Letters

OP-ED: Are We Ready for Automated Traffic Enforcement?

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The following was submitted by State Sen. Will Brownsberger

Automated enforcement of speed limits and red lights could substantially reduce accidents. So far, we have not been willing to use the new technology in Massachusetts. To improve safety, I hope we can build support to experiment with automated enforcement in a thoughtful and transparent way. The technology to recognize license plates is now quite reliable. The barriers to using plate readers for enforcement of basic traffic laws are not technological.

Entertainment

Watertown Art Gallery Features Works Made with Bold Application of Paint

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Watertown-based Room 83 Spring is hosting an exhibit called “Eye Feel,” featuring paintings where the paint has been applied thickly by hand, with a stick or straight from the tube. 

Paint and touch are paramount in Room 83 Spring’s current exhibition Eye Feel with Susan Carr, Tatyana Gubash, Katy Helman, Lavaughan Jenkins, and Ellen Wineberg. Each artist’s work has an insistent presence, which is articulated by the generous application of paint in the impasto technique. Straight from the tube, paint stick, or finger, paint is built up, slathered, and encrusted, often with colors colliding serendipitously on the surface. This deep investment in the physicality of the materials is imperative to expression, asserting object-ness and actuality. The heft of the paint preserves the hand’s mark-makings, becoming a narrative in itself, with the haptic quality underscoring a relational, even conceptual intent of the works.

Business

Watertown Savings Seeks Entries for High School Photography Contest

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Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) is seeking submissions for their Annual High School Photography contest, bank officials announced. If you are a high school student who lives or attends school in Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown you are eligible to participate. The 12 winning photographs will be published in the bank’s 2019 calendar, which is distributed free to thousands of WSB customers and community members annually. WSB is looking for photos that depict scenes from the local community. Entries must be submitted by Sunday, April 15 at midnight.

Schools

Minuteman High School Students Win Medals at SkillsUSA Competition

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Students from Minuteman High School captured medals in a host of technical categories in a regional skills competition against their peers last month, including one from Watertown, the school announced. Minuteman students earned gold, silver and bronze medals in the SkillsUSA District III Competition held at Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham on February 28. SkillsUSA is a national organization that allows students in career and technical education to compete in rigorous technical and leadership competitions. The advisor of the Minuteman chapter of SkillsUSA is Engineering instructor Malcolm Paradise. The medalists from Minuteman were as follows:
Culinary Arts: Gold, Sam Zurlo ‘19, Lexington
Cosmetology Over 500 hours: Bronze, Madelyn Hedges ‘18, Arlington
Additive Manufacturing: Gold, Ben Tangora ‘20, Lexington and Brandon Bain ‘20, Lexington
Electrical Construction Wiring: Silver, Luke Scannell ‘20, Lexington
Mechatronics: Gold, Benjamin Leone ‘18, Lancaster and Dan Seriy ‘18, Needham, Silver, Alex Northup ‘19, Needham and Ethan Moore ‘19, Arlington
Web Design & Programming: Gold, Adam Powell ‘18, Arlington and Ethan Francis-Wright ‘18, Arlington
Mobile Robotics: Gold, Gaetano Taranto ‘19, Waltham and Jake Dionne ‘19, Concord, Bronze, Emmanuel Adey ‘20, Lexington
Robotics Automation Technology: Gold, Sam Harris ‘19, Lancaster and Sophia Li ‘19, Acton
Telecommunication Cabling: Gold, Sean O’Connor ‘18, Winchester
Industrial Baking, Silver, Thomas Merida ‘18, Watertown
Many of these students will compete at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference held from April 26-28 in Marlborough. Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that integrates robust academic and career & technical learning to deliver a revolutionary competitive advantage to its students, expanding their opportunities for college and career success.

Adaptive Track

Watertown Track Team Offering Program for Students with Disabilities

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Track Team and it’s Booster Club are offering an Adaptive Track program this spring for students with disabilities. Students will participate in stretching, running and racing activities on the Victory Field track. WHS athletes will be mentoring/coaching under the supervision of parent volunteers. This is a four week program to be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on the following dates (no transportation provided):
Monday, April 23
Monday, April 30
Monday, May 7
Monday, May 14 (awards ceremony)
Registration is open now and is available to students in Watertown, Belmont, Waltham & Newton in grades 1-12. Mail the attached application with a $40.00 check made payable to Nancy Alberico to: 
Nancy Alberico
C/O WHS Track & Field Boosters
25 Duff Street, Watertown, MA.

Schools

Artwork by Watertown Public Schools Students Will be on Display at the Mall

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The Watertown Mall, located at 550 Arsenal Street, Watertown, will again be hosting the Watertown Public Schools’ Annual Student Art Exhibit from April 4 to April 24, 2018, the Mall announced. The exhibit will feature hundreds of works of art made by students from Watertown Public Schools. You will be left awestruck by the hardworking young artists, who range from kindergarteners to high schoolers, and their very unique talents. The art displayed will vary in medium and you will be exposed to spectacular pieces created using watercolors, crayons, cray pas, pencils, computer art, ceramics, paper machè, and more. The exhibit will run from Wednesday, April 4th to Tuesday, April 24th and we hope to see you there.

Government

Registry of Motor Vehicles Announces New Requirements for Licenses, IDs

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The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is reminding the public that on March 26, 2018, to get or renew any driver’s license, ID card, or learner’s permit, customers will need documentation showing United States citizenship or lawful presence as required by federal and state law, according to an announcement from the RMV. Lawful presence means that a person is legally living in the United States according to federal immigration laws. All United States citizens and lawfully permanent residents have permanent lawful presence in the U.S. Non-U.S. individuals who are studying, working, or living temporarily in the U.S. may have temporary lawful presence that may vary in length. On March 26, customers will have the choice between a REAL ID Driver’s License or ID Card or a Standard Massachusetts Driver’s License or ID Card. REAL ID is a Federal Security Standard for IDs that was created in 2005 as a result of increased federal security measures after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. REAL ID will be available on March 26, 2018; however, people will not need a REAL ID until October of 2020.

Around Town

Watertown Calls Snow Emergency for Nor’easter, Council Meeting Postponed

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Tuesday’s Nor’easter has not arrived but has already closed town offices, and postponed events. 

The Watertown Public Schools will have a snow day on Tuesday, according to the district website. The Town of Watertown announced that Town Hall, the Watertown Free Public Library and the Senior Center will be closed Tuesday, and Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting has been postponed. It will be rescheduled to Thursday, March 15 at 7:15 p.m.

Also, the Watertown High School’s boys basketball team’s state semifinal will be postponed and moved. The game was moved to Burlington High School at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A winter weather event is predicted with high winds and 10 plus inches of snow accumulation.