Around Town

Watertown Youth Coalition Organizes Town Hall Meeting, Thanks Supporters

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The Youth Peer Leaders from Watertown High School helped organize the Well-Being of Watertown Youth Town Hall Meeting along with the Watertown Youth Coalition. The following piece was provided by Samantha Chan of the Watertown Youth Coalition:

On Wednesday evening, March 20, 2019, the Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders had their theatrical debut in a skit called “Welcome to Rehab”, which was written as a collaboration between the Improbable Players and Peer Leaders, and directed by Andy Short. This impactful performance depicted what addiction to substances can look like for both teenagers and adults, and how it affects the important people in their lives. Following the act, the Peer Leaders facilitated discussions around substance use, racial equity, sexual and gender identity, and mental health. These topic areas were drawn from quotes of attendees of the 2018 Town Hall meeting.

Entertainment

The Halalisa Singers Present ‘Voices of Hope’ in Watertown

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The Halalisa Singers will be performing at Watertown’s First Parish Church. The following information was provided by Halalisa Singers:

Artistic Director Mary Cunningham leads the 39-voice Halalisa Singers  in Voices of Hope and Heart, a timely concert offering messages of hope in adversity and the power of love to bring joy and healing. Accompanying the singers will be Trevor Berens and percussionist Bertram Lehmann. The ensemble will repeat the diverse program showcasing American values of inclusiveness and justice on a May 2019 tour of Ireland with performances in Dublin, Kinsale, Killarney, and Galway. Saturday, April 27, 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St., Reading.

American Red Cross

Red Cross Hosting Watertown Strong Blood Drive

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The following information was provided by the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross will host the Watertown Strong Blood Drive on April 20, 2019. The blood drive will be held at Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St., Watertown, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Strong

Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment.

Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Announces New Artistic Director

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Michael Bobbitt will take over as New Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director in August 2019. The following announcement came from New Repertory Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre is proud to announce that arts leader, director, choreographer, and playwright Michael J. Bobbitt will serve as Artistic Director, beginning August 1, 2019. Bobbitt joins New Rep after twelve years as Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre-MTC (Musical Theatre Center) in Maryland, where he led the organization to be one of the most respected theatre/training companies in the DC region, as well as one of the nation’s most influential professional theaters for young audiences. “After an extensive national search,” shares New Rep Board President Chip Phinney, “during which we reviewed many highly-qualified candidates, our succession planning committee unanimously recommended Michael to be the next Artistic Director of New Rep, and our Board of Directors enthusiastically agreed.”

“I look forward to welcoming Michael to our New Rep team,” shares New Rep Managing Director Harriet Sheets. “His proven track record of leading and growing Adventure Theatre-MTC will certainly help guide New Rep as we look to continue both building and diversifying our audience.

Middlesex Sheriff

Middlesex Sheriff Warns Residents Should Beware of Jury Duty Scam

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The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s office:

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is warning residents to be alert for a new round of jury duty scam calls. As part of the scam, callers are posing as members of the MSO and are telling residents they need to resolve matters related to missed court matters and jury duty.  In multiple instances this month – including two this past weekend – scammers identified themselves as a Sgt. Cooper and provided 781-819-5610 as a call back number. On Friday, a local resident was allegedly told he needed to pay $900 or would be arrested, while on Saturday, a woman was told she needed to respond to a specific location to clear up three warrants.  The location to which the woman was told to respond housed actual MSO offices but was closed at the time. 

In all three cases, those who were contacted called the MSO before paying any money or traveling to a location. “Nationwide, these scammers are attempting to use the criminal justice system and the threat of arrest as a tool to frighten people into paying large sums of money,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian.  “We want residents to be aware of these scams and these tactics in order to better protect themselves.”

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a jury duty scam you are encouraged to immediately notify your local police department.  If the scammer claims to be a member of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office we also ask you to contact our office at 978-667-1711.

Obituaries

OBIT: Catherine Holt, 101, Longtime Watertown Resident, Great Grandmother

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Catherine James (Constantino) Holt, 101, of Wellesley, formerly of Watertown, passed away on March 21, 2019. Catherine attended Watertown High School but left to work in the family business, Kay’s Bakery on Galen Street, during the Great Depression and served as the Secretary of the Bakers Union in Boston during the 1930’s, according to the Town Council proclamation given to her on her 100th birthday. She received her GED diploma, and after watching her own children graduate from Boston College, she returned to school graduating from Newbury College, with honors, in 1982, at age 64. The following information came from the Faggas Funeral Home:

Beloved wife of the late Charles E. Holt. Devoted mother of Leonard T. Holt and his wife Deborah, and Barbara Holt Clarke and her husband Jeffrey. Loving grandmother of Jennifer and her husband Ryan, Leonard Jr. and his wife Chelsea, Kenneth, Jonathan, and Philip.

Minuteman High School

Watertown Student Named a Minuteman Student of the Term

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Minuteman teacher Kevin Sheerin and Minuteman freshman Marwa Alwaz of Watertown, who is a Student of the Term. The following announcement was provided by Minuteman High School:

Minuteman High School has selected four outstanding students as Students of the Term for Term Two of the current school year. The honorees are freshman Marwa Alwaz of Watertown, sophomore Ellie Vail of Arlington, junior Evan Nardone of Wakefield and senior Jared Burke of Waltham. This honor is awarded every term to one student from each grade level based upon nominations from the staff. The criteria include character, attendance, improvement and academic success, according to Assistant Principal Brian Tildsley.

Middlesex Sheriff

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian Named to Advisory Board of National Justice Center

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Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian

The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, a national nonprofit organization that develops research-driven strategies to increase public safety and strengthen communities, announced today that Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has joined its Advisory Board. State officials across the U.S. — including here in Massachusetts — have used the findings and technical assistance provided by the CSG Justice Center to develop legislative efforts. In late 2015, Massachusetts leaders asked the CSG Justice Center to help conduct a review of the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system. As part of that review, the Massachusetts Justice Reinvestment Working Group, which Sheriff Koutoujian served on, was formed and produced the policy framework for the state’s criminal justice reform law in 2017. 

“The CSG Justice Center has been at the forefront of historic criminal justice reform across the country, bringing its expertise and experience to countless jurisdictions,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “I look forward to working side-by-side with my fellow board members to ensure this critical work of increasing public safety and strengthening communities continues.”

The CSG Justice Center Advisory Board is composed of a bipartisan group of legislators, court officials, law enforcement executives and state executive branch officials, all of whom have significant expertise related to public safety and health.