Around Town

OBIT: E. Joyce Munger, Who Dedicated 60 Years to Serving Watertown

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After a long, rewarding and fun life E. Joyce (Braceland) Munger, of Watertown, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Aug. 9, 2015. Joyce was respected by many in the community who served with her on an extensive list of committees and boards during her 60 years of service to the town. Last year she ended 35 years of service on the Watertown Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners, and the senior apartment complex on Warren Street  was renamed in her honor. She planned numerous lively community events the celebrating Watertown’s rich history and life, in addition to countless parties for her friends and family.

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Club Hosting Free Cookout for Seniors

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The Watertown Rotary Club will host a free Senior Citizen Cookout on Sunday, Sept. 20. 

Come enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza. There will be prizes, give-aways and much more. Entertainment will be provided by disc jockey “Rock’m” Richard Picceri and Nicole’s Studio of Dance. The event will be Sept.

Around Town

Fan Favorites, Shakespeare Part of the Fun at the Faire on the Square

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The schedule for the annual Faire on the Square was revealed this week, and entertainment will feature some familiar acts, as well as something for Shakespeare lovers. Watertown’s annual festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Saltonstall Park, behind Town Hall, Watertown Square. Once again organizers are taking applications for local merchants and community organizations to participate in this annual town event. Contact the Town Clerk’s office for details.  617-972-6486.

Around Town

Watertown High Grads Have Last Celebration Before Heading to College

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Summer is almost over, which means members of the Watertown High School Class of 2015 will soon go on their separate ways, but a core group had one more celebration. Last week, 20 2015 Watertown High graduates traveled to Puntacana, Dominican Republic as a last “hoorah” with their class before they all leave for college. The graduates were accompanied by some siblings and friends as well as their parents. The week was filled with laughs, sun, and dancing, according Gabriella Coppola, one of the attendees.  

Due to the success of this trip, the group hopes to plan another vacation in a different country next year.

Around Town

Anti-Nuclear Activist Coming to Speak in Watertown

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An anti-nuclear activist, journalist and organizer will be in Watertown to discuss the nuclear power plant in Plymouth and the potential dangers of nuclear power. 

The following announcement was sent out by the event organizer:

ON BEHALF OF PLANET EARTH is sponsoring a public forum in Watertown by notable long time no nuclear journalist, activist, organizer Harvey Wasserman. WHEN: Friday, August 14, 6-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Apartments at the Coolidge School Auditorium, 319 Arlington St., Watertown MA 02472

6 p.m. Doors open for Potluck dinner

7:30 p.m. Will open the discussion which will include: Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, MA, (same model as Fukushima, Japan), Radioactive Waste and why the nuclear power crisis is as dangerous as the climate crisis. Followed by Q&A. Endorsed by:
Betty Wood M.D. Janis Mancini R.N. Judy Lynch R.N. Pilgrim Coalition, Cornelia Sullivan R.N. Cape Downwinders, No Boston 2024, Pax Christi Boston, MA Downwinders, Cape Cod Bay Watch and Reb Lea-h Campolo

For more information contact Sheila Parks at: SHEILARUTHPARKS@comcast.net

The Apartments at the Coolidge School is handicap accessible

Around Town

State Raises Risk Level for West Nile Virus After Mosquitoes Test Positive

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After numerous mosquitoes tested positive for West Nile Virus in communities around Watertown, state officials raised the risk for the for the disease. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced that they have raised the West Nile Virus (WNV) risk level to “moderate” in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Revere, Somerville, and Watertown. This change is due to multiple WNV-positive mosquitoes being found in a relatively small geographic area of the Commonwealth that has historically had significant WNV activity, according to the announcement. These findings, combined with the current weather patterns (warm/hot and relatively dry) indicate that human risk from WNV has increased.  

The positive tests came from mosquitoes in Cambridge, Newton, Waltham and Boston, according to the Mass DPH website.

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Arsenal Project Providing Spots for People to Park Car, Bike to Work

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Watertown’s Arsenal Project will make space available for people who want to park their car and then bicycle into work. 

On July 31, a new multi-modal commuting system called Park&Pedal debuted in Boston, the first program of its kind in the United States, and the Arsenal Project is one of the participating sites, according to the program announcement. The free program is designed to encourage bike commuting by providing a network of parking hub conveniently located cycling distance from centers of employment. Commuters can park their car for free and ride their bike the remaining distance to work, thereby avoiding traffic congestion and parking in the city. There are four spaces at the Arsenal Project reserved for this innovative program. David Montague of Montague Bikes, the creator of the program, said, “We are excited to be working with the Arsenal Project as a retail partner in the inaugural launch of Park&Pedal.

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Boston Mayor Walsh Spoke at Alzheimer’s Conference in Watertown

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was one of the speakers at a conference about facing Alzheimer’s, which was held at Watertown’s Tufts Health Plan. The Multicultural Coalition on Aging hosted a consumer conference on Alzheimer’s “One Message – Many Voices” on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Tufts Health Plan’s corporate office in Watertown, according to the announcement from the Multicultural Coalition on Aging. More than 200 attendees representing a myriad of groups from different backgrounds, cultures and origins from the City of Boston attended the free conference. Workshops focused on providing more specific information about Alzheimer’s disease, including Memory Loss and Brain Health, Dementia and Early Detection, Treatment Options, and Community Resources, Research and Advocacy. “Our primary goal was to educate and assist cultural groups in identifying, understanding and dealing with those who may be exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s,” said Gene Mazzella, chairperson of the Multicultural Coalition on Aging.