Around Town

Watertown Students Raise Money to Support the Armenian Relief Society

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The Armenian flag flies outside St. Stephens Armenian Apostolic Church located on Artsakh Street in East Watertown. (Courtesy of St. Stephen’s Church)

Watertown High School’s Armenian Club raised more than $1,100 to donate to the Armenian Relief Society in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Artsakh. The Armenian Weekly reported that the students held a bake sale recently to raise money to help people impact in the region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, which has displaced over 100,000 Armenians from the region.

Around Town

Armenian Culture Connection Holds First Events, More Planned

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The Armenian Culture Connection put on a performance at First Parish Church of Watertown. (Photo by ACC)

The following information was provided by the Armenian Culture Connection:

The Armenian Culture Connection (ACC) was founded six months ago in Boston. “Our mission,” says founder Ms. Izabella Djevalikian, “is to connect with Armenian and other cultural organizations in Greater Boston to promote Armenian Art and Culture to the public at large.”

ACC’s first project was its Armenian Youth Chorus, directed by Maestro Artur Veranian, the award-winning, internationally acclaimed choral/orchestral conductor. Armenian Culture Connection founder Izabella Djevalikian,

The chorus debuted on Friday, May 19th at the ACEC in Watertown to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic’s independence. ACC’s next event was the “Our Young Talents” concert on Sunday, May 21st, and was held at the First Parish of Watertown.

Entertainment

St. James Church Armenian Festival Features Music, Food, Kids Activities and More

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St. James Church’s Armenian Festival will be held on Sunday, June 11 from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The festival features live Armenian music: Bob Raphalian, Jay Baronian, Leon Janikian, and Kenny Kalajian. Armenian food will be available, such as shish, losh, chicken kabobs, and vegaterian options. There will also be activities for kids, such as a moon bounce, face painting and more.

Around Town

Historical Society Showing Video on Armenians of Hood Rubber, Holding Annual Meeting

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The Historical Society of Watertown will host its Annual Members Meeting with Election of Board Members on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 2 p.m. Immediately following: Screening and discussion of the documentary, “Destination Watertown: The Armenians of Hood Rubber” by Roger Hagopian. Come join the Historical Society and the Watertown Free Public Library for this compelling program! Watertown Free Public LibraryWatertown Savings Bank Meeting Room123 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472

The 65-minute documentary “is a timeless and universal story of immigrants escaping genocide and persevering through the hard life of factory work in America in the early decades of the 20th century.” The film contains interviews with stories and reflections of former employees of Armenian descent and East Watertown Residents, interspersed with personal and historic photographs, maps, documents, artifacts, and images of remnants of the old factory, once the largest of its kind in the world. A history lover since his youth, Roger is a graduate of the University of Mass. at Boston, where he received his degree in music.

Schools

Krikorian Foundation Offering Scholarships for Students with Armenian Heritage

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A screenshot from the Krikorian Foundation Scholarship website. The following information was provided by the Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation:

The trustees of The Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization, launched its first annual scholarship award program. The Foundation was created by Rose and Sybil Krikorian, who were raised in Watertown and later moved to Belmont where they lived for many years. They were the daughters of Arisdine and Panos Krikorian, who were born and raised in Armenia. The last survivor of the Krikorian family, Rose, died in August 2021 at the age of 96.

Schools

Krikorian Foundation Launches Scholarship Program to Students of Armenian Descent

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A screenshot from the Krikorian Foundation Scholarship website. The following information was provided by the Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation:

The trustees of The Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization,launched its first annual scholarship award program. The Foundation was created by Rose andSybil Krikorian, who were raised in Watertown and later moved to Belmont where they lived formany years. They were the daughters of Arisdine and Panos Krikorian, who were born and raised in Armenia. The last survivor of the Krikorian family, Rose, died in August 2021 at the age of 96.

Around Town

Congresswoman Clark’s Statement Marking 107th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide

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Congresswoman Katherine Clark

The following announcement was provided by the office of Congresswoman Katherine Clark:

Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) released the following statement to mark the 107th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which is Sunday, April 24, 2022. Last year, President Joe Biden declared that the Ottoman Empire’s killing of 1.5 million Armenians was an act of genocide, an official recognition that Clark has supported throughout her career in Congress. Watertown, in Massachusetts’ Fifth Congressional district, is home to the third largest Armenian community in the United States. “As we mark the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we recognize this dark chapter in our world’s history and renew our commitment to preventing atrocities of this magnitude from ever happening again. The Armenian Genocide is not an opinion – its facts are undisputed, and the legacy of this trauma cannot be erased.