Around Town

Marshall Home Fund Adds Local Pastor as Member of Board

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The following announcement was provided by the Marshall Home Fund:

The Marshall Home Fund, a charitable fund established in 2005, is dedicated to preserving the social, physical, and emotional well-being of older adults in Watertown by awarding grants to local social service agencies and other non-profit organizations. The Marshall Home Fund Board is very pleased to announce the addition of a new Board member and a new Community Representative to its Allocations Committee. At its 18th Annual Meeting this Spring, members voted to include Reverend Andrew Goldhor as a new Board member for a 3-year term. Reverend Andrew grew up in Belmont and has lived in Watertown since 2014. He graduated from the University of Colorado and received his Divinity degree from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. After serving as a pastor for 7 years in Lexington, he is now the priest for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Watertown.

Around Town

Watertown’s Parents Helping Parents Receives $500K Grant

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Parents Helping Parents Celebrates Receiving a grant from the Cummings Foundation. The following announcement was provided by Parents Helping Parents:

Parents Helping Parents (PHP) is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. The Watertown-based organization was selected from a total of 630 applicants during a competitive review process. It will receive $500,000 over 10 years. PHP helps fill the gap in mental health services for parents and caregivers.

Around Town

Armenian Culture Connection Holds First Events, More Planned

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The Armenian Culture Connection put on a performance at First Parish Church of Watertown. (Photo by ACC)

The following information was provided by the Armenian Culture Connection:

The Armenian Culture Connection (ACC) was founded six months ago in Boston. “Our mission,” says founder Ms. Izabella Djevalikian, “is to connect with Armenian and other cultural organizations in Greater Boston to promote Armenian Art and Culture to the public at large.”

ACC’s first project was its Armenian Youth Chorus, directed by Maestro Artur Veranian, the award-winning, internationally acclaimed choral/orchestral conductor. Armenian Culture Connection founder Izabella Djevalikian,

The chorus debuted on Friday, May 19th at the ACEC in Watertown to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic’s independence. ACC’s next event was the “Our Young Talents” concert on Sunday, May 21st, and was held at the First Parish of Watertown.

Around Town

Gore Place Hosting Jane Austen Themed Garden Party

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The following announcement was provided by Gore Place:

On Sunday, July 9 at 2 pm, you can have a bit of Regency splendor during the Jane Austen Garden Party on the grounds of beautiful Gore Place — a site fit for one of the celebrated author’s famous novels. There will be drinks and a box lunch, live music, and lawn games! Stroll through the elegant Gore mansion and imagine yourself back in the Romantic Era of Austen! Your event ticket includes an individual showcase box with sweets and savories and a bottle of lemonade (add a mini bottle of wine for $10 more.) There will be lawn games and a viewing of the ground floor of the fabulous Gore Mansion. Regency Period dress is encouraged!

Around Town

Three Day Greek Festival Being Hosted by Watertown Church

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The Taxiarchae/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church will host the annual Grecian Festival on June 23-25. The church sent out the following information:

Three days of food and fun! Rain or shine! The Church is located at 25 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. The lineup includes:

Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. – Greek Music All Day, featuring Orfeas Band from 7-11 p.m. Bar 5-11 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. – Greek Music All Day, featuring Enosis Band 7-11 p.m., Dance performance by Sons and Daughters of Alexander the Great 8 p.m. Bar noon-11 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m.-9 p.m. – Greek Music All Day, featuring Orfeas Band from 5-9 p.m. Bar noon-9 p.m.

Greek Cuisine: Gyro, Greek Pastries, Loukoumades, Kafenio

Events: Church Tours

Shopping: Book Store, Souvenirs, Candy Store

Around Town

Our History: Ship Named for Watertown Met a Tragic End

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Samuel Emrys Evans painting of the S. S. Watertown (Photo courtesy of Watertown Savings Bank)

The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by David J. Russo, for the April 2012 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.” At the time, David was the Historical Society Recording Secretary and Chair of the Watertown Historical Commission. Did you know we had a ship? Watertown was a dynamic place in the 19th century and one of the manifestations of our ingenuity was the construction and launching of the S.S. Watertown here on July 30, 1890. The ship wasn’t owned or used by the Town of Watertown itself, but it was lovingly named after the town by its owner John Cassidy, who lived at 227 North Beacon Street where the house still stands today.

Entertainment

Small Saves Cartoon: Where a Goalie Feels Most Comfortable

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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.”

Entertainment

Art Exhibit at Library Feature Work of Syrian Painter, Reception Planned

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The following information was provided by the Refugee Support Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace:

Honoring UN World Refugee Day, the Refugee Support Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment presents “The Art of Refuge,” a narrative installation of the work of Syrian painter Samera Birawi, who took refuge in Turkey after the bombing of her homeland began. Installed in the T. Ross Gallery of the Watertown Free Public library, The Art of Refuge brings a voice and images that strongly tell a story of life and death, and hope. The paintings, often created from actual photographs of the depicted events, weave a first-hand narrative of a country descending into violence, highlighting its impact on children. Yet, the artist wants to keep alive the memory of earlier peace in her town of Idlib, near Aleppo, in a geographical area of ancestral culture that designed the first alphabets 12,000 years ago, and produced the finest olive oil:

“We will remain there as long as the olive trees remain.”

Exhibit Reception: Thursday, June 22, 5:30-8 p.m., including live Zoom from Turkey with the artist at 6:30 p.m., 1st floor, Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room. Refreshments will be served

The exhibition will run from June 1-3o, 2023

Three women, born in the Middle East, the United States and Europe, teamed up to convey the art of Samera Birawi: Youla Hana, member of the Refugee Support Group; Sue-Ellen Tcherepnin, President of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the environment/Refugee Support Group Founder; and Christine Arveil, Curator of the exhibition.