Residents Reunited with Family Photos from Long Ago, Others Unclaimed

A few years ago, the Historical Society of Watertown was contacted by Rosalie Hausserman who informed us that she had about 60 cartons full of packets of photo proofs of families (mostly children) taken by Oxford Studios in the 1940s and 1950s, the Historical Society said. There were three cartons of photos of families from Watertown, and she and her cousin, David Boyajian of Belmont, wanted to donate them to the Historical Society. They were donating the photo proofs of families from Waltham to the Waltham Historical Society, from Cambridge to the Cambridge Historical Society, etc., and want us to have the Watertown photos. Her uncle Harry, David Boyajian’s father, had been the salesman of the business and these photo proofs were left to David but stored at Rosalie’s house. David provided a short history along with the photos:
“These photos (actually photo “proofs”) were taken by my late father’s brother, Drtad “Dite” Boyajian of Somerville.

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Wins $5K in Honda Village Holiday Contest

Watertown Boys & Girls Club is excited to share that they are the proud winners of Honda Village’s Season of Giving Charity Contest! This social media-run contest featured ten local charities competing for the grand prize of $5,000. Voting took place throughout the month of December and the organization with the most votes by December 31 was named the winner. Watertown Boys & Girls Club posted diligently to Facebook, sent out mass email blasts, and posted signs around the Club encouraging their supporters to vote! The work paid off when on January 4, it was announced on Facebook that they were the first place winner and the recipient of $5,000.

Support Group for Family, Friends of People with Mental Illness Meets This Week

NAMI Family Support Group is a free, structured, confidential peer-led support group for family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. 

The next one will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 7:30-9 p.m. at Newton Wellesley Hospital’s Bowles Conference Center on the second floor of the main building, organized by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).

OBIT: Winifred LaValle, 96, Worked at Raytheon, Loving Grandmother

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Winifred T. (Aucoin) LaValle in St. Luke’s Church, Belmont on Monday January 9, 2017 at 9 a.m.

Mrs. LaValle, a daughter of the late Eustade & Mary Agnes (Flemming) Aucoin passed away on Tuesday evening in the Watertown Health Care Center. She was 96. Winifred was born Waltham, graduating from St. Mary’s High School.

LETTER: Tips to Keep Your Home Safe This Winter from the Fire Inspector

Residents of Watertown:

I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season. As we welcome winter, and progress into the season, I felt it was an appropriate time to inform you of some important winter fire safety topics. Please promptly dispose of your Christmas trees. A dried out tree can ignite very easily and spread very quickly. Even if you have been watering your tree well, cut trees dry out fast.

OBIT: Kevin Fraser Sr., 65, Army Vet, Avid Sports Fan, Worked for Newton DPW

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday January 7, 2017 at 9 am for Kevin D. Fraser, Sr. in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown. Mr. Fraser passed away on Tuesday, January 3 in Cambridge after a long illness. He was 65 years old. Born in Waltham to the late Murdock W. and Thelma (Fairbanks) Fraser. Kevin attended Watertown schools and graduated from Watertown High School, class of 1970.

Mt. Auburn Hospital Auxiliary’s Talk Series Features Some Notable Speakers

Mount Auburn Hospital Auxiliary’s 81st annual Thursday Morning Talks Series will begin this month. The 2017 lecture series will feature experts who cover a wide variety of topics including: art, psychology, history, genealogy, and challenges to our democracy. WHEN: Every Thursday, January 5th – February 23th, 2017

10:15am: Bouillon reception

11:00am: Talk begins (with the exception of 1/26, which will begin at 10:30am)

January 5: Stephen Greenblatt, University Professor of the Humanities, Harvard, “Hidden Histories: Justice in Shakespeare’s Venice.”

January 12: Danielle Allen, Director, Harvard’s Safra Center for Ethics and Professor in Harvard’s Department of Government and its Graduate School of Education, “The Past and Future of AmericanDemocracy. January 19: Jonathan Hansen, Intellectual Historian and Author, Senior lecturer on Social Studies and Faculty Associate at the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, “Cuba from aDifferent Angle.”

January 26: Mahzarin Banaji, Professor of Social Ethics, Harvard University Department of Psychology, “Hidden Biases of Good People.”

February 2: Annette Gordon-Reed, Professor, Harvard Law School, Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, “Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of theImagination.”

February 9: Barry Bluestone, Professor, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University, “The Economics and Politics of Inequality.”

February 16: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Professor and Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard, “Genealogy and Genetics.”

February 23: Matthew Teitlebaum, Director, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, “Anticipating the Future of Museums.”

Through a partnership with the Harvard Coop, books by some of the speakers will be available for sale and signing after each lecture. WHERE: Holy Trinity Armenian Church – Cultural Hall
145 Brattle Street (Sparks Street Entrance)
Cambridge, MA 02138

COST: Talks are open to the public by subscription or at a cost of $20.00 per lecture, and are available for purchase at the event.

Dozens of Opportunities for Residents to Serve on Town Boards, Commissions

Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is seeking Watertown citizens interested in serving on the following Town Boards, Commissions and Committees in accordance with Ordinance #2007-46, an Ordinance on the Timing and Process of Appointments to Town Boards, Commissions and Committees. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to townmgr@watertown-ma.gov or Town Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472. Board/Commission: Board of Health

Description: Provide for fulfillment of its duties under M.G.L. 111:5, 26-33 and other sections including enforcement of the state Sanitary and Environmental Codes, reporting diseases dangerous to the public health, and enforcement of other applicable state and local laws and regulations. The Board of Health determines the health needs of the community (and the health services available to the community) in terms of the size and characteristics of the population, specific health problems, and environmental conditions. Candidates should have background in public health, medical or related field.