Around Town

Ed Walsh Foundation Housing 10th Anniversary Fundraiser in Memory of Lost Firefighter

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The following information came from the Ed Walsh Foundation:

March 26, 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the deadly 9 alarm fire at 298 Beacon St, Boston that took the lives of two of Boston’s bravest, Boston Fire Lt. Edward J. Walsh Jr., who grew up in Watertown, and Boston Firefighter Michael R. Kennedy. Fenian Sons will be performing at the event. Our yearly fundraiser at the American Legion Post 440, 295 California St, Newton, Ma will take place on March 29, 2024 at 7 p.m. At this 10 year anniversary we thank you in advance for your consideration for this worthwhile fundraiser and appreciate your kind thoughtfulness to help continue Ed’s spirit which was devoted to serving others and his dedication to helping people in need. Proceeds from the event will be used for our Smile-On Grant program that provides grant money to teachers, coaches, parents and specialists who help children in school and sports. Find out more about the event by clicking here.

Around Town

Free Conversation About Changes Facing Women in Their 40s and 50s at Watertown Fitness Studio

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The following announcement was provided by Get Lively Health and Fitness Studio:

“What the Forty, What the Fifty, What the Heck is Going on with My Body?” 

Let’s demystify what is going on with us as we approach (i.e. attempt to live through!) perimenopause and menopause with our Studio Conversations Series: “What the Forty, What the Fifty, What the Heck is Going on with My Body?” 

Led by Registered Dietitian, Rachel Caine, owner of Trefo Nutrition, join us for a casual, yet highly informative session where we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of hormonal changes, hot flashes, and everything in between. Rachel will help us to cut through the confusion of what we are experiencing – AND all the products being sold to us – while helping to empower us with practical tips to look to nutrition to thrive during this phase of life. From mood swings to metabolism, we’ve got you covered! Come ready to chat, connect, learn, and of course, laugh with other women as we navigate the ups and downs of perimenopause and menopause together. We are all in this together!

Around Town

Projects Wanted for 10th Annual Watertown Helps Out

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Got a to-do list that just keeps getting longer? Watertown is full of energetic volunteers willing to help get those jobs done. During our 10th annual WATERTOWN HELPS OUT the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) will bring projects and volunteers together for a month of community service during May, 2024. We want to help connect you to the resources and people you need to get your work done. Connect Your Organization to the Watertown Community

Volunteers can help with projects such as cleaning, trash pick-up, gardening (spring clean-up, planting, raking, pruning, etc), organizing closets/shelves, handyman work, general errands, light carpentry, delivery/posting of flyers, office work, data entry, painting or decorating projects and more. You’ll also raise awareness of your organization and strengthen your relationship with people, businesses, and employees interested in supporting your work. BY MARCH 30, 2024: IDENTIFY A PROJECT YOU NEED HELP WITH

Watertown’s life-science companies and local businesses want to give back to Watertown by encouraging their employees to volunteer here in town.

Around Town

LETTER: What’s Happening With Watertown High School’s Trophies?

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To: School Administration, Town Officials, Historical Society of Watertown and to the editor of the WatertownMaNews, 

Recently during the deconstruction of the Watertown high school, I was made aware of a recent discovery or a better description, recovery of a WHS sports trophy. It was pulled out of a pile of debris being loaded onto a construction vehicle. My first thought was, who cares, is it a big deal, does it really matter??? It’s only one trophy but is it “only one” trophy or were the rest of the trophies dishonorably trucked out too? And when you think about it, it does matter, it matters to the winning Coaches, it matters to the outstanding Athletes that earned those trophies and the Watertown community.

Around Town

Registration Open for 25th Annual Charles River Cleanup

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The following information was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:

Registration is now open for the 25th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup on Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20, 20241 Each year, the Charles River Cleanup brings together over 3,500 volunteers to improve the parks, forests, playgrounds, and paths and keep the Charles River and its tributaries clean, safe, and beautiful for all. The Charles River Cleanup builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River

Cleanup, which, to date, has removed over 32.5 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Park Serve Day, a statewide cleanup initiative now in its 18 year. Since 1999, Charles River Cleanup volunteers have gathered each Earth Day to pick up litter, remove invasive species, and assist with park maintenance along all 80 miles of the Charles River and the 1,100 acres of Emerald Necklace parkland surrounding the Muddy River, a tributary of the Charles. Volunteers have a long-lasting impact–the Charles River Cleanup empowers ordinary river lovers to give back to their communities in a tangible way, forge new connections with nature and each other, and become life-long stewards of our river. “We are so grateful to the thousands of volunteers who turn out to remove trash from the banks and parks and roadways near the Charles,” said Emily Norton, Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association.

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Watertown Walk Returns This Week with City’s New Community Engagement Specialist

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The following announcement was provided by Live Well Watertown:

Mark your calendar for these weekly programs focused on city happenings, health and wellbeing, arts & culture, and local business/community features. Join us for movement, conversation, and connection! March programs are listed below. Meetup locations vary. SIGN UP HERE for reminders and check our website calendar for updates. Walks will not take place if it’s raining or below 32 degrees. 

Kick off Walk with Tyler Cote, Community Engagement SpecialistMarch 7, 2024, 1:00 – 2:00pmMeetup in Saltonstall Park’s red brick plaza, next to City Hall, 149 Main Street

Come walk and talk with the City’s NEW Community Engagement Specialist! Tyler is focused on being a resource for community members to connect with and access to share thoughts about projects and efforts happening around the city. Bring your ideas about active projects, such as Watertown Square, or share a new idea or concern you’d like Tyler to know about.

Around Town

Options for Watertown Square Redesign Refined and Presented to the Public

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Residents gave input about the ideas for redesigning Watertown Square during a meeting on Thursday night. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Designers gave some glimpses of what Watertown’s center could look like if the City adopts a plan to redesign and redevelop the area during Thursday night’s Watertown Square Area Plan meeting. Two main options for reworking the roadways in the Square were explored, both of which would add more open space to the area, and showed retail kiosks on the Delta. The scenarios also looked at how Watertown could meet the requirements to allow more housing to meet the MBTA Communities Act. Buildings with as much as six stories of residential units were shown in the illustrations.