Around Town

Watertown Residents Can Request a Tree be Planted in Front of Their Homes

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The following announcement was provided by Trees for Watertown:

Are you trying to forget our brutal summer that featured heat wave after heat wave? Now it’s official: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that June through August 2020 was the hottest summer on record for Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. As hot as it was, on walks around the neighborhood (what else was to be done during a global pandemic?), I felt instant relief as I passed beneath the green canopies of street trees. The immediate cool I felt was not only due to the leafy parasol above sheltering me from direct sunshine, it was also thanks to the lack of heat radiating off asphalt and sidewalks, which store up solar gain and turn our streets into ovens. Evaporation from trees helps cool the air, too.

Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion of Israeli-Palestinian Land Issues

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

Please join us at the October Monthly Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment for a very special program “Israeli Annexation – Geopolitical Implications and the Future of Palestine.” 

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86157111785?pwd=a1NJMU1qaG5jbjh5bGtmWTIrbkVVQT09

We are very excited to have as our guests Phyllis Bennis, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, one of the founders of U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, board member of Jewish Voice for Peace and author of Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer and Leila Farsakh, Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at the UMass Boston, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Development Studies at Birzeit University, West Bank and author of Palestinian Labor Migration to Israel: Labor, Land and Occupation. 

The government of Israel threatened to formally annex parts of the West Bank in July 2020, while they have been carrying out de facto annexation for years, since 1967 – by confiscating land, building the wall within the Green line, demolishing homes and expelling Palestinians.  July 1 came and went without annexation – and then we learned in Sept. that the UAE, and subsequently Bahrain, agreed to normalize relations with Israel, in return for which (or so it seems) “formal” annexation has been delayed.  Our speakers will present the geopolitical context in which all this is happening and what annexation actually means for Palestinians in the occupied territories and within Israel proper (within the Green line). Jeff Klein, Coordinator of Mass Peace Action’s Israel/Palestine Committee and member of the Steering Committee of Massachusetts Against Israeli Annexation, will close the program by presenting action items that the participants can take to address the issue of annexation and occupation. 

For questions email watertowncitizens@gmail.com and visit us at watertowncitizens.org  

Co-sponsors:  Mass. Peace Action, The Community Church of Boston, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East – MA Chapter, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston.

Around Town

Final Watertown Farmers Market of 2020, Fall CSA Program

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Farmers Market:

The Watertown Farmers’ Market wraps up this week. Last chance to stock up on all your market faves! Support local and keep your pantries and freezers well stocked for the week’s ahead. It’s time to start making your shopping lists and placing preorders for the final market of the 2020 season! This week’s rotating vendors are Flores de Cafe and We Grow Microgreens.

Around Town

Watertown Seeks Vets for Veterans Day Interview Series

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Members of Watertown’s veterans groups salute at the Flag Retirement Ceremony in 2019. The following information was provided by the Watertown Veterans’ Services Department:

Out of an abundance of caution, and in observance with existing COVID-19 safety measures, Watertown must make changes to their traditional Veterans’ Day Observance. In keeping with the digital trends, the Veterans’ Services Department is looking to speak with residents of Watertown who would like participate in a Veterans’ Day Interview series: preference will be given to families with multi-generational military service (families with at least two Veterans). The goal is to speak about themes that may have led to a family’s continued military service. Interested participants should contact Veterans’ Services Officer Patrick George at the following methods: Office (617-972-4614) Cell (781-645-9127) or email (Pgeorge@watertown-ma.gov).

Around Town

YMCA Holding Drive-In Movie as Fall Fundraiser

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On Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 6:00-9:00 pm, the West Suburban YMCA in Newton will host a reimagined version of their signature fall fundraiser event, inviting the community to enjoy a drive-in movie in the Y’s parking lot and field. Traditionally, the Y hosts over 200 guests at their November gala, raising money for the Y’s Annual Fund which allows hundreds of families, individuals, and children to access programs and membership at the Y regardless of financial circumstances. With restrictions on gatherings in place due to COVID-19, the West Suburban YMCA is offering a whole new event this fall – Double Feature: A Mission & A Movie – highlighted by a drive-in showing of The Princess Bride. The October 17th event will take place outdoors in the Y parking lot and field and will feature a brief presentation from Y President & CEO Jack Fucci and a few laughs from comedian Nick “Fitzy” Stevens. The short program will summarize the past seven months at the Y, celebrating the Y’s resilience and looking forward to the future.

Around Town

LETTER: Town Councilor Questions Bike Lane Markings on Arlington Street

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Markings for a proposed bike lane on Arlington Street between Grove and Arsenal streets. (The following letter originally was sent by District A Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis to her constituents.)

Greetings East Enders,

Many of you have viewed and inquired about the pavement markings and scoring of Arlington St.; from the area of Grove St. to Arsenal St. Social media is abuzz with conversations. Unbeknownst to myself, and others, Watertown’s Administration has chosen to prematurely set forth a plan for proposed bike lanes; as outlined on page 2-14 of the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Report. I have brought my concerns to the attention of the Administration; but have no authority to intervene. Staff directly reports to the Town Manager; not to the Town Council.

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Watertown Hosting a Drive-Thru Food Donation Event

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The Watertown Community Foundation will be switching gears for its food drive, and will have a drive-thru event. The drop off will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 12-4 p.m. at St. John’s Church at 80 Mt. Auburn St. 

People can simply drive into their circular driveway and volunteers will remove the donations from the car. Donations will be split between the Watertown Food Pantry and the Catholic Collaborative Food Pantry.

Around Town

Health Department Shares Ways to Have Halloween During COVID-19

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

For residents planning to celebrate Halloween, Saturday, October 31 st , the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is recommending that you follow safe and healthy tips to participate in Halloween activities that may limit the risk of exposure to COVID-19. As a reminder, any Halloween activities are subject to the current state gathering size limits as well as applicable sector-specific workplace safety standards. Consistent with the Halloween activity guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some things to keep in mind in celebrating Halloween this year include:

Trick or Treating with Kids and Passing Treats Out at Home

Enjoy Halloween outside rather than attending indoor events.Place candy on a platter instead of a bowl.Instead of traditional trick or treating, opt for one-way trick-or-treating, with treats placed outside of the home for trick-or-treaters as a “grab and go” while keeping distance from others.Consider leaving hand sanitizer by any treats left out for trick-or-treaters to use. Masks – Mask Up MA

Wear a face mask or face covering. For more information on face masks and face coverings, please see the state’s Mask Up MA webpage.A costume mask is not a substitute for a face mask or face covering.