Around Town

Nominations Wanted for 2020 Historic Preservation Awards

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Members of the Historical Commission are pleased to announce the Historic Preservation Awards nomination season is now opened! Over the last year, members of the Historical Commission have modified and simplified the nomination package for the Historic Preservation Awards..  They are pleased to announce it is easier than ever to nominate an individual, group or project, whose actions and efforts have made a contribution that celebrates and enhances the historical and/or architectural fabric of Watertown. Please click on the link below to open the package.New and Improved 2020 HPA Nomination Package

The nomination package is now shorter and much easier to understand, and it takes minimal time to complete the form now. 

Members of the Historical Commission are happy to support anyone in the selection of the category for a nomination, for those who find it challenging to choose.  The awards will be held in May of 2020 at the Commanders Mansion.  The evening will include a delightful visual presentation of all the projects being awarded that were completed between the years of 2018 and 2019.  A delicious reception and social hour will follow.  

The exact date of the ceremony will be announced at the March 12, 2020 Historical Commission meeting, and a notice will be sent out to the public through the Town web site as soon as it is available. AWARD CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS and ELIGIBILITY

Awards are presented bi-annually to preservation projects and individuals that have displayed an outstanding commitment to historic preservation in Watertown. Projects completed in the years 2018 and 2019 are eligible for consideration.

Around Town

Mosesian Center Hosting Benefit, Spring Class Registration Open

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts will honor a local design firm and a man who helped found the center at its Annual Benefit. Also, you can now register for spring classes. The Mosesian Center for the Arts sent out the following information:

Art By Design: Mosesian Center Annual Benefit

Join us April 7, 2020 for Art by Design: Mosesian Center for the Arts Annual Benefit 2020 – a thought provoking evening exploring the intersection of culture and collaboration featuring exceptional entertainment, great food, wonderful friends, and a celebration of those who have made our community – and our world – more beautiful. This year, we are proud to honor two Mosesian Awardees whose incomparable achievements have resonated in Watertown and around the world:

Sasaki – 2020 Mosesian Award for the Arts

Sasaki, a global interdisciplinary design firm based in Watertown, infuses all of their projects with an innovative approach, boundless curiosity, and passion for what they do. Sasaki has received over 800 national and international design awards recognizing their indelible impact.

Around Town

Library Trustee Selected to Fill Vacant Seat on the Board

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Library Board of Trustees once again has a full quota of members after the vacancy left when a trustee elect left town before the term began. The five elected trustees and Town Council President Mark Siders selected Emily Izzo to fill the vacancy left by Mara Dolan, who moved out of Watertown after she was elected in November, according to Watertown Cable’s Watertown Weekly News (click here to see the report). The board interviewed more than a dozen applicants during two meetings in February, and voted to make the appointment on Feb. 19. Izzo works as municipal law attorney with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and formerly worked as the chief of staff for the Mass.

Around Town

Paddlers Can Enter 38th Annual Run of the Charles River

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Kayakers and canoeers will take to the Charles River for the annual Run of the Charles in April. The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:

Paddlers from across New England have started to register for the 38th Annual Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race, taking place on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Kicking off the paddling season, the event is the largest flat-bottom boat race in New England and draws over a thousand racers and spectators each year with the help of nearly 150 volunteers. 

Run of the Charles is a signature event of Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), the leading science and advocacy organization for the Charles River and its watershed. The work accomplished by CRWA over the past 50 years has significantly improved the health of the 80-mile long Charles River. CRWA has played a major role in restoring the Charles River, re-establishing it as a destination for paddlers and nature lovers alike. 

“Run of the Charles really allows you to see the Charles from a unique perspective,” said Emily Norton, Executive Director of CRWA.

Around Town

Eversource Seeks Entries for 7th Annual Student Challenge

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The following announcement was provided by Eversource:

Writing a poem, drawing a cartoon strip, or creating a superhero are just three ways Eversource is encouraging students to demonstrate their knowledge of energy efficiency. The energy company is reminding students that submissions are still being accepted for its seventh annual Student Challenge. The contest promotes energy conservation, energy efficiency and sustainability and is open to kindergarten to high school students in its Massachusetts electric communities. The deadline for registration is March 17, 2020. All entries must be received or postmarked by March 27, 2020. “From posters and poems to persuasive speeches and community projects, Massachusetts students continue to impress us year after year with their entries and ‘energy smarts,’” said Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner.

Around Town

Recreation Department Seeking Applicants for Part-Time, Summer Jobs

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Recreation Department:

The Watertown Recreation Department is now accepting applications for the following positions for the 2020 calendar year. This includes immediate employment as a part time member of the staff throughout the year or seasonal work during the summer months. Applicants must be entering the 9th grade (Fall 2020) or older to be considered. Positions Available: Program Directors, Program Supervisors, Program Staff, Program Counselors, Counselor in Training, Nurse, Specialists, Pequossette Staff, Park Instructors, Program Staff, Park Rangers, Coaches and Scorekeepers. If you are looking for employment to begin before the summer season, please complete your application and an interview will be scheduled with the Director of Recreation.

Around Town

Watertown’s Hidden Wetlands Could be Possible Community Preservation Projects

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Walker’s Pond, on the Westside of Watertown, is one of the town’s hidden wetlands and a possible place for the Community Preservation Funds to be spent. With “water” such a prominent part of the name of the town, one might expect it to be flush with wetlands. The Charles River, of course, is Watertown’s most significant body of water, but there are several others that are not as visible. Some can be seen from roadways around town, if you know where to look, others are tucked into the woods, and a number are surrounded by graves. Leo Martin, chair of the Town Conservation Commission recently took Watertown News on a tour of the town’s wetlands.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Show Finds Out the Latest with the Community Preservation Committee

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In the latest episode of Watertown Cable show Inside Watertown, Elodia Thomas, second from right, and Lanae Handy (right) joined hosts John Airasian, left, and Charlie Breitrose to talk about the Community Preservation Committee. Two people deeply involved in Watertown’s Community Preservation Committee were the guests on the latest episode of Watertown Cable’s Inside Watertown. Elodia Thomas, chair of the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and Lanae Handy, the CPC’s Community Preservation consultant, joined co-hosts Charlie Breitrose and John Airasian at the Watertown Cable Studio, recently. They talked about the latest happenings with the group who recommends how the town’s CPA funds are spent. The CPC recently held its first public forum (see video here), where attendees learned about what the CPA funds can be spent on, and then had the chance to gave ideas for projects they would like to see in Watertown.