Entertainment

Mosesian Center Benefit to Honor Armenian Dance Company & Longtime Supporter of the Arts

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

The Mosesian Center for the Arts will hold its annual fundraising benefit on Wednesday, May 24. Themed MOVING FORWARD, this year’s event will celebrate Mosesian Arts’ strides toward becoming a regional destination for the performing and visual arts. Honorees of the evening’s Mosesian Awards are internationally acclaimed Sayat Nova Dance Company, moving culture forward throughout the world, and local arts hero Barbara Epstein, who as first president of the Board of Directors helped put the wheels in motion for an arts center at the Arsenal. The ensembles of Sayat Nova Dance Company will perform, along with cast members of Mosesian Arts’ upcoming Watertown Children’s Theatre production of Singin’ in the Rain Jr. Tickets include international hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, awards and entertainment on the main stage, and a selection of desserts. Guests will also be among the first to see the accompanying gallery exhibition, Flow: Art Inspired by Movement & Sound. According to Executive Director Darren Farrington, the theme MOVING FORWARD represents a determination to emerge from the public health and social and economic challenges of the past three years. “The arts community spent the first couple of years of the pandemic waiting to return to operations as they were before March 2020.

Around Town

Outdoor Fitness Series Returns to Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With warmer weather just around the corner, Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood in Watertown’s historic East End, is thrilled to announce the return of its popular Outdoor Fitness Series “Fitness in the Park.”

In partnership with Arsenal Yards’ fitness studios, Pure Barre, Rumble, and F45, residents of Watertown and Greater Boston are invited to enjoy unique outdoor experiences led by certified fitness professionals. Guests and residents can visit the Arsenal Green in Arsenal Park every Wednesday for a variety of free classes from May through June 7th. Registration is available via Eventbrite one week prior to the date of each class, and all classes must be reserved online. “We’re so excited to partner with our AY studios to bring back our outdoor fitness series, which has been a popular summer offering over the past few years,” said Jessica Peterson, Marketing Director at Arsenal Yards. “With so many fitness offerings at Arsenal Yards and more to come soon, we couldn’t think of a better time to invite the community to get their hearts pumping out on the Arsenal Green, embrace the warm weather, and cool down after at one of the many outdoor dining venues our neighborhood has to offer! Available classes are below, and participants are encouraged to check out the Arsenal Yards Events Calendar for additional details:

Wednesday, May 3rd at 5:30 PM with Pure Barre

Wednesday, May 10th at 5:30 PM with Rumble

Wednesday, May 17th at 5:30 PM with F45

Wednesday, May 24th at 5:30 PM with Pure Barre

Wednesday, May 31st at 5:30 PM with Rumble

Wednesday, June 7th at 5:30 PM with F45

To check in, guests can enter through the River Green (in between Buttermilk & Bourbon and Shake Shack) and head towards the sign for Arsenal Park. Guests should bring their own mat and water. Parking is available in the free red or purple parking garage, along with the surface parking area near City Works. For more information about Arsenal Yards, visit www.arsenalyards.com.

Around Town

Fitness Studio Hosting Mother’s Day Boot Camp Brunch Benefiting Watertown Food Pantry

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Get Lively: Health and Fitness will host its Second Annual Mother’s Day Bootcamp Brunch & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 13. The following announcement was provided by Get Lively:

Mother’s Day Bootcamp Brunch for Watertown Women: Moms, aunts, sisters, friends

Free Community event celebrating our local women and the official grand opening of our Lifestyle Studio! Join us for a bootcamp style workout followed by coffee, brunch bites, and our official ribbon cutting! 

In lieu of class fee, please bring a new shampoo and conditioner. We will assemble gift bags over coffee to support women in need in our Community. Gifts will be distributed at the Watertown Food Pantry.  

Join us and please feel free to bring someone with you.

Entertainment

Watertown Actress Starring in Production of “Something Rotten!”

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Watertown actress Jill Craig stars in the Walpole Footlighters production of “Something Rotten!” Photo credit: Dan Busler Photography

The following announcement was provided by The Walpole Footlighters:

Renaissance playwrights Nick and Nigel Bottom are having trouble drawing audiences to their shows because some other guy named William Shakespeare is suddenly the toast of the London theater community. Their friend Nostradamus tells them that the future of the theater is something called “a musical.” Despite thinking the idea is preposterous, the desperate brothers agree to try it. The Walpole Footlighters close their 99th season with Something Rotten!, the musical that tells the story of the creation of the first musical comedy.

