Entertainment

Revels Names Debra Wise as New Associate Artistic Director

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The following information was provided by Revels:

Watertown-based Revels, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Wise as its new Associate Artistic Director. Co-Founder and former Artistic Director of Cambridge’s Underground Railway Theater @ Central Square Theater and an artistic leader at Central Square Theater, Ms. Wise has established herself in the Boston area and nationally as a director, actor, educator, writer, and cultural organizer with a talent for engendering community collaborations and creating safe places to discuss challenging issues through art. She is also currently the Program Director of Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT, a partnership between MIT and Central Square Theater with a mission to foster interdisciplinary conversation at the intersection of art and science. Ms. Wise’s appointment as Associate Artistic Director comes in anticipation of the 2024 retirement of Revels Artistic Director Patrick Swanson, who leaves the position after over 30 years with Revels. She looks forward to transitioning into the role of Interim Artistic Director over the course of the next year and working with the Revels community to carry forward the legacies of its first two Artistic Directors, John Langstaff and Patrick Swanson, as the organization looks for its next permanent artistic leader.

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Watertown City Manager Signs Pledge to Help Monarch Butterflies

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The City of Watertown provided the following information:

City Manager, George Proakis, signed the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge on March 30, 2023! 

The City pledges to do action items that focus on to support and expand monarch conservation city wide! 

The City already has been doing some action items in 2022 and for 2023, this will be expanded to do more such as communicating about monarch conservation, opportunities to do some community focused programs and demonstrations, and encourage changes in reducing pesticide use. Come join and be part of the larger conservation efforts for pollinator species! For any questions/comments, you can contact Katie Swan at kswan@watertown-ma.gov.

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Watertown Consulting Firm Named Small Business Administration Microenterprise of the Year

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Sarah Scala’s consulting business was named the Small Business Administration’s Microenterprise of the Year. She lives in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by the Small Business Assocaition:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has named Sarah A. Scala of Watertown Consulting the 2023 Microenterprise Business of the Year for Massachusetts

Sarah Scala earned a reputation for being a results-driven leader, recognized for helping clients reach their highest potential – by increasing revenue, reducing turnover, increasing inclusion, elevating business profitability, and building competencies. “This is a SCORE Success Story all about helping an entrepreneur became a sustainable small business owner,” said District Director Robert Nelson. “From first helping Sarah obtain an EIN when first starting out — to supporting her relocation from New Hampshire to Cape Cod to Boston; SCORE provided her with specialized support every step of the way, helping her reach new heights.

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Watertown City Clerk Available to Perform Weddings

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The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

We are excited to announce that after a long hiatus, the City Clerk’s office will start performing wedding ceremonies again at City Hall beginning May 1, 2023! For couples seeking a short and simple wedding ceremony, the City Clerk’s office will offer the ability to be married by one of our on-staff Justices of the Peace here at City Hall. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 617-972-6486 or cityclerk@watertown-ma.gov to inquire.

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LETTER: Residents Ask Council to Increase Linkage Fee to $15/Sq. Ft.

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Note to reader: There has been a lot of talk recently in Watertown about the need for more affordable housing. One thing everyone in Watertown can do to help build more affordable housing is to attend the City Council Meeting on 4/11 at 7:00 PM and voice their support for proposed linkage fee ordinance that would raise money for affordable housing by applying a modest fee to new large non-residential developments in the city. While there is some debate about the exact fee amount (below is a copy of our letter to the City Council outlining the case for a $15/sqft fee), the most important issue to make sure the linkage fee is implemented as soon as possible, so we do not lose out on any more funds for affordable housing. 

Dear City Council President Sideris and City Councilors Gardner, Feltner, Piccirilli, Izzo, Airasian, Bays, Gannon, and Palomba:

We applaud the City Council’s efforts to promote affordable housing, first by establishing the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust and now by working with our state delegation to establish a linkage fee to directly fund affordable housing development. As the council considers enactment of the linkage fee, we urge the council to adopt a linkage fee of $15 per square foot, which our technical analysis below shows is in line with recent increases in residential construction costs not measured by the original Nexus study published last year. The Nexus study published last April recommended the council consider a linkage fee in the range of $9.44 to $11.12, which balances raising revenue for affordable housing while maintaining Watertown’s competitive position in the commercial (mainly focusing on life sciences) development space.

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LETTER: How Will Main St. Project Impact Post Office, The Square & Affordable Housing?

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An illustration of the project at 104-126 Main St. submitted to the City. Designed by Icon Architecture. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Well, next week is a big week for O’Connor Capital Partners and their project at 104-126 Main Street in Watertown Square. The Watertown Planning Board meeting is on Wednesday, April 12th at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber (second Floor) at City Hall (and remote), and it seems to me that it will sail right through the approval process.

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Kura Sushi Offers Anime Themed Prizes For Limited Time

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The following announcement was provided by Kura Sushi:

Kura Sushi USA, Inc., a leading technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept serving authentic Japanese cuisine through an engaging revolving sushi service model, is partnering for the second time with popular Japanese anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba for an all-new, limited-time Bikkura Pon collaboration! This collaboration will be available exclusively at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar U.S. restaurants from April 1 through May 31, or until supplies last. The new Demon Slayer x Kura Sushi Bikkura Pon prize collection includes three zipper accessories, four acrylic stand keychains and three can badges. Kira Sushi has a location at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. “After the excitement and success generated by our first Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba partnership last year, we knew guests would crave another Bikkura Pon prize collection that highlights the manga series’ characters in a new way,” said Sally Kurosaki, Promotions & Licensing Manager of Kura Sushi USA, Inc. “Kura is proud to align with popular Japanese culture tastemakers to create strategic brand partnerships that introduce our fresh, authentic sushi to new audiences, and surprise and delight our guests with consistently new, enticing Bikkura Pon prizes.”

The limited-time collectibles are dispensed from Kura Sushi USA’s proprietary Bikkura Pon Prize System, an integral part of the brand’s interactive and tech-driven dining experience.

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Our History: New Nation Signs First Treaty in Watertown

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In 2002, local artist Henry Zunino sculpted a magnificent terra-cotta bas-relief of the signing of the Treaty of Watertown and presented it to the Historical Society. A copy was also produced and presented to the Town Council. It now resides in the foyer of Town Hall. A Dedication Ceremony was held July 13, 2004 at in the Town Hall Foyer. (Courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown.