College

LETTER: Third Grader Writes Why College Should be More Affordable

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(The following letter was originally written as an assignment where students were asked to write about a subject that is important to them, according to Hosmer Elementary School teacher Christine Fletcher. It is the unedited version of the essay.)

Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut or a doctor or an architect? If you want to be one of these jobs when you’re grown up you have to go to college. 

College is a school you can go to after high school. Some people go there to learn more things. And how you can do a job and to learn skills.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Father Excited for New Hosmer School

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Editor,

Yesterday (Tuesday) my family and I toured the new Hosmer elementary school. It was so exciting! The school building committee, architects, and construction crews have done a great job. The whole thing was beautiful. I loved the colorful hallways, big open classrooms and warm, welcoming environs all around.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Backs Candidates Who Will Bring “New Blood” to Council, School Committee

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It’s great to live in such an active and diverse town. I’m writing because over the past decade, there has been extreme apathy in the local voting process. Fewer and fewer people are going to the polls for local elections, and voter turnout percentages are at an all-time low – about 4%! It is truly disheartening that many major economic, development, financial, and transportation decisions are being made by town council members who only represent the views of a small fraction of the Watertown population. But, this year, we have seen a true swell of passion, interest, and concern over the voting process and the direction our town is taking. We’re seeing a strong influx of new candidates who will challenge elements of the status quo and provide voters like us with real options and choices. 

These candidates bring “new blood” and perspectives to the election process, and they will offer well-informed visions for the future of Watertown.

Elections

LETTER: More Than Forty Parents Back Candidate for Councilor At-Large

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We write to you today to enthusiastically endorse Daniel D’Amico for Watertown Councilor at-large. As parents of children in town, we have all worked with Dan over the years and know him as a thoughtful, entrepreneurial, and forward-thinking leader. He has volunteered his time in town, most recently serving as a community member on the WFPL Strategic Planning Committee in 2020-21. He has also spent the last 15 years coaching the children of Watertown and instilling in them the values of teamwork, fair play, and hard work and we know he would bring these skills to the Town Council if elected. Dan is a lifelong resident of Watertown and has a long history of engagement in town, yet he is committed to serving Watertown in a way that is inclusive of all views.

District B

LETTER: Open Letter from Council Candidate to Opponent About Concern Over Location of Campaign Event

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Dear Councilor Feltner,

I am writing this letter to express my concern around the location of the campaign event being hosted this afternoon (Oct. 1) on my street: Riverside St. The specific lawn currently, and for the past few years, has signage from the Trump administration, which over four years fostered an environment of hostility toward communities of color and the LGBTQIA+ community, not only in rhetoric, but in the systematic degradation of legal protections and civil rights through policy changes. I am very concerned that this event space may be unwelcoming and othering for residents who identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, Brown, Asian American/Pacific Islander, People of Color and systemically silenced identities such as LGBTQIA+. While I don’t know the people hosting the event personally, I do want to ensure that potential voters can meet candidates in a non-intimidating space and that all visitors feel welcome on my block.

Letters

LETTER: Are There Plans for Helping Russo’s Employees After Store Closes?

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Editor

Like so many I am disappointed that Russo’s is disappearing next month. I have shopped there since it was a vegetable stand and I presumed that its current version with 250 employees would be around for the rest of my life. Since this is not the case, I am wondering about the fate of all of its employees? Is Russo, like so many companies, providing outplacement services and some months of pay to assist the employees they are letting go land on their feet? If anyone knows, I would be interested to hear.

Around Town

LETTER: Loss of Russo’s Hurts, But Watertown Still Has Many Gems

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To the Editor:

Reports of culture’s demise in Watertown are greatly exaggerated. Is there a way for Watertown to avoid losing a gem like Russo’s, some have asked? (https://www.watertownmanews.com/2021/08/16/letter-is-there-a-way-for-watertown-to-avoid-losing-a-gem-like-russos/) The simple answer is no. There isn’t any one shop that can replace Russo’s in Watertown. That’s gone; like so many of gentrified Boston’s mainstays such as No Names, Durgin-Park, soon-to-be closed Kowloon, Circle Pizza, Jimmy’s Harborside, Anthony’s, and so many more.