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See Which Watertown Home Won the Holiday Lighting and Decorations Contest

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The lights went up, the decorations were placed just right and the judges looked for the Watertown home with the best Holiday display. 

The winner of the 2017 Watertown Holiday Lighting and Decorations was 144 Lovell Road. The contest was sponsored by Watertown Real Estate Agent Bob Airasian

The home was chosen from several homes around town nominated to be in the contest. The owners of the winning home will receive a $250 American Express Gift Card and a $250 donation to the Watertown-based charity or nonprofit of the winner’s choice. The home on Lovell had lighting all around the home, in trees and had candle shaped lights in each window. The display also featured several inflatable Christmas characters and lit candy canes.

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New Watertown Non-Profit Helping People with Special Needs Lead Productive Adult Lives

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Nearly 70 people, including a number of young adults with special needs, gathered at the Sons of Italy hall on December 14 for an evening of fun and games – with a serious purpose. The following information was provided by Watertown non-profit byond22:

The holiday-themed event, dubbed the “byond22 Dance4All,” featured a DJ, disco dancing, karaoke, raffles and prizes. It also marked the official launch of byond22, a newly formed Massachusetts nonprofit aimed at helping young people with special needs transition to happy, productive adult lives. “The dance was a wonderful way to both celebrate our kickoff and raise awareness of our mission,” says Yariela Brandao, president and founder of byond22. “I was very gratified by the turnout and by the tremendous support for our organization.

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January at the Senior Center: Learn About Local Taxes & Exemptions, Visit from Therapy Dog and Much More

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The New Year is filled with activities and events at the Watertown Senior Center, including a session to learn about local property taxes, medication management and a visit from a therapy dog. The Senior Center’s January Newsletter can be seen below:

January Notes from the Director

Happy New Year from all of us at the Senior Center! An amazing year has come and gone and we at the Council on Aging are all looking forward to more good times, friendship and service in the New Year. Thank you to all of the patrons who visit the Senior Center and who ride the Senior Shuttle. Thank you to the volunteers who assist us with programming and who work at the Food Pantry, to the Board members who provide advice and guidance, and to the Friends who contribute to our efforts.

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Cancer Won’t Stop Mount Auburn Hospital Nurse from Helping Newborns at Christmas

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A 45-year-old Mount Auburn Hospital maternity nurse battling stage 3 brain cancer is giving back to the hospital’s newborns in a big way. But not alone. Here’s a true story of holiday friendship, according to the hospital. 
Over the past month Framingham resident, Patricia White, with the help of Mount Auburn Hospital maternity nurse and Leominster resident, Jane Dubrule, has assembled over 70 newborn baby gifts, each including a handmade fleece swaddling blanket and an ornament. Each gift is given to the families of newborns at the hospital throughout the month of December. Not only has Jane Dubrule purchased supplies for the gifts, helped Patricia White with the parts that required fine motor skills, and delivered them to families at the hospital together her and fellow nurses have donated their vacation time to allow Patricia White time to rest and relax. Just a great holiday story of friends helping friends in a time of need.

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See What is Open and Closed on Christmas Day

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Most retail stores are closed on Christmas Day, and all government offices are closed on Monday. Here are the details about what is open and closed on Dec. 25, 2017. RETAIL
Pharmacies: Some CVS stores open. Walgreens on Main Street (Waltham) is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Liquor Stores: Closed

 

Dunkin’ Donuts: Some Stores Open

Restaurants: Most Closed

Starbucks: Watertown location open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Library: Closed

Post Office: Closed

(If you know of a restaurant or business open on Christmas, add a comment below).

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OPED: Keep Teens Safe Over Holidays by Preventing Them from Drinking Alcohol

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With the holiday season under way, as we prepare for joyful celebrations with family and friends, the Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) partner agencies, Wayside Multi, and the Watertown Police, Schools and Health Departments would like to remind all adults to pay special attention and help continue to prevent teens from drinking alcohol. Teen alcohol use can lead to unsafe behaviors that put their health and safety at-risk. Underage drinking affects everyone in the community and if we work together we can continue to ensure the healthy and safe development of our youth. After all, every year a teen does not use alcohol, the odds of lifelong dependence decrease by 15%. In 2017, the Watertown Youth Coalition administered the biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to Watertown High and Middle School students.

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CatholicTV Broadcasting Christmas Masses From U.S. and the Vatican

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On Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, the CatholicTV Network will broadcast Christmas Masses from around the United States and the Vatican, the network announced. Christmas Masses will air beginning on Sunday, Dec. 24 with Mass from the Vatican presided over by Pope Francis at 8 p.m. The Mass with Pope Francis will rebroadcast on Christmas Day at 7 a.m. Pope Francis’ annual Christmas message, “Urbi et Orbi,” will air on Christmas Day at 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
Christmas Mass coverage continues at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve with Mass from the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.

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Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services In and Around Watertown

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Churches in Watertown and beyond will hold services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Christ. See the times below. Armenian Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Ave., Watertown: Christmas Eve Service 10:30 a.m., Joint Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Ave., Belmont at 6:30 p.m.

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church, 421 Common St., Belmont: Christmas Eve Services (Dec. 24) Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m., Interactive Family Service at 5 p.m., Candlelight Service at 7:30 p.m.

Church of the Good Shepherd, 9 Russell Ave., Watertown: Morning Worship, 10 a.m. on Dec. 24,  Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 5 p.m. on Dec.