Around Town

Police, Fire & DPW Put on Parade for Young Watertown Cancer Survivor

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Young cancer survivor Noah McManus thanks the Watertown Police, Fire Department and Department of Public Works for putting on a parade outside his home on Friday. A 3-year-old Watertown boy had some special visitors Friday to help him celebrate the news that he has a clean bill of health after more than a year of cancer treatments. Noah McManus waved to the police cruisers, fire trucks and Public Works vehicles that drove by his home Friday afternoon. He watched dozen of vehicles roll past with his parents and older brother Lucas and baby sister Lilah. “This is more than we expected,” said Noah’s mother, Jessica.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Named Vice Chair of EPA Board, Fellow of Scientific Association

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Dr. Barbara Beck. Watertown resident Barbara Beck, a longtime member of the Board of Health, received two recent honors involving her work in toxicology. Recently she was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and was also appointed to serve as vice chair of the Science Advisory Board of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Becoming an AAAS fellow was a recognition by Beck’s peers. “It is really an honor. It doesn’t involve any activities,” Beck said.

Around Town

$125K in Grants Available from Watertown Community Foundation for Education, Community Organizations

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The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) announces two Spring 2021 grant programs to support local nonprofits, community-based organizations, programs, and projects. Approximately $125,000 will be distributed, nearly double 2020’s distribution. WCF’s Program Grants will support organizations that serve Watertown to develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus (broadly defined) and do not involve Watertown’s public schools. Eligible organizations may apply for grants of $500 up to $5,000. WCF’s Institutional Support Grants are designed to help institutions central to the Watertown community by providing funds to maintain critical programming, staff, and cover operating costs. Grants under this program impose neither restrictions on the use of funds nor any program requirements. Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to $7,500.

Around Town

Library Hosting Ask the Doc Forum on COVID, Series of Mental Health Workshops

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The Watertown Free Public Library will host a virtual town hall where residents can ask doctors their questions about COVID-19 on Wednesday, and Thursday, the library hosts the first of a series of online mental health workshops. The library sent out the following announcements:

Library to Host Free COVID-19 Forum With Top Doctors

With so much conflicting talk of vaccines and variants, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic can feel just as confusing today as it did one year ago. In an effort to provide reliable information to their communities, the Watertown Free Public Library and the Providence Public Library are teaming up to offer a “COVID-19 Town Hall” on Wednesday, March 24. During this free, virtual forum, Dr. Robin Schoenthaler of Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Philip A. Chan of Brown University will answer your submitted questions about the virus, vaccines, and public health. Spanish translation will be available.

Around Town

Greek Flag Will Fly at Watertown Town Hall to Mark 200 Years of Greece’s Independence

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The Town of Watertown will fly the Greek flag on March 25 in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Greece’s independence, as well as light the trees on the Watertown Square Delta blue and white, the colors of the Greek flag. The day marks the bicentennial of Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Greece beginning in the 15th Century. Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis made the request to fly the Greek flag on behalf of the Rev. Athanasios Nenes, Pastor of the Taxiarchae/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Watertown. The Town will join other communities around the world that will celebrate the event. “A lot of communities (are taking part), not just in Massachusetts — worldwide,” said Kounelis, who said she has heard of celebrations in Australia, Niagara Falls, as well as lighting of the the Zakim Bridge and Longfellow Bridge Bridge in blue and white.

Around Town

Watertown Scouts Collected over 5,000 Lbs. of Donations for Watertown Food Pantry

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Watertown Scout Tage Weeden pushes a cart load of donations into the Watertown Food Pantry. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Troop 30:

Scouts collected 2.5 tons of food for the food pantry this past November, but both the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting unemployment in Watertown has hit our community hard. At the November drive Kathleen Cunningham, Director of the Watertown Food Pantry made an unusual request: Could another food drive be held soon? Scouting for Food is a service project the BSA Scouts have participated in for years: Supporting a local food pantry, scouts across the U.S. collect food once a year, usually around Thanksgiving when many are feeling generous. Scouting for Food in Watertown is a tradition near to the scouts’ hearts: Both the Watertown Food Pantry and the scouts call the Watertown-Belmont United Methodist Church at 80 Mt.

Around Town

Watertown Winter Overnight Parking Ban Ending Early

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Watertown’s winter overnight parking ban will be ending early, announced Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn. The parking ban usually runs through the end of March, but in 2021 it will end on March 22. The Town of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Police Chief Michael Lawn would like to inform you that Watertown will lift enforcement of the all night parking ban effective Monday March 22, 2021 at 12:00 pm.  

The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles. To that end, all Departments encourage residents to make full use of off-street parking when it is available.

Around Town

Senior Events Include Public Safety Coffee, COVID One Year Later, New Exercise Class

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Watertown Senior Center

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Senior Center:

Programs for Week of March 22, 2021

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 Class with Dawn Scaltreto12:30 PM, Chair Yoga with Diane2:00 PM, “COVID-19: One Year Later” with the COA Staff 

Tuesday:     10:00 AM, Public Safety Coffee12:30 PM, Tai Chi & Meditation with Marie2:00 PM, Line Dancing with Bradley                               

Wednesday:9:00 AM, Pet Lovers Group

The Pet Lovers Group will host Dr. Dawn Binder, Owner of Cushing Square Veterinary Clinic in Belmont, who will talk about adopting 

senior pets, how to take care of senior pets, bringing new pets into the home, and answer your questions as part of “Ask a Vet”. Please join us and don’t forget to include your pets.10:00 AM, New! Exercise with Shannon Lee Jones2:00 PM, Zoom Knitting Group

Thursday:        9:00 AM, Pilates with Marina Z.10:30 AM, Talk with Tom: Coffee & Casual Conversation2:00 PM, Zoom Trip to Italy!