Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/more/)
John Airasian
A Mass of Christian Burial for John S. Airasian, of Watertown, will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the Church of St. Patrick, 212 Main Street, Watertown. John was born in Cambridge to the late Peter S. and Anna E. (Calles) Airasian. He passed away surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at the age of 82. He grew up on Oakley Road in East Watertown with his parents and brothers.
The City will celebrate Watertown’s veterans on Nov. 10 at a luncheon at the Senior Center. See more information sent out by the City of Watertown, below. Join us in honoring and celebrating our veterans at our Veterans Day Luncheon on Monday, November 10, 2025, at the Watertown Senior Center, located at 31 Marshall Street, starting at 12:00 PM. The program includes a catered lunch and a special award ceremony led by our City Manager, George Proakis, as well as feature remarks from COA Board Member, Russ Arico, and Watertown’s Veteran Services Officer, Jerome Terminiello.
The following announcement was provided by M&T Bank and Catholic Charities:
M&T Bank is joining Catholic Charities Boston (CCAB) in providing Hope for the Holidays to those in need. M&T Bank is collecting non-perishable food items at all Greater Boston branch locations beginning next week through the end of November. The donations will benefit Catholic Charities Boston’s food pantries, which served 69,441 people across Eastern Massachusetts this past year.
This holiday season, the need for donations is dire as policy changes, funding cuts, and high grocery costs further strain struggling households. One in three Massachusetts families faces food insecurity. One in six Massachusetts families rely on SNAP benefits to feed their families.
Gore Place will host the Handmade for the Holidays Crafts Fair on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is rain or shine! Free Admission! See more details from Gore Place, below. Handmade for the Holidays is back! Join us in our Tent and Carriage House for a crafts fair of handmade goods. The market is free and open to the public!
The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The City of Watertown is excited to announce the launch of a new temporary public art installation in partnership with the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). “The Light Between” is created by students from the Investigations in Light class, led by Professor Elaine Buckholtz. The site-specific work will be on view at Sullivan Park, located at the corner of Arlington Street and Mount Auburn Street in Watertown, MA, from November 3 to November 17, 2025, with an interactive experience that includes puppets, scenic elements, and optical devices in a dynamic interplay of shadow and light on Monday, November 3, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Music and seating provided. “The Light Between” uses innovative lighting and material techniques to transform the familiar landscape of Sullivan Park into a dynamic, contemplative experience.
The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:
More than 20 local restaurants are teaming up this November to help combat food insecurity. Between now and Nov. 26, when you purchase a gift card from a participating restaurant up to 25 percent of the sales will be donated to Spoonfuls, Inc. — a Newton-based nonprofit food recovery organization that rescues fresh, healthy food and delivers it directly to local food pantries, shelters, and community programs statewide. The Gift Card Give Back program is organized by the Charles River Regional Chamber and its member restaurants in response to uncertainty about the suspension of the SNAP program and the overall growing food insecurity. “The quick response from our restaurant community has been inspiring, especially at a time when so many of these businesses are facing challenges of their own,” said Charles River Chamber President and CEO Greg Reibman.
Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator Kathy Cunningham looks as some of the food donations from the November Porch Pick Up. (Contributed Photo)
The Watertown community stepped up at a time when many in town face cuts in their SNAP benefits. The monthly Porch Pick Up program collected around 1,500 pounds of food for the Watertown Food Pantry. Kathy Cunningham, coordinator of the Watertown Food Pantry sent out a thank you on social media on Nov. 1.
The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:
The City of Watertown’s Human Services Department, with support from the Watertown Community Foundation, is excited to announce the kick-off of a Community Food Drive, on November 4, and continuing through December 2025. The City is taking steps to ensure the impacts of food insecurity are mitigated amidst the federal changes to SNAP, in addition to the freeze on those benefits beginning November 1. The City is asking those who are able to donate nonperishable food items at one of the several food donation drop-off locations found around Watertown starting on November 4. All food donations will support the food pantries in Watertown and families who are in need. Food donation drop-off locations include:
Watertown City Hall (149 Main Street)
Watertown Police Department (552 Main Street)
Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main Street)
Watertown Fire Station (564 Mt.
The following announcement was provided by Centre Street Food Pantry:
Centre Street Food Pantry, a nonprofit regional food relief agency that serves residents of Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown and Wellesley, has announced its response to the pending cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Access Program) and other hardships created due to the government shutdown. Centre Street will expand its hours, provide additional Thanksgiving items, and stock as much food as possible to provide fresh produce, dairy and meal-making groceries to those in need. Centre Street typically serves 1,100 households a month (each a unique visit) and is preparing to serve upwards of 1,500 households starting in November – an increase of 35%. To meet the anticipated increase in families seeking food in November, Centre Street will be:
Extending its weekly Tuesday service days to include an additional half hour for those who cannot make an appointment. Extending its Saturday service day by one hour.