Around Town

Volunteers Wanted to Place Flags on Veterans’ Graves for Memorial Day

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In honor of Memorial Day, flags will be placed on the graves of Watertown veterans. The Watertown Veterans Services Office seeks volunteers to help place the flags. Watertown will hold its annual Flag Marker disbursement at Veterans Gravesites on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 beginning at 5 p.m., said Watertown Veterans Agent Patrick George. “Volunteers are encouraged to participate in this honorable event and may join us at Ridgelawn Cemetery or Saint Patrick’s Cemetery,” George said. Due to the current COVID restrictions, participants will be required to wear masks and maintain social distance.

Around Town

Half of Watertown Residents Vaccinated, Cases Down, Number of Deaths Reaches 40

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Even as the rate of COVID-19 continues to drop in Watertown, three more COVID deaths of Town residents were reported last week. Vaccinations are on the rise, with more than half the Town fully vaccinated, and now children age 12 and over can get one of the vaccines. On Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced all industry and capacity restrictions will be completely lifted on May 29. The mask mandate will be lifted in most places, but still be required in public transportation, health facilities and K-12 schools and early education schools. Statewide, 3.2 million residents have been fully vaccinated, according to the Mass.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting Poppy Picnic Memorial Day Weekend with Food, Crafts & Military Vehicles

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The following information was provided by the Town of Watertown:

This year the Watertown Veteran’s Office and the Commander’s Mansion are teaming up to host the first annual Poppy Picnic on Friday, May 28th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We encourage guests to picnic on the grounds – Donohue’s Bar & Grill and Branch Line are offering special deals and to-go menu items. Chill Wagon will be onsite selling ice cream treats too! 

Green Urb Gardens will be unveiling the design for our future veteran’s memorial garden where you will have the opportunity to vote on its name and purchase a memory brick for a loved one that served in the military. The festivities also include music, a kid’s Poppy craft station and you’ll have the chance to check out a few military vehicles on display! This is a free Watertown community event; reservations are required as space is limited due to Covid restrictions. Here is the online link to the event – Poppy Picnic

Around Town

First Memorial Lecture to be Held in Honor of Sue Kuder, Social Justice Advocate Who Died in 2020

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Sue Kuder

The following announcement was provided by the event organizers:

First Parish Watertown will host the first Sue Kuder Memorial Lecture on Thursday, May 20th, at 7:00pm.  This event will be a conversation with Beverly and Barbara Smith moderated by Thalia Y. Carroll-Cachimuel. 

Beverly is a current resident of Watertown and Thalia was raised in Watertown. Sue Kuder was a Watertown resident and local advocate for social justice before her death in 2020. Beverly, and her twin sister, Barbara Smith are founding members of the Combahee River Collective. To learn more about their work to build Black feminism and work for social justice see links below.  

All are welcome to this free virtual presentation. Please Register Here to receive the link to the lecture: https://fpwatertown.breezechms.com/form/1b516a

Here are some links with  more information on the Combahee River Collective and the work of Beverly and Barbara Smith, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-statement-1977/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/until-black-women-are-free-none-of-us-will-be-free

Around Town

Watertown Library Seeks Donors to Help Cover Cost of Book Mobile

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library is looking to bring books and other items closer to residents by starting a book mobile. The effort got a big boost from a donor, but the library still needs to raise about $70,000 to cover the cost of the custom vehicle, said Daniel Pritchard, a member of the Watertown Board of Library Trustees. “It is a great opportunity to reach the parts of the Watertown community that are not able to get to the Library, and maybe aren’t as mobile and can’t get down there as easily,” Pritchard said. “The Library is also just such an important resource for the Town, and to be able to go out to every nook and cranny in the community and make resources available is a really exciting opportunity.”

Around Town

Resident Group’s Survey Finds What People Like, Want Improved in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. People like the community and diversity in Watertown, but would like to see improvements in the schools and affordability, according to the preliminary results of a survey being conducted by a resident group called Watertown Forward. The group started as an effort to help people understand the Town Charter and the once-a-decade Charter Review, but the group seeks to keep people engaged, said Nicole Gardner, a member of Watertown Forward. “We want to encourage them to get engaged. (Watertown Forward is) at this moment hyper-focused on charter review.

Around Town

Residents Can Sign Up for Vaccination Clinic Hosted by Watertown Health Department

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The Watertown Health Department announced it will be hosting a J&J Janssen Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic. Clinic attendees will be required to provide proof of Watertown residency. The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will take place on 05/13/2021 from 12:30pm-3pm at Hibernian Hall at 151 Watertown St, Watertown, MA 02472. Registration for the clinic can be done by following this link: https://www.maimmunizations.org//reg/6151230932

This clinic is by appointment only and no walk ins will be accepted.

Around Town

Watertown Group Invites Public to Join Mother’s Day Walk for Peace

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The group from Watertown Walks for Peace participated in the 2019 Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. This year the group will host a short local walk. The following information was provided by Watertown Walks:

The Boston-based Mother’s Day Walk for Peace this year is online, but we are walking in Watertown! For those of us who yearn for the company, shared purpose, and exertion of the “Walk” part of the Mother’s Day Walk, Watertown Walks for Peace has organized a short non-virtual inperson walk. 

We will meet at the Church of the Good Shepherd for a brief outdoor gathering led by the Rev. Andrew Goldhor and walk together to the MLK mural at the Boys and Girls Club finishing in time to return home for the 9 AM Broadcast. JOIN US at 8 AM Sunday May 9 at The Church of the Good Shepherd (corner of Mt Auburn and Russell).