About Belmont-Watertown Local First

Belmont-Watertown Local First Mission

It is Belmont-Watertown Local First's mission to build a strong local economy and a vibrant community by:

• Bringing together independent businesses for mutual benefit.
• Initiating and supporting public policy that improves the business environment for locally owned businesses
• Organizing a Local First campaign that educates customers, businesses, and government agencies to the benefits of purchasing from locally-owned businesses`

Founding Members and Planning Board

Don Levy, Chairman, Deluxe Town Diner
Ernest Berardinelli, Treasurer, 31 Irving Trust
Rena Baskin, Clerk and Community Liaison
Barry Steinberg, Direct Tire & Auto Service
Sonia Boyajian, Real Estate 109
Eric Luden, Digital Silver Imaging
Amy Rothman, The Bookcase Factory
Deb Smith, Attorney at Law
Jonathan Rosenthal, Consultant
Aravinda Ananda - Community Associate
Joseph Rotella - Community Associate
Shannon Sadowsi - Community Associate

History

Watertown residents Rena Baskin, Barbara Ruskin, and Jonathan Rosenthal began conversations with national Local First leader Laury Hammel in the fall of 2011 about the possibility of starting a Watertown Local First organization of locally owned and independent business owners. After a series of meetings with various local independent business leaders, Don Levy of the Deluxe Town Diner agreed to chair Watertown Local First. A meeting was held on November 1, 2011 (11/1/11) and five independent business owners agreed to found Watertown Local First:

Barry Steinberg, Direct Tire & Auto Service
Don Levy, Deluxe Town Diner
Amy Rothman Kelley, The Bookcase Factory Outlet
Paul Maslow, Strip-T’s
Ahmad Yasin, Kareem Culinary

Belmont businesses were invited to become part of the organization in January of 2013, and the organization officially changed its name to Belmont-Watertown Local First in April of that year.