Around Town

See Photos from the Commander’s Mansion Christmas Celebration

By |

Santa Claus was busy Thursday night at the Commander’s Mansion Christmas Celebration. The Commander’s Mansion decked the halls for the annual Christmas Celebration on Thursday night. Lights decorated the Commander’s Mansion inside and out. The line to visit Santa Claus stretched out the door, through the upstairs hallway and into two more rooms. Visitors could also spend time with Mrs. Claus. Dancers from Ballroom in Boston performed for the attendees of the Commander’s Mansion.

Around Town

Holiday Performances at Watertown Mall & Free Blood Pressure Screening

By |

The Watertown Mall announced its annual lineup of holiday concerts, as well as a free blood pressure screening. Holiday Performances

The Watertown Mall is proud to present the holiday performance list for the 2019 season. Groups of local middle, elementary and high schoolers will perform through the month of December. For more information regarding performances, please visit our website at www.watertown-mall.com. Holiday Performance Calendar

December 4 at 9:30 a.m.: Lincoln Middle School

December 5 at 6:00 p.m.: Boston University Academy

December 7 at 1:00 p.m.: Watertown Children’s Theatre

December 12 at 5 p.m.: Lexington High School Madrigal Singers

December 13 at 11 a.m.: Watertown Middle & High School Orchestra

December 15 at 2:00 p.m.: Boston Neighborhood Children’s Theatre

December 16 at 4:00 p.m.: Miss Maria’s School of Dance

December 17 at 4:00 p.m.: Belmont High Madrigal Singers

December 17 at 5:30 p.m.: Miss Maria’s School of Dance

December 18 at 5:30 p.m.: Miss Maria’s School of Dance

December 19 at 4:00 p.m.: Belmont High Madrigal Singers

December 19 at 5:30 p.m.: Miss Maria’s School of Dance

December 20 at 12 p.m.: Belmont Hill School

December 20 at 2:00 p.m.: Watertown Middle School

December 21 at 10 a.m.: Miss Maria’s School of Dance

December 22 at 12:30 p.m.: Watertown Senior Center Mellowtones.

Around Town

Marshall Home Fund Receives Payment from Trust of Generous Donor

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Marshall Home Fund:

The Marshall Home Fund recently received the final payment from the Henry H. Drew Trust. This trust was originally written in 1930. Henry H. Drew was a Watertown resident. The 1930 Watertown directory lists him as a “gold refiner.” His will stated that any funds remaining in his estate after the death of his heirs was to be divided between the Watertown Home for Old Folks, now known as The Marshall Home Fund, and the Cambridge Home for the Aged, now known as Neville Place. This past year the managers of the remaining funds began a series of payments to the two named entities. The total amount received from the trust to each was $90,470.14, a truly outstanding gift thanks to the thoughtfully drawn estate of Mr. Drew. 

Perhaps Mr. Drew was grateful to the services provided to loved ones at each of the named facilities.

Around Town

Hatch Has Holiday Craft Workshops, a Creature Creation Lab, and Drop In Classes

By |

See what’s happening at the Watertown Free Public Library’s Hatch Makerspace in December. Hatch provided the following information:

Holiday Craft Drop-InsNeed some last-minute holiday gifts or stocking stuffers? We’ll have three Saturday sessions in December to make gift tags, votives and more! Come anytime during 1-3PM on 12/8, 12/15, or 12/22

Workshop spotlight: Art Studio – Creature LabBring your imaginary creature to life! Whether it’s a cute critter or a terrifying monster, all are welcome. More about the artist: www.smrth.net

Drop-Ins

Drop-ins are weekly themed sessions that are designed to give you insight into the subject matter.

Around Town

Record Numbers Turn Out for 2019 Donohue’s Turkey Trot

By |

Runners of all shapes, sizes and breeds took part in the 2019 Donohue’s Turkey Trot. Despite the rainy weather on Thanksgiving morning, the 2019 Donohue’s Turkey Trot drew a record number of runners and walkers for the annual 5K run and walk. Donohue’s owner John Donohue announced that the number of participants eclipsed the 1,000 mark, more participants than any of the previous 13 editions. Turkey Trot participants withstood rainy and chilly weather in 2019. Many runners huddled inside Donohue’s Bar & Grill before the race to escape the wet, chilly conditions.

Around Town

Watertown Scouts Collect $10K in Items for Food Pantry

By |

Den leader Stephen Lipscomb works with Bear Scouts from Pack 30 to purchase $200 in shampoo and soap for clients of the Watertown Food Pantry. The following piece was provided by Watertown Boy Scout Troop 30 and Cub Scout Pack 30:

In what may be the largest-ever one-day event to benefit the Watertown Food Pantry, scouts on Saturday collected $10,000 worth of food at the Watertown Street Stop & Shop. 

That’s twice what was collected last year in the annual event called Scouting for Food. “I’m overwhelmed by the effort of all the boys and girls in the scouts,” said Kathleen Cunningham, Watertown Food Pantry Coordinator. “It’s amazing that all those parents and leaders make this work possible.”

Pack 30, with scouts age 5-10, and Troop 30, with scouts age 10-17, come together every year to collect donations for the Watertown Food Pantry. Last year, 200 bags of groceries were collected from Stop & Shop customers at 171 Watertown Street. The this year, the response from Stop & Shop customers was so great, scouts needed to change how they collect goods.

Around Town

Senior Center Hosting Holiday Party, Has Help with Medicare & More in December

By |

Watertown Senior Center

From the holiday events to help with Medicare Parts A and B to getting help with shoveling snow this weekend, the December edition of the Watertown Senior News is filled with information. From the Director

Season’s Greetings! The Watertown Senior Center will be offering some great programs in December that you won’t want to miss! We will be hosting the ever-popular Holiday Boxwood Trees event with Ernie Berardinelli; and local artist Dawn Scaltreto will be leading her final Zen Art workshop using vibrant alcohol inks to create stunning abstract artworks. On Dec.

Around Town

LETTER: Former Town Councilor Urges Support of Town/BB&N Fields Agreement

By |

A drawing of the proposed playing fields that BB&N School wants to build on Grove Street. The land currently belongs to Mount Auburn Cemetery. Dear friends and neighbors,

As many of you may have heard, the Mount Auburn Cemetery’s property on Grove Street is up for sale. Just next door to Filippello Park, the site is currently being leased by the Mount Auburn Hospital for employee parking. Most bidders on the lot are looking to build lab/office or residential space there. This means more cars on Grove Street and no chance at expanding our open and green space in Watertown. There’s also a historic home on the site called the Shick House which isn’t likely to be saved under that scenario. The Shick family once operated a dairy farm from that house in the mid 1900’s. The Trustees of the cemetery have a fiduciary responsibility to be responsible stewards of the cemetery’s assets for the long-term and have chosen to liquidate the asset. They’re going to make the responsible choice for their institution and one can hardly blame them.