Around Town

Watertown Nonprofit Receives $100,000 Grant from Cummings Foundation

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The following announcement came from Families First:

Chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process, Families First will receive a $100,00 grant over the course of two years through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. With over 30 years of experience, Families First is Boston’s leading provider of early childhood parenting education, family engagement, and parent leadership programming. The organization partners with hundreds of parents across Greater Boston to: (1) promote their children’s development and well-being and (2) engage and advocate within local institutions that impact lifelong outcomes for their children. Executive Director, Sue Covitz, commented, “By supporting Families First, the Cummings Foundation sends a powerful message that parents are the drivers of change in their families and communities. Receiving such a substantial investment in our work means that we can expand the reach of our organization and leverage additional investments from other funding partners. Thank you!”

With this funding, Families First will reach more parents than ever before through its signature Power of Parenting programs delivered in Boston and Chelsea.

Cruise

Watertown-Based Revels Singing Group Hosting Summer Solstice Cruise

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The following announcement was provided by Revels:

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a Music-Filled Revels Cruise to Boston Light with David Coffin, Ron Reid and the SunSteel Quartet, and Special Guests, Sunday, June 20, from 4:30 -7:00PM

All Aboard for a Summer Solstice Celebration at Sea – It’s a Revels Summer Solstice Celebration: A Cruise to Boston Light! Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a cruise to Boston Light!  We are thrilled to be offering one of the first private cruises since 2019, complete with a steel drum band, harbor narration, and lots of reveling! 

Joining us will be:David Coffin, Revels Artist-in-Residence & Harbor NarratorRon Reid and the SunSteel QuartetSally Snowman, Boston Light LightkeeperSave the Harbor/Save the Bay – Meet the Crustaceans activities for kids

DATE, TIME & LOCATION

Sunday, June 20, 2021 (Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice!)

Aboard the Bay State Cruise Company’s Provincetown II4:30 – 7:00 pm (boarding from the Seaport at 4 pm)

FOOD & DRINK

Cash bar & Concessions (pizza, chicken fingers, hot dogs, snacks)Pre-ordered light supper boxes  and Pre-ordered snack boxes available for purchase with ticket

(Per the Bay State Cruise Company’s policy, guests may not bring their own food or drink on board.)

ACCESSIBILITY

The boat is handicap accessible to the 1st deck (bathrooms are here) but the only way to get to the outside (on the 2nd and 3rd decks) where most of the activities are is by stairs. Note: Due to Covid concerns we will not be singing on this cruise and we will not exceed 40% capacity. Guests will be asked to wear a mask if indoors on the boat. Please note the cruise is Rain or Shine, and that in the event of inclement weather, guests will be inside and will need to wear mask unless eating. TICKETS

Ticketsfor Revels Summer Solstice Celebration: A Cruise to Boston Light are $64/adult (including fees).

Around Town

Watertown Group to Discuss Health Care for All at June Meeting

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The following information was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

Learn about what you can do to support health care equity at the Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment June Monthly Meeting: Health Care for All on June 16, 2021 7 p.m. on Zoom. We are delighted to have Alex Sheff and Noemi Uribe from Health Care for All join us for ourJune Monthly Meeting. They will discuss the mission of Health Care for All and theorganization’s effort to pass the More Affordable Care (MAC) Act. The intent of the Act is helpindividuals, families, and small businesses access affordable healthcare and address thehealth equity challenges the result from financial barriers to accessing care. This is a timely program as there is a legislative hearing planned at the end of the month.

Heat Related Early Release

OP-ED: Parent Group’s Preliminary Results of Heat-Related School Early Release Survey

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The WPS Parent’s Action Group was formed in order to assess the impact of Watertown Public School (WPS) policies, including school closures, on Watertown families. 

We are extraordinarily privileged to live in a school district which cares about social equity and our little group of parents seeks to aid the school district in understanding the needs and realities of Watertown families through, among other things, innovative and nimble data analysis. 

