Around Town

Watertown’s New Rep Receives Grant from Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation

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The following announcement was provided by the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation:

Rockland Trust’s affiliated charitable foundations have announced the recipients of their Racial Equity Grant Program, providing 45 local nonprofits with over $200,000 in grants to support activities that advance racial equity within their organizations and communities, including Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre. Over 80 percent of the funded projects were for internal/organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, such as Board, staff or volunteer training, policy reviews and audits. The remaining funds supported community-based DEI activities, or hybrid proposals that focused on both organizational and community-focused DEI work. “We were extremely impressed by the thoughtful nature of the applications we received,” said Edward H. Seksay, President and Chair of the Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation and Rockland Trust-Blue Hills Charitable Foundation. “These grants exemplify our steadfast DEI commitment and our ongoing support of local nonprofits.

Letters

LETTER: Parents Urge School Building Committee to Approve Plan for New High School

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To the Editor of Watertown News:

We are writing to express our strong support for moving forward with plans to build a new high school in Watertown — including a temporary high school on Moxley Field while the new high school is under construction. We are in dire need of a new high school—parts of the current building were constructed in 1925 and 1950! The old age and dated design of the building significantly restricts the educational programs available to our students. In 2016, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the school accreditation agency, put Watertown on warning because of the poor conditions of our high school. It is imperative that we get a new high school built and in use as soon as possible for the benefit of our students.

Around Town

Historical Society of Watertown Seeks a Treasurer

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The following information was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:

The Historical Society of Watertown is looking for a Treasurer. The role of the Treasurer is vital to all organizations. We are looking to fill this position and hope that you or someone you know would be interested in joining our Board and taking this role. The Treasurer is the person who oversees the management and reporting of the Historical Society’s finances. The Treasurer receives and disperses all funds, pays the bills and reports on the transactions at our monthly meetings.

Around Town

Opening of Watertown Farmers Market Just Weeks Away, New Market Coordinator

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The following announcement came from the Watertown Farmers Market:

Opening Day ~ Wednesday, June 16 2:30 – 6:30 PM

We’re getting ready for the 2021 season ~ opening day is just a few weeks away! Watch for news about our vendor lineup and modified layout for this season. We thank you in advance for your patience and support as we continue to create a safe, efficient, and enjoyable shopping experience! Introducing our New Market Coordinator Lillian Baptist! Hi everyone!

Around Town

Watertown’s Headliners in Education a Finalist for Mass. Nonprofit Network Award

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Headliners in EducationWatertown’s John Vitti, founder of Headliners in Education. The non-profit is a finalist for an award from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network. The following announcement was provided by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network:

The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) announced today, Headliners in Education (HIE) of Watertown, has been selected as a finalist for the 2021 Nonprofit Excellence Award for Small Nonprofits. The winners of the Nonprofit Excellence Awards will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony, MNN’s 2021 Nonprofit Excellence Awards: Celebrating Idealism and Achievement presented by Citizens, on Wednesday, June 23 at 10 a.m.

“We are excited to recognize Headliners in Education for their invaluable contributions to the Commonwealth,” said Jim Klocke, CEO of MNN. “We look forward to recognizing them and the other Excellence Award finalists and announcing the six winners on June 23.”

Cartoon

Small Saves Keeps Hydrated in This Week’s 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.”

Schools

LETTER: Former Recreation Director Suggests Using Old Hosmer Building for Temporary High School

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The following letter was originally sent to Watertown Public Schools officials:

Good Day,

How many students will be in the swing space high school while construction is going on of the new high school? How many students can the soon to be old Hosmer School hold? Portable classrooms can be placed on the Chauncey St. side of the Hosmer to handle the needed classroom and other activities needed to keep grades 9 to 12 together. I would think this arrangement would still save the town many millions of dollars.

District D

LETTER: Candidate for District D Council Seat Serves as Library Trustee, Worked as Legislative Aide

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Emily Izzo announced her candidacy for the District D Town Council seat. It is with great enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for District D Town Councilor. My name is Emily Izzo and I am a lifelong Watertown resident who grew up in the west end and attended Cunniff Elementary School, Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School, graduating in 2008. After graduating from Assumption College, where I majored in Political Science and History and minored in Sociology, I began my career in public service working for State Representative John Lawn. First as a legislative aide and later as Chief of Staff, my work with residents and elected officials to enact good government policies reaffirmed in me what public service is all about.