Entertainment

Celebrate the Fourth of July With Fun & Games at Victory Field

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The Watertown Recreation Department will host a Fourth of July Celebration at Victory Field. Schedule of Events

10:00-10:50 a.m.: Soccer Game: (ages 7 and under) Obstacle Course: (ages 8-10) 3 on 3 Basketball: (ages 11 and older) Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Obstacle Course: (Ages 7 and under) Dodgeball: (ages 8-10) Flag football: (ages 11 and older) Baseball – Softball Pickup (ages 9 – 12) Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Parachute Game (ages 7 and under) Obstacle Course: (ages 8-10) Dodgeball: (Ages 11 and older) Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

1:30-2:00 p.m.: Water Balloon Toss: (all ages) Group Games: (all ages) Wiffleball Homerun Derby: (all ages) Wet and Wild Waterslide: (all ages)

All Day Activities: Face Painting, Arts & Crafts and Waterslides

There will be hot dogs, burgers and refreshments served free of charge between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

For more information please contact the Recreation Department: 617-972-6495 or 617-312-9007, recreation@watertown-ma.gov. Our new website is: www.recreation.watertown-ma.gov

Please park in the Department of Public Works lot at 124 Orchard Street. The Watertown Recreation Department has Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. The Facebook address is http://www.facebook.com/WatertownRecreationDepartment. The Twitter address is @Watertownrec and Instagram is watertownrecreation

Recreation Open Forum

The Recreation Department is hosting open forum on Tuesday, July 2 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lower Hearing Room in Town Hall.

Around Town

Watertown Recreation Starting Pickleball League

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The Watertown Recreation Department will start a pickleball league in June. Pickleball is a sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is played on a court the size of a badminton court with a slightly adjusted tennis net. Players use large paddle and a plastic ball with holes in it. It can be played in singles or doubles format.

Around Town

Former Recreation Director’s Family Funds Scholarship for Watertown Summer Camp

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The family of former Watertown Recreation Director Philip Costello donated money to the Town to allow residents to enjoy one of Mr. C’s greatest legacies — Camp Pequossette. The Costello family presented the scholarship money to the Town at a recent Town Council meeting. Instead of giving gifts to each other this Christmas, the Costellos donate money to put toward the scholarships, said Sean Costello, Philip’s grandson. “It is our request that you use this $1,630 to help bring the joy of Camp Pequossette — one of Mr. C’s greatest legacies — to children in need,” Sean said. Costello graduated from Watertown High School in 1945, where he was a star athlete.

Around Town

Applications for Summer Recreation Employment Available

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Recreation Department:

The Watertown Recreation Department is now accepting applications for the following positions for the 2019 calendar year. This includes immediate employment as a part time member of the staff throughout the year or seasonal work during the summer months. Applicants must be entering the 9th grade (Fall 2019) or older to be considered. If you are looking for employment to begin before the summer season, please complete and send it the packet and an interview will be scheduled with the Director of Recreation. Positions Available: Program Directors, Program Supervisors, Program Staff, Program Counselors, Counselor in Training, Nurse, Specialists, Pequossette Staff, Park Instructors, Program Staff, Park Rangers, and Scorekeepers.

Around Town

Recreation Department Offering Sports, Crafts, Snowshoeing & More This Winter

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The Watertown Recreation Department announced that residents can register for the Winter Program II, including sports for youth and adults, music, snowshoeing, crafts and Bruins tickets. Links are available

Wrestling Program: Grades 1-8, ongoing to February 14, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Music Instrument Lessons: Grades K-12, ongoing to June 14, Mondays – Fridays, 2:30 pm-7:00 pm

Middle School Fun & Game Night: Grades, 6-8 ongoing to April 5, Fridays, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm

Men’s Basketball Open Gym: Adults over 30, ongoing to May 19, Sundays 8:30 am-10:30 am

Community Sports and Games: Ages 5 – Adult, January 6 – April 7, Sundays, 2:00 pm-7:00 pm

Wachusett Mountain Ski-Board Program: Grades 6-12, January 12 – February 16, Saturdays, 4:00 pm-11:00 pm

Gentle Yoga with a Chair at Artemis Studio: Adults Over 55, January 16 – March 6, Wednesdays, 11:00 am-12:00 pm

Kids’ Yoga & Mindfulness at Artemis Studio: Grades K-2, January 23 – March 20, Wednesdays, 3:30 pm-4:15 pm

