Around Town

Historical Society Celebrates Declaration of Independence, Treaty Signing

By |

Two of Watertown’s historical claims is that it was the first place in Massachusetts that the Declaration of Independence was read, and it was the site of the signing of the first treat made by the new United States of America. These events will be reenacted by the Historical Society of Watertown. On Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Watertown Commemoration will take place at the Edmund Fowle House, 28 Marshall St., Watertown. This annual event marks the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence to the citizens of our new nation in Watertown on July 18, 1776. Also, the signing of the first treaty negotiated by our new nation with a foreign power, namely the St.

Around Town

Boston 2024 Organizers Say Area Will Get Jobs, Transportation Improvements

By |

If Boston gets the Summer Olympics in 2024, the events will not be held in Watertown, but organizers said the event could be a boon for area jobs, transportation, housing and recreation areas. 

The organizers of the Boston Olympic bid came to Boston College Wednesday to make their case for hosting both the Summer Olympics and the Paralympics in 2024. Among the panel of speakers was Molly Schaus, who represented the United States as goalie of the women’s ice hockey team at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. She dreamed of being in the Olympics since 1998 when she saw the women’s hockey team win gold, and Schaus said the experience exceeded the her dreams, that started when she was in elementary school. Schaus and she would love to have Boston be one of the special places that hosts an Olympics. Part of every Olympics is the thousands of volunteers who welcome athletes to the area and help them get around.

Around Town

Mount Auburn Hospital Wins Award for its Stroke Care

By |

Mount Auburn Hospital has been honored for its stroke care by a national organization. 

Mount Auburn Hospital has received the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold-Plus, Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients, according to an announcement from the hospital. Get With The Guidelines-Stroke helps hospital teams provide the most current, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Mount Auburn Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated time period. These measures include aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients. “Mount Auburn Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care and The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke helps us to achieve that goal,” said Jeanette Clough, President and CEO of Mount Auburn Hospital.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Competing in Fenway Frank Recipe Competition

By |

A Watertown man’s recipe for the “Next Fenway Frank” has been chosen as a finalist in a contest where the winner’s creation will be on the menu at Red Sox games the rest of the season. Chelsea-based Kayem, maker of Fenway Franks, hosts a contest every year calling for the “Next Fenway Frank,” in which entrants create an original Fenway Frank recipe. The winner gets their recipe on the menu at Fenway Park for the rest of the season. New for this year, the recipe will also be served at participating 99 Restaurants, according to the announcement from Kayem. Kayem has narrowed down all the entries to five finalists and the public in now voting to pick the winner.

Around Town

Watertown Holding Fourth of July Celebration on Friday!

By |

The Watertown Recreation Department will host a free Independence Day celebration at Victory Field. The Fourth of July Celebration will be held on Friday, July 3 at Victory Field on Orchard Street. There will be hot dogs, burgers and refreshments served free of charge. Please park in the Department of Public Works lot at 124 Orchard St. Schedule of Events
10-10:50 a.m.: Soccer Game: (ages 7 and under)

Obstacle Corse: (ages 8-10)

Baseball Game Bring Your Glove: (ages 11 and older)

Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

11 a.m.-12 p.m.:

Obstacle Corse: (ages 7 and under)
Dodgeball: (ages 8-10)
Softball Game – Bring Your Glove: (ages 11 and older)
Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

12:30-1:30 p.m.:

Parachute Game (ages 7 and under)
Obstacle Corse: (ages 8-10)
Three-on-Three Basketball: (ages 11 and older)
Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

1:30-2 p.m.:

Water Balloon Toss: (all ages)
Group Games: (all ages)
Wiffleball Homerun Derby: (all ages)
Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)
All Day Activities: Face Painting, Arts & Crafts and Waterslides

The Watertown Recreation Department has a Facebook and Twitter page.

Around Town

See Where Watertown Ranks in List of Healthiest Cities in Massachusetts

By |

Watertown cracked the top 30 healthiest cities around Massachusetts according to a recently released ranking. The folks at NerdWallet ranked cities and towns around the Bay State using information such as health care data, hospital survey scores, how people get to work (walking or biking vs. driving), the number of parks and the number of McDonald’s restaurants. Watertown came out number 29. Nearly 20 percent of Watertown residents commute to work using an alternative to cars. This ranks higher than most of the communities, but lower than four of the five the highest ranked places – Cambridge, Brookline, Boston and Somerville.

Around Town

Summer Camp Openings Still Available for Watertown Residents

By |

Space is still available for Watertown residents in summer programs run by the Watertown Recreation Department and the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office. Watertown Recreation Camps
Parents can still sign up their children for summer programs run by the Watertown Recreation Department. All paperwork is due by Tuesday, June 30 for all participants regardless of the week your child is attending. The Recreation Office in Town hall is open Monday until 5 p.m. and Tuesday until 7 p.m.

Full payment for week one is today and 10 days before the day your child starts the program. For more information and to register for the following programs click here. Camp Pequosette

The Pequossette Summer program will be offering your children a variety of activities that will help promote physical well being as well as a good sense of self esteem.

Around Town

Community Spirit Awards Presented to People Who Have Served Watertown

By |

The Community Spirit Awards went to 17 members of the Watertown community who have worked to help the youth in town and make it a better place. On Monday, June 22nd, at Arsenal Park, the Wayside Multi-Service Center/ Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) hosted the annual Community Spirit Award picnic to honor Watertown community members who:

serve as a positive influence or mentor to others in Watertown
show courage to address challenging issues that affect youth and the community
actively take steps to improve the Watertown community

“We applaud these spirit award recipients and the people that nominated them. Watertown is a wonderful community with so many caring adults looking out for the interest of the youth living here!” the Wayside/WYC announcement said. The 2015 Community Spirit Award Recipients:

Andrew Allegro (Watertown Middle School)
Bob Galante (Lowell School and Pequossette Summer Program)
Rebecca Grossman (Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leader)
Kraig Gustafson (Watertown High School)
Michael Hayes (Watertown High School Hockey)
Laura Kehoe (Right Turn)
Detective Mark Lewis (Watertown Police Department)
Chris Lowry (Friends of Watertown Music)
Wendy Morrissey (Watertown Against Substance Abuse)
Cris Patvakanian (Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leader)
Larry Raskin (World in Watertown)
Greg Salvucci (Watertown Youth Baseball)
Arlene Smith (Watertown Family Network)
Ernie Thebado (Recreation Department)
Christopher Thigpen (Benchmark Recovery Center)
Lt. Daniel Unsworth (Watertown Police Department)
Wil van Dinter (Watertown Health Department)

Additionally, the organizers thanked to Ralph Vitiello, General Manager of Not Your Average Joe’s restaurant in Watertown, who previously served as co-chair for the Watertown Youth Coalition’s Steering Committee.