Around Town

Our History: Sam Adams Frequented Watertown’s Fowle House

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Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House in Watertown housed the Massachusetts Council in Revolutionary times. Sam Adams was among the members of the Council. The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Historical Society President Marilynne Roach for the January 2009 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier”. Marilynne is also on the board of the Watertown Historical Commission.

Schools

Local Company Visits WHS Class Bearing Gifts & Knowledge of Biotechs

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown High School teacher Kelly Hannon works with students in her anatomy and physiology class. A Watertown High School science class recently got a visit from representatives from one of the City’s life science companies, which also provided some donations that will help students learn about the human body. In early April, three employees of Enanta Pharmaceuticals stopped by a WHS anatomy and physiology class to speak to the students about their work. Joyce Sweeney Gibbons told the students that she did not take a direct road to her current position as senior scientist in virology at Enanta. “If you have no idea what you want to do, that’s OK,” Sweeney Gibbons said.

Around Town

Local Woman Looking to Turn Her Passion for Nails into a Business

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Some nails designed and created by Watertown’s Rickteyzia Simmons, who plans to open a nail salon called Candy Paint. What started as a pandemic hobby has turned into a calling for a Watertown woman, who now hopes to turn her passion for nail design into a local business. Rickteyzia Simmons currently works as a high school teacher in Cambridge and works on nails during her free time, but she is working to open her own nail salon, Candy Paint by Teyzia, in Watertown. Simmons taught herself how to do her own nails, and got a good response. “It was my pandemic hobby.

Around Town

Watertown Helps Out —Citywide Volunteer Effort Runs Through May

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The Watertown Community Foundations’s annual month-long service event, Watertown Helps Out, will take place in May, and spots are still available. The WCF provided the following information:

Watertown Helps Out is a city-wide, public service event during all of May, 2023. Our non-profits need your hands-on help! From garden clean-up to organizing costumes to moving boxes and office work, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you and your kids. Your few hours means a world of difference to organizations including: Watertown Public Schools, Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Perkins School for the Blind, the Charles River Conservancy, our local food pantries, community fridge and local churches. 

Sign Up

Find out how to volunteer and how to become a sponsor of Watertown Helps Out by clicking here: www.watertownfoundation.org/watertown-helps-out

Around Town

Discussion of Short Term Rentals Continues This Week

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Rules for short-term rentals — such as Airbnbs — in Watertown have been discussed at multiple meetings of the City Council’s Committee on Rules & Ordinances. The Committee will meet again on April 20 to continue the discussion. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber in City Hall. The public can also participate remotely. The Zoom link is: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/89707047441 The public can also join by phone: (877) 853-5257 or (888) 475-4499 and enter Webinar ID: 897 0704 7441

Comment can be sent by email to: lfeltner@watertown-ma.gov

Around Town

Watertown Remembers the Chaos, Concern and Celebrations During the Shootout & Search for the Marathon Bomber

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Police patrolled the streets of Watertown on April 19, 2013, searching for one of the Boston Marathon Bombers. Photo courtesy of Jade Burke. It seems like ages ago and at the same time just like yesterday that Watertown was rocked by gunfire and explosions, then went into lockdown as police scoured homes and yards for the Boston Marathon Bomber, before locating and capturing him in a boat parked on Franklin Street. On April 19, 2023, the 10th anniversary of the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, Watertown News is sharing the memories of readers of that monumental day in our community. The area was already on edge.

Around Town

Help Count the Herring Coming Up the Charles River in Watertown

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Volunteers are wanted to help the with the First Charles River Herring Count in Watertown. The count runs through the month of May at the Watertown Dam, and is coordinated by the Charles River Watershed Association. The count count tracks the number of herring and other migratory fish head up the Charles River. The Watertown Dam, just east of the Galen Street Bridge, is a place where some fish are blocked or hindered in their upstream journey. The CRWA sent out the following information:

Help us monitor migratory fish passage!