Around Town

Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network Receives $25,000 Grant

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Joan McGrath, left, Executive Director of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts & Rhode Island (PLAN of MA & RI), presents a $25,000 grant to Brenda Dater, Executive Director of Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) to support the organization. (Photo courtesy PLAN of MA & RI)

Watertown-based Asperger/Autism Network received a $25,000 grant from the Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. PLAN of MA & RI Executive Director Joan McGrath presented the check to Brenda Dater, executive director of ANNE. The nonprofit PLAN of MA & RI is recognized as an expert in operating special needs trusts and, since 2020, has granted more than $1 million to nonprofits supporting individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit www.planofma-ri.org.

Around Town

LETTER: Petitioner to Change Watertown Zoning Urges People to Speak Up

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Hi Guys,

We’ve got to stop meeting like this! With every Watertown development meeting, every Affordable Housing Trust meeting, and on and on, there we sit. We’re quite a bit smaller in number at actual meetings, but we’ve proven that we have at least 600 Watertown residents that share our point of view. I know for a fact, from conversations with residents who didn’t get a chance to sign the petitions, that there are many more of us! As Watertown residents band together to say, “Save Our Community!” we’ve seen comments that imply that we’re old fashioned, elitist, anti-change or all of the above, trying to portray our concerns as insignificant.

Around Town

State Rep. Owens Nominates Former Community Foundation Director as a Commonwealth Heroine

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Former Watertown Community Foundation Executive Director Jan Singer was nominated to be a Commonwealth Heroine by State Rep. Steve Owens. (Photo courtesy of State Rep. Owens’ Office)

The following information was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens’ Office:

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW), State Representative Steve Owens honored Jan Singer as his nominee for the 2023 Class of Commonwealth Heroines. Singer joins hundreds of women across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who are recognized each year for their hard work and dedication to their community. Last Friday, Representative Owens and the MCSW celebrate women like Singer, who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, at the Massachusetts State House. “Jan has worked tirelessly to support the Watertown community,” said Rep. Owens.

Around Town

Watertown Student Makes President’s List at College of Charleston

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The following information came from the College of Charleston:

The following students at the College of Charleston were named to the President’s List for the spring 2023 semester. Requirements for the President’s List are as follows:

Student was enrolled in and completed at least 14 semester hours and earned a GPA of 3.800 or higher

A student may not have an “I” (Incomplete) or a grade lower than “C” to qualify. No president’s list is released for courses taken during the summer terms. This honor will be noted on the transcript as “Highly Distinguished.”

Madison Cummings, Freshman, Major: Forensic Psychology

See the entire list by clicking here. About the College of Charleston

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation’s top universities for quality education, student life and affordability.

Around Town

Grace Chapel Watertown Hosting Kidsweek 2023 in July

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The following information was provided by Grace Chapel Watertown:

Kids will enjoy 3 fun-filled hours each morning playing games; interacting with music, drama & STEAM experiments, all while making friends and having a blast as they discover the incredible truth about God and His amazing plan for them. We will conclude the week with a fun event for the whole family. Come join us for this special Kids Week Family Celebration on Friday, July 18, 9-12 p.m.

Cost for the KidsWeek program is $30 per child, $60 max. per family. Program is free for volunteers’ children and new Grace Chapel attendees.

Around Town

Our History: The Vote for Women’s Suffrage in Watertown

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Headline from Sept 10, 1920 Watertown Free Press (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by David J. Russo, for the October 2012 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.” At the time, David was a volunteer for the Historical Society of Watertown and Chair of the Watertown Historical Commission. How often do we take the right to vote for granted? How many elections have we not bothered to vote in because we’re busy or don’t feel we have the time? There was a time, not long ago, when a whole segment of the population was denied the vote simply on the basis of gender.