Around Town

Seniors Invited to the Council on Aging’s Farewell Summer BBQ

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Join us at the Council on Aging (COA) Farewell Summer Barbecue (BBQ) for Watertown Seniors and their companion, presented by the City of Watertown, Department of Senior Services, Police Department, Fire Department and the Friends of the COA on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 3 PM – 6 PM. This is FREE for Seniors and will include BBQ grilled food and refreshments, live music, outdoor seating, parking available, Fire Truck and Police Utility Vehicle Showing, Officers on Bike and Fire Safety Convos. Call 617-972-6490 ahead of time if you need a ride. This is a rain or shine event with the BBQ catered meal served inside and the option to sit outside if the weather permits.

Government

While the State of the City Looks Good, Manager Also Address Challenges Facing Watertown

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City Manager George Proakis, left, and City Council President Mark Sideris spoke during the first annual State of the City on Wednesday night. Behind them is a photo of a juggler at the Faire on the Square. (Courtesy of the City of Watertown)

The State of the City of Watertown is strong and the future is bright, City Manager George Proakis said during the first annual State of the City on Wednesday night, but there are still many challenges to deal with. The event where the City Manager and the City Council President talk about how the City of Watertown is doing is now required to be held annually, following the changes to Watertown’s City Charter adopted in 2021. At the end of his presentation, Proakis included a photo of a performer at the Faire on the Square.

Entertainment

Register for Fall Classes at Mosesian Center for the Arts, Call for Photographs

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Registration has opened for fall classes for youth and adults in visual and performing arts at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. A call for art for a fall photography exhibition is also open, and onsite studio space is available for weekly use by local artists. Visual and Performing Arts Classes

Mosesian Arts offers over thirty performing and visual arts classes for children, teens, and adults. Visual arts classes include painting, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media for adults, and fiber arts, comics, jewelry making, and introductory classes for young artists. Classes in the performing arts include acting, voice, improv, playwriting, and technical theater.

Around Town

LETTER: Library Trustee Candidate’s Priorities for the Next Term

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Teddy Kokoros seeks a second term on the Watertown Board of Library Trustees. Dear Residents of Watertown,

My name is Theodore (Teddy) Kokoros and I am seeking reelection to the Watertown Free Public Library Board of Trustees. I want to begin this letter by expressing my gratitude to all the staff at The Watertown Free Public Library for their unwavering dedication and hard work. I’ve constantly been impressed by their dedication throughout my initial tenure as a trustee. Over the past few years, we encountered unforeseen challenges, with the most prominent being the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Named as a Big Brother of the Year, Has Volunteered for Five Years

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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts Names Xin Peng a Big Brother of the Year (Courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts.)

The following information came from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM) has named Xin Peng, 29, of Watertown, as one of the agency’s 2023 Big Brothers of the Year. He is one of nearly 4,000 volunteers, referred to as Bigs, for the nonprofit who are committed to developing caring and life-altering one-to-one mentoring relationships with children. Peng was matched with his mentee, or Little, Alex Braga , in July 2018. Braga’s parents enrolled him in the nonprofit’s signature community-based program, for which adult mentors, referred to as Bigs, are paired with youth and meet for two to three hours, a couple times a month on outings of their choice, in order to provide him with the one-to-one attention he deserved as they were focused on caring for his younger brother with autism transition to a residential program. At the time, the 9-year-old was shy and hesitant to try new things.

Government

LETTER: Watertown Historical Commission’ Streamlined Process Should be More Transparent

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

So … is a Watertown City Council meeting hearing worth attending? I attended one last night on zoom … a shoutout to citizens who sat through it all for hours in real time in the Council Chambers. So, is it a “done deal” by the time it gets to the hearing? Hmmm … It was all about a move by the Historic Commission to streamline its process. Not a bad idea.

Sports

2 Teams Advance to Watertown Summer Basketball Semis, Series Start Wednesday

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Photo by Natalie Nigito PhotographyThe Papas Elite Summer Basketball League playoffs have started. The games take place at the court behind the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. A pair of teams won their quarterfinal matchups in Watertown’s Papas Elite Summer Basketball League, and will play in the semifinals beginning Wednesday, Aug. 9. The league features teams made up of current and former college basketball players, and is hosted by the Watertown Recreation Department.