Around Town

Watertown Race Reels Hosting Monthly Documentary Film Series

By |

Watertown Race Reels, funded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation, is a monthly documentary film series open to the public. Race Reels uses documentary films to start conversations about race/ethnicity and work towards creating a community that is comfortable talking about race/ethnicity in a constructive manner. In addition to using documentary films, we invite guest speakers to come to speak on their own experience as members of the race/ethnicity being highlighted that month.We are thrilled to kick off our second year of Watertown Race Reels! On September 12th, in collaboration with Watertown Faces Climate Change (WFCC) and 350.mass, we will be screening Come Hell or High Water: The Battle for Turkey Creek at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club (pizza @ 5:45 p.m., film @ 6 p.m.). 

“Come Hell or High Water follows the painful but inspiring journey of Derrick Evans, a Boston teacher who returns to his native coastal Mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of Gulfport. Derrick is consumed by the effort to protect the community his great grandfather’s grandfather settled as a former slave. He is on the verge of a breakthrough when Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast.

Schools

Special Education Parent Group Invites All Families to Back to School Picnic

By |

The following information was provided by Watertown SEPAC:

Watertown SEPAC invites all families to attend our Back to School Family Picnic on Monday, August 29 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Fillippello Park. Please see the event flyer for more details.  

Watertown SEPAC is run by parent volunteers who were all nominated and elected by parents and includes all stakeholders in our community. Our meetings are free and open to the public. A SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) is a district-level, parent-driven group that provides input to the school district on current successes and challenges in special education and related services.  

We provided families and other community members with the following: 

information about basic rights for families pertaining to special educationcontact information for our school special education administrators and school committee members in Watertowna space to discuss special education concerns and ask questionsaccess to local and state-level resources that can help answer more involved questionscommunity and support

Watertown SEPAC’s mission is to encourage honest and effective communication, understanding, and mutual respect in a supportive partnership inclusive of all students, caregivers, educators, and the community at large in an effort to ensure the delivery of appropriate services and supports to students with disabilities and special health care needs. We work directly with district administrators to address system-level challenges, facilitate family-district communication, and provide families with training and resources. We can be reached at sepac.watertown@gmail.com.

Entertainment

Watertown Studio Debuting Fine Arts Program for PreK Children

By |

The following announcement was provided by Ballroom in Boston:

Does your toddler’s imagination run wild? Do they love to jump, sing, and dance? Bloom Fine Arts Academy is the perfect place for them to get their sillies out! We focus on creativity, expression, forming our own ideas, play movement, and more! Each day your kiddo will explore art, movement, sign songs, read books, and create memories they won’t forget.

Entertainment

Outdoor Fitness Series Kicks-Off This Week at Arsenal Yards

By |

Arsenal Yards will host outdoor fitness events on the Arsenal Green. The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Through the fall, Arsenal Yards is bringing back its popular Outdoor Fitness Series with a chock-full schedule of complimentary classes, featuring local instructors and studios for a total body workout in a lively group setting! All classes are hosted on the Arsenal Green in Arsenal Park, located just through Buttermilk & Bourbon and Shake Shack. Guests must register in advance via the below links and bring their own mat and water. All classes are complimentary, however donations to the Watertown Food Pantry are encouraged!

Schools

2 Watertown Auto Dealers Hosting Back to School Supply Drive

By |

The following information was provided by Toyota and Lexus of Watertown:

Lexus and Toyota of Watertown have joined forces to help the kids in our community. All supplies will be donated to the Watertown Boys & Girls Club and distributed to local schools. Help kids thrive by donating the following:

Composition notebooks, backpacks, pencils, pens, erasers, markers, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, highlighters, rulers, index cards. Backpacks and school supplies can be dropped off at:

Lexus of Watertown, 330 Arsenal St., Watertown

Toyota of Watertown, 149 Arsenal St., Watertown

Make a donation and receive 15 percent off your service repair order. The drive is in partnership with the Watertown Boys & Girls Club

Donation boxes are located in the service & sales departments.

Awards

Watertown High Grad John Korte National Basketball Coaches Association Academic Honors

By |

Wheeling University AthleticsWatertown’s John Korte, a basketball player at Wheeling University, was named to the NABC Honor Court. The following information came from Wheeling University Athletics:

The National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) released their annual team and individual academic awards for the 2021-22 season. The Wheeling University Men’s Basketball team had five players honored for their individual success in the classroom. Graduate Student Alex Humphreys, junior Dozie Enyosiobi, senior Jay Gentry, junior John Korte of Watertown, and Graduate Student Jordan Reid joined over 2,000 other men’s basketball players across the country on the list who dedicate their time to being well-rounded student-athletes. In order to qualify as an NABC Honor Court athlete, a player must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and be either a junior, senior, or graduate student during the year of competition.

Comprehensive Plan

City Hosting Two Workshops, Survey on the Comprehensive Plan Update

By |

The City of Watertown announced two chances for the public to participate in the updating of Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan. City officials released the following announcement:

Come plan for our future – together! The City of Watertown and its planning team are hosting an interactive workshop on September 20, 2022 and September 29, 2022 starting at 6:30 p.m. to discuss draft goals and review preliminary strategies which will guide future decisions about new development, transportation options, business and economic development, open space and recreation, and more. Confirmation of the location of these meetings will be available soon. Attend either (or both) workshops to learn more and share your thoughts with us.