Around Town

February Vacation Activities Available at DCR Properties

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The following information was provided by the Department of Conservation and Conservation:

The Department of Recreation and Conservation (DCR) announced its plans today to help make February school vacation week a walk in the park for parents. From guided hikes to animal tracking, craft making, and maple sugaring, the agency is offering 81 free or low-cost engaging and educational activities for kids and families across the state from Saturday, February 17, through Sunday, February 25. The programming is part of DCR’s commitment to expanding access to Massachusetts’ State Park system, while also inspiring kids to get outdoors and fostering a connection with the environment.  

“School may be out, but the learning doesn’t have to stop. Our February break programming is a tremendous way to connect kids and nature and help us grow the next generation of environmental stewards,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo.

Around Town

Arsenal Park Improvements Approved, Project Cost Significantly Higher Than Expected

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseArsenal Park will be getting a major overhaul. Here it is set up for the Watertown Arts Market. The second phase of renovations at Arsenal Park was approved by the City Council, which will include improvements to the recreation areas, but came in more than $4 million higher than originally budgeted. On Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously approved borrowing $10.35 million to cover the cost of the project. The project will make significant improvements to the park in the East End, said City Manager George Proakis.

Around Town

Concert Featuring Pianist Guy Urban Will Benefit Helen Robinson Wright Fund

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The following announcement was provided by the Helen Robinson Wright Fund:

A concert featuring Guy Urban will benefit the The Helen Robinson Wright Fund at First Parish of Watertown. The concert will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown. Urban will perform some of his favorite piano pieces and share with the audience why these are favorites of his. The Helen Robinson Wright Fund, named for a Watertown native, assists Watertown neighbors with short-term financial help for housing, food, and utility bills.  

Around Town

Poppy Social Returns to Commander’s Mansion, Bricks in Freedom Garden Available

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The following announcement is provided by the Watertown Veterans’ Services Department and the Commander’s Mansion:

Watertown Veterans’ Services and the Commander’s Mansion are excited to announce the details for this year’s Poppy Social! This event is open to the public and features an Open House at the Commander’s Mansion on Friday, May 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and a guided tour of the mansion will take place at 11:00 a.m.   

Engraved bricks to honor your military loved ones are available for purchase prior to the event.  The memorialized bricks will be showcased in the Freedom Garden located on the Commander’s Mansion grounds. 

The botanical garden, where flowers and plants consistently bloom throughout the seasons and serves as a habitat for butterflies and bees, features an honorarium wall of bricks to pay tribute to the stories of our Veterans, many with ties to the Watertown community. Please visit www.commandersmansion.com/bricks for the order form and more information. All brick orders are due by March 1st. 

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, May 24th for the Poppy Social! 

Around Town

Snow Emergency in Watertown for Tuesday’s Snow Storm

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The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

The City of Watertown has declared a snow emergency that will take effect starting at 1:00 AM on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Up to 12 inches of snow is currently forecast to fall throughout the day Tuesday. 

Once the snow emergency goes into effect, on-street parking will be prohibited, and any vehicle left on the street will be towed. The snow emergency and on-street parking ban will be in effect until further notice. 

There will be no trash, recycling, or compost collection on Tuesday, and all pickups will be delayed by one day. Collections will occur from Wednesday, February 14 through Saturday, February 17, 2024. The Recycle Center will also be closed on Tuesday. 

Further updates will be posted on the City of Watertown’s website: www.watertown-ma.gov and on the City’s Facebook and Instagram. 

Around Town

State Looks to Fill Job Openings in Tricky Economy, Offering Programs for Career Changers & Immigrants in Shelters

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Lauren Jones, State Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, spoke at the Charles River Regional Chamber event at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Watertown on Feb. 6. (Courtesy of Charles River Chamber)

Massachusetts finds itself in an unusual job market in the post-Pandemic period. The state added more than 50,000 jobs from 2019 to 2023, but at during the same period the workforce declined by 113,000 people, creating a tight job market. Last week, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones spoke at an event hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber at Watertown’s Hampton Inn & Suites.

Around Town

Armenian Teen Injured in Explosion Gets Medical Care with Help from Local Man

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Nelson, a 17-year-old from Armenia, was injured in an explosion and has received medical care in Boston. (Photo by David Ghahramanyan)

An Armenian teen, Nelson, who was injured during recent attacks in Artsakh received care in a Boston hospital with the help of Watertown’s Stepan Chiloyan and the Armenian American Medical Association. Chiloyan has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to help Nelson. The following piece was provided by Chiloyan:

In a heartrending call to action, a GoFundMe campaign was launched on Feb. 11, 2024, to support Nelson, a 17-year-old survivor of a catastrophic explosion in Berkadzor, near Stepanakert, amidst the recent aggression and ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of Artsakh.