Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/2015/03/page/6/)
The emergency parking ban in Watertown is over! Town officials announced the on-street parking ban ended at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, according to an email sent out by Town Councilor Cecilia Lenk. The ban was put in place after the record snows fell on – and stayed – on Watertown’s streets and sidewalks. “Spring is coming!” Lenk added in her note.
With a swift upward thrust of their knees accompanied by a loud “No!” a group of girls at Watertown High School practiced how to fight off an attacker.
On a recent Friday, a group of more than 30 female students spent several hours learning a variety ways to fend off someone who threatened them. The self-defense class was taught by IMPACT Boston, and paid for with funds the Watertown Public Schools received through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. The opportunity to learn about self defense was offered to the girls in the senior class, said PE teacher Tina Taylor, and when some spots remained juniors were invited to participate. “The hope is we get money to fund this in the future and we can teach all the students self-defense before they leave (WHS),” Taylor said.
JAZZ @ The Arsenal returns on Tuesday, March 24, with the fan-favorite, Be-Bop Guitars, presented by the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. Led by John Baboian, the Be-Bop Guitars features 5 guitarists from the renowned Berklee guitar faculty, plus vibes, bass, drums and trumpet for this concert of originals and standards (Gershwin, Jobim and others), with specialized arrangements for 5 guitars. Baboian has performed worldwide with his band and other musicians, including a performance with the Be-Bop Guitars at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in South Africa and has shared the stage with Frankie Avalon, Sergio Franchi, Al Martino, Ben Vereen and many more. Baboian is the director of the JAZZ at the Arsenal series. Tickets are $20; $18 for members; $15 for students, plus fees. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 617-923-8487 or visit www.arsenalarts.org
The Jazz @ The Arsenal series features a wide variety of jazz styles performed by the best jazz ensembles in the Boston area with many headed up by Berklee’s world- renowned faculty. The performances are held in the intimate Black Box Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts located at 321 Arsenal St.
The 2015 SCS Open National Championships will take place at Central Rock Gym Watertown March 27-28. This competition features the best adult climbers in the United States competing in disciplines of Lead and Speed climbing for a spot on the U.S. Climbing Team and a share of the $20,000 prize purse. This is the largest and most prestigious climbing competition in the U.S., featuring the nation’s 100+ top climbers and drawing over 1,000 spectators to the two day event, according to an announcement for the event. Central Rock Gym Watertown, with over 28,000 sq. ft.
The Town Council approved a request to the State Legislature to add more liquor licenses in an effort to attract more economic development in Watertown. Last week, the Council voted to request 15 new liquor licenses. The town has 34 licenses allotted by the state based on the town’s population, but communities can request additional licenses by submitting special legislation and have it approved by lawmakers at the State House. The members of the Rules & Ordinances, Economic Development & Planning, and Public Safety subcommittees recommended 15 new licenses, including five for designated projects or locations. One of those – the Arsenal on the Charles complex – was removed.
Legally blind since she was a child, Watertown’s Marla Runyan did not let her impairment stop her from reaching her goals as a long-distance runner.
On March 4, the Boston Celtics honored Runyan before the game against the Utah Jazz. In 2000, Runyan became the first legally blind athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. She ran in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and stands as the only woman to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic games. She was the top American finisher in the Twin Cities, New York, Chicago and Boston Marathons. Marla now teaches at Perkins School for the Blind and serves as their official spokesperson.
Watertown Savings Bank recently handed out $75,000 in grants to 28 local community organizations as chosen by customers of the bank in the annual Customer Choice Awards. During the awards ceremony, a representative from each of the winning organizations had the opportunity to speak about the work they do and how they will use the funds. It is a unique event that celebrates the efforts of the hard-working people who do so much to add to the quality of life in the local communities. “Letting our customers’ votes determine how the funds are distributed creates a wonderfully diverse group of winners each year,” said vice president Carole Katz, emcee for the event. For further information about WSB’s Customer Choice awards program, contact the coordinator at (617) 928-2336.
The date of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians annual Ham-O-Rama, has been moved! The event, featuring raffles, food and the chance to win all the fixings for your Easter meal, will be held Friday, March 27 at Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St. in Watertown. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event is open to the public. Ham-O-Rama is the primary fund-raiser for the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians 2015 charitable program.