Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/476/)
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.”
The following information was provided by the Perkins School for the Blind Library:
Dear Perkins Library Patrons,
As Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns continue to evolve, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has extended his March 23rd “Stay at Home” Executive Order requiring all non-essential businesses to close. At this time, the Executive Order will now extend until May 4, 2020. As we had previously communicated, the Perkins Library falls into this category, so no Library mail has been sent out since March 24. Additionally, we ask borrowers to hold all Library materials until you are notified that we are able to receive them by return mail. While we can’t ship physical materials, you can always download from our Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service.
The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Police Department:
Due to the ongoing and rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, we have rescheduled our annual 5k Finish Strong Road Race to Sunday, September 27, 2020. We are looking forward to once again commemorating the resiliency of the Watertown Community by running, walking, and celebrating together after overcoming yet another challenging situation. Please remember to stay healthy, stay home, and stay tuned to WPD social media for important information and updates.
The organizers of the Boston Marathon announced that refunds will be offered for those who decide not to participate in the rescheduled race in September. The deadline to accept or reject the refund is May 29, 2020. Also, the B.A.A. 5K has been postponed to Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. The following information was provided by the B.A.A.:
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced that participants in the 2020 Boston Marathon, which was originally scheduled for April 20, 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, may elect to receive a refund for entry fees associated with the Boston Marathon.
The following information was provided by the Registry of Motor Vehicles:
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is continuing to take several important steps following Governor Charlie Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency the week of March 9 and to complement the work that has been underway for weeks across state government to keep residents safe and healthy.
Effective today, April 1, 2020, all of the passenger plate registrations that have expired in March or will be expiring in April have been extended for 60 days. Registrations that expired in March have been extended until May 31 and registrations that expire in April have been extended until June 30. Registration renewals can continue to be performed online at Mass.Gov/RMV during this time. Customers seeking to do so in-person will not be able to make an appointment and should delay their visit to a Service Center at this time. In addition, the RMV recently has implemented key changes to service delivery and organizational protocols as follows:
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the RMV has implemented a strict no walk-in policy at a limited number of Service Centers that remain open to the general public.
The following announcement was provide by Wegmans Food Markets. The chain has locations in Chestnut Hill, Medford, Burlington, Natick, Westwood and Northborough:
Committed to keeping its doors opened and its shelves stocked during this time of uncertainty, Wegmans Food Markets is hiring for more than 400 part- and full-time positions throughout its six Massachusetts stores. “Even as we look to grow our team, the health and safety of all Wegmans customers and employees remains a top priority,” said Kelly Schoeneck, New England Division Manager. “We are humbled by our amazing employees who continue to show up for their colleagues and our customers every day,” she continued. “At Wegmans, we love what we do, and we love the communities we serve.
Congresswoman Katherine Clark will be hosting a teleconferenced town hall about the CARES Act. The following announcement was provided by Congresswoman Clark’s office:
This week, on Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT, I will be hosting a telephone town hall about the CARES Act, the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) relief bill signed into law to help families, workers, hospitals, and businesses during this national emergency.I will be available to answer questions about the different types of aid available to Massachusetts residents, including direct cash payments for eligible constituents, expanded unemployment assistance, and new relief for affected local businesses non-profits. You can join the town hall by dialing in at 1 (844) 734-8764. If you are not able to join the call but have a question or need assistance, please reach out to my district office. As we continue working together in Washington to help all our communities during this difficult time, it is so important that those in need know how to access the new resources that are being made available to them.
The Watertown Police announced that residents should watch out for scammers trying to take advantage of the Coronavirus outbreak. The Police Department put out the following statement:
Please be aware of individuals attempting to take advantage of and scam residents by offering false services related to COVID 19. Below is an example of a craigslist scam that was forwarded to the Watertown Police Department today. If you receive an offer/ad, such as pictured below, check the validity of it by emailing it to the WPD at COVID19@police.watertown-ma.gov.