Around Town

Civil Rights Leader Who Works with Martin Luther King Coming to Town

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Dr. Bernard LaFayette, internationally known civil rights activist and close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be addressing a public forum to be held at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Avenue, on Thursday, March 31, at 7 p.m. Dr. LaFayette will be discussing the history and current status of race relations in the U.S. The forum is free and open to all. Among his many accomplishments, Dr. LaFayette played a leading role in organizing the Selma Voting Rights Movement. He was a member of the Nashville Student Movement, and worked closely throughout the 1960s with groups such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the American Friends Service Committee. As an ordained minister and college professor, Dr. LaFayette has traveled the world teaching the Kingian Principles of Nonviolent Conflict Reconciliation, a curriculum that he co-authored based on Dr. King’s beliefs. Dr. LaFayette is recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on nonviolent social change and conflict reconciliation.

Schools

Lowell PTO Hosting Zumbathon, Silent Auction Fundraiser

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The Lowell School PTO presents the second annual Zumbathon, along with other activities that will raise money to benefit the school. The Zumbathon will be on Sunday, March 13, 2-4 p.m. at the Lowell Gym. There will also be a Bake Sale and a 50/50 raffle. Gift Basket Silent Auction with a number of really great themed baskets (coffee and tea with Starbucks and Teavana, lottery ticket baskets with each over $150 dollars in tickets, summer, movie night and more). Tickets purchased at the door, this is a family event so children are encouraged to attend.

Around Town

Pain Management Workshop Being Run by Mount Auburn Hospital

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Mount Auburn Hospital will start a series of workshops on chronic pain management. 

The hospital sent out the following information:

Some medical conditions cause patients to experience long-lasting pain. These sensations can cause frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep. But they don’t have to. Mount Auburn Hospital recognizes these difficulties and has developed its Chronic Pain Self-Management program to help patients learn strategies to cope with this difficult condition. This spring, the hospital is pleased to present a six-week class developed by researchers at Stanford University Medical Center. Participants will work on improving their quality of life, communicating more effectively with their providers, and learning techniques to handle stress and improve their energy levels. They will also receive a copy of the book, “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain,” as well as an exercise CD.

Charity

Watertown Community Foundation Accepting Applications for Spring Grants

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The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces two Spring 2016 grant programs to support local nonprofits, programs and projects. Approximately $70,000 will be distributed. One: WCF’s Educational Program will award grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus, broadly defined. Two: WCF’s Institutional Support is designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming and retain paid staff. Grants under this program impose neither restrictions on the use of funds nor any program requirements.

Around Town

Marshall Home Fund Seeks Grant Proposals for Programs for People 55+

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The Marshall Home Fund (MHF) is soliciting program grant proposals for the year 2016-2017 that focus on the needs of older residents in Watertown. Since its inception in 2005, MHF has awarded over $450,000 to both public and private nonprofit agencies that serve Watertown residents ages 55 and over. Last spring, MHF gave more than $55,000 to support nearly 20 projects providing a wide range of program and services to elders in the community. Once again, MHF is looking forward to helping local agencies advance their goals in the coming year. Grant applications should address health, housing, transportation, and other quality of life issues for seniors in the community.

Around Town

Watertown Library Seeks Artists to Submit Work to Show in Gallery Space

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The Watertown Free Public Library is accepting applications from artists and groups who would like to exhibit in the library’s gallery space. 

The space is located on the second floor of the building and includes hanging displays and a glass case. Shows last for one month. There are no fees. The library does not take commission on works sold. Receptions can be held in the adjacent room.

Around Town

Health Department Gets Grant for Healthy Community, Fighting Addiction

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Mount Auburn Hospital has awarded the Watertown Department of Health a $10,000 grant to expand the work of the Live Well Watertown Coalition around building a healthier community and support efforts of the W.A.T.E.R.town (Watertown Access to Treatment, Education, and Resources) task force for substance use disorders. This grant is a part of Mount Auburn Hospital’s Community Health mission of commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of community members by collaborating with community partners to reduce barriers to health, increase prevention and/or self-management of chronic diseases and increase the early detection of illnesses. “Realizing that local health departments have unique perspectives on the needs of the communities they serve, Mount Auburn Hospital designed these funds to support local department of health efforts. The funds may be used for capacity building and/or direct programming and must be used to address one or more of the top health concerns identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment. The main health concerns include: obesity and inactive living, self-management of chronic disease, mental health issues, substance abuse, and access to health care services, ” explains Mary Hunt Johnson, RN, OCN, Director of Community Health at Mount Auburn Hospital.

Entertainment

One Book One Watertown Underway, Still Plenty of Events About “The Race Underground”

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The Watertown Free Public Library’s annual One Book One Watertown program kicked off with a community discussion of the book “The Race Underground: Boston, New York, and the Incredible Rivalry that Built America’s First Subway” by Doug Most on Wednesday, but there are many events still to come. The Watertown Library sent out the following information:

This March, the Watertown community is invited to a series of events relating to this year’s selection, culminating in a visit from author Doug Most. Documentary Marathon

Saturday March 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We’ll be screening films about the history of mass transit on our big screen all day long. Stop in for a quick peek, or plan to spend the whole day – the choice is yours. The Road Ahead with MIT SENSEable City Lab

Wednesday March 9 at 7 p.m.

The future is now!