Kids’ Yoga & Mindfulness at Artemis Studio: Grades 3-5, January 23 – March 20, Wednesdays, 4:30 pm-5:30 pm

Yoga & Mindfulness for Middle Schoolers at Artemis Studio: Grades 6-8, January 24, Thursdays, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm

All Sports Program: Grades 3-5, January 28 – March 29, Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, 2:30 pm-3:30 pm

Junior Creative Crafts: Grades PreK-2, January 28 – March 29, Mondays – Fridays, 2:30 pm-3:30 pm

Cops & Rec Girls Futsal Soccer: Grades 6-8, January 29 – March 26, Tuesdays, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm 

Pre-Kindergarten Indoor Sports: Ages 3-5, January 29 – March 27, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 10:00 am-11:00 am

Junior All Sports Program: Grades K-2, January 29 – March 28, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 2:30 pm-3:30 pm

Cops & Rec Boys Futsal Soccer: Grades 6-8, January 31 – March 28, Thursdays, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm

Open Forum Meeting: February 5, Tuesday, 7:00pm-8:00pm; Permit & Facilities Meeting at 8:00 pm-9:00 pm

Trampoline Dodgeball: Grades 3-12, February 5 – April 2, Tuesdays, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Launch Laser Tag: Grades 3-8, February 6 – April 4, Wednesdays, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Launch Laser Tag for Adults: Adults & High School, February 7 – April 4, Thursdays, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

Boston Bruins vs. Colorado: February 10t, Sunday, 3:00 pm

February Vacation Program: Grades 1-8, February 19 – February 22, Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 am-5:30 pm

Community Snowshoeing: Watertown residents only, February 23, 1:00 pm–3:00 pm

Mini Creative Crafts: Grade PreK-2, March 2 – April 6, Saturdays, 9:00 am-11:15 am

Super Saturday Sports: Grade Pre K-5, March 2 – April 6, Saturdays, 9:00 am-1:45 pm

Boston Bruins vs. New Jersey: March 2, Saturday, 7:00 pm

Open Forum Meeting: March 5, Tuesday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm; Permit & Facilities at 8:00 pm-9:00 pm

Open Forum Meeting: April 2, Tuesday, 7:00 pm-8:00 pm

April Vacation Program: Grades 1-8, April 16 – April 19, Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 am-5:30 pm

Around Town

Get Out Your Skates, Watertown’s Outdoor Ice Rink is Open

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A family enjoys some skating at Watertown’s Outdoor Ice Rink at Casey Park. Watertown’s outdoor skating rink has opened for the winter and has already been popular with residents young and old. The ice rink is located at Casey Park, on Watertown Street south of the Charles River. Recreation Director Peter Centola announced that the rink is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., unless the ice is being resurfaced. “We are on to day 6 of the Casey Ice Rink and the conditions are the best ever thanks to the great work of our DPW and Recreation staff,” said Centola, who also took some videos at the rink on opening day (see below).

Around Town

Assistant Recreation Director Looks Back on 30 Years Working with Watertown’s Youth

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Assistant Recreation Director Ernie Thebado has worked with the children of Watertown for three decades. Photo provided by the Watertown Recreation Department. Ernie Thebado, the assistant director of the Watertown Department of Recreation, recently reached the 10 year mark working for the Town, and prior to that he had another 20 years working at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. During his three decades in Town he made some strong and lasting connections. His career, however, did not begin in Watertown. 

“It all started with the Marlborough Boys and Girls Club,” Thebado said. “It was a stone’s thrown from my home.”

Around Town

Filippello Park’s Grove Street Project Adding Green Area, Dog Park & Hard Courts

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Planning for the renovation of the Grove Street entrance to Filippello Park began six years ago, and discussions for what to do with the section of the former Watertown Landfill date back to 1984, so Recreation Department officials are excited to that construction is nearly complete. The area used to be the location of the incinerator at the landfill. While the rest of the land was turned into Filipello Park, the property near Grove Street had largely been paved over and used for parking, basketball courts and, in the winter, the Town’s snow dump. Recently, Recreation Director Peter Centola met with Glenn Howard, project designer from CDM Smith to go over some of the last details in the project. Discussions about how to reinvigorate the area began in 2012, Centola said, and morphed over the years. The Grove Street entrance will have a large dog park, two gazebos, a hard court playing area, and additional parking.