Around Town

Some Registry of Motor Vehicles Services Closed Over Veterans Day Weekend

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is announcing that due to its final upgrade to new technology, ATLAS, no customer service transactions can be conducted starting tonight at 6 p.m., and until 7 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12.  In addition, inspection station locations will not be able to conduct motor vehicle inspections on Nov. 9, 10, and 11. “We appreciate the public’s patience, cooperation, and understanding as the RMV completes its transition to a new platform that will greatly enhance the quality and number of online vehicle transactions available to our customers,” explained the RMV’s Acting Registrar, Jamey Tesler. “This transition began with the introduction of new customer credentialing and licensing service in March 2018 and, as with any major organization-wide technology change, we expect an initial learning curve for our staff, business partners, and customers.

Around Town

Carroll Center Hosts Meet the Author: Understanding Vision Loss

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Author Hannah Fairbair, former Interpersonal Skills and Personal Instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, discusses vision loss with four former clients. The Carroll Center for the Blind provided the following announcement:

The Carroll Center for the Blind, a leader in services for individuals confronted by the challenges of low vision and blindness, today announced it will host author Hannah Fairbairn for a free public reading from her new book regarding dealing with the challenges of vision loss. As we age, our eyes often change. If these changes cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, then you may have “low vision.” Adjusting to vision loss is challenging and frightening. You may not be able to recognize friends or read as easily anymore.

Around Town

Residents Invited to Meeting on Redesign of Watertown Square

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Watertown Square. Find out about plans to redesign Watertown Square at a public meeting on Dec. 3. Organizers sent out the following information:

Join Us for a Public Meeting

When:         Tuesday, December 3                      Open House, 6:30 to 7:00 p.m.                      Presentation and Q&A, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.Where:        Perkins School for the Blind                      Grousbeck Center                      55 Beechwood Avenue, Watertown                      Parking available in lot off Beechwood Ave.; follow signs for event parking

The Town of Watertown is redesigning Watertown Square to improve mobility and safety for all users (including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and vehicles). At this public meeting, the project team will present three conceptual plans (of the original six shared at the Open House in July 2018) for further discussion and analysis. We will also review the potential benefits of each alternative.

Around Town

See What’s Going on at the Senior Center in November

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Watertown Senior Center

The Watertown Senior Center has plenty going on in November, including the Holiday Boutique, bus trips, exercise classes and much, much more. See details in the highlights from the Senior Center Newsletter below:

With Thanks from the Director

We look forward to seeing you at the Senior Center this month! We will be learning about the music of Bing Crosby with Mr. Bruce Hambro, offering free Flu Shots with the Watertown Health Department, providing exercise classes each day including Chair Volleyball on Friday mornings, and SHINE meetings by appointment for Medicare Open Enrollment in addition to our usual calendar of events. Stop in and see us. The carpeting is new too!

Around Town

Find Out When Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Starts

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A snowy road in the East End of Watertown. With winter around the corner, the WatertownPolice released details of the overnight street parking ban. See the announcement below:

Watertown Chief of Police Michael P. Lawn has announced the 2019-2020 Winter Parking Ban dates. Effective December 2, 2019, and continuing to April 1, 2020, the Winter Parking Ban will be in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the Town allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

• The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only) • Any public school parking lot • Marion Road parking lot at Victory Field • O’Connell Park, (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street) • Grove Street parking lot at Filippello Park (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)

Please note that these locations may be used free of charge, however vehicles may only use available spaces after 7 p.m. and must be moved/removed by 7 a.m. the following day.

Around Town

The 2019 Donohue’s Turkey Trot is Around the Corner, See How to Join the Fun

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Register now for the 2019 Donohue’s Turkey Trot. One of Watertown’s Thanksgiving tradition, the Donohue’s Turkey Trot, will take place the morning of Turkey Day, and registration is now open. The 5K fun run and walk raises money for the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. It begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28 beginning outside Donohue’s, 87 Bigelow Ave., Watertown.

Around Town

SMART Recovery Support Group Moves to Mt. Auburn St.

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A SMART support group holds meetings for family and friends has moved to Church on Mt. Auburn Street. Organizers sent out the following information:

When someone uses drugs or alcohol to excess, the entire family is affected. For decades people turned to Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous and its family-focused support group Al-Anon. But AA isn’t for everyone.