Around Town

New Parking Meters in Town Lots Will Take Credit Cards

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New parking meters, like this one, will be installed in Watertown’s Municipal Parking Lots. They will accept credit cards as well as coins. The Town of Watertown provided the following announcement:

During the week of January 19-22, installation of new parking meters will begin, replacing all of the existing meters, both on-street and in municipal parking lots—the Watertown Square Municipal Lot and the Wells Avenue Lot in Coolidge Square. Credit cards can now be used to pay for parking. In the near future, mobile payment by cell phone will also be accepted.

Cartoon

Prayer Time for Small Saves in This Week’s Cartoon

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Cartoon by James DeMarco

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.”

Around Town

Additional Free COVID Testing Times for Watertown Residents

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown is offering, by appointment only, one – free COVID-19 Test for Watertown residents. Testing is free, does not require a medical referral and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (preregistration details below) and we ask that you only sign up for one test to allow other residents access to testing. Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 19, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 20, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, January 26, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 27, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 2, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 3, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 9, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 10, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking on the following link: https://proemscovidtesting.as.me/watertown

This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a selfadministering nasal swab (PCR test).

Around Town

Watertown Citizens Meeting Focuses on What Biden Will Mean for Peace Movement

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

Please join us for the January Monthly Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment as we explore the issue of peace and what we can expect from the new Biden Administration. What campaign promises will be easy to fulfill and which ones will not be?  What are the changes of reducing military spending and increasing funds for education, healthcare and the environment? Will the longest war in U.S. history end? Will troops in Iraq, Somalia, and Yeman come home? How will the Palestinians fare under a Biden administration?

Around Town

Solar Powered Info Kiosks Coming to Watertown

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The electronic information kiosk, made by Soofa Sign, was recently installed near Town Hall. New digital signs have started popping up on the streets of Watertown that will provide emergency messages, bus schedules, information about local government and more. The information kiosks are called Soofa Signs and are the creation of a startup run by MIT grads. They are solar powered and use e-ink. One has been put up near Town Hall/Saltonstall Park.

Around Town

Unity Breakfast Speaker Known for Environmental, Social Justice Work

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Rev. Mariama White-Hammond will be the keynote speaker at the 2021 Unity Breakfast. The following announcement was provided by the Unity Breakfast Planning Committee:

The Unity Breakfast proudly welcomes Rev. Mariama White-Hammond as its keynote speaker for this year’s event. Rev. Mariama is a noted leader working locally and nationally for environmental and social justice. In addition to her work as the founding pastor of New Roots AME Church in Dorchester, Rev. Mariama is a fellow with the Green Justice Coalition, a group of 8 social and environmental justice organizations from across the state. In 2017, Rev. Mariama was the MC for both the Boston Women’s March and Boston People’s Climate Mobilization.

Around Town

Free, On-Demand Tutoring Available Through Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

Brainfuse HelpNow, a digital platform offering on demand learning support for all ages and levels is now available to Watertown residents through the Watertown Free Public Library. “We want to help people get through this strange and difficult time and we know that remote learning and working is a real struggle for a lot of people,” says Carey Conkey-Finn who runs the Teen Department at the library. “We’re hoping that this resource will fill a hole that COVID life has created.”

HelpNow is available to all Watertown residents with a Minuteman Library Network library card from any computer with internet connection or via mobile app. To access HelpNow, please visit the library’s website at watertownlib.org/brainfuse. For more information, contact 617-972-6436 or libraryteendepartment@watertown-ma.gov.

About HelpNow

Live Tutoring (available 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. 7 days a week): HelpNow offers live tutor access for homework help, skills building and test preparation.

Around Town

January at the Y: Virtual MLK Day Service, Sign Up for Feb. Break & Summer Programs

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The following information was provided by the West Suburban YMCA:

Happy New Year! There’s a lot happening at the Y right now, including a MLK Day of Service, Winter Programs, and summer camp registration opening!  Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more info. What’s Happening at the West Suburban YMCA 

Participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service This year, the Y’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is going virtual. The West Suburban YMCA is putting together care packages of succulents, a handmade card or bookmark, and a puzzle book with a pencil, eraser, and sharpener for the clients of Newton At Home, which includes senior citizens in the community that may be isolated at home due to COVID. You can help by sponsoring care packages or creating cards or bookmarks. Learn more and get involved:  https://www.wsymca.org/events/mlk-day-service-event-0 

Summer Camp Registration Opens on January 11 In 2020, the Y operated a fun and safe summer for hundreds of campers!  In 2021, the Y plans to operate similarly with all COVID safety procedures in place.  The Y offers two day camps, Camp Pikati on-site at the Y and Camp Chickami in Wayland, as well as one overnight camp, Camp Frank A. Day, in East Brookfield.  Learn more:  https://www.wsymca.org/camps 

Winter Programs: January 4 – February 14, 2021 Registration is Open  2020 was a challenging year that required families to break from their typical routines and adapt to new ways of doing things. Since July of 2020, the Y has been adapting as well.