Around Town

Take a Trip Down the Charles River on the Proposed Water Shuttle Route, Grant Being Sought

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Drew Rollert, right, and Will Congram hope to be making trips down the Charles River from Watertown Square to Beacon Hill in Boston on a water shuttle. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On a sunny spring day, the two men behind the effort to create a water shuttle from Watertown to Boston hopped on a small motor boat to give Watertown News a preview of what a trip down the Charles River would be like. Drew Rollert, who came up with the idea after being stuck in traffic trying to get to Fenway Park from Watertown as the waters of the Charles River remained quiet, hopes to start a pilot shuttle by the fall of 2024. The company, called Wada Hoppah, has applied for a grant to get the electric-powered shuttle sailing. The Watertown Yacht Club with the Arsenal on the Charles behind it.

Entertainment

New Rep’s Run Ends With Fanfare: Several Nominations & 2 Wins at Theater Awards Ceremony

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Valyn Lyric Turner gives her acceptance speech after winning the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun.” (Photo by Nile Scott Studios)

Watertown-based New Repertory Theatre closed its doors in 2023, but the company’s final season earned accolades at the recent Elliot Norton Awards in Boston. The following announcement was provided by Maria Hendricks, one of the former Resident Artists/Co-Artistic Directors at New Rep.

New Repertory Theatre’s final season went out with a bang as its productions were celebrated at the esteemed 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards, held at The Huntington Theater on May 20. As one of the Greater Boston area’s premiere mid-sized regional theater companies for 40 years, it was especially gratifying for the company to receive such meaningful recognition as it ended its run. New Rep received 7 Nominations:

• Outstanding Production, Small Theater – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Damon Singletary – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play, Small Theater – Valyn Lyric Turner – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Lois Roach – A Raisin in the Sun

• Outstanding Director, Small Theater – Pascale Florestal – Diaspora!

Around Town

New Bagel Store Opening in Watertown This Weekend, Will Soon Serve Brunch

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Wicked Bagel will open its Watertown location on June 1. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown will have a new place to grab bagels, coffee, and soon brunch when Wicked Bagel opens on School Street. The location at 68 School St., the former Porcini’s spot, will be the third for Wicked Bagel, which also has stores in Lexington and Woburn. Wicked Bagel opens for business on Saturday, June 1, and will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wicked Bagel President Maria Mahoney said customers will get a discount during the opening weekend, with 25 percent off the entire order for walk-ins on Saturday and Sunday. The Watertown store will have something that the other two locations do not offer – brunch with alcohol available.

Government

Edible Watertown Program Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant

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The artwork from Edible Plants 2022, Clockwise from top left: Daylily by Patti Murphy, Bee Balm by Niloufar Keyhani, Elderberry by Marija Draskic
Brancazio, Wintergreen by Kate Martens, Mayapple by Carol Leonesio, Mountain Mint by Cat Bennett, Huckleberry
by Donna Calleja, Red Bud by Debajyoti Biswas, Bearberry by Connie Henry, and Garlic Chives by Jaclyn Kain. The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Public Arts & Culture Committee is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000. This grant will support the Edible Watertown: Expert Pairings project. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants. “Projects like Edible Watertown exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD.

Government

Hours of Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & More Changing After Council Vote

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Hours will be changing for Watertown City departments in City Hall, the Parker Annex, along with the Senior Center, after a City Council vote on Tuesday. These facilities will be open later on Tuesdays and close earlier on Fridays throughout the year. City Manager George Proakis said at a previous meeting that the change in hours would help the city recruit employees, and that many surrounding communities have early closings on Fridays. One area of concern was resident’s ability to pay bills at the Treasurer’s office on Fridays. “There have been discussions about how it affects particular employees, and how it impacts the public as a whole,” Proakis said.

Around Town

See Photos from the 2024 Watertown Memorial Day Parade

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Watertown veterans marched in the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. (Photo by Natalie Nigito Photography)

Watertown veterans were joined by youth sports teams, scouts, the Watertown Police officers and Firefighters, bands and more during the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. The event ended with a ceremony at Victory Field that included the unveiling of a new tribute to veterans. Following the parade, a ceremony was held at Victory Field which included the unveiling of a chair honoring prisoner of war and missing in action. The POW-MIA Chair of Honor represent those service members who are unable to fill them because of their sacrifices, as well as reminding people of the men and women who serve our country every day.

Around Town

Descendants of Soldier Killed in Italy During World War II Gather for Dedication of Hero Square

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A hero square in memory of Pvt. Vincent Ranucci, who was killed in World War II, was dedicated down the street from the home on Nichols Avenue where he grew up. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Dozens of descendants of a decorated World War II veteran gathered Monday on the East Watertown street where his childhood home is located to remember him and dedicate a hero square in his name. Vincent Ranucci grew up in a three-family home at 7 Nichols Ave. as the oldest of nine children.

Police/Fire

Watertown Man Arrested for Inviting a 14 Year Old to His Home to Have Sex

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A 47-year-old Watertown man faces a charge of enticement a child under 16 after he invited what he thought was a 14-year-old to his home to have sex, Watertown Police said. On May 16 at 10:20 p.m., Watertown Police responded to a home on Arthur Terrace after receiving a call from a group called Predator Poachers of Massachusetts that had been corresponding online with the man while posing as a teenage boy. The suspect was identified by Police as Brian Lally, 47, of Watertown, said Watertown Police Sgt. Ken Swift. “(The group) had been texting back and forth with a 47 year old named Brian Lally,” Swift said.