Letters

LETTER: Resident Reflects on Trip to Germany, Christmas Markets and the EU

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To the Editor:

I had a lovely time visiting Christmas markets – Weihnachtsmarkt – in Germany with my best friend from first grade. In 1972 she settled in Munich with her German husband. For most of the years since then we have stayed in touch, and get together when she travels Stateside to visit family. This was my second time to Germany; the first in 1970. Here are a few takeaways from my latest adventure:

Germany is very clean.

Citizen's Legislative Seminar

Watertown Residents Can Apply to be in Citizens’ Legislative Seminar

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The following information was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office:

Senator Will Brownsberger announced that he is seeking nominees to participate in the 82nd Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS) to be held Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20 at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. CLS is a semi-annual educational seminar geared towards adults of all ages interested in learning more about state government and the legislative process. Established in 1976 through a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts Senate and the University of Massachusetts, Boston, the two-day seminar features engaging presentations by Senators and staff on aspects of the day-to-day experience of legislators in the Commonwealth. Topics will include the history and process of the Legislature, the State Budget, the parliamentary role of the Clerk of the Senate and the future of the Legislature. The Seminar will walk participants through the legislative process including how bills are introduced, debated, and passed.

Around Town

Registration Open for Watertown Boys & Girls Club February Vacation Program

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club provided the following announcement:

Looking for a fun time for your kids during February Vacation Week? The Watertown Boys & Girls Club will be open for their February Vacation Program Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 19, 2019 to Feb. 22, 2019. The program runs 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and thanks to the Watertown Community Foundation, lunch is included!

Transportation

MassDOT’s Holiday Travel Tips, MBTA Schedules & More

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The following piece was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising the public to plan ahead for travel during the upcoming holiday season from Dec. 20, 2018 through Jan. 2, 2019, to drive sober and to take note of holiday schedules for the MBTA, use of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy, and for visiting Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) customer service center locations. AAA is forecasting a record-breaking holiday travel season this year, with 2.45 million Massachusetts residents expected to be on the move. In a public statement, AAA said 2.1 million of these travelers are expected to travel by motor vehicle. The highest volume of traffic in the Boston area, according to AAA, is expected to be Wednesday, Dec.

Around Town

CatholicTV to Show Christmas Masses from Around the U.S.

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Watertown-based CatholicTV Network provided the following information:

On Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25, the CatholicTV Network will broadcast Christmas Masses from around the United States and the Vatican. Christmas Masses will air beginning on Monday, Dec. 24 with Mass from the Vatican presided over by Pope Francis at 8 p.m. The Mass with Pope Francis will rebroadcast on Christmas Day at 7 a.m. Pope Francis’ annual Christmas message, “Urbi et Orbi,” will air on Christmas Day at 6 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Christmas Mass coverage continues at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve with Mass from the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Md.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Grants Give $1.2 million to Programs for Healthy Aging

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The following information came from Tufts Health Plan:

Tufts Health Plan Foundation today announced 11 new community investments of more than $1.2 million, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to advancing policies and practices that support healthy aging. These investments are in addition to more than $2 million in previously announced work. 

“Advocating for public policy or systems change is essential to achieving social change at scale,” said Thomas P. O’Neill III, who chairs the Tufts Health Plan Foundation board of directors. “By supporting age-friendly efforts, the Foundation hopes to create communities that work for all generations.” 

Tufts Health Plan is the only regional funder exclusively focused on healthy aging. The new grants support efforts to engage and train older people as advocates on critical policy work, including addressing gaps in oral health, nutrition, housing, transportation, and community safety. 

“We are investing in initiatives that promote coalitions and bring together government, nonprofit organizations, and older people to create communities that are great places to grow up and grow old,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan. “Critical to any success is supporting older people as they lead and make their voices heard.” 

The new grants engage community organizations in three states.

Around Town

OP-ED: Steps to Stop Your Kids from Drinking, Using Drugs

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The following piece was signed by: Michael Lawn, Chief of Police, Laura Kurman, Senior Program Director, Wayside Multi-Service Center, Dede Galdston, Superintendent of Schools, and Larry Ramdin, Director of Public Health:

With the holiday season underway and the opening of retail marijuana shops in Massachusetts, adults are urged to pay special attention to teenagers’ behavior around alcohol and other drugs. The Watertown Youth Coalition’s (WYC) partner agencies, Wayside Multi-Service Center, and the Watertown Police, Schools and Health Departments remind adults that teen alcohol and marijuana use can lead to unsafe behaviors that put their health and safety at risk. After all, it is all our responsibility, as a community, to help teens make healthy decisions and stay safe. Underage substance use affects everyone in the community and delaying use has shown to be protective as every year a teen does not use alcohol, the odds of lifelong dependence decrease by 15 percent. In the most recent Watertown Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered to middle and high school students last year, of those who reported drinking, most reportedgetting alcohol from older siblings /friends or from home without their parents’ knowledge.

Environment

LETTER: Author of Watertown’s Solar Requirement Thanks Supporters, Urges More Action

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The following statement was read, in part, to the Town Council on Dec. 11, 2018, by Watertown Resident Jocelyn Tager. The requirement to have solar power systems on new developments over a certain size was passed by the Town Council on Nov. 27, 2018, making the town the first in the state to adopt such a requirement. Here is the full version:

My name is Jocelyn Tager.