Around Town

Watertown Group Hosting Discussion of Passing a “Back from the Brink” Resolution in Town

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

Join us at Watertown Citizens’ Monthly Membership Meeting for “Let’s Pass a Back from the Brink Resolution in Watertown.” This will be an opportunity to hear from peace activists who have successfully passed nuclear abolition resolutions in Marshfield, Cambridge, Needham, and Newton as we embark on a similar effort in Watertown. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 21, from 7:00 PM until 8:30 PMvia ZOOM. All are welcome. Zoom link – tinyurl.com/feb21watertown

Around Town

February Vacation Activities Available at DCR Properties

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The following information was provided by the Department of Conservation and Conservation:

The Department of Recreation and Conservation (DCR) announced its plans today to help make February school vacation week a walk in the park for parents. From guided hikes to animal tracking, craft making, and maple sugaring, the agency is offering 81 free or low-cost engaging and educational activities for kids and families across the state from Saturday, February 17, through Sunday, February 25. The programming is part of DCR’s commitment to expanding access to Massachusetts’ State Park system, while also inspiring kids to get outdoors and fostering a connection with the environment.  

“School may be out, but the learning doesn’t have to stop. Our February break programming is a tremendous way to connect kids and nature and help us grow the next generation of environmental stewards,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo.

Schools

UPDATED: Demolition of Watertown High School Complete, Crane Going Up to Construct Steel Frame

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The old Watertown High School has been demolished. A crane that will erect the steel frame of the new high school has arrived. (Courtesy of Vertex)

The old Watertown High School is officially history. The project management firm, Vertex, provided the following update on the progress of the new high school project. With the demolition of the existing HS building completed, attention on site has turned to the continuation of foundations and start of steel erection.

Around Town

Concert Featuring Pianist Guy Urban Will Benefit Helen Robinson Wright Fund

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The following announcement was provided by the Helen Robinson Wright Fund:

A concert featuring Guy Urban will benefit the The Helen Robinson Wright Fund at First Parish of Watertown. The concert will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown. Urban will perform some of his favorite piano pieces and share with the audience why these are favorites of his. The Helen Robinson Wright Fund, named for a Watertown native, assists Watertown neighbors with short-term financial help for housing, food, and utility bills.  

Around Town

Poppy Social Returns to Commander’s Mansion, Bricks in Freedom Garden Available

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The following announcement is provided by the Watertown Veterans’ Services Department and the Commander’s Mansion:

Watertown Veterans’ Services and the Commander’s Mansion are excited to announce the details for this year’s Poppy Social! This event is open to the public and features an Open House at the Commander’s Mansion on Friday, May 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and a guided tour of the mansion will take place at 11:00 a.m.   

Engraved bricks to honor your military loved ones are available for purchase prior to the event.  The memorialized bricks will be showcased in the Freedom Garden located on the Commander’s Mansion grounds. 

The botanical garden, where flowers and plants consistently bloom throughout the seasons and serves as a habitat for butterflies and bees, features an honorarium wall of bricks to pay tribute to the stories of our Veterans, many with ties to the Watertown community. Please visit www.commandersmansion.com/bricks for the order form and more information. All brick orders are due by March 1st. 

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, May 24th for the Poppy Social! 

Around Town

Snow Emergency in Watertown for Tuesday’s Snow Storm

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The City of Watertown has declared a snow emergency that will take effect starting at 1:00 AM on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Up to 12 inches of snow is currently forecast to fall throughout the day Tuesday. 

Once the snow emergency goes into effect, on-street parking will be prohibited, and any vehicle left on the street will be towed. The snow emergency and on-street parking ban will be in effect until further notice. 

There will be no trash, recycling, or compost collection on Tuesday, and all pickups will be delayed by one day. Collections will occur from Wednesday, February 14 through Saturday, February 17, 2024. The Recycle Center will also be closed on Tuesday. 

Further updates will be posted on the City of Watertown’s website: www.watertown-ma.gov and on the City’s Facebook and Instagram. 

Around Town

Armenian Teen Injured in Explosion Gets Medical Care with Help from Local Man

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Nelson, a 17-year-old from Armenia, was injured in an explosion and has received medical care in Boston. (Photo by David Ghahramanyan)

An Armenian teen, Nelson, who was injured during recent attacks in Artsakh received care in a Boston hospital with the help of Watertown’s Stepan Chiloyan and the Armenian American Medical Association. Chiloyan has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help Nelson. The following piece was provided by Chiloyan:

In a heartrending call to action, a GoFundMe campaign was launched on Feb. 11, 2024, to support Nelson, a 17-year-old survivor of a catastrophic explosion in Berkadzor, near Stepanakert, amidst the recent aggression and ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of Artsakh.

Schools

School Committee Member Rachel Kay Hosting Office Hours

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School Committee member Rachel Kay

Watertown School Committee member Rachel Kay will host virtual office hours this week. Kay sent out the following announcement:

I will be available on zoom on Thursday February 15 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Click here at 7 p.m. on the 15th to log in. Please come with your questions and concerns, and I’ll do my best to answer them.