Around Town

Watertown Church Hosting a Jerusalem Marketplace in Support of a Just Peace in the Middle East

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Watertown’s Church of the Good Shepherd will host an event with Palestinian food, items for sale, and talk to people who recently returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Church of the Good Shepherd sent out the following announcement:

Enjoy Palestinian foods and purchase olive oils and other gifts from Palestine, in support of a just peace in Israel/Palestine. Learn about our sister parishes in Ramallah and Zebabdeh. Chat with people who just returned from pilgrimage. Sunday, Dec.

Transportation

MassDOT Holding Meetings on Changes Mass Pike at Allston Interchange

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced that the public meeting for the I-90 Allston Interchange Improvement Project scheduled to be held in Brookline on Tuesday, December 12, will now be held in the Auditorium of the Pierce Elementary School in Brookline. This venue change is at the request of the Town of Brookline due to logistical considerations and to ensure there is adequate space for attendees. Signage will be in place at Town Hall to notify attendees of this venue change and the full schedule of upcoming public meetings for the I-90 Allston Interchange Improvement Project is as follows:
December 12, 2017, 7:00 p.m.
Auditorium, Pierce Elementary School
50 School Street, Brookline
January 3, 2018, 6:30 p.m.
The Morse School
40 Granite Street, Cambridge
Last week, MassDOT officially filed the Draft Environmental Impact Report for this project with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and is now hosting several public meetings in order to provide information to the public on the DEIR. Information on how to obtain an electronic copy of the DEIR is posted on the project website and paper copies of the DEIR will be provided to the Copley, Faneuil, Honan-Allston, and Brighton branches of the Boston Public Library, the State Library of Massachusetts, and the Main and Central Square branches of the Cambridge Public Library. In response to public requests, MassDOT has extended the public comment period to January 19, 2018, so that all interested parties will have ample time to review the document and provide detailed input.

Government

Watertown Gets Grant to Test Dedicated Bus Lanes on Parts of Mt. Auburn St.

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Watertown officials announced Wednesday that the Bar Foundation, as part of its BostonBRT initiative, has awarded the community a grant to conduct a pilot project testing bus rapid transit (BRT) features in collaboration with the City of Cambridge and the MBTA. The pilot will seek to create a faster and more reliable commute for more than 12,000 daily bus riders on routes 71 and 73. The pilot, which will take place during 2018, will take bus riders out of car congestion through the creation of all-day dedicated bus lanes for significant segments on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Fresh Pond Parkway. It will also include inbound “queue jump” lanes to give buses
priority in intersections on Mount Auburn Street and Belmont Street near where they meet, and timed traffic signals where feasible so that buses get more green lights. The pilot is a temporary demonstration.

Around Town

See What’s Going on at the Watertown Library in December

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The Watertown Free Public Library has a variety of events going on this month, from author talks to a craft fair to computer classes. The following was sent out by the Watertown Library:

Democracy Talks: The Future of Voting Rights, 2018 & Beyond
Thursday 12/7 | 7 p.m.
Watertown Savings Bank Room
At this sixth event in our ongoing Democracy Talks series, Professor Rachael Cobb will provide an historical overview of voting rights and update us on what’s at stake in 2018. Save the event on Facebook! Monsterland: Ronny Le Blanc Author Talk
Wednesday 12/13 | 7 p.m.
Lucia Mastrangelo Room
Join author and researcher Ronny Le Blanc as he discusses his new book, Monsterland: Encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot, and Orange Orbs, exploring the history of Bigfoot and UFOs in Massachusetts, especially in and around Leominster State Forest. Save the event on Facebook!

Around Town

Mental Health Support Group Meeting in Newton Wellesley Hospital

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Mental Illness support group: NAMI Family Support Group is a free, structured, confidential peer-led support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness.  
A support group will be held on Tuesday, December 12, 7:30-9 p.m. at Newton Wellesley Hospital’s main building at 2014 Washington Street in Newton, on the second floor of the Bowles Conference Center. This is organized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

Obituaries

OBIT: Larry Jones, 86, Worked for MBTA, Served in Navy During Korean Conflict

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Lauress M. “Larry” Jones, Jr., 86, of Watertown, passed peacefully on December 2, 2017, surrounded by family.Born May 13, 1931 in Arlington to the late Eileen (Kelly) and Lauress M. Jones, Sr. Dear Brother of the late John & Robert Jones. U.S. Navy Veteran, served during the Korean Conflict. Retired employee of MBTA & driver for Inman’s Pharmacy. Devoted father of Michael Jones & his late wife Heidi of ME, Debbie Jones & her fiancé Grant Robinson of California, Linda Kowalec & her husband Joe of Connecticut, David Jones & his wife Melissa of New Hampshire and Laurie Graboski & her husband Steve of Connecticut. Loving grandfather of 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandson.

Entertainment

Have Breakfast with Santa at the Watertown Mall

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Head down to the Watertown Mall to have breakfast with Santa Claus and get a picture with him at Santa Village. The Watertown Mall send out the following information:

Join us this holiday season for a yummy breakfast at Papa Gino’s on Friday, December 15 at 9:30 a.m.! Breakfast will be $5 for adults and $5 for children. Every child’s meal includes a photo with Mr. Claus himself at the Santa Village
immediately following breakfast! It will be a fun filled morning with songs, stories and raffles for kids of all ages to get in the holiday spirit.

Government

Town Hosting Meeting on Making Watertown More Pedestrian, Bike and Transit Friendly

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The Town of Watertown will host a meeting about Complete Streets, and discuss where the concept should be implemented in town. 

Complete Streets helps make the streets more walkable, bikeable and more public transit friendly, according to the announcement from the Town. On the meeting agenda:
• What are Complete Streets? • Where should Complete Streets projects be implemented in Watertown? • Next Steps in the Prioritization Plan Process
The Town’s Complete Streets Prioritization Plan meeting will be on Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m., in the Town Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown.