Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Hosting Virtual Gala, Complimentary and Experience Tickets Available

By |

The following information came from New Repertory Theatre:

New Rep is thrilled to announce our 2021 gala:

“Technical Difficulties: A New Rep Gala ”

Our virtual gala will present electrifying performances, entertainment, and honorees with a digital twist, embracing the technological hiccups of the digital world with humor and joy. We’ll celebrate the resilience of our organization in an event that might not be free from glitches, but is guaranteed to be an evening of unforgettable fun. Virtual galas never feel quite the same as the real thing. We know this, you know this—there’s no use beating around the bush! Virtual galas never encompass the Gala experience….

Around Town

Deal to Sell Watertown Mall Closes, Purchased by Owners of Arsenal on the Charles

By |

The Watertown Mall — home to Target and Best Buy — has been sold for $130 million to the owner of other major properties in Town. The sale by Watertown Mall Associates Limited Partnership and New York-based Rosen Associates to Alexandria Real Estate Equities closed on Thursday, according to a story on Bisnow Boston which reported the closing of the deal. Alexandria has become a big player in biotech in Watertown. It also owns the Arsenal on the Charles and the former Mount Auburn Club. 

The future of the property is not clear, with Target having a lease through 2033, according to Bisnow.com. Other tenants of the Watertown Mall include the Registry of Motor Vehicles, Joyful Garden restaurant, Miss Maria’s School of Dance, Carter’s and Work N’ Gear.

Field Hockey

Three Watertown Grads Earn College Field Hockey Honors, One Defensive Player of the Year

By |

John Quackenbos / Boston College AthleticsBoston College junior Jonna Kennedy, a Watertown High grad, was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year. A trio of former Watertown Raider field hockey players were named among the best in their respective conferences this spring. Boston College goalie Jonna Kennedy received the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year award, and was also named to the All-ACC First Team. Kennedy had a record of 7-5 this year, including 7-2 in the spring season and had three shutouts. She also was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week twice during the spring season.

Schools

School Building Committee Delays Submitting High School Project, Looking Closer at Where to Put Temporary Site

By |

Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of what a two-story modular building could look like on Moxley Field. It could be the temporary location for Watertown High School while a new school is constructed. The submission of the Watertown High School project to the State has been delayed in an effort to look at where the temporary location of the high school will be during construction. 

The School Building Committee had been scheduled to vote on submitting the plan for the WHS project, including the use of Moxley Field as a site for a temporary school site, on Wednesday. Instead, Town Council President Mark Sideris announced the delay of the submission of the project. 

“We have a number of things we have to work out. A lot of concerns have been raised, and we believe the prudent thing to do is to continue talking, continue investigating and continue to have conversations with people to figure out the best approach that will get us a good high school and a good plan to get to that,” Sideris said. 

The proposal called for building the new high school on the current WHS, and moving the students to a temporary school made up of two-story modular classrooms at Moxley Field.

Around Town

Watertown Woman Honored by Boston Celtics as a “Hero Among Us”

By |

Watertown’s Cathy O’Grady was named a Hero Among Us by the Boston Celtics for her work with the Sophia’s Angels Foundation. The following announcement was provided by the Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics recently honored Watertown resident Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ for her role in spreading joy throughout the community and helping others in need. 

For over a decade, O’Grady has been serving the community through random acts of kindness and the generous donations of blankets, toys, food, and winter essentials for those in need, as well as masks throughout the pandemic. She is the founder of Sofia’s Angels Foundation, which has recruited hundreds of volunteers and raised thousands of dollars to spread joy in the lives of others. 

For her compassionate service, commitment to the community, and heart for giving, the Boston Celtics chose to honor Cathy O’Grady as a ‘Hero Among Us’ at their April 7th game against the New York Knicks. 

Government

Town Charter Changes Proposed to Allow Council to Hire Staff, Hold a State of the Town Meeting Annually

By |

Watertown Town Hall

Allowing the Town Council to hire staff to help them with their work, adding language to spell out the Council’s power, and requiring annual State of the Town meetings are some of the changes being considered by the Watertown Charter Review Committee. The Committee began looking at ways to alter the current Town Charter Tuesday, at the first meeting following their vote to keep the current form of government with a Town Council and the Town Manager serving as the executive rather than changing to one with a mayor as the executive. Assistants for the Council

The Committee’s consultant, Michael Ward from UMass Boston’s Collins Center, brought up some possible changes to address concerns raised at previous meetings. One issue raised was the Council’s ability to do its work, and having enough capacity to handle the duties of the Council. One way Ward suggested to address that issue was adding a piece to the Legislative section of the charter which would allow the Town Council to hire staff to help them with areas such as research into municipal issues, financial analysis or other areas.

Business

Get to Know Watertown Life Sciences in a Virtual Panel of Biotech Execs – Submit Your Questions

By |

Leaders of Watertown’s newest industry will be talking about their companies and the influx of life science into Town during the Watertown Business Coalition’s virtual event. A recent survey found about 50 biotech firms located in Watertown of various sizes and stages of development. Get to know life sciences from a panel of five executives from four life science companies located in Watertown. The event will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 4-5 p.m. To RSVP click here. The WBC’s Life Science Panel will include: Joanne Kamens, Executive Director of Addgene; Mark Bamforth, Founder, Exec.