How Can I Unsubscribe From Bulk Mailings?

There are several options available for people who want to start clearing out their mailbox.

One good thing about bulk mail is that unlike its distant cousin, the telemarketer, it can’t wake you up or interrupt your dinner. But that said, it does have a way of clogging up your mailbox in any given week with lots of paper and not necessarily much else of interest.  So what can you do about unwanted bulk mailings? A call last week to the Post Office confirms that there is indeed a “Do Not Mail” list to go along with the “Do Not Call” list. The Federal Trade Commission has a page with various links for people to use, depending on what kind of mail they wish to stop receiving. For example, OptOutPreScreen.com, an official credit industry site, will allow you to stop receiving pre-screened credit and insurance-related offers. The …

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MBTA Hosting Huge Recycling Event at the Watertown Bus Yard

Bring your electronics, appliances, clothes, metal and more to the event on May 11.

The MBTA will host a recycling event where residents can bring a wide variety of items, including electronics, metal, clothes and much more. The event will be at the Watertown Bus Yard, at Galen and Water streets in Watertown, on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents of all towns are welcome, according to an information poster from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Items taken at the event will not end up in landfill, according to the MassDOT. Televisions cost 35 cents per pound and everything else will be accepted for free, according to the announcement. Here are items that will be accepted: Electronics: computers, monitors, VCRs, cell phones, keyboards, printers, copiers, faxes, modems, cabling, wire, cords, …

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Eating Organic in Watertown

Eating organic is good for your health and it's good for the planet. But sometimes, it can be hard to find. Here's where to get the best organic foods in and around Watertown.

Did you know that eating conventional produce could increase your risk of pesticide contamination by 30 percent? And chowing down on non-organic chicken and pork increases your risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by 33 percent? This is all according to a 2012 Annals of Internal Medicine report.  If you're not already sold on the benefits of eating organic, consider this: organic foods may have more nutrients than their conventionally produced counterparts. Organic broccoli, for example, has higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C than the traditionally produced variety, found a 2012 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture study. There’s also evidence of more heart-healthy omega-3s in organic poultry and dairy.   So…

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How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day? (Sponsored)

Here are some family activities you can do to foster environmentalism. Sponsored by Sony.

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day? On May 31, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day. How can we make every day Earth Day? Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of …

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Bikes Not Bombs Collecting Used Bicycles in Watertown on Saturday

The Jamaica Plain group fixes up the bicycles and sends them to communities in the developing world.

  Have an old bicycle cluttering up the garage, bring it down to the Bikes Not Bombs collection on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The collection is hosted by First Parish Church, at 35 Church Street in Watertown. Bikes Not Bombs bring the bicycles to its bicycle service shop where inner-city youth learn to become bicycle mechanics, and then the bicycles are sent to communities in the developing world. The workers in the Jamaica Plain-based program also learn business skills and how to become a community leader, according to an announcement for the event. The group is also committed to promoting peace and social justice locally and around the world. Over the years 50,000 bikes have been sent to areas of the developing world, …

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You Ask, Patch Answers

Where's Can You Charge Your Electric Car in Watertown?

NSTAR and crowd-sourced websites offer tips and locations for charging electric cars.

Drivers who are considering a switch to electric vehicles or current vehicle owners looking for a place nearby to charge their rides have a couple of places to find their outlet. Watertown, has one charging station in a parking garage on Watertown Street, and there are stations in Newton at Clay Nissan. Nearby in Cambridge, the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square has a charging station. Carstations allows users to upload new car charging locations to a Google map and (when applicable) provides details on the station. According to the site's "About" section, "this website is designed to encourage participation and welcomes user interaction in the form of comments, updates and user generated content." There are also more official sites providing…

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Eating Organic in Watertown

Eating organic is good for your health and it's good for the planet. But sometimes, it can be hard to find. Here's where to get the best organic foods in and around Watertown.

Did you know that eating conventional produce increases your risk of pesticide contamination by 30%? And chowing down on non-organic chicken and pork increases your risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by 33%?  This is all according to a 2012 Annals of Internal Medicine report.  If you're not already sold on the benefits of eating organic, consider this: organic foods may have more nutrients than their conventionally produced counterparts. Organic broccoli, for example, has higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C than the traditionally produced variety, found a 2012 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture study. There’s also evidence of more heart-healthy omega-3s in organic poultry and dairy.   So eating organic is…

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20 Ways to Go Green in Watertown in 2013

Looking for ways to live a greener lifestyle, check out these 20 tips to help you stick to your plan.

If you want to be kinder to the planet and save some money at the same time, here are 20 ways to go green in 2013. TELL US: Will you be going green this year? Share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments sections below.

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