Stop & Shop Accepting Fresh Connect Debit Cards to Increase Access to Nutritious Food

The Fresh Connect prepaid debit cards are being accepted at Stop & Shop stores in Watertown. The following information was provided by Stop & Shop:

Stop & Shop and Boston-based nonprofit About Fresh announced today that they have partnered to expand access to fresh and healthy foods for people in need across New England. Through About Fresh’s “Fresh Connect” program, participants can use prepaid debit cards ‘prescribed’ by healthcare providers to purchase healthy food. With today’s announcement, Stop & Shop becomes the first major retailer to make this produce as a prescription program available. After a successful pilot at Stop & Shop’s Grove Hall store location, the program is now available at more than 100 store locations in Eastern Massachusetts and will expand to all 400+ Stop & Shop stores by early spring. 

The program is now available at the Stop & Shop locations at 700 Pleasant St.

Recreation Department Hosting Open Gym Sundays at Watertown High School

Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown High School Gym will be open to the public on Sundays this winter. The Watertown High School gym will be open to the public on Sundays for groups of all ages. The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:

Winter is here, and that means Community Sports & Games Open Gym Program is back! Please don’t forget to register and participate in this program. It’s a great way to get out of the cold into the gym for some fun and exercise!

Community Members Will be Part of Search for the Next Director of the Watertown Library

Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library will be looking for a new leader with longtime Library Director Leone Cole announcing her retirement. Cole has made her mark on the Watertown Free Public Library, said Chair Leanne Hammonds. “Leone Cole is retiring after 27 years as library director,” Hammonds said. “She has done incredible work at WFPL and she will certainly be missed!”

Scholarships Available for Watertown Residents to Attend BB&N Summer Camp

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Recreation Department is pleased to announce the offering of a limited number of scholarships for Watertown families whose children would like to attend the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Summer Camp. Each candidate must have a demonstrated and documented need for financial assistance or has a special circumstance that is considered exceptional. The City of Watertown is grateful to the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School for offering this outstanding opportunity. The camp options are identified at https://bbnsummer.com/, and scholarships are for any of their programs. Each child may attend one week of camp and if awarded the scholarship will be in theamount of $250.00 toward the cost of the camp. This scholarship is available for Watertown residents only.

Local Pastor Honored with Award at Unity Breakfast, He and Others Reflect on Teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

Charlie BreitroseA mural created by Watertown High School students for the 2020 Unity Breakfast. The 2022 Watertown Unity Breakfast honored a pair of people who have contributed to their communities, and featured the words of two young residents who shared their winning pieces in the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. For the second year in a row, the annual MLK Day event had to be held virtually. The broadcast of the ceremony debuted on Monday, and this year’s theme was “choosing courage.” Unity Award

The annual Unity Award went to a pastor of a Watertown church who has made a difference since he arrived in town a few years ago.

Developer to Discuss Plans for Watertown Mall at Community Meeting

Alexandria Real Estate EquitiesA rendering of the conceptual plans for the Watertown Mall property and adjacent properties. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. will discuss conceptual plans for the Watertown Mall property and adjacent properties. Meetings are planned for Thursday, Jan. 27 and Tuesday, March 1 and will be held virtually. The plan calls for keeping the Target store, and building a campus on the properties that will include life science, retail and community uses.

Registration Open for Rec Department’s February & Spring Break Programs

The Watertown Recreation Department will be hosting week-long programs over February Break and Spring Break for students in grades K-8. February Vacation Program

The February Break program for students in grades K-8 will be at Watertown Middle School from Feb. 22–25, from 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m. There are options for early drop-off from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and extended day from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Children will be divided into groups by grades at the start of the program. They will participate in activities such as basketball, whiffle ball, floor hockey and indoor soccer, etc. In addition, there will be arts and crafts, board games, movies and various special events.

Make Valentine’s Day Cards for Seniors, Teachers & Others with the Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Watertown invites the public to join them to make Valentine’s Day cards for local seniors, teachers and other service workers. The card making event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Panera Bread, 321 Arsenal St. in Watertown. “We would love to have any interested community members join us (kids and adults welcome) in our card making!”