Vulcan/packages/telescope-notifications/lib/client/templates/notification_item.js

Template.notification_item.helpers({
  showItem: function () {
    try {
      this.message();
      return true;
    } catch (e) {
      return false;
    }
  },
  properties: function(){
    return this.data;
  },
  notificationHTML: function(){
    return this.message();
  }
});

Template.notification_item.events({
  'click .action-link': function(event, instance){
    var notificationId=instance.data._id;
    Herald.collection.update(
    {_id: notificationId},
    {
      $set:{
        read: true
      }
    },
    function(error, result){
      if(error){
        console.log(error);
      } 
    }
  );  
  }
});