Bus

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger on MBTA Bus Bunching

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An MBTA bus in Watertown. The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, who represents Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston:

I often get complaints about bunching and related gaps in service on MBTA buses.  Sometimes you’ll see 4 buses go through together and sometimes you might wait 30 minutes for a bus that is supposed to come every 5 or 10 minutes. Bunching is a perennial challenge for MBTA bus operations, especially on the trolley lines (71 and 73) where buses cannot pass each other.  I recently sat down with senior bus operations managers at the MBTA to get an update on their efforts to keep service properly spaced. Current technology is a major barrier to addressing the bunching problem.  Other than the farebox, everything on the bus is run by a system originally procured almost 20 years ago called “Transit Master.”  Transit Master keeps records on who is driving the bus, displays the route signs on the bus, provides radio communications, makes the stop announcements, counts passengers and, most importantly, tells the driver in real time whether the bus is ahead or behind schedule. When the driver sits down in the bus at the start of their shift and logs in to the system, a schedule is loaded for their whole shift.  That schedule doesn’t change dynamically to reflect traffic conditions.  Congestion is built into schedules, but traffic is not entirely predictable and when traffic is especially bad, buses fall behind schedule.   Even if a bus is running behind schedule and the trailing bus has caught up, the trailing bus driver is being told by the system to keep pressing to stay on schedule, even if that means staying right behind the lead bus.

Schools

Middle Schoolers Can Learn About Careers at Minuteman After-School Program

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Middle school students can learn about the career pathways offered by Minuteman High School at after school programs in March. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

Minuteman High School will hold an after-school program for middle school students in March that provides an opportunity to explore hands-on, project-based, career and technical education, which will expose students to the career majors Minuteman has to offer. Registration is now open for the Career Pathway Program for Middle Schoolers, which will be held Mondays and Wednesdays in March — March 9, 11, 16, and 18 — from 4:15-6:15 p.m. This program provides bus transportation from each in-district middle school to and from Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School, 258 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington. The Career Pathway Program for Middle Schoolers provides the following courses, which mirror those offered to Minuteman’s high school students:

Culinary Arts and Hospitality: Students will be exposed to project-based learning in the fields of culinary and baking inside Minuteman’s new stainless-steel kitchen and bakery. Trades and Transportation: This pathway allows students to spend one day in each of Minuteman’s four trades and transportation career majors: electrical, carpentry/construction, automotive, and plumbing/heating.

Elections

Watertown Democrats to Elect Delegates to State Convention

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

Registered Democrats in Watertown will be holding a caucus on Saturday, March 7 in the Hosmer Elementary School Auditorium at 1 p.m. to elect 25 delegates and five alternates to the 2020 Massachusetts Democratic Nominating Convention. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

This year’s state convention will be held Saturday, May 30 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell, where thousands of Democrats from across the state will come together to vote on candidates for the US Senate ahead of the September primary. “This year’s convention will be a great opportunity to strengthen the party for the 2020 elections. The Watertown caucus is a chance for people who want to get involved in the process to connect with other local activists,” said Watertown Democratic Town Committee Chair Steve Owens. The caucus is open to all registered and pre-registered Democrats in Watertown. Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by February 15, 2020 will be allowed to participate and run as a delegate or alternate. Voter registration will be available at the caucus.  Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret.

Entertainment

Small Saves Fixes a Broken Goalie Cage in This Week’s Cartoon

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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.”

Schools

Recipes Wanted for Middle School PTO’s International Cookbook

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Middle School PTO:

We Want Your Recipes! For Watertown Middle School’s International Cookbook

The Watertown Middle School PTO is embarking on a very ambitious fundraising effort and we need your help. The vision is to create a cookbook that will celebrate the cultural diversity that is Watertown. Food is a wonderful way to bring people together! Sharing recipes is just one way to understand the heritage of our friends, neighbors and our community.

Around Town

Watertown Troop 30 wins Northern Light Klondike Derby

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Scouts from Watertown Scout Troop 30 build a fire at Northern Light Klondike Derby. The following information was provided by Scout Troop 30:

BSA Troop 30’s Baconators Patrol took first place overall in the 2020 Northern Light District Klondike Derby last weekend. 

The competition, held in West Newbury, pits scout patrols of boys and girls from the region against each other in skills like knot tying and fire building. The Northern Light District Derby offered a day of skills and knowledge tests, followed by a competition to make the best single-serving meal at camp. 

The Baconators from Troop 30 learned about first aid during the Boy Scout’s Northern Light Klondike Derby. For the dinner challenge, Baconators put their love of pork aside for the night and made a dish of ostrich, complimented by onions, carrots and potatoes made over three camp stoves. In 2019 the Baconators came in second in the Spirit of Adventure Council Klondike Derby held in Milton. 

Troop 30 is composed of scouts age 10-17 in Watertown, Allston and Brighton.

Around Town

Watertown Filmmaker Showing Documentary on Migrant Camps on Greek Isle

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

The next Monthly Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment will be on Wednesday, February 19 at 7 pm in the Watertown Savings Bank Room of the Watertown Free Public Library. Please join us for a Special Documentary Presentation on migrant camps on the Greek Island of Lesvos. This short film was made on-site by Turkish video-producer and current Watertown resident A. Yaren Köse. In December 2018 Yaren spent 2 months in both the official and unofficial camps, documenting immediate needs of the migrants with the support of local Greek islanders, international volunteers and the people living in the camps. The story is mostly told by those who do not risk deportation or legal action.

Entertainment

Take Your Valentine to a Free Dance Class in Watertown

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Watertown dance studio Ballroom in Boston will be hosting free dance classes on Valentines Day. See more information in the studio’s announcement below. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner…do you have an awesome evening of plans already made? No? We can help you plan the perfect romantic night out!