Armenian Museum Will Preserve Rare Manuscripts With BofA Grant

Rare manuscripts at teh Armenian Museum of America in Watertown will be preserved with funds provided by a Bank of America grant. Pictured here: Kerry Miles, Art and Heritage Project Manager at Bank of America; Maryann Ekberg, Managing Director, Baernk of America Private Bank; Jason Sohigian, Executive Director, The Armenian Museum of America; and Michele M. Kolligian, President, The Armenian Museum of America. (Photo courtesy of Bank of America). The following announcement was provided by Bank of America:

As part of its Art Conservation Project, Bank of America provided a grant to the Armenian Museum of America of Watertown, Mass., to restore 21 illuminated manuscripts from its collection, one of which dates back to the 13th century, the museum announced this week. Bank of America selected the Armenian Museum of America as one of the 23 cultural institutions that have been named recipients of the 2023 Bank of America Art Conservation Project, a program that provides grants to nonprofit cultural institutions to conserve important works of art. 

This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of artistic styles, media, and cultural traditions across China, Colombia, France, Lebanon, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S.

The Armenian Museum of America has the largest collection of Armenian artifacts in the United States.

Our History: Charles Davenport, Owned Company that Built Railroad Cars

Charles Davenport’s Fountain Hill Estate (Photo courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

The following article 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 April 2012 Historical Society newsletter, “The Town Crier.”

In 2005 the Friends of Mount Auburn and the Historical Society of Watertown cosponsored a guided walking tour of Mount Auburn Cemetery in celebration of 375th anniversary of Watertown’s founding. During the walk members of the Historical Society Council and volunteers spoke about the lives of some of Watertown’s notable figures now buried at the Cemetery. The following article was written by Marilynne Roach and read at Davenport’s gravesite. Charles Davenport (1813–1903) began as a woodworker in the carriage building trade.

Small Saves Comic: How a Hockey Players Spend Their Summer

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.”

Victory Field Closing for Most of Summer to Replace Artificial Turf

Charlie BreitroseWatertown hosts Belmont in the annual Thanksgiving Football Game at 10:45 a.m. Thursday. The football and baseball fields at Watertown’s largest athletic complex will be closed this summer. The artificial turf surface that was installed in 2011 will be replaced. Most of the rest of the complex will remain open. Recreation Department Director Peter Centola sent out the following letter about Victory Field:

Good Morning,

Our Victory Complex Artificial Turf Field will be closed Monday June 12 to Wednesday, August 16, 2023, for the purpose of replacing our artificial turf field.

Watertown Business Parking Passes Available Soon at City Hall

The City of Watertown provided the following information:

Business Parking Passes for July 2023 through September 2023 are available in the Treasurer/Collectors Office at Watertown City Hall, 149 Main Street starting on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

ALL passes will require business information, including proof of employment, a valid driver’s license, and vehicle registration. Payment is accepted through cash, check, or money order. NOTE: The parking passes are only valid for the vehicle registered with your pass and only for use in that specific parking lot. Purchasing a Business Parking Pass is first come, first served. There is a limit of 2 Passes Per Business at $120 Per Pass.

New England Black Circus Performing at Mosesian Center for the Arts on Juneteenth

Aerialist and New England Black Circus co-founder Amara Berry performs. (Photo by Amanda Macchio Photography)

The following information was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

On Juneteenth, New England Black Circus, New England’s only circus show from the diaspora, will perform at the Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. An all-Black cast of aerial and ground acrobats will share Circus Stories, based on their lived personal experiences, as they showcase their physical skills. NEBC is a Black-led group of circus performers based in Providence, Rhode Island, with a mission of supporting Black circus artists in New England by connecting them with training, resources, and performance opportunities. The troupe includes aerialists, contortionists, acrobats, and other circus artists. Aerialist Ky from the New England Black Circus performs outdoors on a hoop.

Learn About How to Apply for Community Preservation Act Funds & Approved Projects

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The CPA Annual Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chamber in City Hall on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss the CPA Annual Public Hearing hosted by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) in the City Hall, City Council Chamber.  You may also join remotely via Zoom: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843. This event is a great opportunity to: 

Hear more about the recently funded CPA Projects;

Tell us your open space, outdoor recreation, community housing, and historic preservation priorities;

Learn how to apply for CPA funding; and

Get answers to your questions about CPA in Watertown. Take our one question survey, What is one thing you would like to know about the Watertown CPA? 

You may send questions or comments in advance to Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator, at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov. Visit watertown-ma.gov/cpc for more information.

Registration Open for Watertown-Belmont Youth Football & Cheerleading

The following announcement was provided by Watertown-Belmont Youth Football and Cheerleading:

Watertown-Belmont Youth Football and Cheerleading are now accepting registrations for the 2023 Fall season. Practices begin on Monday, August 7th, 2023. The location is to be determined due to the construction at Moxley Field. Our program offers 2 different divisions: flag football for 1st and 2nd graders, tackle football for 3rd thru 8th grade, and cheerleading for all grades. Our program is open to all Watertown & Belmont residents. Registration and more information can be found on our website:  

https://leagues.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1441240 or email us at WatertownBelmontBulldogs@gmail.com. Thank you!