Entertainment

Watertown Free Public Library Embraces the Power of Zines

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Watertown LibraryThe Watertown Library will host Zine Fest on Oct. 2 — a day-long celebration of zine culture and DIY publishing. The following piece was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

On Saturday, October 2, The Watertown Free Public Library will host WFPL Zine Fest — a day-long celebration of zine culture and DIY publishing. Whether you are a die-hard zinester, or just want to learn what zines are and why they matter, the Library invites you to browse the marketplace, attend talks, and check out the brand-new circulating zine collection. If you’re asking “what’s a zine?” that’s ok.

Arsenal Yards

Star of ‘Bar Rescue’ Opening Restaurant in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Taffer’s Tavern and Arsenal Yards:

Taffer’s Tavern, the innovative new full service tavern concept founded and developed by leading hospitality expert and star of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer, announced today its first Boston area restaurant is headed to Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood located along the Charles River in Watertown, Massachusetts, just miles from the heart of Boston. The Arsenal Yards team selected Taffer’s Tavern to complement its curated dining experiences, boutique shops, entertainment offerings, 300 contemporary residences, state of the art life science space, 146-room hotel, and more. “We are very excited to welcome Taffer’s Tavern to our unique lineup of restaurant, retail and entertainment offerings here at Arsenal Yards,” said Gary Robinson, Vice President, Leasing at Wilder, developer of Arsenal Yards. “It is one of many new additions to the Arsenal Yards neighborhood, and we know our local community will love Jon Taffer’s vision for bringing a top quality experience to casual dining. This opening will help us further our goal of creating one-of-a-kind experiences for our residents, visitors and guests.”

This marks the first of several Taffer’s Tavern restaurants operated by experienced franchise operators and Boston area natives Marc Magerman and Peter Weber of 8G Hospitality Associates, LLC.

Letters

LETTER: Are There Plans for Helping Russo’s Employees After Store Closes?

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Editor

Like so many I am disappointed that Russo’s is disappearing next month. I have shopped there since it was a vegetable stand and I presumed that its current version with 250 employees would be around for the rest of my life. Since this is not the case, I am wondering about the fate of all of its employees? Is Russo, like so many companies, providing outplacement services and some months of pay to assist the employees they are letting go land on their feet? If anyone knows, I would be interested to hear.

Entertainment

Local Artisans Selling Crafts at Gore Place’s 5th Annual Handmade for the Holidays

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The following announcement came from Gore Place:

Gore Place welcomes all to our 5th Annual Handmade for the Holidays, a celebration of New England handcrafts! Early fall is a wonderful time to enjoy shopping among local artisans. Browse and shop outdoors among the fiber artists’ and handcrafters’ booths, enjoy a picnic on a blanket, or stroll across our lawns to view our heritage sheep. For more information, call Gore Place’s main office at 781-894-2798 during regular business hours. Date and Time: Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain date is Sunday, September 19)

Location: Outdoors at Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham, MA

Admission: Free for shoppers with ample free parking on our South Lawn

COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place.

Entertainment

Classes at Hatch Include Intro to Sewing, Beginner Programming and Find Out About Laser Cutting

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Watertown’s Hatch Makerspace has a variety of workshops in September. See more information in the information provided by the Watertown Library below:

September Hours:Tuesday – Friday from 1-9 pmSaturday-Sunday 1-7 pm

Masks are required. Hatch will continue to follow all library closures. Curbside pickup is still available for 3D prints. Intro to the Sewing Machine with CherylMonday, September 13, 6 pmLearn how to use a sewing machine.

Around Town

See Gardens in Watertown That Support Bees & Other Pollinators During Tour on Sept. 12

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The Watertown Life-Friendly Garden Tour will take place on Sept. 12, 2021. Pictured is a bicolored striped sweat bee on aster. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Friends of the Bees:

You’ve probably heard the phrase “save the bees,” but the bees who need the most help may not be the bees you think of first. In addition to the fuzzy bumblebees we know and love, and the honeybees that give us honey there are many types of native bees you may not have noticed.

Government

Candidate for District D Council Hosting Listening Session for Residents

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown residents cast their ballots at Watertown Town Hall in 2020. The following announcement was provided by the Committee to Elect Connie Henry:

Are you a District D resident? Join your neighbors for an outdoor listening session on Sunday, September 12 from 3-4:30pm hosted by the Committee to Elect Connie Henry. The event will use a “World Cafe” model that encourages conversation among neighbors. There will be four stations focused on the following important topics: Development and Traffic; Green Spaces and the Environment; Education and Public Safety; and Communication, Equity, and Inclusion.

Extreme Weather

Watertown Receives Grant to Prepare for Impacts of Extreme Weather

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The Charles River in Waterotwn Square.Watertown DPW

The Town of Watertown has been awarded an MVP Action Grant for a new Equity-Based Community Greening Program. The Town will use the money to work to identify climate-vulnerable areas of town and design green interventions to add trees and stormwater management. “We have seen numerous heat waves this summer, and they will only become more frequent,” said Watertown Senior Environmental Planner Laurel Schwab. “This $94,240 MVP grant will help us use trees and green infrastructure to cool off our hottest neighborhoods and help protect our most vulnerable residents.” Learn more about the MVP Grants in the announcement provided by the Mystic River Watershed Association:

Following the release of $20 million in state FY2022 MVP Grants, The Mystic River Watershed Association announced that Resilient Mystic Collaborative (RMC) cities and towns had secured a total of $2.6 million in state funding to help prepare for extreme weather.