Around Town

Steve Gross to Headline Charles River Chamber’s Fall Business Breakfast

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Charles River Regional Chamber invites our local business community to its highly anticipated Fall Business Breakfast presented by Needham Bank on Friday, November 1, 2024, from 7:15 to 9:00 a.m. at Newton Marriott. The event is the Chamber’s largest annual gathering for business, civic and nonprofit leaders across Newton, Needham, Watertown, and Wellesley. This year’s program will feature Steve Gross, a Needham-native, Newton-resident and founder of the Life is Good Playmaker Project, as the keynote speaker. Using research, humor, and personal stories from his 25+ years as a clinical social worker, Gross will share how optimistic leaders bring out the best in people and organizations – especially in challenging, change-filled times. In addition to the keynote address, attendees will have the opportunity to network with more than 400 local business leaders, decision-makers, and community members.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Strongly Endorses Yes on Question 4

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Hi Massachusetts Voters,

As I have said in a comment, I will be voting yes on all the ballot questions.  (Watertown specimen ballots for the general election on Tuesday, November 3rd, can be found here at https://www.watertown-ma.gov/295/Specimen-Ballots). At the root of many of the ballot questions is economic fairness. However, I feel most completed to write about Question 4. “This proposed law would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances. The psychedelic substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms (psilocybin and psilocin) and three substances found in plants (dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine).” I feel compelled because this is about how we care for those who have no other options.

Sports

Testimonial Dinner Planned to Honor Former Watertown High Football Coach John Barbati

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Sportscaster Mike Lynch to Emcee Nov. 26th Event — Open to the Watertown Community

The following announcement was provided by the organizers of the testimonial dinner:

Watertown High School alums and community members announced plans for a testimonial dinner in honor of former football coach John Barbati. The event, hosted by renowned Boston sportscaster Mike Lynch, takes-place on Tuesday, November 26 at the Watertown Sons of Italy. 

A member of Massachusetts High School Football Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame and the WHS Hall of Fame, Barbati was Watertown’s head football coach from 1969 until 1992, retiring with a winning percentage of .595 and four championships (1973, 1976, 1977 and 1983) in the hyper-competitive Middlesex League. 

Former players of the program have joined together to stage an event that honors Coach Barbati tireless efforts in support of his players on and off the field for 24 years. “Even though it’s been a long time since we played for Coach Barbati, we haven’t forgotten the commitment he made to make us better players and better people,” said Orazio Lattanzi, class of 1976, who went on to play at Harvard. “By challenging us every day to improve on and off the field, Coach built a culture that instilled pride in one another and our community.” 

Graduates from numerous classes joined forces to organize the testimonial dinner.

Around Town

Watertown Girl Scouts Created Pet Pantries at 2 Local Food Pantries

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Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 with Kathy Cunningham of the Watertown Food Pantry. The Troop created a Pet Pantry. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133:

By Olivia Nardone Cavanaugh

Members of Watertown Girl Scout Junior Troop 70133 in fifth grade are working to earn their Bronze Award, one of the highest awards in Girl Scouts, by making a difference in their community. The girls conducted observational research and decided they wanted to help wild and domestic animals in Watertown to stay safe and healthy through community education and awareness. For the project, the girls met with Animal Control Officer Samantha Gatchell to gather wildlife safety tips and designed and printed flyers to educate community members about how to treat wild animals safely.

Around Town

LETTER: Another Look at Question 2 – Reasons to Vote “Yes”

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Dear Neighbors,

We are Watertown residents and educators working in neighboring school districts (Belmont and Newton) asking you to consider these reasons for voting Yes on Question 2 this election. Question 2 proposes removing the MCAS graduation requirement for high school students. MCAS is a set of standardized tests the state uses to monitor public school performance in Massachusetts. Students are tested in grades 3-8 and 10, and sometimes 9, in English, math, civics and science. Question 2 does not eliminate MCAS.

Around Town

Authors & Innovators Festival Returns to Mosesian Center

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Authors & Innovators Festival is back!Our friends at Gennari Aronson are once again bringing together some of business’ top book authors, innovators, and business minds at The Mosesian Center in Watertown. This event will be a unique opportunity to dive into big ideas and engage with big thinkers on the power of storytelling. 9th Annual Authors & Innovators Business Ideas Festival

Thursday, Oct. 24, 4:30-7:00 p.m.

Friday, Oct 25, 8:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (lunch will be served)

The Mosesian Center for the Arts321 Arsenal St., Watertown

Free to attend

Each year since 2017, attorney Larry Gennari has been channeling his passion for entrepreneurship, collaboration, and reading into free events promoting innovative and provocative ideas from great business book authors. This fall, the chamber is pleased to once-again be partnering with Larry and his Needham-based firm Gennari & Aronson on the 2024 Authors & Innovators Business Ideas Festival in Watertown

This two-day festival will be jam-packed with insights, idea exchange, and thoughtful, intelligent conversation.

Around Town

OP-ED: Housing for All Group Seeks More Affordable Housing in Watertown Square Area Plan

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Photo by Mark Pickering

By Mark Pickering

At a recent meeting of the Housing for All Watertown group, speakers touted the group’s success in its effort to deliver “the most ambitious MBTA Communities Act plan in the state.” Now the group is shifting gears to focus on getting more affordable housing as part of the plan. In Watertown, the YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) movement is alive and kicking. Members of the grassroots group say that the next step is to bring a greater number of affordable units into Watertown Square. Communities served by the T are required to submit rezoning plans (under the 2021 MBTA law) that would allow for building multifamily housing. 

To that goal, the Watertown group has come up with an “affordable housing bonus plan.” The idea is to increase the incentives for developers to build up if their plans meet certain affordable housing guidelines. As it now stands, the Watertown Square rezoning lacks robust incentives for including affordable housing in new buildings.