Around Town

Find Out About Health, Fitness for the Whole Family at Upcoming Open House

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Find out about upcoming health and fitness activities for children and adults at an open house co-hosted by the Watertown Business Coalition, Ballroom in Boston and Get Lively. The open house, on Aug. 27 will feature local fitness and recreation businesses, including dance, fitness, martial arts, and more. There will be demonstrations, tours, fitness challenges and a raffle for a produce box. Organizers will provide a socially distant environment to ensure safety for all participants.

Around Town

Candidates Q&As for 10th Middlesex State Rep.: Lawn vs. Leary

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Candidates for the 10th Middlesex State Representative election, John Lawn of Watertown and Alison Leary of Newton. Incumbent State Rep. John Lawn faces a challenge from Newton City Councilor Alison Leary for the 10th Middlesex State Representative seat, which includes the Westside of Watertown. Watertown News presented each candidate with a set of questions about their positions, concerns and more. See what they said. Both seek the Democratic nomination for the 10th Middlesex District.

Around Town

Notice of Community Outreach Meeting — Sira Naturals

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(PAID LEGAL NOTICE)

Notice is hereby given that Eskar LLC (d/b/a Sira Naturals, Inc.) will hold a virtual Community Outreach Meeting on Thursday, September 10, 2020. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM and will include discussion about the proposed siting of a co-located Medical Marijuana Treatment Centerand Adult Use Marijuana Retail Establishment at 48 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472 in accordance with M.G.L. ch. 94G and the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s regulations at 935 CMR 500.000 and 935 CMR 501.000 et seq. Topics to be discussed at the meeting will include, but not be limited to:

The type(s) of Medical Marijuana Treatment Center and Adult-Use Marijuana Establishment(s) to be located at the proposed address;Plans for maintaining a secure facility;Plans to prevent diversion to minors;Plans to positively impact the community;Plans to ensure the establishment will not constitute a nuisance to the community; andPlans to compassionately care for medical patients, including sliding fee scales for patients with verified financial hardship. This virtual meeting will be held via Zoom.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Celebrates Reaching $100K in Resiliency Fund

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The Watertown Community Foundation has given out these lawn signs to people who have donated to help others in town during COVID-19. The Watertown Community Foundation announced it has raised more than $100,000 for the Community Resilience Fund, which was created in to help community members during the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown. Be sure to check out the video, which provides a nice tour of Town and features many familiar faces. The Watertown Community Foundation sent out the following announcement:

In March of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown our town but it did not shutdown the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) or our community spirit. WCF worked quickly to establish the Watertown Resilience Fund with an initial amount of $40,000 from the foundation and personal contributions of board members. The Community Resilience Fund has grown to over $110,000 thanks to this amazing community. These funds have been used to help our neighbors who have faced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and supported them with everything from grocery gift cards to emergency rental assistance. 

But, we haven’t stopped there. In a time when everyone was feeling like they needed a little love but couldn’t be near so many of their loved ones, we started the “We  Watertown” campaign. So many people in our community LOVE Watertown and we want to spread the LOVE! Our yard signs are popping up all over town. You can request one by emailing: info@watertownfoundation.org. 

We hope you enjoy this video of some of our friends around town sharing their love of our community. 

https://spark.adobe.com/video/FmvStT0SZrUXi 

We are always looking for ways to support and partner with organizations and businesses in town. BLING Boutique in Watertown Square is our latest partner, selling beautiful “We  Watertown” stemless glasses and wish bracelets. A portion of the proceeds come directly back to the Watertown Community Foundation. Cheers to loving our wonderful town! 

Give where you live. Donate, volunteer, support a local business or just simply give love.

Around Town

11 Watertown Residents Joining Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, Registration Open

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The following announcement was provided by the the Jimmy Fund Walk:

Eleven residents from Watertown will choose their own route on October 4th for the annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. Participants are encouraged to walk wherever they choose: around their neighborhood, a local hiking trail, a treadmill, or anywhere else they are comfortable. Betsy Gartrell, Alexandra Kontes, Martha Krache, David Morris, Kate Morris, Garry Nolan, Kimberly O’Hagan, Brendan O’Hagan, Thomas Opar, Lisa Soo Hoo, and one Watertown resident, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in virtual programming during the Walk that aims to recreate the most inspiring elements of Walk day. While the event will not physically bring walkers together along the famed Boston Marathon® course, it will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  The event has raised more than $145 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30+ year history. “While we can’t see everyone in person this year, we are excited for the virtual programing which will give participants the opportunity to support breakthroughs in cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,” said Zack Blackburn, Director of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.

Around Town

Rising COVID-19 Cases Concerns Watertown Health Director

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An upturn in the new COVID-19 cases concerns Watertown Health Director Larry Ramdin, who worries that the state may go back into more strict shutdown rules if the trend gets worse. During the first week of August, Watertown had its first COVID fatality reported since the second week of May, bringing the total to 24. For the first time in several weeks, the number of new positive COVID-19 cases is into the double digits in Watertown, and the state numbers are growing by around 2,000 a week. “People are going on vacation, it is summer, there is a little complacency,” Ramdin said. “People are going to social gatherings, they are not social distancing, not wearing face coverings, expose themselves.”

Around Town

Recreation Adds K-2 Program at Casey Park, Scholarships Available

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The Watertown Recreation Department still has a couple more weeks of its Park Adventure program for children, and the department has added a program for children in grades K-2 at Casey Park. The park on the Southside of town already had programs for older students. The one-week sessions run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the fee is $100, but there are scholarships available from the Watertown Community Foundation (click here for information). The Park Adventure program is a half-day summer program for all with activities ranging from arts & crafts, sports, drama, and many other geared toward their interests and age. More information can be found on the Watertown Recreation website (click here).

Around Town

Watertown Group Remembers Victims of Hiroshima, Nagasaki Bombs

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Attendees of a vigil for the victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atom bombs hold a banner. The event on Aug. 9 was organized by Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment. The following report was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

On Sunday evening August 9, over sixty people gathered for an annual remembrance of the more than 210,000 lives lost in the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Organized by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment, the remembrance was co-sponsored byMassachusetts Peace Action (MAPA), New England American Friends Service Committee and Survival Education Fund.