Around Town

Watertown Hosting Gun Buyback Event on June 22

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An AR-15 assault rifle, in front, was among the weapons brought to Watertown gun buyback on Saturday. The Watertown Police provided the following information:

The Eastern Middlesex County Gun Buy-Back will be held in Watertown on Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The event will be at First Parish Church (35 Church St.)

Make our communities even safer by disposing of any unwanted guns! No ID’s will be requested, no questions asked. You’ll receive a gift card for each firearm you turn in and help reduce the risk of suicide, accidental discharge, and domestic violence.

Around Town

Watertown’s Grecian Festival Features Food, Dance & Raffle

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The Taxiarchae-Archangels Greek Orthodox Church provided the following information:

Watertown’s Taxiarchae-Archangels Greek Orthodox Church is hosting its annual Grecian Festival on June 21, 22, and 23. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.  

The Festival features homemade Greek cuisine (including its famous gyro), pastries, Greek frappé coffee, Greek music and dancing, Greek imports and souvenirs, a bookstore, children’s games, Church tours, and a raffle. 

Live Greek music under the tent will be provided by Orfeas Band (Friday and Saturday, 7-11 p.m. and Sunday, 5-9 p.m.) and indoor and outdoor musical entertainment by Greek Music and Video (Friday and Saturday, Noon to closing; and Sunday, Noon-8 p.m.). 

The Festival will be held in the Church’s Hellenic Cultural Center and under the tent in its parking lot, both located at 25 Bigelow Ave. For further information, please call the Church office at 617-924-8182. Schedule

Friday

11 a.m.-11 p.m.Greek Music All DayFeaturing Orfeas Band, 7-11 p.m.Bar 5-11 p.m.

Saturday

11 a.m.-11 p.m.Greek Music All DayFeaturing Orfeas Band, 7-11 p.m.Dance Performance, 7 p.m.by Sons and Daughters ofAlexander the GreatBar Noon-11 p.m.

Sunday

12 p.m.-9 p.m.Greek Music All DayFeaturing Orfeas Band, 5-9 p.m.Bar noon-9 p.m.

Menu

DINNERS
Served with rice, Greek salad, roll
Beef Souvlaki (2 skewers)
Chicken Souvlaki (2 skewers)
Combo Souvlaki
(1 beef skewer and 1 chicken skewer | No substitutions)
Baked Lamb Shank
Baked Fish
Moussaka
(eggplant, potato, ground beef, baked with a cream topping)
Pastitsio
(layers of macaroni, ground beef, baked with a cream topping)
Spanakopita
(spinach and feta cheese in filo)
Beverages/bar
Friday: 5-11pm | Saturday: Noon-11pm | Sunday: Noon-9pm
Alcoholic beverages available at indoor and outdoor bars
• Imported & Domestic Beer – Featuring Fix Greek Beer
• Imported & Domestic Wine
• Greek Spirits
• Mixed Drinks
OUTSIDE ONLY
Try our famous gyro! Spiced meat, tomatoes, onions, and parsley in a pita pocket with tzatziki,
a yogurt/cucumber dressing. Gyro| Gyro with fries | Side of Fries

A LA CARTE
Beef Souvlaki Skewer (one)
Chicken Souvlaki Skewer (one)
Dolma
(one grape leaf stuffed with rice and ground beef)
Moussaka . (eggplant, potato, ground beef, baked with a cream topping)
Pastitsio
(layers of macaroni, ground beef, baked with a cream topping)
Spanakopita
(spinach and feta cheese in filo)
Rice Pilaf
Greek Salad

HOMEMADE PASTRIES AND DESSERTS
Loukoumathes
(fried dough puffs dipped in honey, cinnamon and walnuts)
Rizogalo/Rice Pudding
Baklava
Galaktoboureko
Assorted Greek Pastries

Around Town

Watertown’s Flags Retired With Respect During Flag Day Ceremony

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Watertown Veterans Service Officer Patrick George, center, gets help from a Watertown Cub Scout to fold the flag during the flag retirement ceremony. After flying outside for several months atop a flag pole, the American Flag from Watertown’s Town Hall had become worn and was due for retirement. On Friday, it was retired along with a few other Star Spangled Banners during a ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery. The event was hosted by Watertown’s veterans groups and Watertown Veterans Service Officer Patrick George as part of the town’s Flag Day observance. “Three weeks ago we celebrated Memorial Day and paid tribute to the people who served their country in the military,” George said.

