Around Town

OP-ED: Collateral Damage of the Air Accident in Washington

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By Clyde YoungerFormer Watertown Council President

Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, around 9 p.m., video captured a horrific collision of two airplanes as they erupted into flame. My mother told me that when she was eight years old her father was lighting a kerosene stove and it exploded and set him on fire; he ran, no one could catch up with him and he burned to death. However, he was on solid ground. One cannot imagine the horror the people on the two planes experienced as their planes came hurtling down in flames from the sky leaving an unerasable scar in the heart of their loved ones.

Around Town

MassDOT to Host Meetings on Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study

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MassDOT’s study area at Newton Corner. The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing it will be hosting the third working group meeting for the Newton Corner Long Term Planning Study. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., hosted virtually via Zoom. A dedicated public information meeting will also be held on Tuesday, February 25, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

At the meeting on Wednesday, February 5, the study team will present their work on future conditions, review issues, constraints, and opportunities within the study area, and first-stage alternatives development. The meeting materials will also be available after the meeting on the study website. This will include a discussion with members of the Working Group.

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City Council Newsletter: Police Body Cameras, Capital Improvement Plan & More

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The Watertown City Council Newsletter for the meeting on Jan. 28, 2025 was provided by the City Council. Residents can view the recording of the January 28th meeting here. PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Council President Mark Sideris began by reading a proclamation honoring Ingrid Marchesano on her retirement after over forty years of dedicated service to Watertown. You can read the full proclamation here.

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Grant Info Session for Non-Profits Serving Older Residents to be Hosted by Marshall Home Fund

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Marshall Home Fund provided information about the Grant Information Session for organizations seeking grants from the organization that serves older residents of Watertown. See more information below. Marshall Home Fund Grant Information Session

Thursday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library

Is your organization helping Watertown’s older residents? Did you know that Marshall Home Fund (MHF) awards thousands of dollars in grants to non-profit organizations that serve older Watertown residents each year?

Around Town

Mt. Auburn St. Project: Drainage Installation Work at Arlington St. & Bigelow Ave. Continue

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Newport Construction is continuing to complete the drainage installation work between Arlington Street and Bigelow Avenue on the eastbound side. You can expect to see construction crews in this area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week ending on Feb. 7, 2025. Traffic Impacts

There will be lane shifts and a potential lane closure during this work, which may also impact street parking in the immediate work area. Currently we do not anticipate any detours.

Around Town

City Warns of Increase in Dead Birds in Watertown, Bird Flu in Mass.; Tips for Keeping Pets Safe

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Watertown has seen an increase in dead bird sightings. While the state has not yet confirmed the presence of bird flu in Watertown, they have said that bird flu is widespread in Massachusetts and is likely present even in communities where there has not been a confirmed positive. To keep our community safe and healthy, please follow these precautions: 

Keep Your Distance: Avoid interacting with or approaching wild birds, including feeding them. Do not touch any sick or dead birds or other animals. 

Avoid Contaminated Areas: Steer clear of surfaces that may be contaminated with bird saliva, mucus, or feces. 

Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any potential contact with birds. 

Protect Your Pets: Dogs and other pets should always be leashed and kept away from wildlife. Cats are susceptible to bird flu and may die from an infection, so keep your cats indoors to prevent exposure to infected wildlife. 

For Owners of Domestic Poultry or Birds: Prevent shared food or water sources between your birds and wild birds.

Around Town

OBIT: Cynthia Essex, 87, Teacher and Supervisor at Perkins School for the Blind

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Cynthia Essex born on February 14, 1937 and raised in Coventry, Rhode Island, died on January 7, 2025. She graduated from Coventry High School and the University of Rhode Island and later received a master’s degree from Boston College. After graduating from college, she became a third- grade teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA with a specialty in mathematics. She advanced to become Supervisor of the Lower School at Perkins in 1964 and later Supervisor of the Junior and Senior High School. At her retirement after more than 50 years of service, she became a Member of the Corporation at Perkins.