Around Town

District Attorney Coming to Watertown to Talk to Seniors About Avoiding Scams

By |

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan will visit the Watertown Senior Center to educate people about avoiding common scams on the phone, computers and other solicitations, the DA’s office announced. “Scam artists are skilled, and anyone can fall victim,” said Ryan. “Still there are things individuals can do to educate and protect themselves from these sorts of crimes.”

These crimes rob millions of people of their hard earned money. Join District Attorney Marian T. Ryan, Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn, an Eastern Bank representative and a member of Springwell to learn how to better identify “red flags” in terms of scams, by way of calls, emails, and solicitations, and to determine what is the best way to respond. District Attorney Ryan served as the Chief of the office’s Elder and Disabled Unit for 18 years.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Offering Free News Production, Lighting Classes

By |

Watertown Cable Access Television has two free classes where Watertown residents can learn to put on a news show and light a location for filming. News Production Class

Residents of Watertown are invited to sign up for Watertown Cable Access Television’s free class in News Production beginning on Aug. 22. In this workshop, attendees can make their dreams of becoming a news reporter a reality! They will learn what makes a successful news story, including writing, shooting, editing and more. The prerequisite for this class is the Field Camera Workshop or special permission from instructor.

Entertainment

3 Watertown Artists Chosen to Turn Pianos into Public Street Art in Boston

By |

Three Watertown artists are among the 60 local artists have been selected to participate in Play Me, I’m Yours, Luke Jerram’s popular public art installation that will make a return visit to Boston this fall, courtesy of Celebrity Series of Boston, organizers announced. 

From Sept. 23 to Oct. 10, 2016, Street Pianos Boston will feature 60 pianos, decorated by these artists and placed in public outdoor spaces in every Boston neighborhood and select Cambridge locations for the public to play and enjoy.  Each piano will feature a simple invitation: “Play Me, I’m Yours.”

Artists of all backgrounds, artistic abilities and experience in different mediums were encouraged to apply through a public application process. Watertown residents, Ruth K Henry, Ryan Edwards, and Dawn Evans Scaltreto, that have been selected as artists for Street Pianos Boston. Ruth K. Henry is a Watertown resident whose art stems from her love of color, texture, music, and justice. Henry has worked on many community arts projects and was inspired when she came across Street Pianos Boston in 2013.

Around Town

Take a Culinary, Historical and Shopping Tour of East Watertown

By |

Explore the rich history, culture and cuisine of Watertown’s Coolidge Square in a special tour presented by Live Well Watertown and the Watertown Recreation Department.  

The tour of the East End/Coolidge Square Shopping Area will be on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Leading the tours will be an expert on Watertown history and someone who has taught classes in healthy cooking. Audrey Jones Childs is Vice President of the Historical Society of Watertown, a third generation East End resident, and a History of Watertown Lecturer. Ilana Hardesty has taught healthy cooking programs in Greater Boston for many years and is now enrolled as a student in the Gastronomy program at Boston University.

Letters

LETTER: Parents Dismayed at Late Cancellation of Extended Day on School Half Days

By |

Letter to the Editor (8/8/16)
This morning [Monday], many Watertown parents woke up to some incredibly dismaying news. According to an email sent out by the Director of Community Education Beth Sahakian, there are some major changes being made to the after school programs for elementary school students here in Watertown. These changes are as follows (from an email received this morning):
“THIS IS A CHANGE:  Extended Day will NOT BE OPEN on Early Release Days (March 1st and May 24th)  from 12:15- 2:35PM. You may bring your children to Extended Day at 2:35PM. Extended Day will NOT BE OPEN on conference days (dates TBD) from 12:15- 2:35PM.

Letters

LETTER: Elimination of Half Day Transition by Schools Hurts Working Families

By |

This letter was originally sent to School Administrators and the School Committee:

I am sure by now you have received considerable feedback from your decision to eliminate coverage on half day transitions to extended day. While your reasoning might have been sound and based on contractual and financial considerations, the impact your decision has on working families in Watertown is far greater than you might have considered. We have enjoyed the advantages of the Extended Day Program at the Hosmer for the past three years. Your staff is accommodating, the program is engaging and the convenience is exactly what we need. By eliminating the bridge period between scheduled half days and the extended day program, you have effectively caused us and most of the families that pay for your program a great deal of hardship and confusion.

Entertainment

Watertown Mall Hosting Two Events for Kids this Month

By |

The Watertown Mall has a couple events for kids coming up this month. 
Birds of Prey
Join us on Aug. 10 for this fun and exciting event! Meet birds that live right here in New England! Observe native birds of prey as you learn about the behavioral and physical adaptations they use to hunt and catch their prey. Investigate the role that they play in their ecosystems. There will be two presentations!

Entertainment

Methodist Church Hosts 15th Annual Magic and Song on the Lawn

By |

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church will host the 15th Annual Magic and Song on the Lawn on Thursday, Aug. 11. The free show will be 7-8:15 p.m. at the church located at 421 Common St. in Belmont. To celebrate 15 years of Magic & Song, both children’s recording artist Wayne Potash and Paul Sedgwick, the singing banjo player will be performing along with the church’s own Mike Bent and his Abrakidabra Magic Show.