Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion on Paying for the New Green Deal

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

Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment will hold our July Monthly Meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, July 15, at 6:45 PM. All are welcome. Our topic this month is: Warheads to Windmills:How to Pay for the Green New Deal

Please join us to hear Dr. Timmon Wallis and Vicki Elson of NuclearBan.us identify the three major crises threatening the planet today: 1) the climate crisis 2) expanding nuclear arsenals 3) extreme economic inequality – and propose a solution: redirect funds and technology for nuclear weapons to the development of green energy and green jobs. Warheads to Windmills: How to Pay for the Green New Deal, written by Dr. Wallis, provides a detailed analysis of what it will take to adequately address the climate crisis and where the needed funds, scientific and engineering expertise could come from: the nuclear weapons program. To quote Dr. Timmons, “It’s not an exaggeration to say that these weapons threaten our very existence as a species, and so does the climate crisis.

Around Town

West Suburban YMCA Reopens After 16-Week Closure

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West Suburban YMCA staff wave from the front steps. The following information was provided by the West Suburban YMCA:

The West Suburban YMCA reopened its doors to members on July 6, following Governor Baker’s announcement last week regarding the state’s transition into Phase 3 of its reopening plan. New protocols are in place to align with all guidance and recommendations outlined by the CDC, state, and local health departments. Some of the new practices include:

Brief health pre-screen at check in for all members and staffUse of face coverings/masks when in the buildingSocial distancing and reduced capacity in all facility spacesFrequent cleaning and sanitation of all equipment and surfacesSingle entry and exit points: Enter through the main doors and exit through the basement level trackside doorReservations are required for pool use and outdoor group exercise classes

The reopening includes the Y’s Wellness Center (cardio, strength, weights, functioning training, and selectorized equipment), the indoor pools for lap swimming, the indoor and outdoor track, personal training, and a variety of group exercise classes offered both outside and virtually. Additional member services and programs are expected to become available gradually and in accordance with new information and guidelines.

Around Town

Reading Summer Fun for Adults & This Week’s Virtual Events from the Watertown Library

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Library:

Why should kids have all the fun? This summer, the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) is offering Summer Reading for Grown-Ups, a season-long reading challenge complete with librarian-curated reading recs and a bingo game full of summer activities. 

Even though WFPL is temporarily closed to the public, there are still many ways to check out library materials. Books, DVDs, and CDs can be ordered for curbside pickup. eBooks and audiobooks can be accessed through WFPL’s digital collection. For more information, visit the Library’s website: watertownlib.org

This year, WFPL’s grown-up bingo game encourages players to read widely from a diverse list of authors, stay active while social distancing, and chronicle the summer with lots of photos. 

Here are a few highlights:

Read about someone who survived a pandemicPost your COVID-19 experience as a poem, short story, or artRead a book by an LGBTQ authorRead a book from WFPL’s anti-racism booklistPost your pandemic playlist!Join the Library’s yoga class, via Zoom

As part of the game, WFPL is encouraging patrons to share summer reading and inspire others by posting book covers, book bingos, and summer activities on social media with the hashtag #WFPLsummer.

Around Town

Monthly Meeting Coming Up for Caregivers, Loved Ones of People with Mental Illness

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The following information was provided by NAMI:

The virtual NAMI Family Support Group will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm using zoom.us so the next one will be on Tuesday, July 14. We will offer this until we are able to meet in person again. This group is for caregivers of persons with mental illness. See namimass.org for information regarding peer groups for people themselves experiencing a mental illness.    

To get the information to enter this group, we need your email address. Please email us at info@naminw.org, and add your phone number in case we need to reach you.  

Government

OP-ED: Legislation Needed to Fight Systematic Racism

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The following was written by Progressive Massachusetts and is endorsed by Progressive Watertown:

The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, and Rayshard Brooks have served as a tragic reminder of the epidemic that is police brutality in the United States. 

Over the past few weeks (indeed, over the past few years), we keep seeing more and more video examples of how widespread, how dehumanizing, and how fatal police violence is and how disproportionately such violence is used against the Black community. Some say the current wave of protests is a historic turning point; we need to make it one. 

It is important to recognize that the graphic imagery of police brutality is just one of the many violent manifestations of systemic racism and white supremacy. The underfunding of schools in communities of color is a form of violence. The denial of health care access is a form of violence. Exclusionary housing policies are a form of violence.

Around Town

This Week’s Senior Center Online Events Include a Conversation, Tai Chi & Art

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Watertown Senior Center

The Watertown Council on Aging/Senior Center has been offering fitness, art and discussion programs via Zoom! Please call the Senior Center at (617) 972-6490 for program information and Zoom access. Link to Watertown Senior News: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/150/Activities-during-COVID-19. Page with links to Museums (July Issue) can be found here: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29678/LinksToMuseums_July-2020

Week of July 6, 2020 – July 10, 2020

Monday, July 6 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Chair Yoga with Diane

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Art Class with Dawn Scaltreto                                                            

Tuesday, July 7 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Tai Chi and Meditation with MarieWednesday, July 89:30 AM Book Club Zoom 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Exercise with Joanna

Thursday, July 9

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM, Conversation with Tom12:30 PM – 1:30 PM, Discussion with the Museum of Russian Icons (Session 1 of 2) 

Friday, July 1012:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Seated Strength and Balance with Pearl1:30 PM – 2:30 PM, Sing with the Mellowtones and Anne Silverman 

For more information, call the Senior Center at (617) 972-6490. Although the building is closed to visitors, staff members are here to help with Zoom program access and any other service issues and assistance needs you may have, including taxi rides to local medical appointments, SHINE counseling and Case Worker assistance.

Cartoon

Small Saves Celebrates the Fourth of July in This Week’s Comic

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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

Library Fines Eliminated in Watertown, Current Fines Removed

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The Watertown Free Public Library will no longer be charging fines for late materials. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Watertown Free Public Library has abolished overdue fines for most materials. At their May 5 Board Meeting, the Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend Town Manager Michael Driscoll eliminate library fines. As a result, fine elimination was included in the FY21 budget which was approved by Town Council on June 29, 2020. 

Beginning July 1, fines will no longer be charged for items that are returned late. This applies to any Watertown or Minuteman Library Network (MLN) item checked out at the WFPL.