Around Town

Victory Field Closing for Most of Summer to Replace Artificial Turf

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown hosts Belmont in the annual Thanksgiving Football Game at 10:45 a.m. Thursday. The football and baseball fields at Watertown’s largest athletic complex will be closed this summer. The artificial turf surface that was installed in 2011 will be replaced. Most of the rest of the complex will remain open. Recreation Department Director Peter Centola sent out the following letter about Victory Field:

Good Morning,

Our Victory Complex Artificial Turf Field will be closed Monday June 12 to Wednesday, August 16, 2023, for the purpose of replacing our artificial turf field.

Around Town

Lt. Gov. Hears from Local Businesses at Chamber Event, Pushes for Housing, Job Training & Free PreK

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Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, right, spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast where Joe Prestejohn (left), owner of Cabot’s Ice Cream, was honored. (Photo courtesy of Charles River Chamber

NEEDHAM — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll stressed the importance of small businesses to make communities places where people want to live when she spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber, but she added that Massachusetts faces challenges that could hurt business big and small such as the cost of housing, lack of qualified and even the cost of childcare. Driscoll also heard directly from business owners about some of the things that make it more difficult for them to thrive. She gave the keynote address at the Chamber’s Spring Business Breakfast on June 2. During the event, held at the Sheraton Boston Needham Hotel, the Chamber also honored Joe Prestejohn, the retiring owner of a Newton institution — Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant.

Around Town

See the Award 2023 Watertown Historic Preservation Award Winners

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Members of the Historical Society of Watertown and Boston Tea Party pose with their 2023 Historic Preservation Awards. (Photo courtesy of the City of Watertown)

The Watertown Historical Commission awarded the 2023 Historical Preservation Awards at a ceremony held at Gore Place’s Carriage House on May 18. Awards honor individuals, organizations and projects that have shown leadership in historic preservation in Watertown. 2023 Watertown Preservation Awards

Watertown Free Public Library Reference Staff

The Richard E. Mastrangelo Memorial Award

Awarded to the Watertown Free Library and its reference staff for serving as a great historic research resource

Sheppard Ferguson

Citizenship Award

Awarded to Sheppard Ferguson for photographing and indexing the City’s historic markers

Boston Tea Party Ship

Community Spirit Award

Awarded to the Boston Tea Party Ship for installing a final resting place marker commemorating Samuel Barnard, a Watertown participant in the 1773 Tea Party

Students from the Jewish Community Day School accepted the Historic Preservation Award. (Photo courtesy of the City of Watertown)

Jewish Community Day School

Service to Youth Award

Awarded to the Jewish Community Day School for its Watertown Museum Pop-Up project on Watertown history

Marshall Place–CASCAP

Architectural Preservation Award

Awarded for the Marshall Place restoration project, led by CASCAP, preserving this 1874

Second Empire building

Mt.

Sports

Watertown Girls Lacrosse Sailing to Nantucket for Tourney Game, Find Out How to Watch

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Watertown’s girls lacrosse team celebrates after defeating Medway, and booking a ticket to Nantucket for the State Tournament game. (Photo courtesy of Watertown Girls Lacrosse’s Instagram account)

When the Watertown High School girls lacrosse team defeated Medway 8-5 on Saturday, the Raiders booked a trip to Nantucket for a Round of 16 contest in the MIAA Div. 4 Tournament. Watertown, the 20th seed, plays the fourth seeded hosts at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. The Raiders defeated the 13th seed, Medway, after getting four goals from junior Molly Driscoll, three from senior Alex Karalis, and one from senior Maggie Driscoll in the Round of 32.

Around Town

2 Watertown Business Coalition Events in June: After Hours Mixer & First Walk ‘N’ Talk

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The Watertown Business Coalition will be hosting an after hours networking event at Donohue’s Bar & Grill, and will kick off the new Walk ‘N’ Talk series with a walk beginning at Arsenal Yards. The WBC Summer Kickoff After Hours will be held on the Donohue’s patio! 

“What a great excuse to invite friends, neighbors and co-workers to visit the East End’s favorite patio! We welcome WBC Members, Non-Members and those who live and/or work in Watertown!” the WBC announcement said. The event will be on Wednesday, June 14, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided, and there will be a cash bar.

Around Town

Watertown Teaming with Belmont for 2 Day Juneteenth Celebration

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This year’s Juneteenth Celebration will expand to include not just two communities but will be held over two days. The annual celebration hosted by the Watertown Citizens for Black Lives. For the third year in a row, Watertown’s Juneteenth Celebration will be held in the Watertown Free Public Library. That will take place on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Sunday, June 18, the celebration moves to Belmont’s Beech Street Center and Town Field from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Juneteenth began as a celebration of the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It has grown into a broader celebration.

Entertainment

St. James Church Armenian Festival Features Music, Food, Kids Activities and More

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St. James Church’s Armenian Festival will be held on Sunday, June 11 from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The festival features live Armenian music: Bob Raphalian, Jay Baronian, Leon Janikian, and Kenny Kalajian. Armenian food will be available, such as shish, losh, chicken kabobs, and vegaterian options. There will also be activities for kids, such as a moon bounce, face painting and more.