Around Town

Eclipse Viewing Party Draws Hundreds to Watertown Park

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The place to be in Watertown Monday afternoon was in the field behind Town Hall, which was swarming with people wanting to catch a glimpse of the eclipse of the sun – even if it was just partial in Massachusetts. Hundreds of people showed up for the event at Saltonstall Park near Watertown Square. While not the 100,000 that showed up in Madras, Oregon for the total eclipse, Watertown’s event had a buzz of excitement. The Watertown Free Public Library handed out special dark glasses at Saltonstall Park that allow people to watch the eclipse without damaging their eyes, but they ran out a couple of hours before the eclipse reached its peak. Some people brought their lawn chairs so they could relax as they watched the event, while children ran around on the field in between glimpses of the moon moving across the sun.

Around Town

Sign Up Now for the Fourth Annual Watertown Library 5K Fundraiser

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The Watertown Library’s 5K race is back and runners and walkers can sign up now. 

Library officials sent out the following announcement:

Participants of all ability levels are encouraged to participate in the Watertown Free Public Library’s 4th Annual 5k fundraiser. We will be running through the neighborhoods surrounding the Watertown Free Public Library. The start line is located in front of the Watertown Boys & Girls Club on Whites Avenue, a short walk from the library through Saltonstall Park. See map for specifics at wfpl.racewire.com

Register online at wfpl.racewire.com

Adults (18+): $25

Ages 10-17: $20

Ages 9 and under: Free

All participants get a WFPL 5k t-shirt!

Around Town

Watertown Man Running Falmouth Road Race to Take Strides Against Cancer

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The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) – an organization committed to solving the financial distress a cancer diagnosis can cause in the lives of patients and families throughout New England – is pleased to announce that Joshua Reed of Watertown will run this year’s New Balance Falmouth Road Race in support of the Foundation’s mission. The Foundation sent out the following release:

On Sunday, August 20, over 60 “Team JAF” runners will take strides against cancer and represent the Foundation in the scenic 7-mile run through the heart of Cape Cod. Last year’s team raised more than $100,000 for the Foundation and the 2017 team hopes to go even higher. Joshua Reed is looking forward to taking on the Falmouth race for the first time and doing so for a wonderful cause. Reed is eager to help JAF continue to offer needed assistance to cancer patients.

Around Town

Watertown Residents Protest Hate, Rally in Support of Those Hurt in Charlottesville

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Watertown residents lined the Watertown Square Delta Monday evening to show support of those injured during the demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend, and to oppose racial and religious hatred. The candlelight vigil was organized by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment and its Watertown Citizens for Black Lives group. “Distressed by the bigotry and ensuing physical attacks in Charlottesville, and devastated by the deaths of Heather Heyer, Lt. Jay Cullen and Trooper Berke Bates, old and young gathered with candles to mourn the victims of the hatred that exploded over the weekend,” Watertown Citizens announced. The event was organized with less than 24 hours notice. “It was clear that Watertown yearned to gather together and show its resolve to reject racial and religious hatred,” said Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, a member of Watertown Citizens.

Around Town

Watertown Park Hosting Basketball Tournament with Prizes, Raffles, More

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A 5-on-5 basketball tournament will be held at Casey Park in Watertown with a cash prize for the winning team and raffles and activities through the day. 

The Second Annual 5-on-5 Mobar Classic Basketball Tournament will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 form 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Casey Park, 124 Watertown Street. The winning team will take home a $3,000 prize, and there will be a special guest. There will be food, raffles, music, and activities for kids. Mobar Mobile Barbershop is based out of Waltham and cuts their clients include some members of the Boston Celtics.

Around Town

Watertown Groups Holding Candlelight Vigil in Solidarity with Charlottesville

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Two groups from Watertown will hold a candlelight vigil Monday night to stand in solidarity with the people of Charlottesville, Va., and in opposition to White Supremacy following the attack on demonstrators at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. 

Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment and Watertown Citizens for Black Lives will hold the vigil in Watertown Square on Monday, Aug. 14 at 8 p.m.

The group sent out the following information:

Please join us for a candlelight vigil in Solidarity with Charlottesville, and in opposition to White Supremacy in all its forms.

We will meet  Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment and Watertown Citizens for Black Lives mourn the victims of this past weekend’s violence and stand united against the hate perpetrated in the name of white supremacy in Charlottesville and here in Massachusetts. Please bring a form of light, such as a candle or flashlight. Signs are also welcome.

Around Town

Watertown Library Hosting Eclipse Viewing Party

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Come down to the Watertown Free Public Library to check out the solar eclipse. The eclipse will take place on the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 21. The library will have activities for the rare event from 1:30-3 p.m. While is some places in the United States it will be a full eclipse, in New England we will get a partial eclipse. The library will have activities on the front lawn of the library, located at 123 Main St., Watertown.

Around Town

Vandals Spray Graffiti on Gravestone of Prominent Priest in Catholic Cemetery

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Visitors of a Watertown cemetery this week found several gravestones vandalized including the grave of a prominent Catholic priest. The graves lie in the Sandy Banks Cemetery, also referred to as the Catholic Mount Auburn Cemetery, near Cottage Street, and one of the defaced gravestones belongs to Father Manasses P. Dougherty, who helped found many Catholic churches in the Cambridge area. Dougherty is one of many graves that had been researched by Newton resident Bill McEvoy, who spotted the red spray paint on the monuments and headstones on Aug. 10. First McEvoy and others approached Mount Auburn Cemetery, however, while the Catholic Cemetery abuts the Mount Auburn Cemetery, it is not part of that property, said Bree Harvey, Vice President of Cemetery & Visitor Services at Mount Auburn Cemetery.