Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/204/)
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.”
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!”
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.
Watertown has started a summer garden youth internship program, and the City is hiring a program coordinator. The City of Watertown sent out the following information:
Title: Summer Garden Coordinator
Reports to: School Garden Coordinator, Judy Fallows
Description: 150 hours of work over the summer break, June 5 – September 8, 2023 (14 weeks, approximately 11 hrs per week). The weekly schedule will vary to accommodate specific tasks and the Summer Garden Intern schedules. Responsibilities: Oversee the Summer Garden Intern program with input from the School Garden Coordinator, Watertown Community Gardens, and Public Arts & Culture Committee.. Engage and manage up to 6 Summer Garden Interns who will each be completing 50 hours of work, combining hours of maintenance in various school gardens (Hosmer, Cunniff and Middle School) and educational enrichment sessions in the gardens.
Eli Mercer
Eli Mercer, much loved husband, father, grandfather, pastor and friend, passed quietly into the presence of his heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, the Savior of his soul, on April 24, 2023, at The Village in White River Jct., VT. He grew up in Watertown. Eli was born on July 21, 1936, to Mary Elizabeth (Webber) Mercer and Eli Mercer, Sr. Until the age of 21, his adult work was as an iron worker, Local 7, Boston, MA. On Palm Sunday, 1958, Eli was born again into the family of God, and that decision shaped the course of his life from that point on. The old was gone, the new had come.
Members of the Watertown Lit Squad at a reading for DeWitt Henry’s new work “Restless for Words,” at Wellesley Books, April 3rd. Pictured, from left, Richard Calleja, Monica Fairbairn, Patrick Fairborn, Liz Rodgers DeWitt Henry and Ruth Henry, with copies of their poetry sampler published and available on Amazon. The following information was provided by the Watertown Lit Squad:
On May 13th, and May 20th the two year-old “Watertown Lit Squad” will be meeting at the Watertown Public Library at 2:30 p.m. to share successes, plan for their public reading on May 20, recruit new members and plan for the summer Watertown Arts Market performance on August 17th, 2023. During the last two years, one member has had her first poem accepted for publication, one has had two books accepted for publication and/or published, and a third was selected as the writer in residence by an independent bookstore and given a place to work and a place to workshop her writing. The “Lit Squad” is a multi-generational, multi-racial and welcoming group seeking to reach out to new members to come join us. Under the new slogan ‘Dare to Share,” they are encouraging any Watertown resident or person with connection to Watertown to submit works for sharing on May 20th or August 17th.
We are inviting the past winners of the Martin Luther King breakfast essay competition to come forward and share any recent work.
The following announcement came from the City of Watertown:
The Assessing Office is required by the Department of Revenue to make a good faith effort to inspect all properties within a ten-year period. This year, we have hired Patriot Properties to help us with those inspections. Starting May 1, 2023 and through the month of May, they will be inspecting properties on the following streets:
Bancroft Street
Bradshaw Street
Downey Street
Edenfield Avenue
Edward Road
Elmwood Avenue
Evans Street
Fitchburg Street
Forest Street
Gertrude Street
Goldie Street
Lawrence Street
Loomis Avenue
Quincy Street
Rutland Street
Springfield Street
Waverley Avenue
Worcester Street
Letters have been mailed to all owners of properties on these streets informing them.
The following information was provided by the Global Cinema Festival:
Global Cinema Film Festival of Boston (GCFF) is proud to announce that its 8th annual event will run online from May 19-21, 2023. This year we are excited to partner with our Industry Sponsor Filmocracy to bring you the online edition of the festival.
The festival kicks off on Friday, May 19, 2023 with VOD film screenings available online until Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 11:55 PM EST. For a complete list of our 2023 Official Selections, program schedule and ticketing information, please visit our website!
For many years, World in Watertown was a sponsor of the Global Cinema Festival. This year’s festival features 12 films.
SCROLL DOWN TO DISCOVER THE FILMS!
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IRON BUTTERFLIES
2023 | Ukraine | 84 MIN |
DIRECTOR: Roman Liubyi
CATEGORY: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
Online Screening w/English Subtitles | May 19-21
On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down by Russian forces over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The reality of this attack, and its possible ramifications for the then-ongoing war in Donbas and the West’s relationship with Russia, was immediately questioned by the Russian government and media. As voluminous evidence — including physical artifacts like the butterfly-shaped shrapnel found in the bodies of the pilots — piled up, the lies denying reality only became more outlandish and incredible. In a world where violence can only be defended by lies, and lies only maintained by violence, Iron Butterflies presents the truth of what happened to MH17, but also what was at stake by not confronting it.
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DOGWATCH
2022 | Greece | 78 MIN |
DIRECTOR: Gregoris Rentis
CATEGORY: DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
Online Screening w/English Subtitles | May 19-21
Mercenaries set sail for a life of action against Somali pirates. Yet, the sea is full of surprises.