Around Town

Watertown Children Graduate from Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Academy

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The first week of the 2015 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) concluded Friday, July 10, with a graduation ceremony for 106 area cadets from the communities of Belmont, Burlington, Waltham and Watertown. “I am incredibly honored to be able to offer this program to Middlesex County families,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian in the graduation announcement. “It is a tremendous opportunity for us to teach youngsters important public safety lessons in a fun environment, while also providing an opportunity for those same cadets to get to know members of their local police and fire departments.”

 

This is the 16th year of the YPSA program for children ages 9-11 from across Middlesex County. This year the Academy will run six full weeks, with participants from more than 24 communities. Over the course of the week, cadets learned about fire hazards in their homes at the Middlesex Sheriff’s fire safety trailer; participated in team building exercises at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Billerica; witnessed a K-9 demonstration; and visited with local police and fire officials during community day activities.

Around Town

Watertown, Indian Tribes Renew Ties During Historical Society Event

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Descendants from a treaty signing that took place in Watertown more than three centuries ago gathered on town for the reenactment and celebration of two historic events that took place in town when the United States was just days old. On Saturday, the Historical Society of Watertown held its annual reenactment of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence in Massachusetts and the signing of the Treaty of Watertown. The treaty was the first signed by the fledgling nation with a foreign group, in this case with two tribes of American Indians – the Mi’kmaq and the Maliseet (or St. John’s) Indians. The Declaration of Independence arrived in Watertown on July 16, 1776, and was read for the first time in Massachusetts two days later from the window of the Council Chamber in the Meeting House, which used to stand where the Common Street Cemetery now sits.

Around Town

Huge Tree Limb Falls in Watertown Square Delta

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A large limb from an historic tree in Watertown Square broke off and fell on the Watertown Delta Sunday. 

The cause of the broken limb was not apparent to Public Works officials on Sunday afternoon, said DPW Superintendent Gerald Mee. “In the middle of a beautiful day, it just dropped,” Mee said. The limb is lying on the large grassy area in Watertown Square known as the Delta, and does not pose a danger, so it will be removed Monday, according to Mee. The limb, which is at least 40 feet in length, is one of the trees that have lights on and light up during the holiday season. Mee said the tree has been around “a long time.”

Around Town

Alzheimer’s Association Hosting Free Dinner and Discussion with Legal Expert

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The Alzheimer’s Association will host a free dinner and discussion with a legal expert on Thursday, July 23 from 6-7 p.m., at the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with Don Freedman, a practicing attorney for over 40 years and founding partner of Rosenberg, Freedman & Lee LLP of Newton. Freedman concentrates on protecting the interests of elders as well as children and adults with special needs, according to the event announcement. He speaks frequently on elder and disability law issues experience by individuals with early stage Alzheimer’s disease and their families. For more information on the program or to register call 800.272.3900.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Giving Out $2 Million in Grants

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Watertown-based Tufts Health Plan Foundation handed out $2 million in grants to a wide array of non-profit groups around Massachusetts, including a Watertown-based organization. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation recently announced its investments of more than $2 million in grants as part of its first cycle under the foundation’s new guidelines. These investments advance community efforts toward the World Health Organization’s standards for Age-friendly Communities and fall within the categories of Systems and Best Practices and a new President’s Leadership Fund. The foundation is moving to fewer, larger grants and multiple year investments. This year, 61 percent of grantees are new to the foundation and represent collaborative work among more than 250 organizations.

Around Town

Two Watertown Groups Formed to Support Addicts, Family Members

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Overcoming addiction to heroin and other opioids and be a long, frustrating odyssey, but Watertown residents have two places to turn for people who know about the journey to recovery. Heroin and opiates have become a growing problem in Watertown, with a recent spike of overdoses and deaths due to drugs. Eight people have died so far this year from drug overdoses. The two groups, both of which have spread the word on Facebook, have different focuses. One aims to help people battling addiction, while the other is a place for the family of addicts to lend support and help.

Around Town

Local Reporter Gets Award for Piece on Fire that Killed Fire Lt. Ed Walsh

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A radio report on the fire that killed two Boston firefighters, including Watertown native Ed Walsh, won a national award, and was made by a local man. 

WBUR’s Bruce Gellerman – who lives in Watertown – won first place in the PRNDI (Public Radio News Director Incorporated) Awards in the Nationally Edited Breaking News category. His story, “Two Boston Firefighters Die In Nine-Alarm Blaze,” chronicled the deadly Back Bay fire that killed Boston Fire Lt. Ed Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy in March 2014. Listen to the story by clicking here. While Walsh worked in Boston, he was laid to rest and honored in his hometown of Watertown with great fanfare. Thousands of firefighters gathered in Watertown, shutting down Main Street for the wake and funeral (see photos here). The PRNDI awards recognize excellent journalism produced in 2014 in new arts and sports feature categories as well as or multimedia, nationally edited, and student work.

Around Town

Watertown Man Leading Effort to Stop Taxes for Hosting Olympics

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Watertown’s Steve Aylward will be the co-chair for an effort aimed at preventing taxes being charged for Boston to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. On Sunday, the Coalition to Stop Taxes for Olympics announced that Steve Aylward will be the Co-Chairman of Tank Taxes for Olympics ballot initiative. Aylward was Co-Chairman of the ballot initiative for the successful Yes on 1 campaign. “I am pleased that we are building this coalition with Steve Aylward. He is an extremely hard worker and a outstanding advocate for the taxpayers,” said Evan Falchuk, Chairman of Citizens for a Say in the announcement.