – extending the availability of playing fields for Watertown kids who play team sports or protecting the environment? I have to ask – why is this so difficult?