Environment

LETTER: Three Pests Threaten Watertown Trees

By |

Cornell ExtensionPhoto of a Pear Leaf with Rust. By James Briand of Trees for Watertown

Watertown’s trees face three distinct invasive pest challenges this year. One, Pear Trellis Rust, is a fungus that has been significantly disfiguring the town’s ornamental pear trees. Another, Emerald Ash Borer, is a small beetle that causes the rapid death of ash trees. The third, Spotted Lantern Fly, is an emerging survival threat to a variety of trees, especially fruit trees.

District A

LETTER: Resident Endorses Nicole Gardner for District A Councilor

By |

I’ve lived in Watertown for more than ten years and in that time I have been active in several local groups, such as the Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment as well as Watertown Community Conversations. I’m writing today to endorse Nicole Gardner for District A Town Councilor because I know that she will bring her outstanding skills and qualities to this role. I encourage my fellow East End residents to cast a vote for Nicole on November 2nd. Nicole and I both served on the Steering Committee of Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice and the Environment, where I observed her excellent listening skills, her spirit of collaboration, and her ability to zero in on a problem and offer a creative solution. She’s a strategic thinker, always exploring the implications of actions that the committee endorsed.  

I’ve been consistently impressed by Nicole’s ability to understand the complex issues facing residents of Watertown, especially evident in our work together with Watertown Forward, which encouraged community engagement in the charter review process.

Letters

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

By |

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.

Commenting

New Rules for Commenting on Election Stories and Candidates

By |

Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown Town Hall in 2020. Watertown has a big election coming up on Nov. 2, 2021, with several contested races as well as the proposed Charter changes. The discussion about the candidates and the issues has already become contentions, so in order to provide some accountability when it comes to commenting a new policy will apply to comments on election stories, or those about candidates on other stories. Candidates have put themselves out there and express their opinions and platforms. While it is fair game to question and oppose those things, to make it a level playing field, commenters should also stand behind their opinions by signing their comments.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown Teachers Union Responds to Calls for Vaccination

By |

To the Members of the Watertown School Community,

School Committee Candidate Rachel Kay’s recent letter to the Watertown MA News regarding a requirement for Watertown teachers to be vaccinated was not surprising given the level of political discourse that has recently besieged our country. In the letter, Ms. Kay is dismayed that there is not a vaccine mandate in place for teachers in the Watertown Public Schools. Her letter implies that the Watertown Educators Association and Watertown Public School District are opposed to a vaccine mandate. Ms.Kay appears to be uninformed regarding this matter. Had she inquired about a vaccine mandate by asking WEA leaders, School Committee members, or Superintendent Galdston, she would have learned that this matter is currently in negotiations.

COVID-19

LETTER: Call for Requirement for Watertown Teachers to be Vaccinated

By |

Editor,

As teachers return to school this week, and students joining them next week, we still do not know whether vaccines will be mandated for teachers and staff in Watertown Public Schools. We do know that the CDC, state government, and the largest teachers union in Massachusetts are all recommending school staff be vaccinated.  Medical professionals, including Dr. Fauci, are saying that the best way to protect children under 12 who are not yet vaccinated is to surround them with vaccinated people. Many school districts have already put this common sense requirement in place. We are fortunate to be in a community where the majority of adults are vaccinated, including the majority of teachers. But, the data from the last 18 months show that when there was Covid-19 transmission in schools, it was usually driven by unvaccinated school staff.

Board of Health

LETTER: Resident Wants Board of Health to Rescind Indoor Mask Mandate

By |

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

On August 23, 2021, a Watertown non-elected local governmental body decided that 36,000 Watertown residents must, as of August 25, 2021, wear masks while indoors stating, ‘The Watertown Board of Health has issued an Order mandating the wearing of face coverings indoors throughout Watertown.”

In so doing, a small group of appointed individuals with varying levels of medical and public health credentialing mandated that we, the residents of Watertown, MA, cannot decide for ourselves when and where to wear a mask to manage our own health. The Watertown Board of Health’s (Board) mask mandate is troubling. The Board has decided that 36,000 people are incapable of discerning their own private health needs and risk tolerance. In forcing a mask mandate, the Board effectively treats Watertown’s population like children who lack judgment. The Board’s insistence on a mask mandate in light of the data should give us pause.