Around Town

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Watertown Residents Age 65+ Planned

By |

UPDATE: All the appointments for this vaccine clinic have been filled. The Watertown Health Department announced that it will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Watertown seniors age 65 and older. The Watertown Health Department has been allotted 100 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, per State requirements. 

A First-Shot clinic will be held for Watertown residents 65 and older ONLY (no caregivers) on Monday, March 1, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Community Room, Watertown Police Department, 552 Main Street. An appointment is required to get a vaccine. No walk-ins. Registration for the clinic can be done by following this link: https://www.maimmunizations.org/reg/5161005892

Watertown Seniors requiring assistance with registering for this clinic can call the Senior Center at (617) 972-6490.

Around Town

Get Ready for YardArt Watertown, See How to Participate

By |

The following information was provided by the YardArt organizers:

Push back against this dreary winter by creating something in your yard, porch or doorway – a structure, an art project, a contraption, or anything that pops to mind. Delight, surprise, inspire, and amuse yourself and your neighbors! Anyone can participate–no fees and no age requirement. Your creationshould be family friendly and viewable from the street or sidewalk. Yourproject will be listed on the YardArt map and you’ll receive a yard signto mark your location.

Around Town

COVID-19 Vaccine Info for Seniors, Virtual Events from the Senior Center

By |

Watertown Senior Center

The Watertown Senior Center provided the following information:

Programs for Week of February 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, Zoom KNITTING Group!Tuesday:     10:00 AM, Public Safety Coffee12:30 PM, Tai Chi & Meditation with Marie2:00 PM, Line Dancing with Bradley                                     Wednesday: 10:00 AM, Pet Lovers Group – Zoom with your furry friend!11:00 AM, Exercise with Joanna2:00 PM, Coffee with Director Anne-Marie: Looking to Spring.Thursday:        9:00 AM, Pilates with Marina Z.10:30 AM, Talk with Tom: Coffee & Casual Conversation2:00 PM, Zoom to the Peabody Essex Museum!Friday:            10:00 AM, Exercise with Shannon Lee Jones     12:00 PM, Seated Strength & Balance with Pearl1:00 PM, New! Weight Management with Pearl ~ see the newsletter for details.NEW TIME! 2:45 PM, Mellowtones Chorus with Anne Silverman

Senior Shuttle Bus Update

The Watertown Senior Shuttle Bus is back on the road for grocery 

shopping. Due to COVID-19, the bus is limited to 4 riders plus the driver.

Around Town

State’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility List Expanded

By |

Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn gets a COVID-19 vaccination shot during the clinic for police and firefighters run by the Watertown Health Department. Massachusetts residents ages 65 and older can begin getting the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Thursday, Feb. 18, along with others added to the groups that qualify. The additions to the vaccination list were announced on Wednesday by the Mass Department of Public Health. Others added to the list include people who have at least two comorbidities, as well as residents who live and work in low-income or affordable senior housing facilities.

Around Town

Watertown-Based Non-Profit Seeks to Include Media Literacy in School Curriculum

By |

The following information was provided by Watertown-based non-profit Media Literacy Now:

Teaching students to effectively process, define and understand wide-ranging messages displayed across media platforms is more critical than ever with increased screen time due to the global pandemic and a volatile news cycle filled with political and racial division. National nonprofit Media Literacy Now aims to make media literacy universally understood and accepted as a vital component in public school education across the country. Students of all ages are bombarded with images, words and messages through social media, news, TV, music, video games and other media outlets. They are often left on their own to make sense of all they hear and 21st century media literacy skills are vital for their health, well-being, economic participation, and citizenship.  Media Literacy Now is inspiring action in states across the country through public awareness campaigns, policymaker education, research, coalition building and efforts to influence regulations and legislation. The nonprofit successfully advocates for equal access to education and reform of education system policies and priorities to ensure media literacy skills are integrated across subject areas within public schools.

Around Town

Free Program on Stress, Fatigue & Depression During the Pandemic to be Hosted by Library

By |

A program called “We’ve Been There: Conversations About Stress, Fatigue, Depression, Coping, and Everything in Between,” the first in a series of programs focused on mental health and wellness will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Watertown Library in conjunction with Wayside Youth & Family Network, the Watertown Police, Advocates Inc. and the Watertown Community Foundation. Organizers sent out the following information:

Stressed, sad, exhausted? After a trying year, please join us as we discuss anything and everything that makes people feel isolated, sad, or anxious. You’ll learn what help is available locally and how we can support ourselves and loved ones through difficult times.

Around Town

MassBay College Nursing Students Volunteer at Watertown Vaccine Clinic

By |

MassBay Community College nursing students administering vaccines at a recent vaccine clinic in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by MassBay Community College:

MassBay Community College Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Practical Nursing (PN) students recently volunteered with the Watertown Health Department in administering COVID-19 vaccinations. Fifteen ADN students and 11 PN students assisted with vaccine administration and with the registration process for hundreds of residents who received their COVID-19 vaccine. “Nursing students are needed to administer vaccines and provide vaccine education in our communities,” said MassBay Director of Nursing, Andrea Bresnahan. “Being part of the COVID-19 vaccination effort is a rare opportunity for students to directly learn about population health, participate in public health program, gain clinical experience, and ultimately save lives.”

The Watertown Health Department vaccination clinics that the student’s participated in were held the first and second weeks in February at Perkins School for the Blind for both students and staff and at the Watertown Police Department for people over 75 years of age.