Around Town

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.

Business

Belmont Savings Collects Gifts for Home for Little Wanderers

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Belmont Savings Bank recently collected more than 100 gifts for the upcoming annual Big Wishes Gift Drive to benefit the Home for Little Wanderers, according to a bank press release. Several bank branches, including Watertown, started the drive on Thanksgiving Day. Residents interested in participating were encouraged to stop by the branches and select an ornament from the giving tree that was on display. Each ornament indicated the age and gender of a child, as well as the type of gift needed. All gifts collected from the drive were delivered to the Home for Little Wanderers before Christmas.

Charity

Tufts Health Plan Foundation Awards Over $1 Million in Grants

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The Tufts Health Plan Foundation announced new community investments of more than $1.1 million. The eight new grants reflect a commitment to advancing inclusive policies that create thriving and vital communities that work for people of all ages. For 2017, Foundation community investments top $3.15 million, including 30 new grants and on-going support for 15 multi-year initiatives. “Communities have greater interest in age-friendly initiatives. There’s a growing understanding of the critical role older people play.

Business

Still Time to Vote for Your Favorite Local Non-Profit in the Watertown Saving’s Customer Choice Awards

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Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) CEO Ron Dean is pleased to announce that voting is open until December 31 in the Bank’s 22nd Annual Customer Choice Awards, where $75,000 is distributed among local non-profits according to how Bank customers vote. “The Bank is extremely proud of the Customer Choice Awards because of how many organizations are helped,” Dean said. “Our employees look forward to the awards night each year, to learn about all of the good work being done in our communities.”

How do the Customer Choice Awards work: Anyone with a Watertown Savings Bank account may vote. Customers may vote only once for their favorite local, non-profit organization. Every qualified non-profit that earns at least one percent of the total votes received is awarded a portion of the funds.

Business

Get Free Gift Wrapping and Help Two Organizations

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The Watertown Mall invites shoppers to join them for a weekend of complementary gift wrapping at the Watertown Mall courtesy of Antioch Community Church and The American Cancer Society Relay for Life! We will have Antioch Community Church here on Saturday, December 16 and The American Cancer Society here on Sunday, December 17 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Complete all of your holidays needs in one stop! The American Cancer Society Relay for Life will be accepting donations, if desired. Our wrapping station will be located outside of Carter’s. Let us lend you a helping hand this holiday season!

Charity

Comedy for a Cure Fundraiser in Watertown Raising Money for Cancer Research

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A night of comedy, raffles and more will be held in Watertown to raise money for cancer research. Comedy for a Cure will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at the Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown. Matthew P. Brown will be hosting the comedy show featuring Carolyn Plummer and Artie Januario headlining. Along with the comedy, enjoy raffles, ice cream, light snacks and a cash bar from beginning at 6:30 p.m. The comedy show begins at 7:30 p.m. Raffle prizes include $500 tasting class from Total Wine, signed Red Sox memorabilia, Blue Man Group tickets, and many restaurant gift cards.

Charity

Two Folk Groups Featured at the Tremedal Holiday Concert in Watertown

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The Tremedal Holiday Concert in Watertown features a twin bill of folk acts. Dean Steven and Lorraine & Bennett Hammond will perform at First Parish Church, 35 Church St. in Watertown, on Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Also that evening, colorful, creative crafts from Central America which make for nice holiday gifts will be on sale. The Tremedal Concerts benefit the Watertown-El Salvador Sister City Project.

Charity

Watertown Toy Drive Gets Help from Local Chef, Needs More Assistance This Year

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The effort to make sure that every child in town receives a gift for Christmas, one organized by members of the Watertown Police and Fire departments, got a helping hand from one of Watertown’s culinary stars, and the drive needs an extra hand this year. 

On Monday afternoon, Chef Mike Fucci presented a check for $1,000 to the Whooley Foundation, the group that organizes the toy drive in town during the holidays each year. Fucci, who runs Chef Mike’s Kitchen and has been featured multiple times on Food Network, does a lot of work for charities, especially during the holidays. He will be cooking a meal for 1,000 people at the New England Center and Home for Veterans later this month. This is the first year, however, that he has donated to the Whooley Foundation. “I didn’t know about the toy drive, otherwise I would have done it a lot sooner,” Fucci said.