Around Town

Free Kingian Nonviolence Training Taking Place in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseA closeup of the section of the Kingian Nonviolence Mural featuring Martin Luther King. Watertown residents can attend a free training in the nonviolence philosophy and methodology of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. The 16-hour course takes place on March 2 and 9. The following information was provided by the organizers:

There is a free Community Kingian Nonviolence Training  course being offered on March 2 + 9 at the Watertown Police Department Community Room. All residents, including older students, and those that work in Watertown are welcome! The content is engaging and interactive and focuses on the principles and actions of nonviolence in the context of the Civil rights movement and beyond.

Around Town

LETTER: Endorsements for Republican State Committee Members

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On March 5th Massachusetts Republicans and unenrolled voters will be choosing whom they think ought to be the GOP Nominee for President of the United States. Just as important, we will be choosing who represents us on the Republican State Committee.  The State Committee is a board of 80 members, 40 men and 40 women, who elect the MA-GOP Chair, set the state party platform, and direct resources. They decide whether or not the party will rebuild by focusing on legislative and other local offices, or whether we will continue focus our resources, as the Establishment has always on done, on marquis offices, that bring a lot of money for high-priced consultants who are connected with the Establishment; all to the detriment of party building. 

I am proud to enthusiastically endorse John Umina and Catherine Umina for State Committeeman and Committeewoman, respectively, in the Suffolk and Middlesex District. The district comprises Belmont, Watertown, Brighton, and Back Bay Boston.I’ve known both John and Cathy for over a decade and worked closely with both on a multitude of campaigns for Republican candidates, conservative ballot questions, and many issues which face Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Republican Party. No matter the need, both John and Cathy were there to help and even spearhead the effort.  

When I served as President of the Massachusetts Republican Assembly 5th Chapter, John served as my Vice President. Our Chapter was the largest at the time and the most active.

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting Event at Gore Place

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The Watertown Business Coalition announced its latest networking event at one of Watertown’s (and Waltham’s) hidden gems. See the announcement below. Join us at our next WBC Coffee Connect as we give a warm welcome to the new Executive Director at Gore Place, Gavin Kleespies!  Gore Place, you say?  Isn’t that in Waltham?  Technically…a large swath of the Estate is in Watertown – – so we are taking it upon ourselves to welcome Gavin to the community and showcase some of the prettiest landscape in Town.  So, come meet Gavin & staff and enjoy coffee and pastries in the restored 1793 Carriage House. Join Us for a WBC Coffee Connect at Gore Place

52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA

Wednesday, February 28th

8:30 am to 9:30 am

RSVP HERE

If you have yet to check out Gore Place, now is your chance!  Thank you to Gavin for being our host for the morning! This event is FREE and open to:

WBC MEMBERS

Watertown Residents

Watertown Businesspeople

Employees of local companies or non-profits

Our programming aims to help connect our community and residents to the City’s issues and initiatives.  Our morning Coffee Connects, After Hours get-togethers and Civic Events will continue to give you the opportunity to visit places of business in town, meet people, learn something, chat with city government … and maybe even have a laugh along the way.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA Service in Watertown Takes the Cake: Worst Service Ever!

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MBTA buses operating in Watertown Square. (Photo by Mark Pickering)

By Mark Pickering

When it comes to MBTA service, residents in numerous Boston neighborhoods and abutting communities would love to say they have the worst. They’d be wrong. Watertown “wins” hands down. A Boston Globe article (“Missed connections at Nubian,” Feb.

Around Town

See When DCR Camp Sites Can be Reserved

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The Department of Conservation and Recreation sent out the following announcement:

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) today announced that reservations for camping at parks across Massachusetts will open to the public on March 6, 2024, at 9 a.m. Visitors can make reservations for one of DCR’s campgrounds up to four months in advance of their arrival date through ReserveAmerica. Reservations are available for DCR’s 25 campgrounds beginning in April and running through October.  

“One of our goals at DCR is to get more families outside and exploring our state’s beautiful natural resources,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “We know fresh air and the outdoors play a critical role, not only for our physical health but our mental health. Camping in our DCR parks is a fantastic opportunity for people to experience nature, and we hope to see some new faces during the 2024 camping season.” 

Over the past year, DCR has made significant investments in many of our campgrounds across the state. The campground at Mohawk Trail State Forest underwent a $1.4 million renovation following the discovery of algae in the water source feeding the bathhouses in February 2023, including installing a new water system, repaving the campground’s roads, replacing roofs on the cabins and administrative buildings, upgrading the bathroom facilities, and repairing and restoring the chimneys in the Civilian Conservation Corps-era (CCC) cabins.