Letters

LETTER: Residents Get Inside Look at Police Department During Citizen’s Academy

By |

Fellow Watertown Residents …

We are a group of Watertown residents who have just completed the Citizen’s Policy Academy, offered by the Watertown Police Department. We want to express our thanks for this opportunity to experience the Watertown Police Department from the inside – through class presentations by Department staff, touring the Station and even riding with Patrol Officers on active duty. During this eight-session course we were able to meet and engage with Officers, Detectives, and Command Staff from all four divisions (Patrol, Traffic, Detective, Community & Staff Development). We learned about the capabilities and operations of the Department, and have gained a new awareness and understanding of the dedication, duties, and skills of the men and women who serve our community. One particular highlight was the demonstration of the firearms training simulation.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Thankful for Sharing Meal With Immigrants and New Citizens

By |

There’s nothing like the thrill of sharing a meal with 100’s of determined, brave immigrants, refugees and newly sworn-in U.S. citizens who make Massachusetts such a great place to live. Members of Watertown Citizens’ Refugee Support Group had the honor of again attending the annual Thanksgiving luncheon organized by the Mass. Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) at the State House. 

Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, who moderated the event and is herself the child of Haitian immigrants, was joined by the passionate voices of many other advocates and public officials, including Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, Attorney General Maura Healey, State Health & Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Sister Marie-Judith Dupuy, Emerson College President M. Lee Pelton, and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. No doubt the most moving moment of the afternoon was hearing from DACA dreamer Paola Sanchez, who has worked in the US since the age of 14, both to support herself and to send money home to support her mom and sisters. She is now a full-time student at MassBay Community College.

Artificial Turf

LETTER: Are There Links Between Artificial Turf and Cancer in Soccer Players?

By |

Many soccer goalies dive face down into the turf hundreds of times per week, during games and practices. As a consequence of playing that position on artificial turf, goalies are prone to inhale and ingest potentially toxic dust and vapor to a greater extent than most other athletes who play on those same fields. Amy Griffin, Associate Soccer Coach at the University of Washington and former goalie for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, began discovering a disturbing pattern of soccer players being diagnosed with cancer, mostly cancers of the blood, lymphomas and leukemia. On an NBC News report in 2014, we learned how she began compiling a list of players with cancer who played on artificial turf. When her list reached 38 soccer players, 34 were goalies.

Election 2017

LETTER: Candidate for Library Trustee Reflects on the Campaign

By |

Editor,

My thanks and deep appreciation go out to those many members of the Watertown community who so generously supported my campaign for Library Trustee. Congratulations to newly-elected Trustees Leanne Hammonds and Daniel Pritchard, whose constructive, informative campaigns also underlined the values and strengths of our superb library. I feel certain they will serve all of us well. David R. Breakstone
Pearl Street

Elections

LETTER: Resident Supporting Caroline Bays for Town Council

By |

Watertown has been blessed with a great group of candidates for Town Council this election. I am writing to ask you to give one of your four votes to candidate for Councilor-At-Large Caroline Bays. No one I know has worked harder or more continuously for progressive candidates and causes than Caroline. She is a dynamo who will bring great energy to the Town Council.  At the same time she is a trained mediator, with the skills to help the Council come to consensus on the important issues that Watertown faces today. I know that she will work as hard as possible to make sure that development in  Watertown is sustainable, environmentally responsible, and scaled appropriately.  She knows that the decisions that the town makes now will impact us all for years to come.

Election 2017

LETTER: Thank You Watertown from a School Committee Candidate

By |

Hello Watertown,

I have had an amazing experience getting to know many people throughout our community over the past few months, and gathering terrific insight into the strengths and challenges our schools face from a multitude of perspectives. As I wrap up campaigning for School Committee, I wanted to thank everyone who has been involved in the conversations and political process thus far, especially my fellow candidates. I have been lucky to garner support and endorsements from a wide variety of groups including the Watertown Fire Department, and individual endorsements from notable Watertown residents such as Richard Marcus, John Labadini, Elodia Thomas, Kate Coyne, and Alyson Morales and Elaina Griffith. As a teacher I believe that strong schools are the foundation of a strong community, and I am committed to working incredibly hard on behalf of all of our students. Our schools are at an incredibly important turning point and having people in leadership who are personally invested in the outcomes of our schools is vital.

Elections

LETTER: Resident Reveals Choices for Town Council, School Committee

By |

Dear Editor,
As a person who is often asked who’s who this election and who are your supporting, I would like to humbly submit that after meeting all the candidates, I’m going with, and rooting for, Anthony Donato and Michael Dattoli for Town Council, as well as Lily Read and Amy Howard Donohue for School Committee. I’m undecided as to how, if at all, I will use my other remaining votes. When it comes to municipal elections I’ve always voted the person, not the party. That’s why on Tuesday I’m voting for these 4 community “doers’ who have won my vote by listening, asking questions, showing empathy for all, and taking action in the spirit of giving back to the community they love, knowing no vote will please everyone. That in and of it itself shows a commitment not many of us posses.

Election 2017

LETTER: Council Candidate Thanks Those Who Are Supporting Her Run

By |

Hello Everyone,

I’d like to thank all those who signed my petition back in July to help get me on the ballot and all of the people supporting me in this election. Many people have had the chance to get to know me. For those who haven’t had the chance to meet me, there a few ways you can find out about me. My candidate interview can be seen on Watertown Cables Access Television at http://wcatv.org/election-2017/council-at-large/michelle-cokonougher/. My answers to the Watertown News Candidate Q&A can be read on this site at http://www.watertownmanews.com/2017/11/02/council-candidate-qa-michelle-cokonougher/.