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Developer Defends Watertown After Globe Article Poo Poos Town as Biotech Destination

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An illustration of the biotech tower planned for Arsenal Yards. It appeared as part of an ad taken out by Boylston Properties defending Watertown as a biotech destination after a Boston Globe article that said Kendall Square is the place to be. The owners of Arsenal Yards leapt to the defense of Watertown after a Boston Globe published an article about biotech bigwigs snubbing the town as a place to set up business. The Jan. 26 Boston Globe article interviewed biotech execs and investors who said that Cambridge’s Kendall Square remains the place to be.

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February at the Senior Center Includes a Valentine’s Breakfast, Tax Help and Exercise Classes

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Watertown Senior Center

The Watertown Senior Center has a variety of exercise classes, a Valentine’s Breakfast and Speed Dating this month, and much more. See details below in the Senior News, provided by the Watertown Senior Center. Greetings from the Director

Greetings! Although winter may seem cold and dreary, there is warmth and fun happening at the Watertown Senior Center and we encourage you to join us! Friday’s Chair Volleyball Team has been meeting for a few months now and invites new players each week.

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Free Blood Pressure Screening Available in Watertown

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The Watertown Mall provided the following information:

Free Blood Pressure Screening! On the first Friday of every month, the Watertown Mall has a free blood pressure screening. Screenings are sponsored by the Watertown Health Department. This month screening takes place Friday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Location: back hallway, near Target, across from Carter’s.

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Assisted Technology Lab Opens at Carroll Center for the Blind

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The new device lab at the Carroll Center for the Blind features popular devices ranging from Apple’s iPad Air to iRobot’s Roomba Robot Vacuum. Through a partnership with the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton recently launched an assistive technology device lab to help individuals with vision loss to better understand and learn how to effectively use various devices that have the power to help them retain their independence. The open-concept device lab offers access to a wide spectrum of over 18 different popular devices for use by all of the Center’s program participants. Most smartphones and other devices now come with several built-in accessibility options. Plus, there are a wide assortment of other mainstream and specialized applications available to download which support independence for people with low vision or blindness. Both free and paid mobile applications like Aira or Microsoft’s Seeing AI provide the ability to narrate the world through your smartphone camera—reading out street signs, printed text, and identifying objects and people.

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Watertown Foundation Seeks Innovative Projects to Benefit Older Residents

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The following announcement was provided by the Marshall Home Fund:

The Marshall Home Fund is encouraging public and non-profit organizations to submit innovative proposals that support Watertown’s efforts to be an Age-Friendly Community—a place where older adults can live, thrive, and contribute. While proposals for a range of programs are welcome, the fund is particularly interested in projects addressing unmet needs in housing and transportation, and in strategies to better inform older adults about the services that are available to them. The Request for Proposals will be available on February 6, 2020 and proposals will be due March 13, 2020. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Program Grant Information Session on February 6, 12:30-2:00 at the WSB Room in the Watertown Free Public Library and to visit marshallhomefund.org. To RSVP to the Information Session and for additional information, contact info@marshallhomefund.org

Established in 2005, the Marshall Home Fund is a nonprofit, community-based charitable foundation dedicated to serving Watertown’s older adult population (age 55 plus).

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UPDATED: Firefighters Battled Four Alarm Fire in West Watertown

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Fire blazed on the side of a home on Robert Ford Road Friday. The four alarm blaze damaged 12 units in the Watertown Housing Authority complex. A four-alarm blaze broke out on Robert Ford Road in Watertown Friday morning, which took more than an hour to extinguish. The Fire Department received numerous calls about smoke coming from the area just after 11 a.m. Friday, said Watertown Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. The fire was extinguished by 12:45 p.m. The cause of the fire is remains under investigation, McManus said.

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Watertown’s Unity Breakfast Celebrates 20 Years of Honoring MLK Jr.

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A mural created by Watertown High School students for the 20th annual Unity Breakfast. The Watertown Unity Breakfast celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. for the 20th time on Monday with a record crowd. World in Watertown hosted the first Unity Breakfast in 2001 at the then Phillips Congregational Church (now the Redeemer Fellowship Church) and about 150 people attended, said Susan Kuder, chair of World in Watertown. The idea for Watertown having an event to honor Dr. King came from the Rev. Mark Harris, who recently retired as minister of the First Parish Church of Watertown. The Unity Breakfast reminded retired Watertown Police Officer Tony Physic of MLK Day celebrations he attended growing up in Boston.

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West Suburban YMCA Has Camp Info Sessions, Fall Prevention & More

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The following information was provided by the West Suburban YMCA:

There’s lots going on at the Y over the next few weeks!  Please let me know if you’d like more information or if you have any questions. 

Balance and Fall Prevention Workshop

Wednesday, January 29 from 10:15-11 AM

Join us for this free workshop in which we will review exercises that can be executed here or at home in order to help prevent falls and practice postural alignment. Camp Registration is Now Open! Send your child to day camp at Camp Pikati or Camp Chickami, or try the overnight experience at Camp Frank A. Day.  Learn more and register here:  https://www.wsymca.org/camps

Camp Info Sessions

Want to learn more about our summer camp offerings?  Stop by the Y for one of our camp info sessions. Monday, February 3 – 9:00 AM-11:00 AMSaturday, February 8 – 2:00 PM-4:00 PMWednesday, February 26 – 4:30 PM-6:30 PMTuesday, March 10 – 3:00 PM-5:00 PM

Try the Y for Free on Thursdays

The Y is free every Thursday for the month of January!  Stop by the Welcome Center with a valid ID and your guest fee will be waived. 

Kids Night OutFriday, February 7 from 6:00-10:00 PM

Parents, drop off your kids for a fun Friday night with our qualified staff members for a Kids Night Out. We order pizza for dinner and keep the children entertained with games, swimming, movies and sports.