Environment

Tree Planted for Arbor Day First of 100 Planned Around Watertown in 2021

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Trees for WatertownTeam members from Hartley Greymont tree service company and Watertown Department of Public
Works help to install the new Dawn Redwood tree planted at the Lowell School on Arbor Day, 2021. The following piece was written and submitted by James Briand of Trees for Watertown Watertown:

Tree Warden Gregory Mosman celebrated Arbor Day last week with the planting of a magnificent Dawn Redwood at the Lowell School, assisted by Steven Kendall representative of tree service provider Hartney Greymont and former Deputy Tree Warden for the City of Boston. Joining Mosman and Kendall were volunteers Marbin Sanchez and Jon Quinn, and David Andrad of the Watertown Department of Public Works. The tree planting was recorded by Trees for Watertown board member Jessica Grimsby, who is preparing a short how-to video to encourage residents to plant trees on their own property. Next year Arbor Day will turn 150 years old.

Entertainment

Small Saves Puts on a Spectacular Show in This Week’s Comic Strip

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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.”

Charity

Watertown Group Hosts Walk for Peace on Mother’s Day, Raises Nearly $5K for Peace Institute

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Watertown Walk for PeaceWatertown Walks for Peace held their own Mother’s Day Walk for Peace around town in 2021. The group raised the most money in seven years. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Walks for Peace:

The 2021 Watertown Walks for Peace (WW4P) initiative has raised over $4,800 to support the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute in Dorchester, exceeding its original $3,000 fundraising goal by at least 60 percent. The funds are being raised as part of the Institute’s annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Largest Sum Raised in Seven Years

The $4800 total is the largest amount raised by Watertown Walks for Peace in its seven years of joining the annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace.

Obituaries

OBIT: Alice “Betty” Rowan, Volunteered at Library, Historical Society; Memorial Service Planned

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Alice (Betty) Elizabeth Rowan died peacefully in Marietta, Ga., on December 27, 2020. Betty was predeceased in death by her parents Edward and Alice (Maglinchy) Rowan and five siblings. Betty was welcomed into the home of Richard and Rose (Rowan) Monahan of Watertown as a young child upon the death of her parents. She graduated from Watertown High School and Burdett College. She worked in administrative positions with publishing and financial companies.

District A

Library Trustee Mike Hanlon Announces Candidacy for District A Town Councilor

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Mike Hanlon. Mike Hanlon, an elected member of the Watertown Library Board of Trustees, has announced his candidacy for East Watertown District A Town Councilor. Hanlon provided the following statement:

My wife, Joyce, and I are longtime residents and homeowners of Coolidge Avenue having lived in Watertown for over 25 years. We have appreciated living in a community that is rich in tradition and deep in so many cultures where people are so respectful and friendly. I understand the importance of the quality of life for Watertown residents and it has been a wonderful experience to have been elected to four terms (a total of 16 years) as a member of the Watertown Free Public Library Board of Trustees.

Around Town

New Rep’s Second Moving Play, Listen to Sipu, Focuses on Local Indigenous Woman

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The following piece was provided by New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre has partnered with the Pigsgusset Initiative, the Historical Society of Watertown and the Watertown Free Public Library to present Listen to Sipu, an outdoor immersive theatrical experience that leads audiences through a too often overlooked history of Watertown. The second play in the Watertown Historical Moving Play series, Listen to Sipu will kick off June 5th , and will focus on local Indigenous culture-keepers. This moving play will be led by actors Maria Hendricks (Mashpee Wampanoag) and Grace Wagner (Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah), featuring a script written by Morgan (Mwalim) J. Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), and Director, Jaime Carrillo (Aymara). Tickets are $25/each, and will be on sale May 10th. More information about Listen to Sipu can be found at https://www.newrep.org/productions/listen-to-sipu/

About Listen to SIPU

Following the success of New Rep’s first Historical Moving Play, the Charles W. Lenox Experience, audiences were clamoring for more. Listen to Sipu answers the call with a captivating and powerful story that illuminates Watertown’s Indigenous history.

Around Town

First Memorial Lecture to be Held in Honor of Sue Kuder, Social Justice Advocate Who Died in 2020

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Sue Kuder

The following announcement was provided by the event organizers:

First Parish Watertown will host the first Sue Kuder Memorial Lecture on Thursday, May 20th, at 7:00pm.  This event will be a conversation with Beverly and Barbara Smith moderated by Thalia Y. Carroll-Cachimuel. 

Beverly is a current resident of Watertown and Thalia was raised in Watertown. Sue Kuder was a Watertown resident and local advocate for social justice before her death in 2020. Beverly, and her twin sister, Barbara Smith are founding members of the Combahee River Collective. To learn more about their work to build Black feminism and work for social justice see links below.  

All are welcome to this free virtual presentation. Please Register Here to receive the link to the lecture: https://fpwatertown.breezechms.com/form/1b516a

Here are some links with  more information on the Combahee River Collective and the work of Beverly and Barbara Smith, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-statement-1977/

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/until-black-women-are-free-none-of-us-will-be-free

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Reimagines Historic Building, Programming & Benefit

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The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

After having to cancel last year’s Annual Benefit and Mosesian Awards, board and staff members at the Mosesian Center for the Arts have been working diligently to plan this year’s event. “The benefit will be held virtually,” reports Executive Director Darren Farrington, “but that won’t diminish the spectacle and enjoyment.”

The event theme is REIMAGINE, in recognition of reimagining its programming virtually over the past year, reimaging its staff and how and where they work, and reimagining the design of their space itself. Housed in an 1894 industrial workshop of the former United States Army Arsenal, the fifteen-year-old arts center will undergo a major renovation to its lobby and classroom spaces this year. “Because of all of the changes, we’re using this benefit to tell a story,” Farrington says. “It’s the story of this building and of the Mosesian Center for the Arts, through video segments about the history of the space and about all of the arts programs that we host here now.”

Event highlights will include a short documentary film titled From Armaments to Arts about the history of the building; a conversation with architects on redesigning historic spaces, moderated by GBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen; visits from companies that regularly perform at MCA, including Watertown Children’s Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, Boston Midsummer Opera, Flat Earth Theatre, and Earfull; new music from Boston-based power pop band JATK; a virtual exhibition of reimagined artworks; and the reveal of the concept designs for the lobby renovations.