Around Town

Find Out How to Enter the Watertown Holiday Lighting & Decoration Contest

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Enter your home into the Watertown Holiday Lighting & Decoration Contest. If you think your home has the best, most spectacular holiday display, enter the Watertown Holiday Lighting & Decoration Contest. The winner will receive a $250 gift card and $250 for your favorite Watertown charity or non-profit organization. Homes will be judged on the following criteria:

Unique design and creative use of lights and decorationsStoryline or themeDisplay and placement of decorations, animated objects, etc.Overall presentation

Judges will not enter the home or walk in the yard. It will be limited to whatever is viewable from the street and sidewalk of the home.

Around Town

Watertown Doctor, Man He Saved Attend Mount Auburn Hospital’s Party of the Year

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The following information came from Mount Auburn Hospital:

Jill and Michael Earley of Wellesley, and Dr. Michael Murphy, MD and Debra Murphy, of Watertown attended Mount Auburn Hospital’s Party of the Year. Earley came to the hospital in cardiac arrest and Dr. Murphy saved his life. 

The Party of the Year is Mount Auburn Hospital’s annual charity gala to promote good health in our community. Among those in attendance was a man who brought to the hospital having a heart attack and the doctor who saved him. 

When father and husband Michael Earley arrived at Mount Auburn Hospital on July 11 after collapsing on the basketball court, the outlook was grim. Earley had suffered cardiac arrest — something the staff in the Mount Auburn Hospital see nearly every day. In situations like this time, training, and skill are critical.

Around Town

Assistant Recreation Director Looks Back on 30 Years Working with Watertown’s Youth

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Assistant Recreation Director Ernie Thebado has worked with the children of Watertown for three decades. Photo provided by the Watertown Recreation Department. Ernie Thebado, the assistant director of the Watertown Department of Recreation, recently reached the 10 year mark working for the Town, and prior to that he had another 20 years working at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. During his three decades in Town he made some strong and lasting connections. His career, however, did not begin in Watertown. 

“It all started with the Marlborough Boys and Girls Club,” Thebado said. “It was a stone’s thrown from my home.”

Around Town

Watertown for All Ages Starting Program to Help Seniors Who Can’t Drive

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The following information was provided by Watertown for All Ages:

A local non-profit organization, Watertown for All Ages (WAA), is spearheading an initiative that will help older residents stay independent, active and engaged in the community even when they no longer drive. “Older people who stop driving are at risk of isolation and depression, a problem that our initiative will seek to prevent,” said Chris Miara, coordinator of the new project. WAA recently received two grants to start a town-wide effort to ensure older people have information about, and access to, safe and appropriate transportation. The grants from Tufts Health Plan Foundation and the Watertown Community Foundation will be used over the next year to study the obstacles older residents face in getting around town without a car and develop a set of recommendations to address these obstacles. WAA is in the process of forming an advisory committee of town officials and residents to guide the work of the transportation project, and is seeking volunteers to participate in this and its other activities dedicated to making Watertown a more ”age-friendly” community.

Around Town

Santa Claus Greeted by Hundreds at Watertown Square Tree Lighting

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Hundreds turned out on a cold Friday evening for the annual Watertown Square Tree Lighting Ceremony. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

Delivered on a big red fire truck, the guest of honor at Friday night’s Watertown Square Tree Lighting Ceremony was swarmed by his many fans. The annual event on the Delta in Watertown Square drew a big crowd once again. Before Santa Claus arrived, children got a chance to say hi to Frosty the Snowman, and enjoy some cookies, hot cocoa and cider. 

Town Councilor Anthony Donato, who is also a Rotary Club member, greeted everyone, and remembered longtime community leader and supporter of the event, Paul Airasian, who passed away in September. He also thanked the veterans on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.

Around Town

Commander’s Mansion Adds Some Holiday Cheer to Watertown

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Commander’s Mansion Facilities Manager Tammy McKenna takes a photo of a family visiting Santa Claus during the Holiday Open House. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

The Commander’s Mansion was decked out for the season Thursday evening as the historic home in Watertown hosted the annual Holiday Open House. Dozens of families visited the home to view the Christmas trees, enjoy some cookies and hot cocoa, and listen to some carols. Rooms in the historic Commander’s Mansion were decorated for the holidays, including this Christmas tree. Photo by Charlie Breitrose

Santa Claus arrived at the Mansion with a special escort from the Watertown Police Department.

Around Town

See When the Free Gift Wrapping Station Setting Up at Watertown Mall

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The Watertown Mall provided the following information:

Free Gift Wrapping! Join us for a day of complementary gift wrapping at the Watertown Mall courtesy of Antioch Community Church! We will have Antioch Community Church here on Saturday, December 15 from
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Complete all of your holidays needs in one stop! Our wrapping station will be located outside of Carter’s. Let us lend you a helping hand during this busy holiday season!