Obituaries

OBIT: Virginia Lewisohn Kahn, 90, Founded the Atrium School in Watertown

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Virginia Lewisohn Kahn, an educator who founded the Atrium School in Watertown, Massachusetts, died on Sept. 21 at the age of 90 at her home in Cambridge. Ginny was born to a prominent philanthropic and banking family in New York City. Her parents were Sam A. and Margaret (Seligman) Lewisohn, both active community leaders well known for their collection of Impressionist and Early Modern painting. The youngest of four sisters, Ginny attended the progressive Lincoln School (Columbia University), where her lifelong commitment to innovative education was formed.

Election 2018

Progressive Watertown Hosts Event to Prep for Mid-Term Election

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The following announcement was provided by Progressive Watertown:
As the Election Day, November 6 approaches Progressive Watertown and the Watertown Democratic Town Committee invites you to a special program. Come join us at, Preppin’ for the Mid-Terms – Building the #Blue Wave on Monday, October 1 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Coolidge Apartments, 319 Arlington Street. Come hear from the campaigns, learn about the three ballot questions and find out how you can help!  Our special guest is Lt. Governor Candidate Quentin Palfrey.  For more information, please contact Rita Colafella at colafella@gmail.com.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center Hosting Earfull Series, Features Writers & Songwriters

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts is proud to announce the Earfull Fall 2018 Series – three evening events of literature and music with “Writers Reading and Songwriters Singing.”
Earfull events will take place October 16, November 13, and December 18 in our Black Box Theater, and feature world renowned authors and musicians reading and performing some of their latest works. October 16
Authors: Dawn Clifton Tripp – Moon Tide, The Season of Open Water, Game of Secrets, Jonathan Wilson – The Hiding Room, A Palestine Affair, Kick and Run
Musicians: Chris Freeman (of Parsonsfield), Walter Rodriguez
November 13
Authors: Andre Dubus III – House of Sand and Fog, The Garden of Last Days, Gone So Long, Rowan Hiyaso Buchanan – Harmless Like You
Musicians: Andrea Gillis, Carissa Johnson
December 18
Authors: Steve Yarbrough – The Realm of Last Chances, Safe From The Neighbors, The End of California, Daphne Kalotay – Russian Winter, Sight Reading, Calamity and Other Stories
Musicians: Honeysuckle, TBA
The brainchild of Boston Musician and Author Jen Trynin and bookstore connoisseur Tim Huggins, Earfull first launched in the Fall of 2001 with the concept that, given a conducive environment, book people will appreciate being exposed to live music, and rock people will realize how cool it is to hear great authors reading their work aloud! EARFULL aimed to provide that environment, combining prominent author readings with established singer-songwriters in the hopes of broadening the appreciation of and audiences for both. After a brief hiatus from multiple sold-out seasons of the series, the Mosesian Center for the Arts brought the beloved programming back for a second season to a whole new audience. Single tickets and Series Passes are on sale now and can be purchased at MosesianArts.org.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Deserves to be a Priority in MBTA’s Investment Plan

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Letter To The Editor

The MBTA recently released its “Focus 40 Investment Plan.” On pages 13-19 of that plan, the MBTA gives an overview of which communities it considers “Priority Places”  in its Focus 40 investment plan. https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/projects/focus40/2018-07-30-focus40-draft-plan-digital.pdf

I believe that Watertown (East Watertown in particular) deserves the “Priority Place” designation because it’s fits many of the criteria for a Priority Place listed on page 14 including:
“• Lack rapid transit service, but bus usage exceeds available capacity
• Face traffic congestion that compromises the performance of MBTA buses in mixed traffic
• Host major centers of activity or dense residential populations, but lack efficient public transit access
• Feature population or employment densities that support higher frequency transit”
I urge Watertown’s residents and local and state representatives to contact the MBTA to add Watertown to its “Priority Places” so that our small but growing city can get the public transit investments we need for our future,

 

Teddy Kokoros
Watertown Resident

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Hosting Office Hours Twice in October

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The following announcement was provided by State Rep. Jonathan Hecht’s office:
Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown this October. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following times and locations:
Thursday, Oct. 4
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Watertown Free Public Library
123 Main St, Raya Stern Trustees Room

Tuesday, Oct. 16
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, 3rd Floor hallway

Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Around Town

Get Your Entries Ready for the Watertown Mall’s Scarecrow Contest

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Mall:

The Watertown Mall, located at 550 Arsenal Street, Watertown, will be hosting its beloved 27th Scarecrow Competition. Our Scarecrow Contest is open to all. This is an ideal way to bring people together and have lots of fun. Scarecrows. The contest is open to individuals, families, schools and businesses and will be displayed throughout the Watertown Mall from Oct.

Police/Fire

Middlesex Sheriff Hosting Citizens Academy for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

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The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office provided the following announcement:

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a program designed specifically for adults with developmental disabilities in Newton next month, Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has announced. The Special Citizens Academy is a four-week program that provides participants with education on topics such as internet safety and awareness, fire safety and first aid, and scam prevention.  Academy attendees will also receive demonstrations from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) K-9 Unit, SWAT officers and Community Command Center staff. “We offer a variety of specialized programs here at the MSO, and the Special Citizens Academy is a meaningful way to engage with those in the disability community so they know we are here to help,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “For those interested in public safety, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn how law enforcement professionals work to keep them safe.”

The MSO is hosting the Academy in partnership with the City of Newton, the JCC Greater Boston, and Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston.