Around Town

Square to be Dedicated to Veteran Killed in WWII as Part of Watertown’s Memorial Day Week

By |

Along with the traditional Memorial Day Parade, Watertown will have some special events in 2024, including the dedication of a Hero Square and the celebration of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105’s 100th anniversary. Hero Square

On Monday, May 20 at 2 p.m., the intersection of Bigelow and Nichols avenues will be dedicated to Vincent Ranucci, who was Killed in Action during World War II. Ranucci attended the Watertown schools and joined the U.S. Army in June of 1942. He was deployed in the European Theatre. On February 2, 1944 he was awarded the Purple Heart for the wounds received in action resulting in his death.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Hosting Community Meetings on Willow Park Redevelopment Project

By |

An illustration of the proposed redevelopment of the Watertown Housing Authority’s Willow Park property. The Watertown Housing Authority will host a pair of community meetings about the planned redevelopment of the Willow Park property. One will be in-person and the second will be a virtual meeting. The Watertown Housing Authority provided the following information:

Notice of Project Community Meeting

The project applicant will be hosting Public Information Meeting(s) as required by the Watertown Zoning Ordinance. This notice is for the required community meeting that is required prior to formal application.

Around Town

What to Expect at Next Watertown Square Meeting, Manager Will Also Discuss Zoning on Prior Day

By |

The redesign of Watertown Square will be discussed on June 12. (Photo by City of Watertown)

(NOTE, May 24, 2024: They day and location of the Watertown Square meeting has changed and has been updated in this article)

The draft of the Watertown Square Area Plan will be discussed at a meeting on June 12, but prior to that City Manager George Proakis will delve into the topic of zoning during a live and interactive show on Watertown Cable. Watertown Square Meeting

The meeting focused on Watertown Square will take place on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 6 p.m. It will take place at the Watertown Middle School Auditorium. Present at the meeting will be both the City Council and the Planning Board, said City Council President Mark Sideris. He said it may be the first of multiple meetings on the Watertown Square Area Plan, which includes not only the redesign of the main intersection, but also where the City will allow housing to be built by right to meet the requirements of the MTBA Communities Law, as well as form-based zoning which will determine how future developments will look.

Around Town

Group Seeking to Pass Nuclear Disarmament Resolution Showing Film at Next Meeting

By |

The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Peace and Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment continues their efforts to petition the town to pass a nuclear disarmament resolution with an event this Saturday. On May 18 at 4 p.m. (Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church, 80 Mt. Auburn St.) the group will hold an event entitled “How Watertown Can Build Community to End Nuclear Weapons.” Besides open discussion and reflections from the organizer, Lillian Koizumi, the meeting will feature music by Todd Gross and the film, “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons.” The continuing quest follows the points outlined by the organization Prevent Nuclear War (preventnuclearwar.org) and comes three months after an online presentation entitled “Let’s Pass a Back from the Brink Resolution in Watertown!” The speakers were local leaders from such organizations as International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Pax Christi Massachusetts.

Around Town

Applications Being Accepted for Elderly Housing Project in Watertown

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Housing Authority:

Beginning Monday, May 13, 2024, the Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) will accept applications to establish a waiting list for its Project-Based Voucher Waiting List for 25 elderly units (22 one bedroom units and 3 two bedroom units) at St. Joseph’s Hall, 2 Rosary Drive, Watertown, MA. A lottery system will be used; there is no advantage to being first to apply. The waiting list opening period will end at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024, at which time the waiting list will close until further notice. The WHA has not been awarded any additional project-based vouchers, nor are there any vacancies anticipated in the near future.

Around Town

Bosch Fund Gives Trees for Watertown $25K Grant to Start City’s First Miyawaki Forest

By |

Future site of Watertown’s first Community Miyawaki Forest at Lowell Elementary School. The following announcement was provided by Trees for Watertown:

The Bosch Community Fund has awarded the volunteer group Trees for Watertown a grant of $25,000 toward creation of a special new kind of green space in Watertown: Watertown’s first Miyawaki Forest, to be planted this November on the grounds of the Lowell Elementary School. “TFW’s Forests For Watertown working group (FFW) was just beginning to realize how much funding and support the creation of a Miyawaki Forest would need, when out of the blue came Bosch Community Fund’s invitation to TFW to apply for a grant,” said Libby Shaw, President of TFW. “We are over the moon to receive the Fund’s support for this project!” Bosch Community Fund’s invitation spurred an intense period of further research, site- searching, and collaboration with Watertown!s Department of Community Development and Planning and Department of Public Works, the Watertown Public Schools, and Watertown Community Gardens, as well as outside consultants and members of the wider Watertown community, in order to propose a strong project in time for BCF!s January 31 deadline.

Around Town

Mosesian Arts Exhibit Features Artworks Inspired by Literature, Myths & Fairy Tales

By |

Adrienne Der Marderosian’s “I, Too America” will be part of the Entwined: Visual and Textual Narratives exhibition at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The following announcement was provided by Mosesian Center for the Arts:

At Mosesian Arts, artworks influenced by literature, mythology, fairy tales, and personal narratives are exhibited together to form a tribute to the written word. “Entwined: Visual and Textual Narratives” will be on display from May 17 to June 21, with an opening reception on June 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Mosesian Center for the Arts is excited to present an exhibition that finds inspiration in literature, the written word, folk tales, and tales of all kinds from fairy tales to narratives that are autobiographical or speak of the human condition. Visual arts have been inspired by the written word since antiquity. There are strong connections between literature and visual arts.