Around Town

Watertown Library Kicking Off Summer Reading Drive-Thru on June 16

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The Watertown Library sent out the following announcement:

How do you throw a summer reading kick-off party in the age of social distancing? The Watertown Free Public Library has hit on a fun solution: it’s the first-ever Summer Reading Drive-Thru! On Tuesday, June 16, you’re invited drive (or walk) to the Library and pick up summer reading booklists, bingo boards, and more for children and teens. WFPL librarians will be stationed in the parking lot handing out grab bags to take home. There will be music, there will be balloons … so bring the kids along for the ride.

Around Town

Watertown’s Camp Pequossette Cancelled Due to COVID-19

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Watertown’s summer camp, that has run for more than half a century, will not be taking place during the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, announced Recreation Director Peter Centola. Centola sent out the following letter:

The Pequossette Summer Program has served our Watertown residents for the past 52 years and made a life changing positive impact on our children in terms of physical, emotional and social learning and development. The Pequossette Program has also fostered a nurturing and mentoring environment for our adolescent and young adult staff to assist them in theirdevelopment. Over the past several years, under the direction of Director Brian Donato, the Pequossette Summer Program has served approximately 237 children per week and employed over 70 dedicated and talented staff. As you are well aware, the COVID19 pandemic has negatively impacted life as we know it and dramatically limited our ability to offer opportunities as we once did in a safe and practical atmosphere.

Around Town

Library Hosting Virtual Talk on Urban Wildlife, Teen Book Groups & Creative Writing for Kids

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The following information was provided by the Watertown Free Public Library:

This week, the Watertown Free Public Library is excited to welcome Peter del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum for a Zoom talk about urban wildlife. The library is also hosting book groups for Teens, a creative writing program for Children and so much more, all online and accessible from home. 

A full list of virtual programs is included below. Want to stay up-to-date with everything that the Library has to offer during the COVID-19 pandemic? Sign up for our eNewsletter here: watertownlib.org/eNews

FOR CHILDREN

Creative Writing with The Mysteries of Harris BurdickJun 1 – 30 | The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is a fascinating book containing fourteen mysterious images. Can you imagine a story surrounding the pictures?

Schools

Governor, Sports Stars & Celebrities Taking Part in Televised Class of 2020 Celebration

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The following piece was provided by WGBH:

In partnership with WGBH, Governor Charlie Baker will deliver a commencement address to the Class of 2020 as part of a celebration for graduating seniors from 668 public and private schools across the Commonwealth, to be aired in a special broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. 

Massachusetts Commencement 2020 will feature congratulatory remarks from Jason and Devin McCourty of the New England Patriots, members of the Red Sox and the Boston Celtics, and a number of celebrities with Massachusetts ties, including singer Rachel Platten, actor Steve Carell and more. In a special premiere performance, members of the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra, with Keith Lockhart conducting, will provide the traditional graduation march ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ for the ceremony. Students from around the Commonwealth will give valedictorian-type speeches to their classmates. WGBH will broadcast the program, Massachusetts Commencement 2020, across the Commonwealth, on WGBH 2 in Greater Boston, and on its partner station WGBY/New England Public Media in western Massachusetts. Both stations will stream the program on their website and social media platforms. WGBH also will make the program available to other television stations in Massachusetts, including community access channels.

Around Town

Support Group for Family of Those with Mental Illness Meeting Online

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The following information was provided by NAMI:

The virtual NAMI Family Support Group will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm using zoom.us so the next one will be on Tuesday, June 9.  We will offer this until we are able to meet in person again. This group is for caregivers of persons with mental illness. See namimass.org for information regarding peer groups for people themselves experiencing a mental illness.    

To get the information to enter this group, we need your email address.

Schools

Minuteman Seniors Get Diplomas at Drive-In Graduation, Watertown Student is Valedictorian

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A Minuteman High School students attends the drive-in graduation, Friday, held due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The following piece came from Minuteman High School:

On Friday, June 5, 121 students in the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School’s graduating Class of 2020 received their diplomas in a historic drive-in graduation ceremony. The first-ever drive-in ceremony was held to honor seniors in a timely fashion while also ensuring social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Each student was permitted to attend in one vehicle with family or loved ones. They each parked in assigned parking spaces that were grouped by their career majors. One by one, as their names were announced over a live stream on YouTube, students drove to the front of the building where they exited their vehicles to receive their diplomas and posed for photographs. 

In his remarks during the ceremony, Superintendent-Director Edward A. Bouquillon addressed the ongoing pandemic, economic turmoil, and racial unrest that the nation – and our families and communities – are grappling with. 

“I have confidence that you, the class of 2020, who have lost so much this senior year… you have gained an appreciation for the relationship and connection that only this crisis can teach,” Bouquillon said.

Entertainment

Small Saves Celebrates Opening Day in This Week’s Cartoon

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Cartoon by James Demarco

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.”

Around Town

Watertown Holding Flag Day Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery

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Members of Watertown’s veterans groups salute at the Flag Retirement Ceremony on Friday. The following information was provided by the Watertown Veterans Services Office:

Watertown will hold a Flag Retirement Service and Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery on Sunday, June 14th, 2020 beginning at 10:00 AM. We will also rededicate the flagpole. This event is open to the Public; however, in accordance with health & safety guidelines, attendees must wear a face covering and practice appropriate social distancing. Please reach out to the Veterans’ Services office if you have a flag you’d like to properly retire.