Around Town

Rotary Club Joins Middle School Tradition of Packing Thanksgiving Baskets

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The Rotary Club of Watertown, led by honorary member Eleanor Donato, worked with Watertown Middle School kids and their teachers to put together over 40 Thanksgiving Baskets for Watertown families in need, according to a Rotary Club annoucement. Funds for the basket contents were provided by Watertown Middle School families and staff and the Rotary Club. On Monday Nov. 27 kids and adults came together to sort the supplies and pack the baskets. The baskets contained everything a family would need to have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal – from a turkey to ingredients for all of the fixings to instructions on how to make it all come together!

Around Town

Alzheimer’s Association Receives Donation from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation

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Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation announced that the Alzheimer Association in Watertown was awarded $500 from the Foundation’s Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant program. Tonia Gill, an employee of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, nominated the organization for the award. The funds will be used to support the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. To commemorate those Harvard Pilgrim members who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, Harvard Pilgrim and the Foundation created the Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant program. This program allows each Harvard Pilgrim employee to award a $500 grant, completely funded by the Foundation, to the local charity of his or her choice each calendar year.

Around Town

Watertown Scouts Collect 100 Bags of Groceries for Food Pantry

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Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts worked together Saturday to support Scouting for Food, collecting more than 100 very full shopping bags for the Watertown Food Pantry. With the generous support from shoppers at the Watertown Street Stop & Shop, Troop 30 (scouts age 11-17) and Pack 30 (scouts age 5-10) collected shelf-stable goods for the Watertown Food Pantry. “I want to thank Boy Scout Troop 30 for the heartwarming donation,” said Kathleen Cunningham, Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator. “The hard work and generous collection of over 120 bags of food received will certainly make a difference in our community for the holidays and after. Your commitment, along with your donation is truly overwhelming.” Public service is a large part of scouting, and the Watertown Food Pantry is a perfect partner for that service: Both the Boy Scouts and the Pantry call 80 Mt.

Charity

Watertown Woman to be Honored for Work Spreading Education in Africa and Boston

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Born and raised in Watertown, Jane O’Connor has spread her work as an educator across the globe, and will receive an honor previously bestowed to Boston Police Commissioner William Evans and actor and peace and justice activist Martin Sheen. After being principal in the Watertown Public Schools for 24 years – at Cunniff Elementary School and Watertown Middle School – O’Connor worked to help at risk students in Boston, and took part in starting a school for girls in rural Africa. Her work will be recognized by the Paulist Center Community, which will present her with the Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice at a ceremony in Boston on Saturday, Nov. 18. A group from Boston was interested in setting up a school for girls in an area of Rwanda that was hard hit by the 1996 genocide, and invited O’Connor to be a part of the effort.

Around Town

Need Help Raking Your Leaves – Volunteers Will Help Neighbors in Watertown

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If you need help raking leave – for free – or, if you want to volunteer to help your fellow Watertown residents, there is an event for you this weekend. Trees for Watertown and National Honors Society from Watertown High School are hosting a morning of community leaf raking on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19. Those who need help raking their leave can contact David Meshoulam by email at david.meshoulam@gmail.com or call at 608-852-4388.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Boy Hosting Blood Drive as Day of Kindness on Anniversary of Cancer Diagnosis

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A Watertown boy who battled cancer hopes to inspire others to do some good by hosting a blood driver at St. James Armenian Church in Watertown. Organizers sent out the following announcement:

Gabriel’s Day of Kindness is only 18 days away (on November 3 – the fifth anniversary of G’s diagnosis with leukemia). So many friends and strangers have helped him turn his “dark day into a light day,” and thousands of acts of kindness around the world have been performed in Gabriel’s honor. We also ask local friends to consider giving blood in Gabriel’s honor on Tuesday, November 7.

Charity

Support the Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders and Enter to Win $5K for a Vacation

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A raffle is being held by the Wayside Youth and Family Support Network and you can enter to win and also support the Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders – a group that works to reduce alcohol and drug use by teens. The Watertown Youth Coalition sent out the following information:

You could still win the $5KGetaway Raffle, but only if you buy a ticket and try your luck today! $5 for 1 ticket, $20 for 5 tickets and you could win a $5,000 voucher for a vacation to the destination(s) of your choice! Put “Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders” under “I want my raffle fee to support the following individual or team” and 100% of funds will support the WYC Peer Leadership Program! Buy online today by clicking here

Or make a tax-deductible donation directly to the team. Any contribution is appreciated and will help the WYC Peer Leaders with their efforts this year! Join us and give now by clicking here

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Hosting 14th Annual 5K Road Race

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club sent out the following announcement:

Register today for Watertown Boys & Girls Club’s 14th Annual 5K Road Race. The race will take place on Sunday, November 5 at 10 a.m. starting at the Club (25 Whites Avenue, Watertown). There will be a 1K Fun Run for ages 0-10, refreshments, raffles, music, and more! Don’t miss this fun family event. Pre-registration: $25.00 (by October 30)

Week of registration: $30.00

All proceeds benefit youth programming at Watertown Boys & Girls Club.