Around Town

Historical Society Raising Funds to Repair a One of Watertown’s Oldest Homes

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Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House served as the headquarters of Massachusetts’ executive branch during the Revolutionary War, and is now home to the Historical Society of Watertown. The Historical Society of Watertown has started a fundraiser to help pay for much-needed maintenance and improvements to one of the oldest and most historic homes in Watertown. The Historical Society provided the following information:

Built in 1772, the Edmund Fowle House is the second oldest surviving house in Watertown and celebrates its 250th birthday this year. 

At the beginning of the American Revolution it served as headquarters for the executive branch of the Massachusetts government from July 1775 to September 1776. As part of this governance many historic people of note have stepped foot in the house, such as John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. On July 18th, 1776, Council Secretary, Perez Morton, proclaimed the newly approved Declaration of Independence to the whole town by reading it from a window of the second-floor Council Chamber at the Edmund Fowle House.

Around Town

Learn About the Watertown Girl Scouts at Informational Event

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The Watertown Girl Scouts announced that they will hosting an information event that is open to all. Watertown Girl Scout Family Information Drop In

Thursday, October 27, 6-8 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472

Your family is invited to discover how Watertown Girl Scouts can help support the future Girl Scouts in your life! Join us to get a taste of what it’s like to be a Girl Scout at this fun, free, drop-in event. For more information, contact Crystal Kirkirt, ckirkirt@gsema.org, 978-770-1219.

Around Town

Watertown Race Reels Screening Film for Indigenous People’s Day

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The following information was provided by Race Reels:

Please join us for Watertown Race Reels in October! To honor Indigenous People’s Day we will be screening We Still Live Here: Âs Nutayuneân on 10/17 at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, 25 Whites Ave. The movie tells the story of cultural revival and the revitalization of the Wampanoag language by the Wampanoag of Southeastern Massachusetts, the first time a language with no native speakers has been revived in this country. Through resilience and courage the Wampanoag kept their identity alive and remained on their ancestral land. Now they are saying loud and clear in the Native tongue, Âs Nutayuneân — We Still Live Here. We will be serving pizza starting at 5:45 p.m. and starting the film at 6 p.m. After the film (~60 minutes), we will have a discussion/activity.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Recognizes Its Founders in Celebration of 50 Years

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The following piece was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

As the Watertown Boys & Girls Club (WBGC) approaches its 50th anniversary Gala celebration on Oct. 28, 2022, the list of those who have contributed to its success is long. As part of the celebration, the last two executive directors Renee Gaudette and Allen Gallagher, who shepherded the Club for more than 30 years consecutively, recollected some of those who helped make the Club such a welcome resource for the children and teens of Watertown. The list includes folks who guided the kids every day, who have donated their time, talent, and treasure, and even some of the notable Club kids. The list of contributors extends far beyond those on this list, but in the spirit of this golden milestone, here’s 50 for 50, a by-no-means comprehensive and in-no-particular-order list of those who come to mind for Gaudette and Gallagher.

Around Town

Watertown Teen Raising Money to Provide Service Dog for Middle School Aide

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Watertown’s Cameron Burke will be raising money for NEADS World Class Service Dogs. For the third year running Watertown teen Cameron Burke will be running the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism 5K to raise money for NEADS World Class Service Dogs, an organization that breeds, raises, and trains service dogs for children with autism, adults and children with physical disabilities, adults with hearing loss, and for veterans. Cameron first ran the race in 2020 as a way to get out during the pandemic lockdowns and to do something good. He chose NEADS as his mom, Naomi Ridge, uses a wheelchair and has a service dog from NEADS called Charlie. Charlie helps Naomi by e.g. opening and closing doors, pushing elevator buttons, retrieving items she has dropped, and can summon help by barking if she falls.

Around Town

Watertown Church Hosting Justice & Faith Film Series

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Clipartpanda.com

The following announcement was provided by the series organizers:

A free, public film series on “Justice & Faith” will be offered this fall at the Watertown Free Public Library. The series is sponsored by the Church of the Good Shepherd, Watertown’s Episcopal parish. The three films will focus on Dorothy Day, the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, and the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Each film will be followed by an interactive discussion on justice and faith in the lives of the subjects, facilitated by the Rev. Andrew Goldhor. The following films will be shown on Sundays at 2 p.m.: 

October 2: “Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story” traces Day’s journey from a young journalist, to a Catholic convert, to the co-founder of The Catholic Worker newspaper and the first “houses of hospitality,” which sheltered New York City’s homeless during the Great Depression.

Schools

Watertown Resident Wins Autism Research & Education Award

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NECCWatertown’s Lauren Rae is a winner of the 2022 Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award. The following announcement was provided by the New England Center for Children:

The New England Center for Children© (NECC©), a global leader in autism education and research, has announced Lauren Rae, a resident of Watertown, as a winner of the 2022 Myrna E. Libby Scholar Award. The award, established in 2009, honors an NECC staff member who is currently enrolled in each of its two onsite graduate programs — Simmons University and Western New England University — whose work exemplifies the late Myrna Libby’s vision that research guides the education and treatment of individuals with autism. Myrna Libby, Ph.D., BCBA, was a director at NECC for 20 years whose impact endures as she was the principal program architect of NECC’s internationally recognized curriculum. As clinical director, she was a tireless advocate for using scientifically validated approaches and her groundbreaking research helped improve the lives of children with autism.

Around Town

New Mattress Recycling Option Available for Watertown Residents

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HandUpHandUp collects mattresses and recycles them in their facility in New Bedford. Watertown residents have a new option for recycling mattresses and box springs. The City is collaborating with a company that will, for a fee, pick up these items from the curbside once a month and recycle them. The next collection date is Oct. 11.