Around Town

Our History: Long Lost Cane Given to Oldest Resident Returns to Watertown

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The head of Watertown’s cane has several dents, but you can see it says, “Presented by The Boston Post to the OLDEST CITIZEN of Watertown” (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Joyce Kelly, Board member of the Historical Society of Watertown. Joyce writes articles for the newsletter and is the newsletter editor. This was published in our July 2009 newsletter, “The Town Crier.”

1909 BOSTON POST CANE RETURNS TO WATERTOWN

In 1909, the Boston Post newspaper began a highly successful marketing scheme. They began presenting canes made of African ebony with 14-karat gold heads to the oldest man in 700 different towns in New England.

Entertainment

Small Saves Greets His Public 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.”

Government

Council Thanks Longtime Personnel Director on Her Retirement

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Gayle Shattuck

This week the City Council bid farewell to longtime Personnel Director Gayle Shattuck on her retirement after 19 years working for the Watertown’s municipal government. The City of Waterotwn sent out the following announcement, including the proclamation approved by the Council:

Congratulations to Gayle Shattuck on her retirement after serving as the City’s Personnel Director! Thank you for your 19 years of service and also for serving as the liaison on the Commission on Disabilities! Here is the Proclamation from the Watertown City Council:

WHEREAS: The quality of life and spirit in a community is enhanced by the commitment and willingness of an employee to give of her time and talents during employment; and,

WHEREAS: Gayle M. Shattuck is being honored by the City Council, the Administration, Colleagues and Community Members for her nineteen years of dedicated service to the Watertown community, and,

WHEREAS: Ms. Shattuck came to Wate11own with a long-standing tradition of serving others in both not-for-profit organizations and municipal public service: she served as the Central Middlesex ARC Program Director in Woburn, Massachusetts for fourteen years from 1980-1994, promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and as a Human Resources Specialist for the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts for ten years from 1994 until 2004, directly responsible for personnel administration for all Town, Public Safety, and School Department employees; and,

WHEREAS: Gayle M. Shattuck was appointed by Town/City Manager Michael J. Driscoll as the Personnel Director for Town/City of Watertown on February 26, 2004, for which she discharged her duties professionally, faithfully, fairly, and honorably; and,

WHEREAS: During Gayle’s tenure, she served on various committees assisting the Administration and City Council on Screening Committees of Candidates, Budget and Bargaining Teams, and as the liaison for the Commission on Disability; and,

WHEREAS: Ms. Shattuck worked tirelessly in her understated manner to be a strong advocate to the Commission on Disabilities by developing policies and procedures, suppo1iing their mission to serve those affected with disabilities and their families; and she served consecutively up until her retirement on Friday, April 28, 2023; and,

WHEREAS: Gayle, in her retirement, can now enjoy her time with her beloved husband, Mark, and her two “favorite” sons, Brian and Derek as they continue to share her joy of traveling … “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey!”

Around Town

Recreation Department Filling Part Time & Seasonal Staff Jobs

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The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

The Watertown Recreation Department has a number of Part Time and Seasonal Staff Positions available:

Department-CIT-Park Instructor, Department-Jr. Counselor-Park Instructors, Department-Jr. Program Staff, Department-Park Instructor, Department-Park Ranger, Department-Program Staff, Department-Scorekeeper, Department-Ski Program Coordinator, Department-Ski Staff, Department-Special Needs Transportation, Department-Tennis (Other) Coordinator, Department-Tennis Counselor. Pequossette-Director, Pequossette-Associate Director, Pequossette-Assistant Director, Pequossette-Office Manager, Pequossette-Extended Day, Pequossette-Nurse, Pequossette-Specialist, Pequossette-Support Staff, Pequossette-Kitchen Staff, Pequossette-Senior Counselor, Pequossette-Counselor, Pequossette-Junior Counselor, Pequossette-Counselor in Training. If you are looking for employment to begin before the summer season, please complete your application and an interview will be scheduled with the Director of Recreation as soon as your application is completed. For all new applicants, the following documentation must be completed and returned to the Watertown Recreation Department as soon as employment is desired on or before Thursday, May 4, 2023. Applications could be accepted after this date depending on need but cannot be guaranteed.