Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/419/)
To the Honorable Members of the Charter Commission;
I’m writing to share thoughts on the current Charter Review. We’ve had the current form of City Government for 40 years. I believe for the most part that it has served us well. By the same token I understand some of the frustration expressed by those who would like to change the form. I’ve been actively involved in municipal “politics” for 15 or 16 years.
The Watertown Recreation Department has a variety of programs this spring. See the descriptions below. The Recreation Department provided the following inforrmation:
Programs will operate indoors & outdoors, please look out for updates prior to scheduled programs. In the event of inclement weather, outdoor participants will be notified by text/email that the program will be canceled or ended early. General
• All programs are offered to Watertown residents only.• Before registering, check that the participant meets the age/grade level qualifications.• Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until a program fills or begins.• Payment must be made in full prior to the start of the program (contact Director Centola if you wish to seek other arrangements). Cancellation Policy
• If insufficient enrollment causes an activity to be canceled, participants will have their choice to accept a full credit to their Recreation account or receive a refund check in 4-6 weeks.
Greetings East Enders and Community-at-Large:
Forty years have come and gone since the Town Election on May 5, 1980 to vote on the ballot question to approve the Council-Manager form of government for the City Known as the Town of Watertown. Should the management of Watertown’s affairs continue as written in the Watertown Home Rule Charter (Charter)? Do we have transparency and accountability to the electorate? Do we need minor or major changes; or none at all? (See the Charter here : https://ecode360.com/36825791)
According to Article 8, Section 8-1 of the Charter; the Town Council shall provide for a review of the Charter, in every year ending in a zero/ten years.
Watertown Town Hall
The following letter was sent by Marilyn Petitto Devaney, former-Town Councilor, former-Town Meeting member and current Governor’s Councilor:
The Watertown Charter Committee consists of nine elected town councilors and six residents appointed by the Council president who acts as chair. They are charged to conduct a 10 year review of the Watertown Charter. They are to review entire charter to determine if any changes should be made in the structure of the government in addition to other agenda — i.e. considering all forms of government. The committee publicly stated they would go through the charter completely, but have not. This committee has been having meetings on Zoom at 6 pm.
Town of WatertownWatertown Senior Center
The following information was provided by the Watertown Senior Center:
Greetings! All Watertown Senior Center Programs via Zoom. Call (617) 972-6490 for details.Programs for Week of April 5, 2021
Join us via Zoom for the following programs. Call for access info: (617) 972-6490.New participants always welcome in every program! We hope you’ll join us! Monday: 10:00 AM, Art Class with Dawn Scaltreto12:30 PM, Chair Yoga with DianeNEW DATE/TIME: 2:00 PM, Zoom with State Representative Steve Owens
Tuesday: 12:30 PM, Tai Chi & Meditation with Marie2:00 PM, Line Dancing with Bradley
Wednesday: No exercise classes today.Take a break and go outside for a walk, or phone a friend or us to say hello!
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.”
A family watches a video at the Concord Museum about April 19, 1775, the day of the “Shot Heard Round the World.” The following announcement was provided by the Concord Museum:
“Here once the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard round the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. In celebration of the Concord Museum’s new permanent April 19, 1775 exhibition and in partnership with The Historical Society of Watertown all Watertown residents are invited to a complimentary in-person evening at the Museum on April 7 or April 14, 2021, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Concord Museum recently completed a $1.2 million permanent exhibition that brings to life the conflict in engaging, emotional ways through powerful animation, artifacts, recordings, and storytelling of that fateful day when the ‘Shot was Heard Round the World’. David Wood, Curator for the Museum remarked, “In Concord Museum’s new installation of April 19th material, first person narratives of participants are joined with the largest collection anywhere of objects that were themselves participants, including muskets, swords, and powder horns that were at the North Bridge.
The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown:
All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 16, 2021, to:
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNc/o Anthony Donato
42 Arden RoadWATERTOWN, MA 02472
The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. All information supplied on this form will be kept strictly confidential.