Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Planning for 2021, Provides Access to Fruits & Veggies to Everyone

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The opening of the Watertown Farmers Market is still a few months away, but the 2021 season will feature more produce vendors, modified COVID-19 restrictions and has special programs for people who qualify for the SNAP program. The Farmers Market opens on June 16 and runs through Oct. 20 in Saltonstall Park (next to Town Hall). The hours will be 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Watertown’s Community Wellness/Market Manager Stephanie Venizelos continues to confirm which vendors will be at the Watertown Farmers Market in 2021, but she said there will be three large produce vendors, all of which will have at-market sales, and also preorder and/or CSA (community supported agriculture) where subscribers get a box of vegetables each month. The Watertown Farmers Market newsletter announced information about the CSA programs:

“We’re looking forward to having many of our fabulous vendors back in the park, in addition to welcoming back Farmer Tim’s and welcoming in Stillman’s Farm!

Around Town

Fallen Watertown Firefighter Remembered on Fourth Anniversary of His Death

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Members of the Watertown Fire Department salute their fallen colleague, Joe Toscano, on the fourth anniversary of his death at a fire on Merrifield Avenue. The Watertown Fire Department came out in force to honor a colleague lost while fighting a fire in the East End four years ago. Firefighters and the family of Joe Toscano gathered on Bigelow Avenue, at the square dedicated to his memory. The sign bearing his name sits just down Merrifield Avenue from the home where the fire took place. Fire Chief Bob Quinn hung a wreath from the pole holding the sign marking Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano Square during the cermony.

Around Town

See When the COVID-19 Vaccine Will be Available to the General Public, Those Under 65

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Gov. Charlie Baker announced the eligibility dates for the remaining groups in the Massachusetts vaccine roll out plan on Wednesday. People age 17 and older will be eligible to get the vaccine beginning April 19, 2021, according to a report on Boston.com. Before that, people age 60 and above and certain workers will be eligible beginning March 22, and those 55 and older who have at least one qualifying condition will get access beginning April 5. See more about vaccine eligibility at the State’s website by clicking here. The Watertown Health Department has information about COVID-19 on its webpage, see it here.

Around Town

Watertown Charter Review to be Discussed at Watertown Citizens Group Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment will hold its March Monthly Meeting on March 17 at 7:00 pm, online. The link is posted on our website:  http://watertowncitizens.org/

Our March Monthly Meeting will feature a presentation by Janis Hudson, a member of the Steering Committee of Watertown Forward and a discussion facilitated by Watertown Citizen member, Abby Yanow. The meeting will be begin at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 17. You are welcome to join us for a chat at 6:45 pm. Watertown Forward is a non-partisan civic action group whose mission is to educate, empower, and engage the Watertown community in Watertown’s Charter Review process.

Around Town

LETTER: Barely Meeting the Minimum is Not Good Enough for Watertown Students

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The following letter was sent by a group of Watertown parents called WPS Parents for Moving School Forward:

While school districts across Massachusetts are presenting their communities with joyous plans to return elementary students to school full time by the state required date of April 5 or earlier, Watertown is setting itself up to again lag behind in providing students access to public school. Our community has been informed of a plan that would put elementary students in school for only half days starting April 5 until an eventual return to full time April 26. As this approach is contrary to the back to school full time by April 5 mandate that the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has recently announced, WPS is now in the process of asking DESE is this is allowable. As best as we can understand, WPS is arguing to DESE that if we do half days for most of April, but regular full days for the rest of the year after that, then over the full 10 weeks remaining we will end up with an average that meets the state minimum hourly per-day requirements and therefore should be permitted to delay full time return. Whether DESE allows this or not, it is a bad choice for the students of Watertown.

Around Town

Senior Events: Zoom With Sen. Brownsberger, A “Trip to Ireland” & COVID Info

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Watertown Senior Center

Programs for Week of March 15, 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, Zoom with Senator BrownsbergerTuesday:     10:00 AM, Zoom Trip to Ireland11:30 AM, Grab-n-Go pick-up begins for those who registered12:30 PM, Tai Chi & Meditation with Marie2:00 PM, Line Dancing with Bradley                                     Wednesday: HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’s DAY!9:00 AM, Coffee with the Director10:00 AM, New Time & Instructor! Exercise with Shannon Lee JonesThursday:        9:00 AM, Pilates with Marina Z.10:30 AM, Talk with Tom: Coffee & Casual Conversation2:00 PM, Irish Music with Police Chief Michael LawnFriday:            10:00 AM, Exercise with Shannon Lee Jones     12:00 PM, Seated Strength & Balance with Pearl2:45 PM, Mellowtones Chorus with Anne Silverman

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, March 24 at 9:00 AM: 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.

Around Town

See How to Preregister to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine at a Mass Vaccination Location

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Massachusetts residents can now sign up to get preregistered for the COVID-19 vaccine. The state’s vaccine signup went live on Friday, March 12. The system preregisters users to get a vaccine at one of the Mass Vaccination sites. These currently include: Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park (until March 26), the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the DoubleTree in Danvers, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, the Natick Mall, and the former Circuit City in Dartmouth. Beginning March 27, the Hynes Convention Center in Boston will be a vaccination site.

ARF East Region

COVID-19 Panel Discussion Being Hosted by Watertown-Based Armenian Group

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Hear from a panel of experts on the COVID-19 vaccine at a virtual discussion hosted by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Eastern Region, which is based in Watertown. The group put out the following information:

Join the ARF Eastern Region for a LIVE Covid-19 panel discussion on Sunday, March 14 at 5 pm EST on Facebook Live for the latest information on the Covid-19 vaccine from those working the front lines. To join the livestream, click here: https://www.facebook.com/arfeastusa/posts/1734107006775898

Panelists include John Bilezikian, MD, endocrinology, Columbia University; Kim Hekimian, PhD, public health, Columbia University; Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD, infectious disease, Maimonides Children’s Hospital; Lawrence Najarian, MD, ophthalmology, New York University; and, Karine Shnorhokian, MSN, RN, regional director, CareOne. 

There will be an opportunity for participants to ask panelists questions.