Around Town

Events to Raise Awareness About Alzheimer’s Planned in Watertown This Saturday

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On Saturday, June 15, the eighth annual Hope Lap will be held at Victory Field as part of the Longest Day. The event is just one that day in Watertown to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease. For the past several years, Watertown’s Judith Johanson has dedicated her time to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease, raise money to find a cure and advocate for more research. The effort started after her husband Steve was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s just before he turned 59. One of the annual events held in Watertown is the Longest Day walk at Victory Field, which the Johanson’s started eight years ago in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association.

Around Town

In Effort to Improve Communication with Residents Town Holding Listening Meetings

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Watertown Town Hall

The Town Council wants to improve the way the town communicates to the public and a subcommittee in charge of the issue will begin a series of listening meetings with an informational meeting in June. The Council’s Committee on Media and Public Outreach will be hosting a series of “kitchen table conversations” around town, but first it is recruiting people to host these events, said Town Councilor Tony Palomba. “Being host is easy,” Palomba said. “You organize a meeting at your home or in a public location for 6-8 neighbors and friends at some point in July, August or early September to discuss a series of questions related to public engagement.” In particular, the effort is aimed at people who do not ordinarily participate in town government, Palomba said.

Around Town

LETTER: Trees Group Thanks Those Who Supported Teen Program

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Trees for Watertown President Libby Shaw and Meghan O’Connell chat at the fundraiser for Teens for Trees at Branch Line. The following piece was provided by Trees for Watertown:

On Saturday, June 8th, local residents gathered at Branch Line restaurant to support Trees for Watertown’s youth summer program, Teens for Trees (tfwteensfortrees.org). Supporters enjoyed refreshments donated by Branch Line and coffee donated by Intelligentsia. They learned about the Teens for Trees program’s past successes and its goals for the 2019 summer. 

For the past two years the program has provided over a dozen Watertown youth with opportunities to learn, work, and give back to the community.  For some, this program is their first job, providing them with leadership skills in local environmental issues and teaching them how to advocate and care for the urban greenery around them. 

This year the program will be hiring six to eight teens to care for trees through watering, pruning, and other basic maintenance. They’ll also be engaging with residents to teach them about the important role of trees in creating healthy environments. “We’re thrilled for the continued support and enthusiasm shown by community leaders and local businesses,” said David Meshoulam, Teens for Trees Program Director.

Around Town

New Networking Series at Commander’s Mansion Starts This Month

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The Commander’s Mansion in Watertown. The Following information was provided by the Commander’s Mansion:

The Commander’s Mansion is excited to announce a series of networking events geared towards local Watertown businesses. We will be kicking off the Summer series on Thursday, June 27th with guest speaker Steve Magoon, Director: Community Development and Planning/Assistant Town Manager. Meet us in the Grape Arbor, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – rain plan is in the tent. Join us for lite bites provided by Catering with Distinction and beverages provided by Donahue’s Bar & Grill.

Around Town

TV Show Starring Kevin Bacon Films in Watertown Monday

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Trucks and trailers being used by crews filming the TV show “City on a Hill” took over part of the parking lot at Filippello Park on Monday. Watertown residents got one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon Monday, when the actor came to town to film an episode of a new Showtime detective show. Evidence of the Hollywood production could be seen in the parking lot at Watertown’s Filippello Park, off Grove Street, which served as the staging area for about a dozen trucks, trailers and other items being used for the making of “City on a Hill.” However, the stars of the show — Bacon, Aldis Hodge and Jonathan Tucker — could not be seen at the park. “They are filming in Mount Auburn Cemetery,” said Watertown Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon.