Police/Fire

Watertown’s Fire Chief Thanks Family, Fellow Firefighters During Swearing-in Ceremony

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Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson was sworn in by City Clerk Janet Murphy. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown’s new Fire Chief had plenty of people to thank during his swearing-in ceremony, but Ryan Nicholson made sure not to be the sole focus of the event at the Commander’s Mansion on Tuesday afternoon. “I’m incredibly humble to be able to address this group today as the Watertown Fire Department’s eighth permanent fire chief,” he said Tuesday. “I am also excited to announce the promotion of five of our men, and celebrate the appointment of seven firefighters.” City Manager George Proakis has gotten to know Nicholson, having worked together since Proakis arrived in Watertown in August 2022.

Around Town

See Who Will be at the 2023 Watertown Arts Market This Saturday

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Watertown will celebrate arts of all kinds during the third annual Watertown Arts Market on Saturday at Filippello Park. The Watertown Arts Market is a free event with free parking at the BB&N lot next to the Park at 191 Grove St. Meet local Watertown artists and arts-related non-profits on Aug. 19, from 12-5 p.m., at Filippello Park, Grove Street entrance. Artists & Craftspeople

Visit Echo Art and Design @echoartanddesign for your name in calligraphy or a calligraphy mini lesson https://www.echoartanddesign.com/

Visit Artist, Designer & Screen Printer Eric Lavalliere @peabo_show

See Zoë Raymond’s charm bracelets @blingy_strings

Visit Artist Adam Adkison @adamadkison1

Visit Artist @vapordoll

Come meet Artist Serena Gauthier @flmgrl

Visit Jacob’s Bracelets for Good at the Watertown Arts Market!

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Opening Childcare Center, Launching Fundraising Campaign

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club will soon unveil its plans to open the City’s first and largest licensed childcare center for school aged children. Opening in 2024, the childcare center will encompass an entirely renovated ground floor with more than 3,500 square feet of dedicated space to accommodate up to 80 children in grades K-3. Donations will be accepted through The “New Foundations” Campaign to raise funds for this project. In addition to providing licensed childcare for school-aged children, the new center will also offer access to the Club’s pool and athletic facilities as part of its programming. The expansion will create additional capacity to meet increasing demand on the main floor of the club for programs to support older children and teens.

Around Town

Watertown’s First Multicultural Fest Celebrates Arts, Games & More

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Photo by Brianna WilliamsSaltonstall Park filled with activity during Watertown’s first Multicultural Fest. Live dancing, soccer, artwork and more filled Saltonstall Park with activity on Aug. 3 for the first annual Multicultural Fest held by the New Repertory Theatre and Watertown Public Library. The idea to hold the festival came from Noche De Dominó which is a monthly game of dominoes held in the library. During that night many people from all different cultures get to interact and learn about each other’s backgrounds.

Obituaries

OBIT: Marylouise McDermott, 87, Served on Several Town Boards, Local Business Owner & Was Active at St. Pat’s Church

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Marylouise McDermott

A Funeral Mass for Marylouise Pallotta McDermott, 87, will be held on Wednesday August 16, 2023, in the Church of Saint Patrick, 212 Main St., Watertown. Mrs. McDermott, a daughter of the late Giovanni & Antonetta (Lanni) Pallotta, was born in Avellino, Italy. She attended Rosary Academy and graduated from Boston University for her bachelor’s degree. She furthered her education receiving an MBA and master’s degree in education from Boston University. Marylouise taught in the field of business administration.

Government

City Manager: Team Working on Watertown Square Study is Creative & Collaborative

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City of Watertown

Work on solving one of the biggest riddles facing Watertown, how to fix Watertown Square, will soon begin, City Manager George Proakis said this week, and the process will include some new approaches with plenty of public participation. Proakis spent a significant chunk of time talking about the Watertown Square study during Wednesday’s State of the City event. “One of the key goals that came out of the Comprehensive Plan is that we need to look at Watertown Square in a holistic manner,” Proakis said. The study will not just look at how the main intersection operates for motor vehicles, but also buses, pedestrians, and bicyclists, Proakis said. The study will not just look at how to get through and around the Square, but also being able to “enjoy the space.”

Government

While the State of the City Looks Good, Manager Also Address Challenges Facing Watertown

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City Manager George Proakis, left, and City Council President Mark Sideris spoke during the first annual State of the City on Wednesday night. Behind them is a photo of a juggler at the Faire on the Square. (Courtesy of the City of Watertown)

The State of the City of Watertown is strong and the future is bright, City Manager George Proakis said during the first annual State of the City on Wednesday night, but there are still many challenges to deal with. The event where the City Manager and the City Council President talk about how the City of Watertown is doing is now required to be held annually, following the changes to Watertown’s City Charter adopted in 2021. At the end of his presentation, Proakis included a photo of a performer at the Faire on the Square.