Entertainment

Watertown Gallery Holding Book Launch Pop-Up This Week

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The following announcement was provided by Storefront Art Projects:

A Book Launch POP-UP June 20-22

Join us Friday, June 21, from 6-8 p.m.  for the official book-launch for Eric Giroux’s novel Zodiac Pets! 

Author reading at 7 p.m.

Book sale and seltzer throughout. In his follow-up to the award-winning Ring On Deli, Eric returns to the hard-luck hamlet of Pennacook, Massachusetts, where misfit Wendy Zhou confronts dark forces aiming to buy the town and plunk a giant dome over it. Also showing: paintings by Jasmine Chen

Gallery Hours: this Thursday and Saturday 1 – 4 p.m.  AND this Friday, June 21, from 6-8 p.m.

The gallery is located at 83 Spring St., Watertown. Find out more at storefrontartprojects.com 

Around Town

Places in Watertown to Stay Cool During the Heat Wave

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Children enjoy the new spray pad at Filippello Park in East Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City of Watertown provided the following tips about how to keep cool in this week’s heat wave:

As the first heat wave of the season approaches, here are some places to help you stay cool through Sunday, 23, 2024:

The Filippello Park Spray Pad, located between Arlington and Grove Streets, is open daily from 9:15 a.m.-8:15 p.m. all summer. The Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main Street, is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m-5 p.m. The Library will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The DCR Pool, located at 138 Pleasant Street, is scheduled to be open on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 11:15 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. It will be open daily through Sunday, August 18, 2024. See information about the pool.

Around Town

City of Watertown Closures for the Juneteenth Holiday

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

City Hall, the Parker Annex, Department of Public Works Offices, the Senior Center and the Watertown Free Public Library are closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in observance of Junteenth. Please be aware that due to the Juneteeth holiday on Wednesday, trash and recycling pickup will be delayed one day after the holiday. The pickup schedule is Monday, June 17-Tuesday, June 18, 2024 and Thursday, June 20-Saturday, June 22, 2024. A holiday postpones pickup by one day.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Seeks Help Recovering Lost Items

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Dear Watertown MA News,

Please see the attachment (at bottom) and brief summary regarding a recent incident at 48 Bridge street in Watertown, Ma 02472 In May 2024. I am avidly looking to recover these items, and asking for help if anything has showed up? Thank you for your service in the community of victims suffering loss to theft. SUMMARY:

My items were placed at the outside walkway of 48 Bridge St., Watertown, MA 02472 momentarily on the morning of Thursday, May 16, 2024 around 9:45 a.m.

Unfortunately I was brought to Mt. Auburn Hospital in an ambulance and my property was left at the strangers outside walkway by accident.

Around Town

LETTER: Green Infrastructure Must be Part of the Watertown Square Area Plan

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The following letter was submitted to be read at the June 13, 2024 Watertown Square Area Plan meeting:

Dear Vincent, Watertown Planning Board, and Watertown City Council:

I am sorry I cannot attend in person this evening, so I hope that this can go on the Public record as my comment:

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First, I just want to say that I have been excited to hear about the plans for Watertown Square to develop the area — much-needed improvements in public transportation, walkability, bike-ability, drive-ability, housing, local businesses, and our community as a whole, and I can say that the people of Watertown have very much appreciated your including the residents in the planning process. We have had the chance to voice our concerns, and we are grateful for that. 

Thank you to all of those who are working to make this the best plan for Watertown. I realize there is momentum to give the plan a GREEN light. However, please hear me out when I say tonight that I think that as good as this plan is, there is still a huge, critical piece that is missing and a means to make this plan much better for the future of Watertown. I hope that with my speaking up tonight, members of the Planning Board and City Council, and hopefully also any residents of Watertown who are listening, will consider taking the necessary steps to further optimize the plan to encompass that which is missing: 

Urban Ecological Planning and Living Green Infrastructure.

Entertainment

2024 Watertown Summer Concert Series Lineup Released

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Join us at the 2024 Summer Concert Series at Saltonstall Park, located at 149 Main Street next door to City Hall. June 26: Non-Conformists

July 3: HYE Fusion

July 10: Southern Rail

July 17: Squeezebox Stompers

July 24: Fun with Ukulele – bring your uke or borrow one! July 31: 90-Mile Portage

August 7: Phil and the Flying Leap

August 14: The Love Dogs and The Puppeteers Cooperative

August 21: The Sandy Ridge Boys

August 28: The Fatal Flaw

Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the concerts! See more information.

Entertainment

See the Latest Small Saves Cartoon

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Around Town

LETTER: East End Resident Says Streets Have Become Cut Throughs

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Good day,

We have become the new cut through streets to Cambridge. Because Cambridge made a mess of their part of Belmont Street it has caused drivers to cut through our five East End streets: Prentiss, Keenan, Brimmer, Francis and St. Mary’s. 

Many times these people come down our streets at a high rate of speed. Speaking to some of our neighbors we think that speed bumps should be put in. I tried to contact the Town or City manager about this issue with no reply.