Election 2017

LETTER: Thank You Watertown from a School Committee Candidate

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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

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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

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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/.

Election 2017

LETTER: Resident Explains Why He Will Vote for Anthony Donato for Council

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There are many reasons to vote for Anthony Donato for Councilor at Large on November 7th. If you live in East Watertown, Anthony was a neighbor of yours for years on
Hillcrest Circle. His mother Eleanor Sullivan Donato lived on Upland Road for many more than that. The Sullivan Playground in Coolidge Square is named for Lt. Paul J. Sullivan,
Anthony’s uncle, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968. These are reasons
for Eastenders to vote for Anthony and also a very good reason for Veterans to
vote for him.

Election 2017

LETTER: Resident Shares Who He Will Support in the Watertown Election

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Each cycle many people ask me who I support in an upcoming election. Elections are something I have experience in having led campaigns for Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey and progressive Gubernatorial candidate Don Berwick, and was the founder of ProgressiveWatertown. I am traditionally drawn to candidates to start with their heart and finish with their brains. And it seems that Watertown has shown it’s admiration of these same traits as well. First I congratulate each of the candidates for Town offices.

Elections

LETTER: Support Councilors for Fixing Pot Holes, Not Focused on Political Movements

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Vote Councilors that will worry about fixing potholes! Well it’s 2017 and sadly most voters believe this is a year when you aren’t required to fulfill your civic responsibility to vote. It’s an off year – right? Save for a small handful of special elections to fill vacancies in the Legislature, no one is running for anything until next year. 

Wrong! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Letters

LETTER: Fine Sand, Other Materials in Artificial Turf Worries Resident

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(The following was read to the Town Council on Oct. 24)

If you are sitting on a beach on a very windy day and sand blows up your nose, you are likely to sneeze or cough. If you don’t, you will soon have the urge to blow your nose to expel the sand. This is your body’s natural defense system that prevents the grains of sand from moving into your lungs. Artificial turf manufacturers use sand for cushioning, but it is nothing like beach sand.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Worried About Chemicals Being Used on Artificial Turf

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(This letter was read to the Town Council on Oct. 10, 2017)

Maintaining artificial turf means putting chemicals on top of chemicals. With a high quality, state of the art, cost-effective, grass playing field, which we do not currently have in Watertown, proper maintenance, supervised by a knowledgeable professional is essential to protect that field. But in the strange new world of unnatural fields, proper maintenance can mean less about protecting the field, and more about protecting the human beings, especially young ones, who use the field. Proper maintenance of synthetic turf requires that even more chemicals be applied to the field – a field which is already a mixture of hundreds of chemicals, in solid form.