Government

LETTER: East End Councilor Reacts to Decision on Film on Watertown Shootout

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First and foremost, no resident of Watertown should ever be made to feel that an issue or event is allowed to “fly under the radar;” a statement that has been echoed on numerous occasions these past couple of weeks specific to this matter. In my opinion, four residents of one street does not constitute neighborhood involvement without broader notification. Especially, when we speak of an event of a very sensitive nature that impacted the entire East End of Watertown, community-at-large and surrounding cities and towns. For the record, a designee of Town Manager Michael Driscoll, Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning was present at the Feb. 12, 2016 meeting.

Boston Marathon Bombing

LETTER: Mother Worries About Impact of ‘Patriots Day’ Filming in Watertown

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Esteemed Councilors,

I’m a resident of District C, and I’m writing to you today to urge you to register your opposition to the filming of Patriots Day in the Laurel/Dexter Street neighborhood. At the time of the shootout — in which over 200 rounds were fired, one person was killed in a particularly gruesome way and a police officer was injured, I lived in that neighborhood. The garage of the home where I lived was about 75 feet from the shootout. My children still live there half the week, as my former husband and I share custody of them. I want to tell you that it’s not just about recreating a traumatic event with pyrotechnics late at night in the same neighborhood that witnessed these horrible events.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Opposes Filming Recreation of Watertown Shootout

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Dear Mr. Driscoll and Councilors Sideris, Dattoli, Falkoff, Palomba, Kounelis, Feltner, Piccirilli, Woodland, and Dushku,

I am writing to oppose the re-creation and filming of gun battle scenes for the movie “Patriots Day” on Laurel Street in Watertown. I live near-by on Boylston Street — close enough that my husband heard the sound of the shootout as it happened, close enough to be woken by the sounds of helicopters over my house that night. When I learned that the five nights of filming planned on Laurel Street within ear shot of my home would be loud, including gunshots until midnight, I felt angry and anxious. I wondered — who would allow this to happen in our town?! As I learned more, I felt the tears fill my eyes.

Elections

LETTER: Tree Advocates Brace for Tree Prunings by Eversource

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Hi, Trees for Watertown members and friends:

Eversource (formerly NSTAR) is coming back to Watertown to utility-prune our street trees starting Monday, February 29.  Citizen attention can really help to protect our street trees from damaging and disfiguring pruning during this utility pruning cycle. The Problem

Eversource’s official utility pruning standard specifies removal of all tree branches within 10 to 15 feet of high voltage wires. Utility pruning to Eversource’s standard results in canopy removal far in excess of recommended aboricultural guidelines for preserving street tree health. Arboricultural guidelines recommend pruning no more than 25 percent of a young tree’s healthy canopy, less in older trees, and even less — if any — in mature trees stressed by poor soil or confined soil volume and limited moisture access. The majority of trees providing vital canopy over our urban streets fall in this category.

Elections

LETTER: Resident, Teacher Supports David Kazis for Democratic State Committee

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I am happy and proud to support David Kazis for Democratic State Committee Man on Tuesday, March 1 during the Presidential Primary. He is young, energetic, and ready to serve. I have known David for many years now and watched his commitment to our community and his involvement in political affairs across the state. His experience with City Year and Americorps where he assisted victims from hurricanes Katrina and Rita is inspirational. As a teacher, I know firsthand the importance of putting our children first and I am certain that David will play a big role in helping Watertown and moving the Democratic agenda forward to ensure that the Party is listening and attracting new voters to get involved in the political process.

Elections

LETTER: Town Councilor Backs Steve Owens for State Committeeman

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To the editor:

I am very pleased to endorse Steve Owens for State Committee in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary election. For the past 8 years, Steve has ably served as Chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee and has greatly increased both the number of activities and citizen participation. Steve is the candidate for State Committee that has a proven track record of organizational leadership, supporting candidates, and engaging the voters. As chair of a Town Committee, Steve ran successful Election Day operations with over a hundred volunteers in Watertown. We need Steve on the State Committee because he has the experience to spread those lessons across Massachusetts.

Elections

LETTER: State Rep. Hecht Endorses Democratic State Committee Candidate

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On March 1, Democrats in Watertown will elect a new representative to the Democratic State Committee. I’m enthusiastically supporting Steve Owens. Steve is one of the savviest and hardest working people in Democratic politics in Massachusetts today and will make a huge contribution to the State Committee. Steve has led our Democratic Town Committee since 2008. One of his earliest challenges as chair was navigating the aftermath of former Representative Rachel Kaprielian’s sudden resignation from her State Rep. seat.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown GOP Candidates Get Endorsement from State Group

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The Massachusetts Republican Assembly (MARA) and Sharron Angle, former candidate for United States Senate and President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) proudly endorse Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward for Republican State Committee woman and man respectively in the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Massachusetts State Senate District (include Watertown, Belmont, Back Bay, and Brighton). Both MARA and the NFRA are dedicated to reforming the Republican Party and giving the grassroots a greater voice in the policy and direction of the Republican Party. Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward are dedicated to this same mission. In that spirit they have both signed “The Real Republican Reform Pledge.” (See below). We Confident that as your State Committee representatives Deborah and Steve will represent the interest of the Republicans in of the District.