Charity

Arsenal Arts Founder to be Celebrated at Fiesta for the Arts

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The Arsenal Center For The Arts will host its annual spring benefit on May 19, 2015 honoring Watertown arts activist and Arsenal Center founding member Roberta Miller with this year’s Charles Mosesian award for Support of the Arts. Fiesta for the Arts begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 and features Flamenco Dance Project with dancers Sabrina Aviles, Yosi Karahashi, and Ian Hoover, with Juanito Pascual on guitar and Tania Mesa on violin. An open-air reception begins the festivities with Spanish tapas. After the award ceremony and dance performance in the Mosesian Theater, scrumptious desserts donated by local bakeries will be served. Each year, the Arsenal Center honors an individual or organization that shares the late Charles Mosesian’s commitment to his community.

Around Town

Help Out on One Boston Day at Watertown’s Filippello Park

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Volunteers are sought to help clean up Filippello Park on One Boston Day. 

Classic Rock Radio Station, WZLX – 100.7, is recruiting its listeners to help clean up Filippello Park as a service to the town of Watertown on April 15, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon, in commemoration of One Boston Day, “a holiday aimed at honoring ‘the resiliency, generosity and strength of the city’ on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.”

All are welcome to participate. Various town departments will be assisting the WZLX team with this effort. Please use the 195 Grove Street entrance. WZLX contact: Chris Rucker, 617-746-1462

Watertown Health Department contact: Deborah Rosati, 617-972-6446

Boston Marathon Bombing

Dic Donohue Donates Blood in Watertown; Watertown Strong Race Coming Up

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Blood recipients @DicDonohue and @Heather_Abbott1 prepare to donate blood at #Watertown High School! #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/2R8KxbC3oB

— MA Red Cross Blood (@RedCrossBloodMA) April 11, 201

MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue required dozens of blood products when he fought for his life after being shot during the Watertown Shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and Saturday he gave back. Donohue and Bombing survivor Heather Abbott came out for the second annual Red Cross Watertown Strong Blood Drive at Watertown High School on Saturday. This was the first time Donohue has donated blood since his injuries, according to Boston.com. Also on hand were Watertown Police Chief Edward Devaeau, Red Cross of Massachusetts CEO Jeff Meyer.

Charity

Local Foundation, Town Funded Post Help Watertown’s Homeless and Needy

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{This is the second story in a series of articles on homeless and needy in Watertown}

Watertown’s neediest have few places to turn, but when they are in their direst moments there are a couple places to turn. 

Those in need of money to keep the heat or lights on, or even to put a meal on the table, can go to the Helen Robinson Wright Foundation. Nancy Dutton, administrator of the the Robinson Foundation, said she often sees people at wit’s end. 
“People get down to zero in their heating oil,” Dutton said. “They come to you on the last day.” The harsh winter has made for an increase in need in Watertown. The first quarter of 2014 the foundation gave out $20,000 in aid, and in mid-March they had already spent $5,000 more than the previous year, Dutton said. The money goes straight to pay the bill, said Mark Harris, minister at First Parish Church of Watertown, where the Wright Foundation is located.

Charity

Dancing With the Stars Event Will Benefit Watertown Education Foundation

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The second annual Dancing with the Stars, which will benefit the Watertown Public Schools, features coaches, state reps and Watertown parents. 
The Watertown Education Foundation (WEF) will host its second annual, “Dancing with the Stars” event on Friday, May 1, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelow Ave., East Watertown. 
Modeled after the popular television show, the event features Watertown “stars” partnered with professional dancers from Avalon Dance & Fitness and Fred Astaire, both located in Belmont. 
The 2015 Stars are:

John Cacace, Watertown High School (WHS) football coach
Jane Corrigan, Watertown resident and Reagle Music Theatre performer
Lidia DiIeso, Cunniff School teacher
Aine Dirrane, IA, Watertown Middle School (WMS)
Aaron Dushku, Watertown Town Councilor
Kendra Foley, Hosmer School parent
Jay Hughes, local realtor, WMS & WHS parent
Armand Keuchkarian, entrepreneur, WMS & WHS parent
John Lawn, State Representative, Watertown Public Schools parent
Sheri Park, Lowell School teacher

“Last year’s event was a tremendous success,” said Amy Donohue, WEF co-president. “It is a fun night out for the adults, and a wonderful opportunity to support the WEF grant program.  It will once again be a terrific event; all are welcome to attend!”
Avalon Dance & Fitness and Fred Astaire instructors will work with the stars on a rigorous practice schedule right up to the event. Professional dancers from various studios and dance organizations will serve as judges. The winners will be announced at the end of the event. Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.watertowned.org; $30 Silver tickets (general seating); $40 Gold tickets (premium seating); and $50 Platinum tickets (table seating). Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails begin at 6:00 and competition begins promptly at 7:30. There will also be a silent auction, and cash bar.  At the conclusion of the competition, the dance floor will be open to all guests for dancing. For more information, please contact info@watertowned.org 

Around Town

Marathoner Running Boston Race for Operation American Soldier

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The 2015 Boston Marathon will be Peter Walker’s second, but this year he wanted to raise money for a good cause. That’s when he discovered the Watertown-based charity that sends care packages to American troops overseas. Walker searched for a charity and got a suggestion while he was dining. “I was in Conley’s in Watertown talking with someone,” Walker said. “I said it would be nice to run for a foundation.

Charity

Watertown Hibernians Ladies Hosting Fashion Show

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Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 14 will host a fashion show to benefit local charities. BonWorth, Fashion worth your lifestyle, will be held on Sunday, April 12 from 2-6 p.m. at the Hibernian Hall, 151 Watertown St., Watertown. Admission ins $10, and light refreshments will be served. Proceeds will benefit the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians’ local charities. For tickets, please contact Mary Ryan at 617-851-1836, Maureen Foley at 617-967-1195 of Sue McCallum 781-899-9423.

Around Town

Sign Up Now for Watertown Helps Out – Dozens of Projects Planned

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Watertown Helps Out is a day of community service organized by Watertown Community Foundation. You can sign up for a one-time volunteer activity in your local community that you can do with your family, friends, or on your own. The Watertown Community Foundation’s (WCF) Watertown Helps Out – annual day of volunteering is taking place again this year on Saturday, May 2 at over 20 Watertown nonprofits. The day begins with a 8:30am Kick-off Breakfast and Sign-in. Roberta Miller, co-chair of WCF’s organizing committee, stated, “Last year’s WHO event saw over 150 volunteers help local nonprofits by gardening, painting, building fences, cleaning up the riverfront, assisting seniors with household tasks, and sprucing up a children’s play area – just to mention a few of the activities. This year we have openings for more than twice as many volunteers, and we expect well over 300 to help out around town.”

Many of the activities are kid-friendly, and there are over two dozen to choose from! Before volunteering, join us for a kickoff breakfast at the Arsenal Project and pick up your free T-shirt.