Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/more/aroundtown/)
A screenshot of the state’s Community Level COVID-19 Reporting map released on Oct. 29, 2020. Watertown remained “yellow” in the State’s COVID-19 tracking program this week, but the number of positive cases of COVID-19 rose close to the threshold for the Town to become “red,” or high risk. The Town has a total of 34 positive COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks for a total of 514. That puts Watertown’s rate at 7.32 cases per 100,000 residents, so the town remained yellow (or moderate risk).
Watertown Senior Center
The following information was provided by the Watertown Senior Center:
Programs for Week of October 26, 2020
Join us via Zoom for the following programs. Call for access info: (617) 972-6490. New participants always welcome in every program! We hope you’ll join us! Monday: 10:00 AM, Art with Dawn Scaltreto 12:30 PM, Chair Yoga with DianeTuesday: 10:00 AM, Coffee with the Chiefs 12:30 PM, Tai Chi and Meditation 2:00 PM, Line Dancing with BradleyWednesday: 11:00 AM, Exercise with Joanna Thursday: 9:00 AM, Pilates 10:30 AM, Talk with TomFriday: 10:00 AM, Cook with Us! Armenian Cuisine, Part 2 12:00 PM, Seated Strength with Pearl 1:30 PM, Mellowtones Chorus
Cook with Us, Part 2!
The West Suburban YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, October 26-30, 2020. The Five Days of Action is a week designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.
The West Suburban YMCA encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making Newton and the surrounding towns a safer place for children, especially during this ever-changing environment. As our communities continue to press pause and participate in social distancing, we know that protecting kids looks different this year. Not only is our community dealing with a pandemic that is separating kids in need from the safe adults in their lives, but there are spikes in domestic violence, cries for social justice for Black lives, and more concerns about the mental health of youth and adults.
Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time and will offer tips, tools, activities, and resources that are relevant to the current environment.
When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening.
“Protecting children from sexual abuse must be the number one goal of every person who cares about the health and well-being of kids,” said Jack Fucci, West Suburban YMCA President and CEO. “Together, we can stand up to demand that children are protected and encourage adults to make it happen in our community.
State Sen. Will Brownsberger
The following message was sent out by State Sen. Will Brownsberger:
If you are experiencing difficulty making rent or mortgage payments — or if you know people who are — my office may be able to help.
You can contact Alicia Brisson, my District Director, directly by email at Alicia.Brisson@MASenate.gov or by phone at 617-651-1516. RAFT and ERMA are programs that provide financial assistance to renters and homeowners who are unable to make housing payments due to COVID-19. More information about RAFT, ERMA, and additional emergency housing resources and eviction diversions can be found here. Landlords can benefit from some of these resources. More information about the Massachusetts Housing Assistance Landscape can be found here. As a legislator, it is a top priority of mine to prevent a surge in homelessness in the time of COVID. I want to make sure the programs are in place to help people stay housed and also to help people access those programs. We really want to help, so please do not hesitate to reach out. Will BrownsbergerState Senator, Back Bay, Fenway, Allston, Brighton, Watertown, Belmont
A mural created by Watertown High School students for the 20th annual Unity Breakfast. The Unity Award Committee seeks nominations for the honor handed out at Watertown’s Unity Breakfast, held each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The committee sent out the following letter:
Dear Members of the Watertown Community,
We are pleased to announce that we are actively seeking nominees for this year’s World in Watertown Unity Award. The Unity Award is given each year at Watertown’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Breakfast to honor individuals or groups who are making significant contributions to civic life in Watertown. In the spirit of this year’s Unity Breakfast theme, “Beyond Diversity to Equity,” we seek to honor community members who are furthering Dr. King’s vision of racial, social and economic justice in concrete ways.
Flag of Artsakh
Two Armenian Churches will hold prayer services this week for the soldiers in Armenia and Artsakh who have been fighting in an ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. The current military conflict began in late September in the area known as Artsakh (formerly Nagorno-Karabakh), an area of mostly ethnic Armenians. The area was placed within the borders of Azerbaijan when it was part of the Soviet Union, but is governed by ethnic Armenians as the Republic of Artsakh. Tensions date back decades, and a six year war was fought from 1988-94
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the St.
Watertown Senior Center
The following information was provided by the Watertown Senior Center:
Senior Shuttle Update
The Watertown Senior Shuttle Bus is back on the road for grocery shopping. Due to COVID-19, the bus is limited to 4 riders plus the driver. Masks must be worn. Rides are now scheduled by appointment only. Call the Senior Center on Fridays from 8:30 AM to 1 PM to schedule your ride for the following week.
The Watertown Sons of Italy hosted a Columbus Day celebration on the Watertown Delta, where a monument to Christopher Columbus is located. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Sons of Italy:
Scores of Italians from many Italian organizations assembled peacefully at Columbus Delta in Watertown Square for a wreath presentation. As statues and monuments are being defaced and torn down, this Columbus Day the members of the Watertown Lodge Piave Fiume #1036 of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America united to honor the great explorer who brought the new world to everyone, Christopher Columbus. The monument on the delta was originally proposed by the Watertown Knights of Columbus, Council #155 with support from the Watertown Sons of Italy. The delta name of “Columbus Delta” was approved by the Watertown Board of Selectmen with the dedication on October 12, 1940.
The following announcement was provided by Trees for Watertown:
Are you trying to forget our brutal summer that featured heat wave after heat wave? Now it’s official: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that June through August 2020 was the hottest summer on record for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. As hot as it was, on walks around the neighborhood (what else was to be done during a global pandemic?), I felt instant relief as I passed beneath the green canopies of street trees. The immediate cool I felt was not only due to the leafy parasol above sheltering me from direct sunshine, it was also thanks to the lack of heat radiating off asphalt and sidewalks, which store up solar gain and turn our streets into ovens. Evaporation from trees helps cool the air, too.
