Mosesian Arts Has Theater, Music, Dance & More During Hispanic Heritage Month

Bahué, featuring the duo of Aliana De La Guardia and Ariel Campos, will perform at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Sept. 16. (Courtesy of the MCA)

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

The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown has announced September events that include classic and new theater, a cutting edge interdisciplinary and accessible performance, Boston’s best drag variety, and a bicoastal Latin duo to begin National Hispanic Heritage Month.The

The season of events will continue with much more theater, comedy, dance, music, film, exhibitions and arts education, and a Holiday Makers Market! From returning favorites to new partnerships, there’s plenty of variety ahead in this season’s programming. PERFORMANCES

New Repertory Theatre presents A Raisin in the Sun | September 6-October 1

Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking drama is a searing and timeless portrait of a family on Chicago’s South Side, and an American classic. A Raisin in the Sun is an answer to the poem from which the title is derived – Langston Hughes’ Harlem.

LETTER: Great Turnout, Comments & Questions at Community Meeting

This may be the shortest letter that you’ll ever see from me. If you want to see an example of an excellent Watertown community meeting, (about 50  Watertown residents in attendance … the day after Labor Day … and lots of insightful comments and probing questions), a meeting that wasn’t supposed to happen, keep an eye out and watch the developer’s meeting for the 10-30 Manley Way project, recorded September 5th. This is an example of why residents should be given an opportunity to speak on all of these projects, not just the brand, spanking new ones.  And this is Exhibit A that Watertown residents are knowledgeable people who care about their community and are striving to make our community better while saving us from ourselves. Watch it and be proud! Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Learn About Community Volunteer Events at Info Session

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

Seeking individuals (14+) who are interested in volunteering for community events! Join us at the Watertown Free Public Library, in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 4PM to 6PM. What You’ll Find…

Stop by and talk to event leaders to learn more about how you can help!High school students enter our raffle for a chance to win free gift cards!Light refreshments will be served. Participating Organizations…

Commander’s MansionWatertown Arts MarketWatertown Free Public LibraryWatertown Business CoalitionWatertown Cable Access TVWatertown Public Arts & Culture CommitteeYardArt

Please email events@commandersmansion.com if you have any questions or would like more information.

LETTER: Attend the Community Meeting on Manley Way, Proposed to be One of Many Bio Labs Around Watertown

A rendering of the building at 10-30 Manley Way proposed to be redeveloped into lab/R&D/non-nuisance manufacturing space. (The Seyon Group)

This letter is about 10-30 Manley Way, but humor me, please, while I get there. With at least 25 bio lab buildings and more on the way in a four square mile area, (Alexandria hasn’t even begun the massive transformation of the Watertown Mall yet). 

Here’s a list of just Alexandria’s current holdings in Watertown:  

I hear they have their eyes on more Watertown land. Alexandriatown … how does that sound to you?  

This is a case of being careful about what you wish for.  We have about 70 labs in these buildings so far. There’s plenty of unused lab space without converting one more inch into labs … just my opinion, but it seems to be shared by others. 

To give you an example of the enormity of these projects (besides the in-your-face street presentation of them … hello, Galen Street), there’s a permit meeting for a Coolidge Street lab this month to approve a 7,000 gallon oil tank on the roof of a parking garage that will hold 497 cars.

LETTER: City Councilor Kick’s Off Campaign, Discusses His Priorities

Tony Palomba seeks re-eleciton as City Councilor At-Large. Dear Friends, Supporters, and Neighbors,

I write to invite you to my Re-election Campaign Kick Off at the home of Connie and DeWitt Henry in the West End:

Sunday, September 104:00 to 6:00 PM33 Buick Street, Watertown

There will be plenty of refreshments and great company. I will give a short speech and then invite everyone to share their ideas and concerns. It will be a lot of fun! More importantly, I write to thank you for all you do for Watertown.

Watertown Fire Department to Mark Anniversary of 9/11 with Remembrance Ceremony

The Watertown Fire Department will mark the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 with a ceremony at the Fire Station on Main Street. The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The Fire Department will hold a brief ceremony on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 at Fire Station Headquarters, located at 99 Main St., to remember the 343 FDNY firefighters lost Sept. 11, 2001, along with thousands of innocent people on the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Our History: Mercy Otis Warren, “The Muse of the Revolution”

Copy of John Singleton Copley’s portrait of Mercy Otis Warren that hangs in the Edmund Fowle House (Courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

The following story is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Historical Society board member Mary Spiers who served as the Recording and Corresponding Secretary, and retired from the board last month but is still a volunteer. She wrote this article for our April 2014 newsletter, “The Town Crier”.)

I have to credit the blizzard of February, 2013 for the inspiration to pick up a copy of Snow-Bound by John Greenleaf Whittier and thereby find this nugget of historical gold on Mercy Otis Warren. I also utilized the library at the Massachusetts Historical Society to research Mercy’s poems.

Mercy Otis Warren born in 1728, who we think of today as “the Conscience of the American Revolution” and a “Founding Mother,” is the graceful lady in the blue dress in the John Singleton Copley iconic portrait of her that hangs in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. A copy hangs on the walls of the Edmund Fowle House, now home to the Historical Society of Watertown.

What’s Small Saves Going to Spend his Birthday Money on? See in This Week’s Cartoon

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.”