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

Weekend Fun: Pride Festival, Tour Town’s Oldest House, Author’s Trip Down Charles River & More

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A “Proud” flag is displayed during the 2022 Watertown Pride Parade. Watertown will celebrate its Pride this weekend, with the annual Pride Parade and Festival. History buffs have a couple of options, including taking a look inside a house built in the 1600, and a narrated slide show focusing on the Charles River. Mount Auburn Cemetery has a pair of events: a walking tour and a writing workshop. Also, enjoy Armenian music from the comfort of your home, or wherever, with an online concert.

Entertainment

Best Selling Author to Present a Narrated Slide Show: Exploring the Hidden Charles River

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Michael Tougias

The following information was provided by Michael Tougias:

Michael Tougias, author of Exploring The Hidden Charles, will present a narrated slide presentation about his beloved river. The presentation follows the Charles River on its 80 mile journey from Hopkinton to Boston, and along the way Tougias will share anecdotes, history, wildlife encounters and conservation issues. Suggestions for exploring the river and nearby reservations will also be discussed. After the presentation Tougias will sign copies of his books and answer questions about the river or about the writing and publishing process. Tougias is a New York Times Bestselling author and co-author of 30 books including “Extreme Survival: Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds.”

Around Town

Volunteers Wanted to Clean Up Charles River in Watertown

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Charlie BreitroseThe Charles River. In honor of Earth Day, a clean up along the banks of the Charles River in Watertown will be held on Saturday, April 20. The following announcement was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger:

We have plenty of room for more volunteers to pick up trash at one of the sites we’re organizing for the annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. 

The location is between Galen Street and the Watertown Dam bridge, along the Greenway. Go to the volunteer form for a map and to sign up. We will email you with details on the meetup location.

Around Town

Volunteers Wanted to Help With 40th Annual Run of the Charles Race

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The following information was provided by the Run of the Charles:

Nearly 150 volunteers are needed to help set up the race, check in paddlers, direct boat traffic through portages, check boat numbers, post results and take care of all the other details that make the Run of the Charles such a success each year! We are most in need of volunteers for:

Moody Street Dam, Waltham (Approx. 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) check-in for Relay leg 2 and portage 1

Bleachery Dam, Waltham (Approx. 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM) portage 2

Watertown Dam, Watertown (Approx. 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM) portage 3, check-in for Relay leg 3

Watertown Bridge, Watertown (Approx.

Around Town

Volunteers Wanted for the Annual Charles River Herring Count, Training Coming Up

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The annual herring count in the Charles River is nearly here, and the public can assist with the effort. The Charles River Watershed Association seeks volunteers and is offering a training on April 3. CWRA sent out the following information:

The 2024 herring count is almost underway! CRWA is seeking volunteers to participate at our Watertown Dam location at least once a week from April 15th to June 30th, from 7 am to 7 pm. Soon we will release a sign-up sheet where volunteers can register for a one-hour time slot.

Around Town

40th Annual Run of the Charles Coming in April, Register to Participate or Volunteer

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The Charles River Watershed Association announced that the Run of the Charles, Boston’s Premier Paddling Event, will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024. The CRWA provided the following information. Race Information

The Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race is the biggest paddling race in New England, celebrating its 40th race anniversary and the Charles River Watershed Association’s 50+ years of improvements to the health, beauty and enjoyment of the Charles River and its tributaries. Over 500 paddlers throughout the U.S., ages 12 and up, compete in the 3-, 6-, 9-mile and 14-Mile Relay Race. Races start in Newton and Brighton and finish at DCR’s Artesani Park on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. The Finish Line Festival will offer a range of entertainment for spectators and participants of all ages, free of charge.

Police/Fire

Man Arrested on Charges of Assaulting a Woman Along the Charles River Path

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A Newton man was arrested in connection to an assault of a woman that took place on the path along the Charles River in Watertown. Sandeep Khandke, 69, of Newton, was arraigned on Friday in Waltham District Court on a charge of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14, according to the Massachusetts State Police. The State Police received a report of an assault in Watertown on the Charles River Greenway, which is State property. Troopers from the Boston State Police Barracks responded. “The victim reported that a man with a cane had sat down next to her and while the two were talking, the man touched the victim’s leg and chest,” the State Police press release said.