Schools

Sign Up for the Annual Watertown Education Foundation Spelling Bee

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It’s time to sign up for the annual Watertown Education Foundation Spelling Bee! The WEF sent out the following information:

The Watertown Education Foundation in conjunction with the three Elementary PTO’s, is hosting the 6th annual Spelling Bee on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 for grades 1-5. All of the funds generated will go directly back to the respective PTOs. The format for this Bee is different than the popular notion of a “traditional” spelling bee – one child standing alone on a stage in front an auditorium full of people.

Environment

Watertown DPW Receives Grant to Reduce Water Pollution, Improve Quality

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The Town of Watertown has been awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to fund various planning activities that support identification and implementation of green infrastructure and other techniques to reduce non-point source pollution and improve water quality in impaired waters, the Department of Public Works announced. The term non-point source pollution refers to contaminants that are carried to a waterway as a result of precipitation and stormwater runoff from the land or infiltration into the soil. Common types of non-point source pollution include phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn and garden fertilizers, bacteria from pet waste and waterfowl, oil and grease from parking lots and roadways and sediment from construction activities and soil erosion. Stormwater from the Town’s drainage system flows directly to the Charles River without treatment and is one of many contributors to pollution in the river. Green infrastructure is an approach to managing stormwater. Instead of flowing through downspouts, pipes, and other engineered systems directly to water bodies, green infrastructure uses vegetation, soils, and other natural elements to reduce the amount of stormwater and stormwater pollutants.

Around Town

Head of Criminal Justice Reform Group to Speak at Annual Unity Breakfast

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For the 16th year in a row, Watertown will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a Unity Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 18, 2016. The event brings together hundreds of people, representing Watertown’s diverse population, to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the man who devoted his life to ending prejudice and racism in our country. The Unity Breakfast has become a Watertown tradition, drawing over 400 guests. The program includes a timely keynote speaker, lively choral music, essays and art projects by Watertown middle and high school students, and the presentation of the Unity Award to a Watertown individual or community organization that has demonstrated outstanding community service.

Elections

Watertown’s Steve Aylward Holding Campaign Kick Off Event

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You are cordially invited to a Campaign Kickoff Celebration to support the re-election of: Steve Aylward State Committeeman Massachusetts Republican Party Second Suffolk and Middlesex District. The event will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, from 5-7 p.m. at Patou Restaurant, 69 Leonard St. in Belmont. Steve was also the Campaign Chair for the successful 2014 Ballot Question 1 “Tank the Gas Tax,” which repealed the automatic increases in the Gas Tax.

Around Town

History Lovers Wanted to Volunteer for Watertown Historical Society

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The Historical Society’s mission is to help preserve the rich history of Watertown. The Society was founded in 1888 and throughout the years has preserved artifacts from Watertown’s past and published papers researched by members of its Board, as well as books about Watertown and all of the early Town Records. The Edmund Fowle House at 28 Marshall Street serves as the home of the Historical Society of Watertown. Built in 1772, the Fowle House is the second oldest surviving house in Watertown. At the beginning of the American Revolution it served as headquarters for the executive branch of the Massachusetts government from July 1775, to September 1776.

Eating

Spoodles Soup Factory Has Opened a Nearby Location

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After 8 years of refining their concept, Spoodles Soup Factory of Foxborough is thrilled to announce the opening of their second location in Belmont, Massachusetts. The second outlet is located at 374 Trapelo Road, and is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Spoodles Soup Factory in Belmont serves delicious, hearty portions of soup. Each of their recipes are prepared daily to achieve the highest levels of quality and taste, and are conveniently packaged for takeout or to eat on the go. Still hungry? Each soup can be complimented perfectly by a diverse selection of sandwiches, made fresh each day.

Charity

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards More than $1.5 Million in Grants

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The Tufts Health Plan Foundation announced investments of more than $1.5 million to move communities toward achieving age-friendly policies and practices that are relevant, focus on the most vulnerable, and include older adults in the process.  The investments represent collaborative work among more than 200 organizations. “Advocating for public policy or systems change is critical to achieving social change at scale,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president, corporate citizenship for Tufts Health Plan.  “We are investing in initiatives that promote coalitions and advance strategies that bring government, community organizations, and older adults together to create a vision for the future of their communities.  And we are supporting the development of policy recommendations that will make communities more vibrant and livable for everyone.”

Fourteen organizations, including Watertown-based Home Care Aide Foundation, were funded this cycle.