Letters

LETTER: I-Cubed Program Would Bring $25 Million in State Funds to Town

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Through a state financing tool called the Infrastructure Investment Incentive Program, or “I-Cubed,” Watertown could see a total of $25 million of funding for improvements to public property surrounding the Arsenal on the Charles campus. Representatives from Watertown, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), and athenahealth are excited about their participation in the I-Cubed Program and the public-private partnership the Program creates between the Commonwealth, Watertown, DCR, and athenahealth. Here is how the Program works: The I-Cubed Program earmarks general state funds for local public infrastructure improvements surrounding an applicant’s site. Before state approval is final, an applicant must demonstrate that those public infrastructure improvements ultimately support the company’s job growth at the site, which in turn pays off those improvements. More than two years ago, the Patrick Administration granted preliminary approval for $25 million in state funding based on collaboration between representatives of Watertown, DCR, and athenahealth.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Wants to See a More Responsive Town Government

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As I watch this town struggle with intense development pressures, what I see is a town government wholly incapable of dealing with the momentous decisions being made daily. Basically, we have nine elected officials, who get paid practically nothing, have little expertise in most of the matters before them, less time to learn, yet are pressured to attend meeting after meeting every night where they have to decide on big issues. They are stymied by the Open Meeting laws to the point where they don’t even seem to be able to discuss anything. I see a Town Manager who is buried in spreadsheets, who keeps us in the black, but provides no leadership. I see a Head Planner who was made Assistant Town Manager, which seems to be a conflict to me and should never have been approved.

Obituaries

OBIT: Ruth Karcher, 96, Lifelong Watertown Resident, Worked at Perkins

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Ruth E. Karcher, of Watertown, died May 6, 2017 at age 96. Beloved daughter of the late Gottfried & Adelaide (Debrikowski) Karcher. Devoted sister of Eva Mason of Watertown, and loving aunt to many generations of nieces & nephews. A lifelong resident of Watertown, Ruth worked at the Perkins School for the Blind for many years. Know for her vibrant, outgoing and friendly personality.

Around Town

Bike Along the Charles River, Get a Tune Up and Win Prizes This Weekend

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Live Well Watertown, the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and Bay State Bike Week will host a special bicycle event along the shores of the Charles River. The Watertown Moves Bike Event will be on Sunday, May 14, 2017, from 2-4 p.m. at the Watertown Square Dock (at the Galen St. Bridge on the Charles River). The groups sent out the following announcement:

Dig your bike out of the basement, garage, or shed and bring it down for a free check-up and get some bike safety tips from Commonwheels friendly and knowledgeable staff. Venture out along the Charles River pathways or join LWW and Bike and Pedestrian Committee members for a group ride.

Charity

Marshall Home Fund Hosting Ceremony to Award Grants to Help Older Adults

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Please join the Marshall Home Fund at its annual Program Grant Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 17 – 3:30 pm at the Watertown Public Library, the group announced. The MHF will distribute a total of $68,000 to the following organizations for programs that will benefit Watertown’s older adults: Beaverbrook STEP, Care Dimensions, Lexington Chamber Music, MetroWest Community Development, Mosesian Center for Arts, New Rep Theater, Perkins School for the Blind, Project Literacy, Springwell, Watertown Council on Aging, Watertown Family Network, Watertown Health Department, Watertown Prosperity, Windsor House. Established in 2005, the Marshall Home Fund is a nonprofit, community-based charitable foundation dedicated to serving Watertown’s older adult population. MHF also provides financial assistance to elderly individuals in urgent need. These individuals must be referred to MHF by local agencies, town officials, or organizations.

Schools

Watertown Schools Accepting Proposals for WHS’s New Mascot/Logo

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The Watertown Public Schools are seeking a new mascot (i.e. logo) and the Mascot Screening Committee is looking for submissions to be considered. School officials sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown Public School district has begun a process to identify and select a mascot/logo for Watertown High School. The high school has a nickname – the Raiders – and school colors – red, white and black – but it does not have an official mascot/logo. The nickname and school colors provide a common identity and connection to the traditions of the school, teams, and community. A mascot/logo adds to this by presenting a graphic image of that identity and connections.

Around Town

Bestselling Authors Speaking at Benefit for Hospital’s Breast Center

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Mount Auburn Hospital presents Pink Pages, an evening featuring renowned author Alice Hoffman to benefit the hospital’s Hoffman Breast Center on Monday, May 22, 2017 beginning at 6 p.m. at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge. The evening will feature readings and anecdotes from popular best-selling authors Diane Ackerman, David Baldacci, Geraldine Brooks, Andre Dubus, III, Elin Hilderbrand, Ann Hood and ZZ Packer. Emmy Award-winning arts and entertainment critic, advocate, motivational speaker, and cancer crusader Joyce Kulhawik will serve as the evening’s emcee. A bit about the evening’s participants:

Alice Hoffman has been called “America’s literary heir to the Brothers Grimm” and her luminous “fables of the everyday” have enchanted readers since the publication of her first novel, Property Of, in 1977. Her novel, Dovekeepers, spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted as a television miniseries in 2015.Hoffman has written over thirty books including Practical Magic and Aquamarine, both of which were made into major motion pictures, as well as Oprah Book Club selection, Here on Earth.

Entertainment

At the Library in May: Learn to Brew, Nature Walks, Stress Reduction

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The Watertown Free Public Library is always filled with activities, and here are a few of the offerings in May. Some events require registration, so be sure to check with the Library if there is space available by calling 617-972-6436 or going to wfpl.eventbrite.com

Learn to Brew! Saturday 5/6 | 3-4:30 p.m.
Learn how to make your own beer and participate in National Homebrew Day! Randy Baril, author of Hosting Cask Ale Events, will go over necessary ingredients as well as provide a step-by-step walk-through of brewing your own beer. *Registration is required at the Reference Desk, 617.972.6436 or wfpl.eventbrite.com

The Birds and Bees: How We Love Them, Why We Need Them
Wednesday 5/3 | 7 p.m.
Come join us for a colorful and informative multimedia presentation illustrating the beauty and wonder of our winged creatures, their interdependence with other living things, and how we can help to protect them from population decline.