Drawing with Fred

Watertown Cable Show “Drawing With Fred” Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti, center, celebrates the 30th anniversary of his show with the airing of an episode of “Drawing with Fred” in October 2022. The latest episode of Drawing with Fred will debut on Watertown Cable in October, and it marks the 30th anniversary of the show created by Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti. As a child, Grandinetti was a fan of children’s shows and the lessons they provided. When he started Drawing with Fred, he drew upon those shows. “The inspiration for my show came from the adult-hosted family series I watched growing up; The Uncle Gus Show, Rex Trailer’s Boomtown and Bozo the Clown,” Grandinetti said.

Schools

Group that Advocates for Special Needs Students Growing, Hosting Multiple Events for Parents

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The group that advocates for students with special needs in Watertown has had a surge of activity, and will hold a number of upcoming events for both parents of special needs students and others. Parent Heather McManus, who chairs the Watertown SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council, told the School Committee Monday about some of the activities the group is participating in, including chances for parents to learn about services for their children, and how to get involved in the group. On Oct. 17, SEPAC will host a virtual Disability Listening Session. During the event, parents, guardians and caregivers can share disability-related concerns and feedback touched on in the WPS 2022 Equity Audit.

Around Town

Longtime Owner of Meat Spot Retiring, Passing on Business

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Charle BreitroseDick Ucuz, who has owned The Meat Spot for 32 years, will be retiring soon. He has sold the business and the new owners will keep the deli and butcher shop going. For more that three decades, Dick Ucuz has served up sandwiches, cut fresh meat, and provided other edible delights from The Meat Spot. This week is one of his last at the business that has been in Watertown Square for more than a century. Fans of The Meat Spot can be comforted that the business has been sold to new owners who will continue to serve the same favorites.

Affordable Housing

Watertown Forms Affordable Housing Trust, Six Residents Serving on Committee

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown took the final step on Sept. 21 in forming an affordable housing trust consisting of the new City Manager and six residents with expertise in creating and preserving housing for income-qualified households. The trust, authorized under state law to fund and engage in real estate activities to develop affordable units, held its first meeting on September 22, 2022. “It is important that we start identifying sites where deed-restricted affordable developments can be built,” said City Manager George Proakis. “We plan to do outreach to the affordable housing developers in the area who may be willing to work with the City to provide the kind of housing we need.”

The Watertown Housing Partnership, which recommended forming the trust, will automatically dissolve in 10 days, with its powers and responsibilities automatically transferred.

Around Town

Watertown to Hold First Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

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Jennifer KavanaughA performance of New Rep Theatre’s “Listen to Sipu” will be part of Watertown’s first Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration. Here Maria Hendricks portrays Sipu during a performance in 2021 at the Arsenal on the Charles. The following announcement was provided by the organizers of Watertown’s Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration:

Watertown’s first celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day will be held on Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at First Parish Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown. The free event will feature Indigenous speakers, a presentation of the New Repertory Theatre play Listen to Sipu, and Indigenous musicians, artists and vendors.  

Geri Barney, member of Navajo nation, will welcome participants with flute music followed by keynote speaker Elizabeth Solomon, representative of the Massachusett tribe.

Government

Residents Can Shape Future of Watertown by Participating in Virtual Comprehensive Plan Workshop

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An image from the City of Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan Virtual Workshop website. The City of Watertown recently held a pair of in-person workshops to hear from people for the updating of the document that will shape the future of the City: the Comprehensive Plan. Those who did not attend the meetings can participate in the virtual workshop. The Comprehensive Plan guides the future not just for economic development, but also for housing, transportation, open space and recreation, and sustainability. The original plan was adopted in 2015 and the City is updating it in 2022.