Government

Meet With State Rep. Jonathan Hecht During his December Office Hours

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Representative Jonathan Hecht’s office announced that Hecht will hold office hours once in Watertown this December. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:
Monday, December 10, 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Lucia Mastrangelo Meeting Room, Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown
Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Around Town

Watertown’s Commander’s Mansion Presents Holiday Open House

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Watertown’s historic Commander’s Mansion hosts the Annual Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., featuring two floors of fun, food and drink, and visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus. The organizers of the event provided the following schedule and information:

First Floor – South Pole

6:15 to 6:45 p.m. and 7 to 7:30 p.m. – La Bonne Maison presents an intimate tasting demo of holiday cocktails and app

For ages 21+ (limited capacity) $8.00 per person with pre-registration — please call 617-926-7755 to register — and $10.00 per person at the door (cash only)

5:45 to 6:15 p.m. – Perkins Secondary Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble performs Christmas Carols

Second Floor – North Pole – FREE – geared for kids grade K through fifth grade

5:30 p.m. – Let’s welcome Santa! Escorted by theWatertown Police Department
meet in front of the mansion

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Visit with Santa and don’t forget your camera thanks to Watertown Savings Bank

Storytime with Mrs. Claus

Elves Workshop with Ms. Smith with take-away kid’s craft

Rudolph’s Café opens at 5:30 p.m. with free hot cocoa and cookies

The Mansion will be open for self-tours

Organizers thank Dunkin’ Donuts, Season to Taste Catering, Tastings Caterers,
Off the Vine Catering, Peppers Artful Events, BG Events & Catering,
Forklift Catering, Cuisine Chez Vou, Sensational Foods, and Better Life Food & Taylor Rental of Haverhill

Around Town

Learn About Early Literacy Development at Event at Watertown Library

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The following information was provided by the event organizer:

Lecture and Discussion: Early Literacy Development (Birth To Age 5) at The Watertown Public Library 

On Saturday Dec. 8, a lecture and discussion about early literacy development at the Watertown Public Library at 1 p.m. will be led by Teddy Kokoros, a Pre-K Teacher at Transpiration Children’s Center and adjunct early childhood education professor at Fisher College, Lesley University, and UMass Boston. The event will be at Watertown Public Library’s Lucia Mastrangelo Meeting Room and is free and open to the public. http://reservations.watertownlib.org/reservation/40734

This event will go over how teachers and parents of young children can best support young children’s early literacy development. Topics covered will including finding quality picture books, dialogic reading, vocabulary development, reading comprehensions skills, phonics and decoding.

Arsenal Yards

Mexican Restaurant Added to Line Up at Arsenal Yards

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The following information was provided by Boylston Properties and The Wilder Cos.:
Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies proudly announced today that Condesa Restaurante Mexicano will join Shake Shack, Pokeworks and City Works Eatery and Pour House at Arsenal Yards. With two locations in Rhode Island, brothers Roberto and Ernesto Leon will open their third Condesa Restaurante Mexicano in 2019 at Arsenal Yards. By 2020 Arsenal Yards will be a thriving new neighborhood comprised of over more than one million square feet of development including 250,000 sq. ft. of curated shops, eclectic eateries, fresh groceries from Roche Bros., and a seven screen cinema, The Majestic at Arsenal Yards, plus 200,000 sq.

Middlesex Sheriff

Local Celebrity Chef Speaks at Commencement of Middlesex Jail’s Culinary Arts Graduation

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The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office provided the following piece:

Eighteen inmates at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction spent the past several months as participants in a number of educational and vocational programs offered by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO). On November 15, they celebrated their achievement in a graduation ceremony attended by their families, jail administrators, a reality TV show winner and a former presidential appointee. Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian presided over the graduation ceremony which featured 20 diploma conferrals for 18 individuals. Five inmates earned their high school equivalency, six graduated from the MSO Culinary Arts program and another nine men graduated from the Custodial Training program. “Steady employment is a critical anchor in a successful reentry plan,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.

Around Town

Group Discussing Creating Space for Civil Discourse on Divisive Topics at Library

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The following announcement came from the Watertown Free Public Library:
With hate crimes on the rise and inflammatory rhetoric dominating social media, the Watertown Free Public Library and Watertown Community Conversations are partnering to create a space for civil discourse on potentially divisive topics. The partnership begins Thursday, December 6 as a part of the library’s Democracy Talks series. The topic is a thorny one: Inequality and Public Policy. Sara Chaganti, Senior Research Associate at the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University, will kick off the conversation by discussing the role of public policy – both current and past – in driving inequality. She will show that inequality is not simply an unfortunate by-product of the free market, but is also driven by a series of policy decisions.

Business

Three Promoted to Vice President at Watertown Saving Bank

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Watertown Savings Bank announced three promotions to Vice President. The bank sent out the following information:
William Burgess
Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) President and Chief Executive Officer Brett Dean is pleased to announce the recent promotion of William K. Burgess to Vice President. Burgess was born and raised in Waltham, and has worked for WSB for 25 years. He currently manages the Bank’s newest office located in Waltham’s Market Basket Plaza. Previously, Burgess was the longtime manager of WSB’s East Watertown/Bigelow Avenue Branch.

Entertainment

A Holiday Themed Puppet Show is Coming to the Watertown Mall

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Mall:

The Watertown Mall, located at 550 Arsenal Street, Watertown, will be hosting Wayne Martin Puppets on Saturday, December 1, 2018. Wayne will be putting on three shows at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Visit the Watertown Mall to see Wayne Martin perform with his posse of hand puppets and marionettes. Board the North Pole Express and meet a variety of arctic characters including Frosty, Rudolph, Elmer Elf, Peter and Penelope Penguin, and Martin’s trademark juggling Christmas tree who breathlessly lights up and illuminates the way for the holly old elf himself. This is truly a magical holiday
experience for the entire family! This event is FREE to the general public; it will take place in the back hallway, near Carter’s.