Around Town

Volunteers Will Cleanup Along the Charles River for Earth Day

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The Charles River Cleanup will take place at different areas along the river in Watertown on Saturday. The following announcement was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s Office:

Join Senator Brownsberger and staff for the annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup on Saturday, April 22, 2023 to pick up litter along the river. Teams will gather at three locations:

Herter Park from 10 AM – 12 PM

Squibnocket Park from 10 AM – 12 PM

Charles River Greenway (behind Stop & Shop) from 9 AM – 12 PM

We encourage all volunteers to bring a reusable water bottle. Upon your arrival, we will provide direction regarding what area of the park & river pathway you and your group can focus on. In partnership with DCR, we will provide bags and gloves. If you have any questions, feel welcome to email me directly.

Around Town

Local Woman Looking to Turn Her Passion for Nails into a Business

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Some nails designed and created by Watertown’s Rickteyzia Simmons, who plans to open a nail salon called Candy Paint. What started as a pandemic hobby has turned into a calling for a Watertown woman, who now hopes to turn her passion for nail design into a local business. Rickteyzia Simmons currently works as a high school teacher in Cambridge and works on nails during her free time, but she is working to open her own nail salon, Candy Paint by Teyzia, in Watertown. Simmons taught herself how to do her own nails, and got a good response. “It was my pandemic hobby.

Around Town

Watertown Helps Out —Citywide Volunteer Effort Runs Through May

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The Watertown Community Foundations’s annual month-long service event, Watertown Helps Out, will take place in May, and spots are still available. The WCF provided the following information:

Watertown Helps Out is a city-wide, public service event during all of May, 2023. Our non-profits need your hands-on help! From garden clean-up to organizing costumes to moving boxes and office work, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you and your kids. Your few hours means a world of difference to organizations including: Watertown Public Schools, Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, Perkins School for the Blind, the Charles River Conservancy, our local food pantries, community fridge and local churches. 

Sign Up

Find out how to volunteer and how to become a sponsor of Watertown Helps Out by clicking here: www.watertownfoundation.org/watertown-helps-out

Around Town

Discussion of Short Term Rentals Continues This Week

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Rules for short-term rentals — such as Airbnbs — in Watertown have been discussed at multiple meetings of the City Council’s Committee on Rules & Ordinances. The Committee will meet again on April 20 to continue the discussion. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber in City Hall. The public can also participate remotely. The Zoom link is: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/89707047441 The public can also join by phone: (877) 853-5257 or (888) 475-4499 and enter Webinar ID: 897 0704 7441

Comment can be sent by email to: lfeltner@watertown-ma.gov

Around Town

Watertown Remembers the Chaos, Concern and Celebrations During the Shootout & Search for the Marathon Bomber

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Police patrolled the streets of Watertown on April 19, 2013, searching for one of the Boston Marathon Bombers. Photo courtesy of Jade Burke. It seems like ages ago and at the same time just like yesterday that Watertown was rocked by gunfire and explosions, then went into lockdown as police scoured homes and yards for the Boston Marathon Bomber, before locating and capturing him in a boat parked on Franklin Street. On April 19, 2023, the 10th anniversary of the Watertown Shootout and Manhunt, Watertown News is sharing the memories of readers of that monumental day in our community. The area was already on edge.

Around Town

Get a Massage And Help Survivors of the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria

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Massage Aid will raise money for survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The following announcement was provided by Massage Aid:

In 2019, local Massage Therapists and Reiki Practitioners came together and donated their timeand services to raise money to help the people of Yemen and Massage Aid For Yemen was born.All the proceeds were donated to Doctors Without Borders earmarked for Yemen. WatertownCitizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment co-sponsored the event and were instrumentalin getting the word out and provided refreshments. Now that the COVID Pandemic is better under control, Massage Aid is back and this time theirefforts are going to help provide much needed relief to the earthquake survivors of Turkey andSyria. The First Parish Church of Watertown has generously agreed to donate the space for freeagain and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders earmarked forTurkey and Syria.

Around Town

Help Count the Herring Coming Up the Charles River in Watertown

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Volunteers are wanted to help the with the First Charles River Herring Count in Watertown. The count runs through the month of May at the Watertown Dam, and is coordinated by the Charles River Watershed Association. The count count tracks the number of herring and other migratory fish head up the Charles River. The Watertown Dam, just east of the Galen Street Bridge, is a place where some fish are blocked or hindered in their upstream journey. The CRWA sent out the following information:

Help us monitor migratory fish passage!