HAPPY NEW YEAR “2022” EASTENDERS & FRIENDS-AT-LARGE!!!
From me to you and yours…..
Best wishes for lots of good health, happiness and prosperity for one and all!!!
“Here’s to the year past and friends who have left us. Here’s to the present and the friends who are here. Here’s to the New Year and the new friends who will join us.” — Emily Post, Etiquette Author
- “Lang may yer lum reek” literally translates to “Long may your chimney smoke!”, signifying “may you live a long and healthy life” – Scottish phrase shared by a fellow East Ender
- “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.” — William Shakespeare, from The Merchant of Venice
- “May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.” — Irish Blessing
- “In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship, but never in want.” — Irish Toast
- “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “Some ships are wooden ships, but those ships may sink. The best ships are friendships, and to those ships, we drink.” Author Unknown
- “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” — Edith Lovejoy Pierce, Poet & Pacifist
- “Here’s to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old; Here’s to the things that are yet to come and to the memories that we hold.” Author Unknown
- “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” – Helen Adams Keller, American author, educator, disability rights advocate, political activist……
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” — T.S. Eliot, Poet
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ENCORE RECOLLECTIONS OF THE EARLY YEARS:
MICHAEL J. DRISCOLL, CITY MANAGER
East End Town Harbinger 06/25/2021
Greetings East Enders,
Have you heard the bittersweet news? After serving the City Known as the Town of Watertown for almost forty-five years; the last twenty-nine years as Town/City Manager; Michael J. Driscoll has chosen to retire; effective 01/31/2022.
Here in the East End, through the East Watertown Betterment Assoc. (EWBA), our roots run deep with Mr. Driscoll. Were you one of the 115 residents in attendance on Tuesday evening, Sept. 28th, 1993 when the then “recently appointed” Town Manager first had the opportunity to: “officially meet a large portion of the electorate” at the Watertown Lodge of Elks? Attached are the 1993 EWBA Annual Meeting Notice, and minutes of the meeting as recorded by John J. Bartley, Secretary.
Some excerpts from Mr. Driscoll’s Sept. 28th, 1993 outline of goals, are as follows:
- Health cost containment…..
- Purchasing – Buying as efficiently as possible…..
- Clean streets – getting the Town clean again…..
- Management by goals – each department head must have objectives…..
He also mentioned: “…… to enforce the existing pooper-scooper ordinance.” Oops, sorry, still a work in progress….., ha, ha….., we’re on the same wavelength!
Mr. Driscoll’s first introduction to the Watertown community at the Watertown Lodge of Elks; culminated into annual, sold-out Sunday morning breakfast events at the Oakley Country Club and The Morton Madoff Center, Tufts Health Plan, 705 Mt. Auburn St. Those in attendance savored hearing the latest and greatest happenings in Town and interacting with neighbors, friends, media representatives and the local pols.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR UPCOMING RETIREMENT
BEST WISHES for GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS and QUALITY TIME for FAMILY and FRIENDS
Read Manager Driscoll’s retirement remarks here: https://www.watertown-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32524/Remarks-by-Town-Manager-Michael-J-Driscoll—Retirement-Announcement
View Town/City Manager Michael J. Driscoll’s 06/22/2021 remarks at the 2:10:27 time marker
http://vodwcatv.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/904?channel=3
Warm regards,
Angie
Angeline Maria B. Kounelis, District A Councilor
Both you and Mike have earned your retirements from service to Watertown. Thanks!
Angie, you have been a Councilor that others should emulate. You have always approached your role with dedication. You have done so much for Watertown and the people here. You always found time to investigate and dig into the details of whatever issues were on the docket and make intelligent and caring decisions for us. You will be missed on the Council, but I hope you still continue to share your voice on issues as you deem them appropriate.
I wish you much happiness, good health and new fun experiences as you go forward. Thank you for your years of service.
Mike, thank you for all of your contributions to our TOWN over your many years of service. Your taking an aggressive approach to keeping the retirement plan funds controlled and funded will pay benefits for everyone going forward. I hope the next City Manager has strong principles and a forward-looking approach as you had. Good luck and much happiness are wished to you in your retirement.