The survey issued this week in relation to the WPS early closures is part of a broader project concerning accountability and transparency for the school district in making decisions that may disparately affect families.  The ultimate goal of these inquiries is to both understand the impact of decisions on families, as well as to imagine creative possibilities for supporting families. Preliminary Report

Heat-Related Early School Closure Family Impact Study

Dr. Lisa Lucile Owens

January 8, 2021

WPS Parent’s Action Committee

While our survey addressing the family impacts of the recent early school closures is still open and gathering data, this communication shares some preliminary data. On June 7 and 8, 2021, the Watertown Public School (WPS) district, as well as a number of other suburban school districts in eastern Massachusetts closed schools in the afternoons due to temperatures which reached 94 degrees Fahrenheit. This closure was first communicated to parents past 9:00 PM the night before the initial closure. As mask mandates at WPS schools are still in place, and the schools lack sufficient air conditioning, the school district made the decision to close school in the afternoon for all students.

Entertainment

Arsenal Yards Hosting Picnics in the Park During the Summer With Live Music, Cash Bar

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Arsenal YardsArsenal Yards Will Host Picnic in the Park several times over the summer. The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With summer in full swing, Arsenal Yards invites area residents and visitors to get outside and enjoy a “Picnic in the Park.” As part of the new 21+ event series, guests are encouraged to pick up takeout from any of the delicious restaurants at Arsenal Yards, enjoy beer or wine from the cash bar, and meet on the River Green for live music on select dates now through August. With a schedule packed with a variety of local performers, musical acts include Joe Carson, The Soul Monstahs, and more! All events will have a cash bar serving beer and wine, and registration is required through Eventbrite. Online registration opens two weeks prior to the event date and attendees must be 21 or older. Reservations are available for groups of 2 – 6 people with a small fee of $2 per person benefiting a different local Watertown organization each month. For the month of June all proceeds benefit the Watertown Food Pantry.

Armenian Museum of America

Watertown’s Armenian Museum Reopening in June, Will Begin with Health Protocols

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Armenian Museum of America

The Armenian Museum of America announced it will soon be reopening after being closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The museum sent the following letter out about the reopening:

Dear Members and Friends,On behalf of the Board of Trustees and Armenian Museum Team, we are thrilled the day has finally arrived that we can safely reopen our galleries to the community. In anticipation of this long-awaited day, we have been working on updating exhibitions, designing new exhibits, and developing programing to present both virtually and on-site to provide you with a meaningful and memorable cultural experience. The initial schedule and protocol for our reopening will begin on June 18th. The Museum will be open Fridays through Sundays from 12:00 noon to 6:00pm.

Cartoon

Donation Day in 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.”

Development

LETTER: In Support of Modification of Plan for Arsenal on the Charles

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We would like to voice our support for the modification of the Masterplan for the Arsenal on the Charles site which was submitted by Alexandria Real Estate (ARE) to the planning Board on June 9th. 

For many reasons, we believe that the ARE submission is far superior to the current Master Plan. 

The proposal brings economic development that is consistent with Watertown’s comprehensive plan, bringing excellent job opportunities in growing fields. It features state of the art carbon reduction strategies for its buildings, aggressive targets for reducing its overall carbon footprint and increased publicly accessible open space. 

ARE has previously worked in Watertown and has a demonstrated track record as a developer that engages with neighbors and contributes to the community.  Responding to citizen concerns, ARE modified its earlier landscaping plan to address the community’s recognition of the importance of trees for a healthy environment.  The plan that was presented to the Planning Board calls for 129 more trees than are currently on the site. ARE has developed a comprehensive plan that will maintain more of the larger trees on the site, transplant some existing trees to new locations and plant many new trees, paying careful attention to selecting species most suited to the Intended use. We have seen many transformations of the Watertown Arsenal over the years.  The community had important feedback for ARE. The developer listened and responded, leading to an excellent proposal for a sustainable and attractive project that will make the thriving Arsenal property even better than it is today.