Entertainment

Watertown MusicFest Coming Up – Performers Wanted!

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Now it its fourth year, the Friends of Watertown MusicFest will be held in March, and musicians are still being sought to play at the event. The fundraiser for the music program in the Watertown Public Schools will be held Friday, March 6, from 5:30-9:30 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School, 68 Waverly Ave. in Watertown. The event features over 50 performances by musicians of all ages, musical styles, and abilities, and an instrument petting zoo. “MusicFest is a lively, eclectic evening of music for the whole community,” says FoWM Board Member Heidi Greisch.

Around Town

New Grant Will Help Wayside Educate Youth About HIV/AIDS

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A new grant received by Wayside Youth & Family Support Network announced will be used to create a social media campaign to inform youth about preventing HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. The $125,000 grants was provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and it will target minority teens and youth in Watertown and other area communities. The Youth Media Action Project (Y-MAP) will use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to increase prevention messages to youth ages 12-18 about HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. The target audience is African American, Haitian and Latino youth living in and around public housing in Somerville, Waltham and Watertown, Mass. Wayside will also work closely with Gay Straight Alliances at high schools in these three cities, according to an announcement from Wayside.

Schools

WHS Students Hold Vigil for Classmate Who Took His Own Life

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Saturday afternoon, group of Watertown High School students gathered at Victory Field and exchanged hugs, attempted to light candles in a frigid wind and remembered their classmate who ended his life a week ago. 

The 40 or so students, parents, and others held a candle light vigil next to the court where their friend, Adonis, used to spend afternoons playing basketball. They huddled together, stunned and saddened by the suicide of their friend and classmate. The vigil was organized by WHS students who spread the word over Facebook. Fellow WHS sophomore Abraham Fuentes remembered Adonis as a happy guy who always had a smile. But he also struggled with depression.

Schools

Watertown Spelling Bee Humming Along After 5 Years

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Watertown Middle School was buzzing with activity of the fifth annual Watertown Education Foundation Youth Spelling Bee on Sunday. Unlike many spelling bees, the Watertown event is a team event, with three students combining to spell the words. Students in grades 1-5 could participate, and the second- through fifth-graders competed to be top spellers. While having fun and testing student’s spelling abilities, the event also raises money for the Watertown Education Foundation. It started five years ago, largely due to the efforts of WEF President Amy Donohue.

Entertainment

Musicians Wanted for the 4th Annual Watertown Music Fest

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The fourth annual Music Fest will be held in March, and organizers seek musicians to perform at the event that benefits music in the Watertown Public Schools. Music Fest will be held on Friday, March 6th from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Watertown Middle School. It features an instrument petting zoo (where students can touch and examine musical instruments), have some pizza and baked goods, and of course listen to the musical performances. There will be four stages with musicians playing a variety of styles of music throughout the evening. Event organizers from the Friends of Watertown Music are looking for musicians to perform during the event.

Schools

Watertown High School TV, Radio Program Expanding

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After starting with a couple of periods of television production classes last year, Watertown High School students now have five classes to choose from, including one focused on radio. With an expanding program, the high school hired Todd Robbins – a first year teacher but experienced broadcaster – to run the multimedia production program. Students can choose from two sections of television news production, documentary film making and radio. In TV news production, Robbins allowed students to choose what kind of program they wanted to do for the class. “Both periods came up with similar panel style shows,” Robbins said.

Schools

Watertown Spelling Bee Coming Up – Teams Can Sign Up

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The annual Watertown Education Foundation Spelling Bee is coming up soon, so get your teams together. The bee will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Watertown Middle School Auditorium. Teams are made up of three members and students in grades 1-5 can enter. Students do not have to be from the same school.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Expert Giving Advice on Dealing with Issues in Kids Due to Marathon Bombing

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With the beginning of the trial of the Boston Marathon Bombing suspect, memories of the tragic and disturbing events of April of 2013 could come up – especially in children. The Watertown Public Schools will host a forum for parents to help them deal with situations that may arise. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, a licensed clinical psychologist will speak at Watertown High School from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to talk about emotions and reactions children may have as the Bombings, and shootout and manhunt in Watertown come up with the start of the trial. The event was organized and provided by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA). The event includes:

A discussion of how such events impact the lives of our children.