Around Town

LETTER: Is it Too Late to Save Adult Medical Rehab Center?

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At 51 Water St., just across the river from downtown Watertown, several local services have been available to the Watertown community, including a large adult day care service and, notably, the Community Rehab Care group. (For orientation, 51 Water St. is the area facing Nonantum Road, behind the bus turn-around and near the MBTA lots.)

Community Rehab Care provides (in their own words): “community-based outpatient rehabilitation and support services to adults and children with neurologic, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic injuries or illnesses.” That covers everyone from children to adults to elderly, who must deal with anything from serious car, sports, or other accidents, to strokes, brain-surgery, post-cancer or post-Covid problems — and much else. As I know from personal experience, the professionals there are dedicated, very busy, and relatively convenient for Watertown residents who need their help. But very unfortunately, the part about convenience is about to change, quite a bit. Up to this past year, relatively easy access to 51 Water St. was possible, though not without a quirk or two having to do with traffic and lane closures on Galen and blockage on Water St.

Schools

School Committee Gives Superintendent High Marks

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The following School Committee Update was provided by Kendra Foley, the Chair of the Watertown School Committee:

The Watertown School Committee has been active this summer, meeting monthly to prepare for the upcoming school year and to address routine business. At our July meeting, the School Committee presented its annual evaluation of Dr. Galdston’s work as Superintendent. The review found that Dr. Galdston is meeting her goals, with all 7 members of the School Committee giving her a proficient or exemplary rating in her overall job performance. You can read the full review, with comments from each member of the committee, here. The committee is grateful for the Superintendent’s steady and thoughtful leadership. We are lucky to have her leading the Watertown Public Schools.

Entertainment

New Rep Announces Casts & Design Team for “Raisin in the Sun” & “Diaspora!”

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The cast of New Rep’s “Raisin in the Sun” includes Damon Singletary (right) as Walter Lee Younger, and Jon Vellante as Karl Lindner. (Courtesy of New Rep)

Following its highly acclaimed, sold-out, three-week run of The Normal Heart, New Repertory Theatre (New Rep) is excited to announce the now complete casts and design team for its upcoming productions of A Raisin in the Sun and Diaspora! The shows will run in repertory, with A Raisin in the Sun beginning its three-week run Sept. 5 through Oct. 1, 2023, and DIASPORA! running from Sept. 12 through Oct.

Around Town

Section of Charles River Trail to be Closed for Repair Work

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Charlie BreitrosePart of the path along the Charles River will be closed Aug. 7-11 so the trail can be resurfaced. The Department of Conservation and Recreation announced that part of the trail along the Charles River will be closed this week. The following announcement was provided by the DCR:

On Monday, August 7, 2023, through Friday, August 11, 2023, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will continue to implement a closure of the Watertown Riverfront Park Trail between Watertown Square and the Perkins School for the Blind and in the City of Watertown from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to accommodate trail resurfacing work that was delayed due to weather. Additionally, Charles River Road (eastbound) and the southern sidewalk between Paul Street and Bay Street may be closed intermittently to accommodate the movement of construction equipment. Fencing and signage will be posted for the duration of the work.

Entertainment

Small Saves Bloopers in This Week’s 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.”

Entertainment

Exhibit Featuring Artworks of Saroyan Artworks Opens at Armenian Museum

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This watercolor by William Saroyan was donated to the Armenian
Museum of America by Joan Agajanian Quinn; it was drawn on the back of a menu from “The
Ararat” restaurant in New York City on February 21, 1969. (Courtesy of Armenian Museum of America)

The following announcement was written by Elias Trout and provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

Following the donation of Ruben Amirian’s “Homage to Mesrop Mashtots,” a 14-foot composite work celebrating the Armenian alphabet, art collector and Museum Trustee Joan Agajanian Quinn has gifted two watercolors by literary genius William Saroyan and two drawings from his son Aram Saroyan to the Armenian Museum of America. All five works are now on display in the new exhibit “My Name Is Saroyan,” inspired by Armenian literary culture both past and present. “After the success of our 2022 exhibition ‘On the Edge: Los Angeles Art 1970s-1990s from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection’ at the Armenian Museum, the Quinn family is happy to broaden the Museum’s collection of contemporary artists with these donations,” explains Quinn. “We continue to be impressed with the way the Museum displays Armenian art which spans the time frame from ancient to modern times.

Around Town

First Annual State of the City Features Messages from Council President & City Manager

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Watertown’s first State of the City address will be held on Aug. 9 at the Watertown Library. The event is now required to be held annually after changes to the City Charter were approved by voters in 2021. Please join us at the First Annual “State of the City” address with Council President Mark Sideris and Manager George Proakis on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library in the Watertown Savings Bank Room, at 123 Main Street. The purpose of the “State of the City” is in our City Charter, SECTION 2-10 ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETINGS: “The council president, in conjunction with the city manager, shall prepare and deliver a yearly message to the residents describing the state of the city.

Around Town

Vigil Planned to Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki

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Candleboats float on the Charles River in Watertown in memory of those who died in the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment:

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the Delta and DCR Dock in Watertown Square, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023 from 7:30 PM until 9:00 PM

7:30 PM – Silent Vigil – Watertown Square8:00 PM – Music and Testimonials8:30 PM – Launching of the Candle Boats – MDCR Dock

Our annual resistance to the presence and use of nuclear weapons is even more important this year as we face the tangible and  threats of escalation in Ukraine and the effects of climate change. 

NEVER AGAIN – NO MORE HIROSHIMA and NAGASAKI – NO MORE VICTIMS – ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS

“Why do we stand in silence and float candle boats”? To remember the more than 210,000 killed, and the many more injured, by the U.S. nuclear attack on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 in 1945. To remember the original five nuclear states have not taken serious action to abolish nuclear weapons, which has led India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel to acquire nuclear weapons.