Around Town

Hear About a Local Activist & Photographer and Watertown News’ Editor on the Little Local Conversations Podcast

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Archy LaSalle

Matt Hanna, the voice behind “Little Local Conversations” podcast, spoke with Archy LaSalle, who has many roles, including in the arts and as an activist. Also, hear Hanna’s conversation with Watertown News Editor Charlie Breitrose. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Achy LaSalle

Meet Archy LaSalle! He’s the Vice Chair of the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee, a passionate activist, and working photographer.

Around Town

Public Invited to First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Armenian Cultural & Educational Center

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The Armenian Cultural and Education Center will have a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the center located at 47 Nichols Ave., in Watertown. See the announcement below. Get in the Holiday Spirit and join us at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) for the First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 6, starting 5 p.m.

This event is FREE and open to the public! The program includes music, hot cocoa & cookies, and a visit from Santa. Bring your loved ones and enjoy the holiday spirit with the community!

Around Town

Major Residential and Commercial Project in Watertown Square Breaks Ground

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O’Connor Group CEO Bill O’Connor, left, and Head of Acquisition John O’Connor welcomed attendees to the ground breaking ceremony for Elysian Watertown Square, a mixed use project. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The start of construction of a major new project on Main Street, Elysian Watertown Square, was celebrated by the developers and City officials at a ceremony held recently. On Nov. 19, O’Connor Group held a ribbon cutting on the property that will become a mixed-use building with 142 rental units, five owner-occupied townhouses, and retail space on land that stretches from Main Street to Pleasant Street. John O’Connor, Head of Acquisitions for O’Connor Group, said the new project will help make Watertown Square a more lively place.

Around Town

LETTER: Giving Thanks to Watertown Forest Makers

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Volunteers watch Russ Cohen give a tree-planting demonstration. Photo by Anita Meiklejohn. by Anita Roy Dobbs and Libby ShawForests for Watertown, Trees for Watertown

On a warm, sunny Saturday at the end of October, over 200 Watertown community members came together to plant Watertown’s first Miyawaki Forest at the JR Lowell Elementary School near the corner of Orchard and George Streets. Volunteers aged 3 to 93 planted nearly 750 trees and shrubs of some 50 native species in just five hours. The result of this remarkable community effort is a new kind of urban green space.

Around Town

Historic Paintings Return to Watertown’s City Hall After Undergoing Restoration

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The crew from Maquette Fine Arts Services raise the historic painting of Watertown looked in 1630 after it had been restored. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two historic paintings returned to the lobby of City Hall looking better than they have for generations after undergoing a makeover to remove dirt and grime as well as repairing damages. The paintings show how Watertown looked in 1630, when the Town was founded, and 1930, two years before Town Hall opened. After nearly two years away, the paintings were reinstalled on Nov. 13 after a thorough cleaning and restoration project spearheaded by the Historic Society of Watertown, and paid for with Community Preservation Act funds.

Around Town

OBIT: Rev. Michael Clark, 76, Former Pastor of United Methodist Church in Watertown

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Rev. Michael Clark

Rev. Mike Clark was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1948, to Paul C. Clark and Kathryn E. Clark. He graduated from Albright College in 1970 with a B.A. and from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1975 with an M.Div. Ordained in 1975, he spent the first 24 years of his ministry working in church-related social justice assignments, including the United Church Board for World Ministries, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the Riverside Church Disarmament Program (while William Sloane Coffin was serving as Senior Pastor, and Witness for Peace in Nicaragua). He also worked as a community organizer in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1999 he began working in United Methodist settings in New England, first as an intentional interim and later as pastor.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Invites Non-Profits to Record PSA Messages

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Watertown Cable is inviting non-profits and other organizations to record a commercial as part of PSA Day. See information below. WCA-TV’s PSA Day is back on Friday, December 13th. Watertown nonprofits and organizations have the opportunity to  sign up to film a one minute PSA onsite in our studio or arrange to film at location. All you need to bring is your script and smile!