Public Invited to Next Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Black Lives

The following information was provided by Watertown Citizens for Black Lives:

We will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian/Universalist Church on Church Street in Watertown on Monday, July 2. Our Mission: Watertown Citizens For Black Lives is a community member organization that campaigns against violence and systemic racism in our local community.

Memorial to Paul Sullivan, a Bright Young Man Killed in Vietnam, Unveiled in East Watertown

The smile of a fresh-faced young man in uniform beams from the bronze plaque on the stone recently placed on Arlington Street, but the marker is a memorial to the young man with a bright future who lost his life serving his country 50 years ago this summer. On Sunday, family, friends and community members came to the unveiling of the Lt. Paul J. Sullivan memorial near the corner of Arlington and Mt. Auburn streets, along with a flag pole dedicated to all who served in the Vietnam War. Dozens of Sullivan’s family members came to the event — brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and even grand nieces and nephews. Among those in attendance was Sullivan’s widow Margie Edson, who helped unveil the stone with two of Sullivan’s nephews, Paul Joseph Sullivan and Paul Joseph Donato.

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Receives Grants from True Value, Lowe’s to Improve Club

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club received a pair of grants to help improve the Clubhouse on Whites Avenue, Club representatives announced. True Value Grant Provides Paint

As students across Watertown get ready to go back to school, Watertown Boys & Girls Club is getting a fresh coat of paint thanks to a partnership with Waltham True Value. The Club is one of many across the nation selected to receive a “Painting a Brighter Future” grant. Every day, 11 million kids are left unsupervised after school. Boys & Girls Clubs are there to provide kids with quality after-school programming to keep them on track to academic success and a great future.

Watertown Grecian Festival Features Food, Music, Dancing and More

Watertown’s Taxiarchae-Archangels Greek Orthodox Church announced it is hosting its annual Grecian Festival on June 22, 23, and 24. 
Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, and Noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 24. The Festival features homemade Greek cuisine (including its famous gyros), pastries, Greek frappé coffee, Greek music and dancing, Greek imports and souvenirs, a bookstore, children’s games, Church tours, and a raffle. Music will be provided by Orfeas Band (Friday and Saturday, 7-11 p.m.) and Greek Music and Video (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.

Watertown-Cambridge Greenway Construction Schedule Announced

The last section of the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway, a bike and pedestrian path, will begin construction in late summer or early fall. 

A letter sent out by Leo Roy, commissioner of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), announced that the project will begin soon, and will create 1.25 miles of path along the former Boston & Maine Railroad tracks between Arlington Street/Nichols Avenue/Crawford Street intersection in Watertown and the entrance to the Cambridge Water Department at Fresh Pond. It will connect to the section already completed from Arlington Street to School Street in Watertown which is also referred to as the Community Path. “The trail will offer additional opportunities for transportation and passive and active recreation and physical activity, while promoting community and economic growth through increased connectivity,” Roy wrote. “The multi-use Greenway will provide an important regional connection linking the Charles River Path system, the Minuteman Bikeway, the Alewife Greenway and the Mystic River Reservation into an interconnected off-road pathway network.” The new section of the path will be 12 foot wide paved trail with two foot wide grass strips along both sides, according to the letter.

Dozens of Groups Awarded Grants from Watertown Community Foundation

The Watertown Community Foundation provided the following announcement:

Watertown Community Foundation held its annual spring grant awards evening at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Thursday June 7. The following grants were
awarded in two categories:Program Grants awards grants designed to help organizations that serve Watertown, develop new or continue existing programs with an educational focus (broadly defined). These are programs that operate outside of the Watertown’s public schools. Charles River Conservancy — Conservancy Volunteers Program
The Charles River Conservancy supports the Conservancy Volunteer’s programs efforts in the Charles River Parklands in Watertown. The Plumbing Museum — Comedy Play Fest at the Plumbing Museum
The Plumbing Museum will present a program of short plays inspired by materials in the Plumbing Museum and bring theater to new audiences in an unexpected venue.

Hundreds Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Watertown Senior Center

In the early 1990s, having a place for seniors in Watertown to call their own and run activities aimed at older adults was just a dream, but that changed 25 years ago. On Friday, the Watertown Senior Center’s anniversary celebration was so large even the center on Marshall Street could not hold all those wanting to join in the fun. 

Most years, the Senior Center’s birthday celebration draws 90-100 people, but for the 25th anniversary nearly double that amount filled 20 tables at Hibernian Hall. The Celebration included lunch, a raffle and dancing to music from the Phil Cefalo Band. The Senior Center’s own Mellowtones also performed. The ground breaking for the Watertown Senior Center took place on June 11, 1993.