Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Awards Inaugural Community Engagement Grants

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The recently unveiled Arshile Gorky mural received two years of funding from the Watertown Community Foundation. (Photo by WCF)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

The Watertown Community Foundation awarded $53,185 to support 21 programs in the inaugural cycle of the Community Engagement Grant Program. Funded programs will strengthen community connections, increase access to programs and services, and foster intercultural communication and understanding in Watertown. An additional $15,000 was awarded to MetroWest Collaborative Development and Watertown Cable Access TV for operational support in the final grant cycle of the Institutional Grant Program. “This first call for Community Engagement grants was extremely competitive, and the program ideas were top-notch,” said Mary Ann Mulligan, Board Co-President and Grants Committee Chair.

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Hosting Summer Kickoff at Donohue’s

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Donohue’sDonohue’s Bar & Grill opened 20 years ago, and has grown and changed over that time. The Watertown Business Coalition will host an after hours networking event at the patio at Donohue’s on Wednesday, June 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The WBC sent out the following information:

The Watertown Business Coalition invites you to the annual Summer Kick Off on the patio at Donohue’s Bar & Grill. 

Attendance is FREE and is open to Watertown Residents, local businesses & employers as well as those who come to work in Watertown for the day.  We’d love to see you! RSVP here

Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Hosts Successful Community Day

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The Watertown Fire and Police departments came out to the Community Day at WHA. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Housing Authority:

The Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) Resident Services Department proudly hosted its annual resource fair, now renamed as “Community Day at WHA.” This much-anticipated event brings together WHA residents and the broader community by connecting families to important local, regional, and state resources — right in their own neighborhood. Over 150 residents and neighbors joined in the celebration, which featured a wide range of community partners, including MassHire, LiveWell & Farmers Market, the City’s 311 and Recreation Departments, Watertown Boys & Girls Club, Wayside Multi-Service Center, and the Watertown Family Network. These organizations provided information, tools, and opportunities to support resident well-being and strengthen community ties. 

The Watertown Housing Authority hosted Community Day at WHA on June 9.

Around Town

Watertown Group Completes 5K as Part of Girls on the Run Program

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The group of Watertown runners who took part in the Girls on the Run 5K. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Girls on the Run:

After a few-year hiatus, Girls on the Run made a triumphant return to Watertown this spring, thanks to the partnership between Watertown Recreation and the Hosmer School. The eight-week program, which began on April 2, at the Hosmer School, culminated in a celebratory 5K on the Boston Common on May 31. 

Twenty-six girls in grades 3 through 5 participated in the program on Wednesdays and Fridays after school to run, learn, and grow. Over the span of the 8 weeks, they not only built stamina and running technique but also learned valuable life skills like goal-setting, positive self-talk, and teamwork; all parts of the Girls on the Run curriculum. Seven dedicated coaches comprised of community volunteers, a Hosmer School teacher, and a Hosmer parent led the girls through the program. Their commitment to both physical training and personal encouragement helped participants develop confidence and form strong bonds not only with each other, but with the coaches as well.

Around Town

CRWA Hosting Building Resilience in the Charles River Watershed Webinar

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The following information came from the Charles River Watershed Association:

Join us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:30-8 p.m. for the Building Resilience in the Charles River Watershed webinar on Zoom to learn about innovative green and grey flood mitigation solutions, how we could use ponds for added storage and their potential to reduce extreme flooding, and actionable recommendations to safeguard our watershed’s future. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation! Discover how the Charles River Watershed Association and local communities are working together on innovative solutions to manage future flooding from climate change as part of our regional flood initiative. Adapting to the impacts of climate change is a daunting task, but many local cities and towns are facing this challenge head-on! For the past four years, about two dozen communities in the Charles River Climate Compact (CRCC) have collaborated with CRWA and Weston & Sampson to identify opportunities to reduce flooding and build resilience to climate change.

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Drainage Installation Work Planned This Week at 2 Intersections on Mt. Auburn St.

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During the week of June 9-13 the Mt. Auburn Street roadwork will include installation of drainage on a couple of intersections. See details in the announcement provided by the City of Watertown. Beginning Monday, June 9, 2025, Newport Construction will resume drainage installation on Mount Auburn Street at the intersections with Kimball Road and Elton Avenue. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

During this work, you can expect temporary lane shifts and possibly lane closures, but one travel lane in each direction will remain on Mount Auburn Street.

Around Town

Winners of 2025 Historical Preservation Awards Announced at Event Hosted by Gore Place

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The winners of the 2025 Historical Preservation Award. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Watertown Historical Commission announced its 2025 Historical Preservation Awards at aceremony on June 5, 2025 attended by over 75 people. “Watertown has a rich history and it takes work to preserve it,” Commission Chair Elise Loukas said. ‘These awards celebrate people and organizations who do the work and help us all in preserving the city’s history for future generations.”

The awards ceremony is held every two years to honor individuals, organizations and projects that have shown leadership in historic preservation in Watertown. This year’s ceremony was held at Gore Place’s Carriage House.

Around Town

First Watertown Swap Shop on Saturday — Free to Residents

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Watertown Swap Shop is a free resource for our residents to share household items. As a volunteer-run sustainability initiative, we hope to encourage sharing and reuse, reduce consumption and waste, and connect neighbors across our community. Hours and Location

The Watertown Swap Shop will be open 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the First Saturday of every month unless otherwise noted (weather depending) from April through October. The hours of operation will be dependent upon the availability of volunteers to oversee the program. Closed during the winter months. The 2025 dates are:

June 7 (First day open, taking donations only!) (Note, if there is lightening while the Swap Shop is scheduled to be open, it will close early for everyone’s safety.)

July 12 (Second Saturday of July)

August 2

September 6

October 4

The Swap Shop is located at the Watertown Recycle Center, 76 Stanley Ave.