Around Town

Watertown to Hold First Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

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Jennifer KavanaughA performance of New Rep Theatre’s “Listen to Sipu” will be part of Watertown’s first Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. Here Maria Hendricks portrays Sipu during a performance in 2021 at the Arsenal on the Charles. The following announcement was provided by the organizers of Watertown’s Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration:

Watertown’s first celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day will be held on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at First Parish Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown. The free event will feature Indigenous speakers, a presentation of the New Repertory Theatre play Listen to Sipu, and Indigenous musicians, artists and vendors.  

Geri Barney, member of Navajo nation, will welcome participants with flute music followed by keynote speaker Elizabeth Solomon, representative of the Massachusett tribe.

Around Town

LETTER: Developer of Arsenal Yards Commends Watertown Planning Department’s Efforts

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In the nearly 10 years since we purchased the Arsenal Mall to make it a better destination for all, we’ve accomplished much with you and the people of Watertown. Our goal was always to transform the Mall into an accessible space to enjoy with friends, family, and neighbors, to rejuvenate the untapped economic potential of the Arsenal Street corridor, and to be an integral, improved part of the community in many ways. It has not been a short, perfect, or straight line, but we believe it is a very good result at Arsenal Yards. Throughout the years, we’ve had many a spirited debate with various stakeholders, councils, and boards in town, including, of course, the Planning Department. I’ve personally had “robust” dialogues with Steve Magoon and his colleagues in what we see as a productive back-and-forth in which we are constantly improving ideas with better ideas.

Around Town

Apple Pie Contest Winner Used Family Recipe, See the Top Bakers

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City of WatertownThe winner of the 2022 Faire on the Square Apple Pie Contest, Carolyn Gritter, and City Manager George Proakis. The Apple Pie Contest returned to the Faire on the Square for the first time since 2016, and the winner tapped into an old family recipe. City Manager George Proakis invited first place winner Carolyn Gritter to City Hall to congratulate her. “She used a recipe that was mother’s — she learned it when she was a child — an old fashioned, all-butter crust apple pie,” Proakis said. “I really wish I had gotten a chance to taste that.”

Around Town

Historical Society Raising Funds to Repair a One of Watertown’s Oldest Homes

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Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House served as the headquarters of Massachusetts’ executive branch during the Revolutionary War, and is now home to the Historical Society of Watertown. The Historical Society of Watertown has started a fundraiser to help pay for much-needed maintenance and improvements to one of the oldest and most historic homes in Watertown. The Historical Society provided the following information:

Built in 1772, the Edmund Fowle House is the second oldest surviving house in Watertown and celebrates its 250th birthday this year. 

At the beginning of the American Revolution it served as headquarters for the executive branch of the Massachusetts government from July 1775 to September 1776. As part of this governance many historic people of note have stepped foot in the house, such as John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. On July 18th, 1776, Council Secretary, Perez Morton, proclaimed the newly approved Declaration of Independence to the whole town by reading it from a window of the second-floor Council Chamber at the Edmund Fowle House.

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Learn About the Watertown Girl Scouts at Informational Event

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The Watertown Girl Scouts announced that they will hosting an information event that is open to all. Watertown Girl Scout Family Information Drop In

Thursday, October 27, 6-8 p.m.

Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472

Your family is invited to discover how Watertown Girl Scouts can help support the future Girl Scouts in your life! Join us to get a taste of what it’s like to be a Girl Scout at this fun, free, drop-in event. For more information, contact Crystal Kirkirt, ckirkirt@gsema.org, 978-770-1219.

Around Town

Watertown Race Reels Screening Film for Indigenous People’s Day

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The following information was provided by Race Reels:

Please join us for Watertown Race Reels in October! To honor Indigenous People’s Day we will be screening We Still Live Here: Âs Nutayuneân on 10/17 at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club, 25 Whites Ave. The movie tells the story of cultural revival and the revitalization of the Wampanoag language by the Wampanoag of Southeastern Massachusetts, the first time a language with no native speakers has been revived in this country. Through resilience and courage the Wampanoag kept their identity alive and remained on their ancestral land. Now they are saying loud and clear in the Native tongue, Âs Nutayuneân — We Still Live Here. We will be serving pizza starting at 5:45 p.m. and starting the film at 6 p.m. After the film (~60 minutes), we will have a discussion/activity.