Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/2/)
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
John Berberian (right) and Antranig Kzirian will perform together at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown for an evening of storytelling, Armenian folk traditions, and improvisation. The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:
The Armenian Museum of America is pleased to present “Music in Color: Oudflections” on Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m., an intimate and dynamic evening celebrating the rich traditions and contemporary evolution of Armenian music with two generations of oud players. This program is generously sponsored by Nancy R. Kolligian.
This special duet performance brings together legendary oud virtuoso John Berberian and acclaimed contemporary musician Antranig Kzirian for a unique “East meets West” musical experience blending storytelling, classical compositions, Armenian folk traditions, improvisation, and modern interpretation.
The oud is a fretless, pear-shaped string instrument that has been central to Middle Eastern and Armenian musical traditions for centuries. In Western Armenian music, the oud is held to be sacred due to its expressive, emotive sound and is often used to accompany traditional songs, dances, and community gatherings, helping preserve cultural memory across generations. Among Armenian-American communities, the oud remains an important symbol of heritage and identity, connecting diasporic families to Western Armenian culture through performances, celebrations, and the continuation of traditional music practices.
The City of Watertown provided the following information:
Join the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for a special Annual Public Hearing to celebrate completed Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects and help us update the CPA Plan. When: July 16, 2026, at 7-8:45 p.m.
Where: Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room
Stay tuned for more details and visit watertown-ma.gov/cpc for information about Watertown’s Community Preservation Program and Community Preservation Committee. Questions: Contact Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov
The Tipsy Tea Party will be hosted by the City of Watertown’s Events Team at the Commander’s Mansion on Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. See more details provided by the Events Team, below. Pride Month is around the corner, and that means the Tipsy Tea is back!
Join the City Events Team and the Friends of the COA for a festive gathering featuring delicious brunch bites, a cash bar, and fabulous drag entertainment in celebration of Pride. This year’s theme is “Drag Me to the Disco!”
Tickets are $40 and go on sale Friday, May 1, 2026. Please note this event is 21+. Visit our website to meet this year’s dazzling performers, and don’t forget to set a reminder — tickets go fast! The Commander’s Mansion is located at 440 Talcott Ave., Watertown.
Simone Zupka
A Hosmer School student will be performing with in the final production of Boston Ballet’s 2025-26 season, “The Sleeping Beauty.” See more information provided by Boston Ballet, below. Simone Zupka of Watertown will perform in Boston Ballet’s production of Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty in the role of Fairy Page. Simone has been a student at Boston Ballet School for four years, and this marks her second production with Boston Ballet. Performances of Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty will take place at the Citizens Opera House in Boston, where audiences will experience this beloved classical masterpiece brought to life by Boston Ballet’s dancers.
“Jewish Voices Critique the Antisemitism Commission” — That was the title of the meeting at the Watertown Library on May 21. It tells you things could have gotten ugly. Thanks to careful planning and skilled moderation, even though the event was tense, it mostly remained civil. The topic was urgent and divisive. In December, 2025, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism released its policy recommendations.
The following announcement was provided by MIT Open Documentary Lab:
The MIT Open Documentary Lab and IXRDC are bringing Immersive Documentary Pop-Ups to Watertown Library on Thursday, May 28, from 4–7 PM. Visitors can drop in to experience a curated collection of virtual reality works by artists exploring climate change, identity, immigration, indigeneity, racial injustice, disability, memory, and civic life. This is part of Libraries as Immersive Storytelling Hubs, a civic research initiative by the MIT Open Documentary Lab exploring how public libraries can become spaces for immersive storytelling, community engagement, and new ways of knowing. Featured projects include:
• Ice Sailors• Less Than Five Grams of Saffron• Travelling While Black• You Destroy. We Create.
The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:
Resistance and Inspiration is the theme of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment’s 47 th Annual Meeting and Potluck Dinner that will take place on Sunday, May 31 at the First Parish of Watertown at 35 Church St. in Watertown. The potluck will begin at 5 p.m. and our program will begin at 6:15 p.m.
Watertown Citizens members and supporters came together last year to build community and support each other in difficult times. The challenges we faced then have only grown – increasing attacks on our civil liberties and on immigrant and marginalized communities; continuing cuts in funding for basic needs – affordable housing, healthcare, and education; destruction of environmental protections and the expansion of fossil fuels; and unabetted illegal military actions causing death and injury to hundreds of thousands. Fortunately, the past year has also been marked by larger and larger mass demonstrations throughout the country, at state houses, and in local communities.