Around Town

Tradition of Giving Gifts to Kids in Need That was Started by Former Watertown Police Officer, Continues Today

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Toys collected for the Whooley Foundation during a recent drive. Pictured, from left, Rotary Club President Kim Severino, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Doug Orifice, Whooley Foundation President David Collins, Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Bob Airasian, and Mosesian Center for the Arts Executive Director Darren Farrington. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Every year, days before Christmas, toys donated from around the community fill the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station in preparation to be distributed to families in need around the community. The drive is organized by the Sonny Whooley Foundation, named for a former Watertown Police officer known for his generosity, said David Collins, president of the Whooley Foundation. Over the years, the Whooley Foundation has helped thousands of families, Collins said.

Around Town

Holiday Mixer & Toy Drive to be Hosted by Rotary & Watertown Business Coalition

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The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown and the WBC:

The 2nd Annual Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Watertown and the Watertown Business Coalition will take place at the Mosesian Center for the Arts! 

Light Bites will be served

Cash bar

Admission is free to anyone bringing a toy to donate

Those coming without a toy are encouraged to bring a $20 (or more) donation to the Whooley Foundation

The event will be held on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the lobby of the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. Anyone interested in becoming a food or entertainment sponsor for this event should email Kim Severino at: Hello@elationmeetingsandevents.com

RSVP Here!

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Club’s Traffic Circle Cleanup One of Many Events This Year

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Members of the Rotary Club of Watertown weeded and cleaned up the island in the rotary at Orchard and Common streets. (Photo by Brianna Williams)

The island in the middle of the rotary connecting Common and Orchard street is filled with all kinds of greenery for the public to admire. On July 20, the Rotary Club of Watertown spent their day gardening the rotary so the city can add some colorful plants to it in the near future. The weeding and cleaning of the island through the City of Watertown’s Adopt-an-Island program is one the many events Watertown’s Rotary Club holds each year. The Rotary Club adopted the island to help keep up with the appearance and cleanliness of the area that hundreds of motorists pass by each day.

Around Town

Watertown Rotary Club Growing, Adding New Initiatives

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Rotary President Kim Severino pins new member Christian Dallas at a ceremony on March 28. Coming out of the pandemic, the Rotary Club of Watertown struggled with attendance at its weekly lunch meetings and events, but recently, the club’s membership has started growing. On March 28, three new members were inducted as Rotary Club members in a ceremony held at Demos Watertown: Diane DiMascio Cinar of CK Realty Group, Christian Dallas of Dallas Insurance, and Massimo Zeppa of Keller Williams Realty. All three of the new members said that Rotary’s service mission attracted them. “I am so happy to be a Rotary member,” said DiMascio Cinar.

Adopt an Island

Watertown Rotary Beautifying Area as Part of Adopt an Island Area

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Rotary Club of WatertownRotary Club of Watertown members John Nealon, Maria Papadopoulos, Kitty Mennilli, and Ruth Rudnick cleaned the island in the middle of the Rotary at Common and Church streets. Rotary maintains the area as part of the Adopt an Island program. Recently, members of the Rotary Club of Watertown grabbed some gardening tools to help spruce up a traffic island in Watertown. Watertown Rotary has taken responsibility for weeding the rotary on Common Street as part of the Department of Public Works’ Adopt an Island Program, said Maria Papadopoulos of the Rotary Club. “Passers by were thanking us which was heartwarming!”

Schools

Scholarships Available from Rotary Club of Watertown

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The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown:

All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. 

All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 15, 2022, to:

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNc/o Anthony Donato

42 Arden RoadWATERTOWN, MA 02472

The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. All information supplied on this form will be kept strictly confidential. Only one application need be submitted to be eligible for consideration for all scholarships available through the Rotary Club of Watertown.

Schools

Applications Available for Watertown Rotary Scholarships

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The following information was provided by the Rotary Club of Watertown:

All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. 

All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 17, 2020, to:

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNc/o Anthony Donato

42 Arden RoadWATERTOWN, MA 02472

The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. All information supplied on this form will be kept strictly confidential. Only one application need be submitted to be eligible for consideration for all scholarships available through the Rotary Club of Watertown.

Schools

Rotary Club of Watertown Awards $10,000 in Scholarships

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The Rotary Club of Watertown awarded more than $10,000 in college scholarships to 11 high school seniors. The award winners were presented to students from Watertown High School, Waldorf School and Mt. Alvernia High School. H. Nish Boyajian Memorial Scholarship – Neila Magloire, $1,000 WHSStephen Everett Memorial Scholarship – Gabriella Venezia, $1,000 WHS Domenic “Dick” Trabucco Memorial Scholarship – Christopher J. Iannetta, $1,000 WHS Domenic “Dick” Trabucco Memorial Scholarship – Olivia Lampasona $1,000 WHS Student Speaker Award – Sukeina Attar, $1,000 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Smaranda Costiner, $1,000 Waldorf Rotary Merit Scholarship – Meron Hagos, $1,000 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Levon Haroutunian, $750 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Kristen Tracy, $750 WHS Rotary Merit Scholarship – Mairead Walsh, $1,000 Mt. Alvernia Rotary Merit Scholarship – Christine Zhu, $1,000 WHS