Entertainment

New Committee, Staff to Create Public Arts & Culture Goals, Priorities for Watertown

By |

Charlie BreitroseThe mural on Melendy Avenue is an example of public art in Watertown. The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

As cities and towns around the country reimagine and reinvest in their public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, Watertown is rolling out a public arts and culture program to cultivate a more vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and connected public realm. Overseeing this effort will be a new addition to the city staff, Public Arts and Culture Planner Liz Helfer, who started in City Hall just after Thanksgiving. Helfer, who previously ran Hatch Makerspace at the Watertown Free Public Library, is a practicing artist experienced in arts administration. She will work in City Community Development and Planning office with the newly-formed Public Arts and Culture Committee that will make recommendations around art in public places, while overseeing fundraising, community partnerships, outreach and more.

Around Town

Recreation Department Hosting Open Gym Sundays at Watertown High School

By |

Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown High School Gym will be open to the public on Sundays this winter. The Watertown High School gym will be open to the public on Sundays for groups of all ages. The Watertown Recreation Department provided the following announcement:

Winter is here, and that means Community Sports & Games Open Gym Program is back! Please don’t forget to register and participate in this program. It’s a great way to get out of the cold into the gym for some fun and exercise!

Entertainment

Watertown Democrats Hosting Candidate for Governor, Possible AG Hopeful During Virtual Meeting

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Democratic Town Committee:

The Watertown Democratic Town Committee will be meeting this Thursday, January 27th at 7:30 over Zoom. We will hear from guest speakers, State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz who is running for Governor and Quinton Palfrey who is exploring a run for Attorney General. To get the Zoom link email the chair of the committee, Will Pennington at watertowndems@gmail.com

Around Town

Scholarships Available for Watertown Residents to Attend BB&N Summer Camp

By |

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

The Watertown Recreation Department is pleased to announce the offering of a limited number of scholarships for Watertown families whose children would like to attend the Buckingham Browne & Nichols Summer Camp. Each candidate must have a demonstrated and documented need for financial assistance or has a special circumstance that is considered exceptional. The City of Watertown is grateful to the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School for offering this outstanding opportunity. The camp options are identified at https://bbnsummer.com/, and scholarships are for any of their programs. Each child may attend one week of camp and if awarded the scholarship will be in theamount of $250.00 toward the cost of the camp. This scholarship is available for Watertown residents only.

Affordable Housing

Six Watertown Residents Wanted to Serve on Affordable Housing Trust Board

By |

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking six (6) Watertown citizens interested in serving on the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust. The Housing Plan adopted by the City of Watertown on March 23, 2021 documented the need to create and preserve more affordable housing within the City. The Watertown Housing Partnership recommended the formation of a municipal affordable housing trust under M.G.L. c. 44, §55C to establish a trust to facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable housing within the City of Watertown for the benefit of low-to-moderate-income households and for the funding of community housing. The Honorable City Council adopted Ordinance 2021-89, An Ordinance to Accept the Provisions of M.G.L. C. 44, §55c to Establish a Trust to Facilitate the Creation and Preservation of Affordable Housing Within the City of Watertown at their November 23, 2021 meeting. Composition: The Trust shall be governed by a Board of Trustees (the “Board”) in accordance with M.G.L. c. 44, § 55C, as revised from time to time, and the authority granted by the City Council.

Entertainment

COMICS: Final Here’s Trouble Cartoon, Small Saves Studies Up on Hockey

By |

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.”

DeMarco recently added “Here’s Trouble” to his cartooning lineup, inspired by drawings he did in the 1980s when he was in high school.

Obituaries

OBIT: Christine Collini, 89, Worked at Family Lock Business, Loved Spending Time With Family

By |

Christine Collini

Christine I Collini, 89, of Watertown, wife of the late Charles T Collini passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 19th, 2022. She passed with her loving family by her side at Sunrise Senior Living where she was given exceptional care for almost 2 years. Christine was born in Newton, MA, the daughter of the late Giovanni and Lucia (Cedrone) Vecchione. Christine graduated from Newton High School and worked at Raytheon before starting her family. In later years, Christine worked at the family business, Suburban Lock Co., along side her husband Charles and son Charlie. She enjoyed working at the shop and chatting with everyone who came in to either visit, have keys made, or a lock fixed.

Obituaries

OBIT: Bob Manzelli, 84, Former State Rep. & Selectman, Owned Local Energy Company

By |

Bob Manzelli

Robert A. “Bob” Manzelli, passed away on January 17th, 2022, at the age of 84. Bob was born in Roxbury, and was a longtime resident of Watertown and Rockport. 

He was inspired and driven to serve others. He attended Watertown High school and Huntington prep. He graduated from Boston College and received his active duty commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army in 1959, where he trained as an artillery officer. He was assigned as a reserve instructor in the 5th Howitzer Battalion, 5th Artillery. He was honorably discharged in 1968 as a 1st Lieutenant.