Around Town

Award-Winning Documentary Screening to be Hosted by Pigsgusset Initiative

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Initiative:

Community members are invited to attend the Watertown debut of Stonebreakers, an award winning documentary, that will be showing at the Watertown Free Public Library on April 11, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  

Stonebreakers chronicles the conflicts around monuments that arose in the United States during the George Floyd protests and the 2020 presidential election. As statues of Columbus, Confederates and Founding Fathers fall from their pedestals, the nation’s triumphalist myths are called into question. By exploring the shifting landscapes of American monumentality, the film interrogates the link between history and political action in a nation that must confront its past now more urgently than ever. 

Discussion will follow the film facilitated by Dr. Mishy Lesser, Watertown resident, co-founder of the Watertown-based Pigsgusset Initiative and Co-President and Learning Director for Upstander Project. The free showing of this film represents a collaboration between the Watertown Free Public Library and the Pigsgusset Initiative, a working group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment.  Light refreshments will be served. For further information contact: Jennifer Wolfrum at jenniferwolfrum13@gmail.com

Around Town

Developer of Galen Street Life Science Building Hopeful of Filling Space as Industry Improves

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Elkus Manfredi ArchitectsAn illustration of the view of the life sciences building at 66 Galen St. from Water Street

One of Watertown’s newest life science buildings remains unoccupied, but the developer of the building south of the Charles River believes the trends are looking better in the industry and hopes to have tenants in the near future. Members of the public got a look inside of 66 Galen Street in late February during an event hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber, and there will be another chance (a free one) to visit the building in early April. Jodie Zussman, President and CEO of Boston Development Group, said the company saw the rising prospects of Watertown as a life science hub. The project was a long effort but she is pleased with the final result.

“It’s exactly what we envisioned.

Government

Councilor Emily Izzo Announces Date of Annual Public Meeting

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Emily Izzo, District D City Councilor. All City Councilors hold an annual meeting to meet with the public, and District D City Councilor Emily Izzo announced the date of her meeting. See info below. District D City Councilor Emily Izzo’s Individual Annual City Councilor Meeting is Monday, April 8, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St., Watertown, MA.

Police/Fire

Man Charged with Having Unlicensed Firearm After Road Rage Incident in Watertown

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A Watertown man faces a series of charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of an firearm without a serial number, after being involved in a road rage incident on Wednesday. Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan has announced Friday that Ali Alananzeh, 23, of Watertown, was arraigned today in connection with the road rage incident that occurred on March 20 at the intersection of Grove Street and Coolidge Avenue. The incident was reported at about 1 a.m. on Thursday. “The victim reported that he was turning onto Grove Street when the driver of another vehicle, later identified as Mr. Ali Alananzeh, swerved in front him and blocked his vehicle,” said the Watertown Police announcement. “The driver then exited the vehicle before reportedly displayed a knife and proceeding to open the trunk of his vehicle and threatened to retrieve a gun and shoot the victim.

Police/Fire

Two Alarm Fire Damages Watertown Home on Thursday

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Watertown Firefighters battle a two-alarm blaze at a home on Quincy Street on Thursday. (Courtesy of Watertown Fire Department)

Watertown Firefighters extinguished flames of a two-alarm fire at a home on Quincy Street Thursday afternoon. “Shortly after 4 p.m. this afternoon Group 3 responded to a reported structure fire on Quincy Street. Upon arrival, fire companies made an aggressive attack on a fast moving fire,” the Fire Department said in an announcement on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/9SUKBp5Uws— Boston492 Fire Photos (@Boston492) March 21, 2024

Deputy Chief R. Iannetta was the Incident Commander of the two-alarm fire.

Around Town

Watertown Park Projects Moving Ahead at Saltonstall, Victory Field, Casey & Lowell School

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Light poles at Saltonstall Park were removed earlier this week to make for a new set up lights. (Courtesy of Peter Centola)

Work has already begun at one Watertown park, with others beginning in the near and more distant future in the works. Saltonstall Park

Cranes removed the old set of lighting poles at Saltonstall Park, and trenches have been dug as part of the installation of a new set of lights at the park behind City Hall. “They are being removed this week,” said Recreation Director Peter Centola. “The new ones will probably go in in about a month.”