Around Town

Watertown Resident Hopes to Get A Second Wish to Visit Disney

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Watertown’s Brian Manning hopes to get A Second Wish. When Watertown resident Brian Manning first went to Disney World he faced a seizure that left him hospitalized. Years later he is hoping to make his return with help from the organization A Second Wish By Demetrius. A Second Wish By Demetrius is dedicated to impacting the lives of children ages 6 to 18 with life threatening illnesses by helping them grant a wish of their choices. Previous wishes granted have ranged from traveling to Disney World to meeting various professional athletes and celebrities.

Around Town

Watertown-Based ZANGÉR Boston Youth Chorale Seeks New Singers

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The ZANGÉR Boston Youth Chorale performed at the ACEC in Watertown in May. (Courtesy of Zanger). The following announcement was provided by the ZANGÉR Boston Youth Chorale:

ZANGÉR Boston Youth Chorale announces its rehearsal schedule for the 2023-2024 season. Chorus members are coming together after the summer vacation to begin preparations for Christmas Concerts, as well as additional programs and appearances to be announced shortly. ZANGÉR Chorale was founded in February 2023 by Armenian Culture Connection, under the direction of Doctor of Music, Maestro Artur Veranian, internationally acclaimed choral conductorand instructor.

Around Town

Developers of Building That Housed Trampoline Park Hosting Community Meeting

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A rendering of the building at 10-30 Manley Way proposed to be redeveloped into lab/R&D/non-nuisance manufacturing space. (The Seyon Group)

The developers of 10-30 Manley Way, off Pleasant Street, announced a community meeting about plans to redevelop the former trampoline park into space for lab/R&D/non-nuisance manufacturing. The following announcement came from The Seyon Group:

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Petitioner will be holding a Public Information Meeting related to the 10-30 Manley Way Redevelopment Project on September 5, 2023. PROJECT DESCRIPTION and LOCATION:

The project proposal entails the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of an existing vacant, 95,000 SF light industrial building. The existing building was previously part of the Raytheon campus, then converted to a warehouse for multiple retailers and most recently housed a trampoline park and gymnastics school, along with a Saks 5th Avenue warehouse.

Around Town

MassDOT: Travel Tips for Labor Day Weekend Travelers

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The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), MBTA, and Massport are advising Labor Day Holiday travelers to make informed decisions and plan ahead as Labor Day Weekend is traditionally a popular time for travel and everyone should consider taking trips at off-peak hours and considering using public transportation if possible to reach destinations.  

“We encourage members of the public to use MassDOT’s resources before planning travel for the Labor Day Weekend,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “By planning ahead, you can select the best travel times, avoid congestion, and have a safer and more efficient trip.”     

As Labor Day Weekend traditionally sees more vehicles than normal using roadways, MassDOT is taking several steps to ensure reliable travel, including:   

• Shutting down scheduled, non-emergency construction outside of fixed work zones for the Labor Day travel period effective at 5 a.m., Friday, Sept. 1. Scheduled road work will then resume at the start of normal business hours on Tuesday, Sept. 5.   

• Deploying the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy earlier than usual in the afternoons – opening at 2 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 31, and opening at 1 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 1.

Around Town

LETTER: Grassroots Housing Group Hosting Launch Event

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It’s becoming harder and harder to remain a member of this community. 

Every year, rising rents force more working families out while middle class and even affluent neighbors can’t afford to purchase a home, nevermind expand their families. Those looking to downsize after retirement, or hoping to age with dignity in the city they love, can’t find homes that work for them. Young people driven away, families in financial distress, longtime residents exiled from their hometown: this is the face of the housing crisis in Watertown. It is a dilemma that threatens our well-being, economic futures, and our community. It is also a challenge that we can rise to overcome, together.

Around Town

LETTER: Kudos to the City for the Work Around Bemis Park

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A stop sign installed next to Bemis Park. (Courtesy of Mark Pickering)

Letter To the Editor,

Baseball season and ongoing road work where I live all reminds me of what a great job that the City of Watertown did around Bemis Park. That included the repaving of streets around there. I know Bemis from attending Little League games there and using the playground with my daughter, now 7 years old. The park is at the busy corner of Waltham and Bridge streets.