Around Town

New Lights Will Illuminate Softball Field at Park in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe softball field at Filippello Park is undergoing a renovation and upgrade, including seven new lights on poles, new dugouts and backstop and a scoreboard. This spring, the softball field at Filippello Park has undergone a modernization, with new lights, a scoreboard, and a new backstop going up at the East Watertown park. Work continues at the field, and when it is complete seven light poles will light the softball field, which sits near the parking area off Grove Street. The project has been many years in the planning, said Watertown Recreation Director Peter Centola, who wanted to make facility upgrades at the Town’s parks a priority when he was hired in 2009. “I was here with Musco Lighting, we met on this field in the spring of 2010,” Centola said.

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Opening in June, Volunteers Wanted

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The Watertown Farmers’ Market will be opening for the season in mid-June and runs through late-October. Organizers sent out the following information:

Opening Day is on Wednesday, June 16th! Watertown Farmers’ Market Wednesdays 2:30 – 6:30 pm 2:30 – 6:30 PM, June 16 – October 20Rain or Shine, Saltonstall Park, Corner of Main St. & Whites Ave. (next to Town Hall, 149 Main St.)

Market planning is underway for the 2021 Season — keep an eye out for news and updates. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the market this summer!

Around Town

Watertown Group Supporting 25th Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, Raising Funds

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The group from Watertown Walks for Peace participated in the 2019 Mother’s Day Walk for Peace. This year there will be a symbolic walk in Watertown. The following information was provided by Watertown Walks for Peace:

For the seventh consecutive year Watertown residents will once again join in the Mothers’ Day Walk for Peace, supporting the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute and its services to families and communities affected by gun violence. This year is the 25th anniversary of the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace and, like last year, will once again be a virtual fundraising event because of the pandemic. This will be the seventh year in a row that Watertown Walks for Peace (WW4P) is participating in the annual Mothers’ Day Walk for Peace.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark Appearing at Watertown Group’s Annual Meeting

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark

The following information was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment:

Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment’s Annual Meeting featuringCongresswoman Katherine Clark will be on Sunday, May 2 at 3:30 PM. Zoom link at watertowncitizens.org

What can progressives expect from Congress since the January 6 insurrection? How do we make our issues a priority? Come ask your questions of Representative Clark. We are honored to have Representative Clark as our guest speaker.

Around Town

Deal to Sell Watertown Mall Closes, Purchased by Owners of Arsenal on the Charles

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The Watertown Mall — home to Target and Best Buy — has been sold for $130 million to the owner of other major properties in Town. The sale by Watertown Mall Associates Limited Partnership and New York-based Rosen Associates to Alexandria Real Estate Equities closed on Thursday, according to a story on Bisnow Boston which reported the closing of the deal. Alexandria has become a big player in biotech in Watertown. It also owns the Arsenal on the Charles and the former Mount Auburn Club. 

The future of the property is not clear, with Target having a lease through 2033, according to Bisnow.com. Other tenants of the Watertown Mall include the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Joyful Garden restaurant, Miss Maria’s School of Dance, Carter’s and Work N’ Gear.

Around Town

Watertown Woman Honored by Boston Celtics as a “Hero Among Us”

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Watertown’s Cathy O’Grady was named a Hero Among Us by the Boston Celtics for her work with the Sophia’s Angels Foundation. The following announcement was provided by the Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics recently honored Watertown resident Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ for her role in spreading joy throughout the community and helping others in need. 

For over a decade, O’Grady has been serving the community through random acts of kindness and the generous donations of blankets, toys, food, and winter essentials for those in need, as well as masks throughout the pandemic. She is the founder of Sofia’s Angels Foundation, which has recruited hundreds of volunteers and raised thousands of dollars to spread joy in the lives of others. 

For her compassionate service, commitment to the community, and heart for giving, the Boston Celtics chose to honor Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ at their April 7th game against the New York Knicks. 

Around Town

Paddle and Run the Charles River Virtually in 2021, Event Hosted by Charles River Watershed Association

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Charles River Watershed AssociationThe Run of the Charles paddle race will take place virtually in 2021, with participants paddling live but on their own schedule. A run will also be held. The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:

We are excited for you to join us for this year’s Annual Run of the Charles with a virtual twist! While we had high hopes to do our beloved event in person, we have put together a fun and interactive event to get you out on the Charles enjoying the sights and sounds of Spring. We look forward to keeping the competition alive! Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race, Sunday, April 25 – Sunday, May 23 www.charlesriver.org

RUN OF THE CHARLES PADDLE RACE

For this year’s paddle race, individual paddlers and teams have the option of four different routes, some taking you to areas of the Charles where you may have never paddled before!

Around Town

Arsenal Yards Kicks Off Outdoor Fitness Series Featuring Local Instructors

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Head to Arsenal Yards for an outdoor fitness series this spring and summer. The following information was provided by Arsenal Yards:

With summer just around the corner, Arsenal Yards invites area residents and visitors to get outside and break a sweat as part of its spring and summer outdoor fitness series. In partnership with local Watertown and Greater Boston fitness studios, guests can visit Arsenal Yards’ River Green Sunday through Wednesday for a variety of fitness classes taking place from April to September.  

While the past year has made it difficult for many to workout indoors and in gyms, Arsenal Yards is thrilled to invite the Watertown community onto the River Green for unique outdoor, socially distant fitness experiences. With classes ranging from yoga and barre to boot camps and cardio kickboxing, participating studios include Pure Barre Arsenal Yards (coming soon to Arsenal Yards), Kick it by Eliza, Monique from Burpees to Bubbly, Artemis Yoga, Get Lively: Health & Fitness and Ballroom in Boston. All classes must be reserved online in advance, and a small donation is requested to hold each spot. Online registration opens one week prior to the date of the class. All classes support a local community organization which will change each month; proceeds raised during the month of April will be donated to support the Watertown Food Pantry. 

“We’re so excited to partner with local Watertown and Boston studios for the return of our outdoor fitness series, which was hugely popular last year,” said Jessica Reed, Marketing Director at Arsenal Yards. “With Pure Barre coming soon to Arsenal Yards and the warmer weather approaching, we couldn’t think of a better time to invite visitors and the Watertown community to come together to enjoy these classes out on our River Green, while also giving back to some of our favorite local community organizations.” 

Available classes for April follow below, and visitors are encouraged to check out the Arsenal Yards Events Calendar for additional classes to be added for upcoming months: 

• Tuesday, April 20th at 5:30 PM with Pure Barre Arsenal Yards • Wednesday, April 21st at 4:00 PM Bootcamp with Get Lively: Health & Fitness • Sunday, April 25th at 10:30 AM with Artemis Yoga • Monday, April 26th at 5:30 PM with Kick it by Eliza and a live DJ • Tuesday, April 27th at 5:30 PM with Pure Barre Arsenal Yards  • Wednesday, April 28th at 6:15 PM with Ballroom in Boston, Line Dancing 

The health and safety of guests, staff and instructors is of the utmost importance to Arsenal Yards. Masks are required for the duration of each class. Participants will be separated by at least 6 feet and will be assigned a socially distant location upon check-in. There is limited capacity for each class, which will be strictly enforced.  

Classes will be held outside on the River Green, located near Shake Shack. Parking is available in the free red or purple parking garage, along with the surface parking area near City Works. For more information about Arsenal Yards, visit  www.arsenalyards.com.  

ABOUT ARSENAL YARDS 

Along the Charles River, in the heart of East End Watertown, Greater Boston’s next great neighborhood is emerging.