Around Town

Affordable Housing Consortium Hosting Public Hearing on Action Plan

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The WestMetro HOME Consortium, consisting of Watertown and 12 other communities, is holding a public hearing on its action plan for the fiscal year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) uses federal funding to assist low-& moderate-income residents, particularly through the creation and preservation of affordable housing. The WestMetro Consortium is led by the City of Newton and the public hearing will be remote and hosted by Newton’s Planning and Development Board. Comments on the proposed plan will be accepted at the public hearing and in writing to Amanda Berman, via email at aberman@newtonma.gov. The deadline for submitting comments is June 1, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. 

More info on the draft plan and on participation: https://www.newtonma.gov/government/planning/housing-community-development

Around Town

Board of Trustees Appoints New Watertown Library Director

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City of WatertownCaitlin Browne was named the Watertown Library Director by the Board of Trustees. Previously she served as the Assistant Director. The Watertown Board of Library Trustees voted to appoint Caitlin Browne the new Director of the Watertown Library. The decision was made Monday night after a 3.5 hour meeting in which the trustees debated between Browne and another finalist, Maria Palacio. The appointment is contingent on successful contract negotiations with the City of Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown Helps Out Returns Bigger and Better in 2022

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Watertown’s day of community service has turned into a month of volunteering. After a two year hiatus, Watertown Community Foundation is bringing back Watertown Helps Out in May, and WHO22 will have multiple opportunities during the month to lend a hand to local organizations around the city. Watertown Helps Out started in 2014 as a way for Watertown community members to help support their neighbors after Watertown was touched by the marathon bombings, it has now become a mainstay and beloved springtime event. 

In 2022, WCF decided to expand to a month for a few different reasons, said Executive Director Jan Singer. “Having had to forgo WHO in 2020 and 2021, we wanted to give back in a bigger and better way,” Singer said. “Watertown Helps Out, an annual day of community service and volunteering on the first Saturday in May, has been a mainstay of WCF since 2014.

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Watertown Group Joining Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, Seeks to Raise $3K

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Watertown Walks for PeaceWatertown Walks for Peace will participate in the 2022 Mother’s Day Walk for Peace in Dorchester. Pictured is the last time that the walk was held in Dorchester in 2019. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Walks for Peace:

Watertown Walks for Peace (WW4P) will be participating in this year’s Mother’s Day Walk for Peace on May 8, 2022. This annual fundraising event supports the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in its critical advocacy and support work for victims of gun violence. This will be Watertown’s eighth year of participation in the annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.

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Congresswoman Clark’s Statement Marking 107th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark

The following announcement was provided by the office of Congresswoman Katherine Clark:

Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement to mark the 107th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is Sunday, April 24, 2022. Last year, President Joe Biden declared that the Ottoman Empire’s killing of 1.5 million Armenians was an act of genocide, an official recognition that Clark has supported throughout her career in Congress. Watertown, in Massachusetts’ Fifth Congressional district, is home to the third largest Armenian community in the United States. “As we mark the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we recognize this dark chapter in our world’s history and renew our commitment to preventing atrocities of this magnitude from ever happening again. The Armenian Genocide is not an opinion – its facts are undisputed, and the legacy of this trauma cannot be erased.

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Watertown Community Fridge Moving to New Location

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Fridge:

We’re so excited to share that the new home for the Watertown Community Fridge is the Belmont Watertown United Methodist Church (BWUMC) at 80 Mt. Auburn St. The fridge will “close” at its current location on April 20th and will move on the 23rd. We hope to reopen in our new space on April 24th. The Fridge Team couldn’t be more grateful to the community, including the Fridge’s first host at Francis Market.

Around Town

Second Booster Shot Clinic Offered by Watertown Health Department

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The Watertown Health Department announced it will be hosting a second COVID-19 booster clinic on April 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Watertown Library in the Watertown Savings Bank Room (first floor). They will be administering Moderna booster shots. Second Booster Eligibility

Anyone age 50 and older may get a 2nd booster at least 4 months after their 1st booster

Anyone age 12 and older with certain medical conditions may get a 2nd booster at least 4 months after their 1st booster

Anyone age 18-49 years with certain medical conditions, and who received Janssen/J&J COVID-19 Vaccine as both their primary series dose and their booster dose, at least 4 months after the first Janssen booster dose

CDC recommends everyone ages 12 years and older receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series. Some people can receive two boosters. You can mix and match vaccines.