Entertainment

Enjoy Free Friday Activities from the Charles River Watershed Association

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Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is hosting their first Free Fun Friday with the Highland Street Foundation at the Boston Marriott Newton and Norumbega Park on Friday, July 13, 2018 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
There will be music, food, and various free activities throughout the day. Activities will consist of canoeing on the Charles River with Boating in Boston, bait and fishing lessons, story readings facilitated by Raising a Reader, and guided nature walks with the Bartlett Tree Foundation. Participants will also have an opportunity to learn from CRWA aquatic scientists, with hands on science experiments on the Charles River. This event is sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation and is a part of their Free Fun Friday summer program that occurs every Friday, from the end of June through the end of August at multiple locations throughout Massachusetts. Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Friday mission is to increase accessibility to many of the most treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts to people who might otherwise not have access.

Letters

LETTER: Proposed Road Projects Will Hurt Neighborhoods, Small Businesses

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The DPW and Planning Department have been working on improving the traffic flow through Watertown Square, as well as making it and Mt. Auburn Street friendlier to bicyclists and pedestrians. However, as usual, they are not considering neighborhood integrity, nor the needs of small businesses. It is funny to me that they are touting “complete streets,” which simply means designing for more modes of transportation than cars. Cities in Europe have been doing this type of design for over 60 years, but we have just “discovered” it here in the U.S., and we don’t do it well yet.

Government

Find Out When You Can Meet with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

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Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours once in Watertown this July, his office announced. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:
Tuesday, July 24th, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, Watertown, 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.

Bicycling

OP-ED: State Sen. Brownsberger Pushing to Make Roads Safer for Bicyclists

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(The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown and parts of Boston)
When I cycled across the country in 2011, I saw a lot of roadkill. I was constantly aware that all it would take was one mistake by me or by one of those caffeinated guys in big rigs and I’d look about the same. On the open road, I developed a profound gratitude towards the tens of thousands of drivers who did not hit me. The Senate just approved a safety package that would require a clearance of at least three feet for vehicles passing vulnerable road users like highway workers, cyclists and pedestrians.  It would add an additional foot of required clearance for each ten miles per hour of speed.

Election 2018

Watertown Republican State Committeewoman Endorses Diehl for Senate

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The Diehl for Senate campaign provided the following press release:

Representative Geoff Diehl, the endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced that he has received the endorsement of Republican State Committeewoman Deborah Dugan of Watertown. “I am pleased to endorse Geoff Diehl for U.S. Senate. As a State Representative, Geoff has done more for the people of Massachusetts than Senator Warren has done as a United States Senator,” said Dugan. “I am honored to have received Debby’s endorsement. She is extremely hard worker and her strong support will help us win Watertown,” said Diehl.

Around Town

Family Mental Health Support Group Announces Upcoming Meeting

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The following information was provided by the National Alliance for Mental Illness:
Family Mental Health support group:  NAMI Family Mental Health Support Group is a free, structured, confidential peer-led support group for the families of individuals living with mental illness.  
A support group will be held on Tuesday, July 10, 7 – 9 p.m. at the Newton Wellesley Hospital, at 2014 Washington St. in Newton 02461, on the second floor of the main building in the Bowles Conference Center. This is organized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

Around Town

Spots Available in the Watertown Boys & Girls Club Annual Golf Tournament

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Watertown Boys & Girls Club will host their annual golf tournament on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Oakley Country Club. The tournament honors one of the Club’s original founding members, Stephen Mugar. His children and grandchildren generously perpetuate his legacy by sponsoring this annual event. The Mugar Family will match the tournament’s net profits up to $80,000, thus making this the largest annual fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the Club’s yearly revenue. Foursomes and single golfer tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/WBGCGolf2018, along with sponsorships of varying levels.

Business

Watertown Savings Wins Favorite Community Bank Award, Once Again

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Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) is pleased to announce that they have been voted as the Regional Gold Award winner for Favorite Community Bank in Wicked Local’s Annual Readers Choice Awards, for the ninth year in a row.Readers Choice Awards is an annual contest that invites readers of Gatehouse Media and Wicked Local newspapers, to vote for their favorite local businesses in a variety of categories. The region consists of seven towns: Arlington, Belmont, Brighton, Brookline, Somerville, Waltham, and Watertown; four in which WSB branches are located. In the Favorite Community Bank category, WSB was voted Number One Bank in Watertown, Waltham, and Arlington; and as Honorable Mention in both Belmont and Lexington. “This is a great accomplishment of which we are particularly proud,” said Bank President Brett Dean. “We appreciate the recognition from the Wicked Local readers and do not take this honor for granted; and we thank our employees who put forth a great effort each day to make it happen.”

Voting in the Annual Readers Choice Awards takes place in January and February each year by visiting wickedlocalfavorites.com.