Around Town

East Watertown Intersection to be Named for Armenian Immigrant and Artist 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). An intersection in East Watertown will be named in honor of an Armenian artist who made his home in Watertown for several years. On Tuesday, the City Council voted to name the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Hazel Street for Arshile Gorky.

Around Town

Housing for All Watertown Hosting Panel Discussion on 100% Affordable Housing

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The following announcement was provided by Housing for All Watertown:

Housing for All Watertown (HAW) would like to invite all to the “What Will It Take to Build 100% Affordable Housing in Watertown?” forum on Sunday, Feb. 23. The purpose is to gain an understanding of Watertown’s Affordable Housing situation and the possibilities for change. There will be presentations followed by a panel discussion of developers and planners. Panelists:

Madeline Lee, Senior Project Manager, Just A Start

Mel Miller, Project Manager, Preservation of Affordable Housing

Laura Weiner, Housing and Planning Consultant

Sara Barcan, Executive Director, HRI

The forum will be in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To RSVP click here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-will-it-take-to-build-100-affordable-housing-in-watertown-tickets-1244250961119

Around Town

Knights of Columbus to Host Red Cross Blood Drive at St. Patrick’s Church

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The following announcement was provided by the Knights of Columbus Watertown:

The Knights of Columbus Watertown Council #155 is proud to host its first-ever community blood drive on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Church (212 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472). The event will take place from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM and is open to all eligible donors. Blood donations are a simple yet powerful way to make a life-saving impact. Every pint collected can help patients in need, from accident victims to those undergoing surgeries or cancer.

Around Town

Police Log: Car Stolen, Shoplifter Involved in Hit and Run & Scam Alert

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Feb. 2: At 4:45 p.m., a man went into Target and went through the self checkout, scanned some of the items but did not scan about $500 in merchandise. He left the store and got into a vehicle parked on the side of Target, near Elm Street. The driver backed up and struck a parked car before leaving the area.

Around Town

Local Podcast Chats with Police Chief, the Library Director & a Dancer/Scientist; Also Hear the First Episode of Creative Chats

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Hear about the Watertown Police Chief’s unusual childhood, the library director’s career in books and libraries, and about a dancer/scientist in their conversations with Watertown podcast host Matt Hanna. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Justin Hanrahan

Meet Justin Hanrahan! He’s the Police Chief here in Watertown. In our conversation we get into his unconventional childhood and how the Watertown community was important in getting him through it, his early experiences in policing from protecting “boothies” to a career defining moment that instilled in him that policing is much more than just catching criminals, his rise through the ranks in Watertown and the shift in culture he’s been a part of, his impact in teaching and training departments all over the state, the changes he’s enacted in his time as chief and the programs and initiatives he’s looking forward to in the future.

Around Town

Watertown Woman Running First Marathon & Raising Money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

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Watertown-native Despina Najarian will be running the 2025 Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A Watertown resident who had not been a runner until two years ago will be running the 2025 Boston Marathon and will raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Despina Najarian said she has always dreamed of completing a marathon, but only recently began running. “I only started running 2 years ago at the age of 29. I joined Orangetheory Fitness Waltham in November of 2022,” she said.

Around Town

Volunteers Needed for 41st Run of the Charles Paddle Race

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The following information was provided by the Charles River Watershed Association:

Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Boston, MA

The Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race is the biggest paddling race in New England, celebrating its 41st race anniversary and the Charles River Watershed Association’s 50+ years of improvements to the health, beauty and enjoyment of the Charles River and its tributaries. Over 500 paddlers throughout the U.S., ages 12 and up, compete in the 3-, 6-, 9-mile and 14-Mile Races. Races start in Newton and Brighton and finish at DCR’s Artesani Park on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. The Finish Line Festival will offer a range of entertainment for spectators and participants of all ages, free of charge. Paddlers and spectators can enjoy live music, Mi Corazon Mexican food truck, company picnics, a beer garden featuring The Black Harp traveling Irish Pub as well as other vendors to keep spectators entertained while they wait for the races to finish.  

Visit https://www.crwa.org/events/runofthecharles for more information. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Boston, MA

Have a great day while helping the Charles River Watershed Association!