Around Town

Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center Hosting Special Interfaith Program

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The Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center will host a special interfaith program on Saturday, March 15. See more in the information provided by the BK Meditation Center, below. The event features Father and Professor Francis X. Clooney of the Harvard Divinity School, a Catholic priest and lifelong scholar of Hinduism. Also appearing will be Dr. Kala Iyengar, director of the Peace Village Learning and Retreat Center, and Stan Strickland, associate professor of voice at Berklee College of Music. The event will be at the BK Meditation Center, 75 Common St., Watertown,

For more information call 617-926-1230 or email info@bknewengland.org.

Around Town

Russell Cooperative Preschool to Launch Extended Day Option This Fall

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The following announcement was provided by Russell Cooperative Preschool:

Exciting additions are coming to Russell Cooperative Preschool this fall with the launch of an Extended Day option designed to offer families more flexibility. Beginning in September 2025, Russell will offer an Extended Day option from 2 to 4 PM, with families able to choose from one to five days per week and the ability to add days as needed. For nearly 50 years, Russell Cooperative Preschool has been a cornerstone of early childhood education in Watertown. Established in 1975 by a group of parents committed to providing a warm, supportive, and open learning environment, Russell has remained steadfast in its mission to foster social, emotional, and creative growth through play-based learning.A Natural Extension of a Time-Tested Philosophy

Russell’s Extended Day option will be in addition to its existing curriculum, designed to further support young learners’ exploration, creativity, and independence. With children ranging in age from 3 to 5 years old, Russell offers flexible scheduling options, allowing families to select a school routine that best meets their needs.

Around Town

Miniature Golf Fundraiser at Greek Church Will Benefit Brain Cancer Research

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On Saturday, March 15, from noon-4 p.m. the Watertown Greek church’s function hall will be turned into “Fun for the Hole Family,” an 18-hole miniature golf course as part of a fundraiser for Brain Cancer research. The event will be held at the Watertown Taxiarchae/Archangels Greek Orthodox Church, 25 Bigelow Ave. There will also be food, prizes and Greek and American music. The fundraiser is being held in honor and as a tribute to Thomas Tsekrekas, who passed away from Brain Cancer, according to his son Jimmy. “He was a longtime President of a Greek charity called ‘Ahepa’ (which I’ve now taken over),” said Jimmy Tsekrekas. “The charity has existed for over 60 years, and its main purpose is to do charitable work within the community, and spread the Greek philosophy of “philantrōpos.”

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Realigns Grant Programs to Focus on Impact

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The Watertown Community Foundation provided the following announcement:

As a result of a year-long strategic planning process, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) has realigned their grant program to focus on three key areas: Essential Needs to support Watertown’s most vulnerable residents; Community Engagement to increase access and engagement to community life and programs in Watertown, and Education and Youth Development. “During 2024, the board and staff of the Watertown Community Foundation participated in a year-long strategic planning process to look at how well our grant programs were working for the Watertown community. Where were they strong? How could they be better? What new areas needed our support?” said Lauren Coughlin Unsworth, Board Co-President of the Foundation.

Around Town

Watertown Will be Celebrating 100 Years of Arshile Gorky

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Arshile Gorky painting at his sister Akabi’s house on Dexter Avenue in Watertown, c. 1922. (Unknown photographer. Collection of the Arshile Gorky Foundation). The City of Watertown will hold several events to celebrate Armenian artist Arshile Gorky, who spent time living in Watertown after emigrating from Europe. See the announcement provided by the 100 Years of Arshile Gorky Committee, below.

Around Town

Weekend Work, Drainage Work, Traffic Signal Installations, and More on Mt. Auburn St.

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The City of Watertown provided the following update about the road construction project on Mt. Auburn Street:

Weekend Work – March 8, 2025 – Pedestrian Signal Electrical Work

Saturday, March 8, 2025 Newport Construction and the City of Watertown will be performing electrical work to relocate pedestrian walking signals to prepare for signal preparation work at the Mount Auburn Street and Arlington Street intersection (see map below)

Traffic ImpactsTemporary lane shifts may occur and work will take place on the sidewalks, but will remain open and accessible. Parking ImpactsNo parking impacts

Drainage Installation Work Continues between Arlington St. and Bigelow Ave. Newport Construction is continuing to complete the drainage installation work eastbound between Arlington Street and Bigelow Avenue.

Obituaries

OBIT: Daniel Gerado Baldi, 87, Grew Up in Town, Taught for Many Years

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Daniel G. Baldi

Daniel Gerado Baldi, 87, passed peacefully after a period of declining health on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. A devoted husband, Dan was predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years, Marcia, in November 2020. He is survived by his three children and five grandchildren: Mark and Liz Baldi of West Boylston, MA, Linda Baldi of Brockton, MA, and Jill and Mark Freeman of Bridgewater, MA; his grandchildren, Rachael (Baldi) Rodrigues and her husband Stephen, Benjamin Baldi, Amanda Baldi, Ethan Freeman, and Kate Freeman. He is also survived by his sister Bonnie Covell of Florida, brother in-law Tom Sinclair of New Hampshire, and several nieces and nephews. Born on January 11, 1938, in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Giacomo and Elvira (Panteri) Baldi, formerly of Villa a Roggio and Pescia, Italy, the fifth of six children Carlo (Charlie), Anna, Baldo, Mario, and Bonnie, Daniel was the proud son of Italian American immigrants, welcoming friends and family to join at mealtimes with a hearty “Tutti Mangia.” Dan grew up in Newton and Watertown, MA, where he developed an early love of science and nature which led to a career as a junior and high school teacher for 32 years in Holbrook, MA.