Around Town

Watertown Hosting First Pride Extravaganza Featuring Parade, Music, Crafts & More

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Community members are invited to don colorful outfits, and come out and enjoy a parade, music, dancing, crafts, games, and more during Watertown’s first Pride Extravaganza. The celebration of Pride Month will take place on June 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. The all-ages event is hosted by the Watertown Free Public Library and the City of Watertown, and will have something for everyone, said Marissa Monteiro, the Library’s Outreach Librarian. “There will be music, there will be frivolity, there will be dancing, there will be bubbles, there will be kazoos, there will be flags,” Monteiro said. “I really hope that everybody comes in their most colorful outfits because I feel like during Pride Month it is not just about showing your true colors, it is about showing every color!” 

Teen Librarian Carey Conkey-Finn said she hopes people will come and have a good time.

Around Town

Free Financial Wellness Event at the Watertown Library

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Social Services Resources Specialist:

The Watertown Free Public Library and Watertown Social Services Resources Specialist (SSRS) Program invite you to a financial literacy presentation and resource clinic. The event is Wednesday, May 25th, 6:30 pm to 8 pm in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room of the Library, 123 Main St. Financial Literacy Presentation (6:30-7 pm):Representatives from the East Savings Bank and Arsenal Financial will share financial literacy basics, such as building credit and avoiding financial scams.Financial Resource Clinic (7-8 pm):Following the presentation, representatives from local banks and financial advisors will be available to meet one-on-one with attendees to advise on financial needs such as budgeting, dealing with debt, taking out loans and paying for college, etc. There will be pizza for all, translation services, a gift card raffle, and coloring pages for kids. Registration is recommended.

Around Town

Board of Trustees Appoints New Watertown Library Director

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City of WatertownCaitlin Browne was named the Watertown Library Director by the Board of Trustees. Previously she served as the Assistant Director. The Watertown Board of Library Trustees voted to appoint Caitlin Browne the new Director of the Watertown Library. The decision was made Monday night after a 3.5 hour meeting in which the trustees debated between Browne and another finalist, Maria Palacio. The appointment is contingent on successful contract negotiations with the City of Watertown.

Letters

LETTER: Library Employees Back Interim Director for Top Job

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This letter in support of Caitlin Browne as Library Director was written collaboratively and signed by over 30 staff members of the Watertown Free Public Library, across all departments of the library and including all department heads. It was read by library staff members at the Board of Library Trustees meeting on April 19, 2022. To our Board of Library Trustees:

As staff members of the Watertown Free Public Library, we would like to express our thanks for this opportunity to make our voices heard. We understand that the public forum is an avenue for commenting on “library business,” which we feel very much includes this director selection process. We appreciate the work of the screening committee that has narrowed the candidates to the current field.

Around Town

Watertown City Hall, Senior Center & Library Closings This Weekend

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

Hours at some of Watertown’s municipal buildings will be impacted by Good Friday, Easter and Patriots Day. The City of Watertown sent out an announcement saying that City Hall and the Senior Center will close at 1 p.m. on April 15 in observance of Good Friday. Both buildings will be closed on Monday, April 18 for Patriots Day. The Watertown Free Public Library will be closed on Sunday, April 17 for Easter, and on Monday, April 18 for Patriots Day.

Around Town

Finalists Named in Watertown Library Director Search, Public Interviews Scheduled

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

The Board of Trustees of the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL) began searching for a new library director earlier this year, following the retirement of Leone Cole, who had served in that role for 27 years. The Trustees initiated this search in January with the help of Bernard Lynch of Community Paradigm Associates. After receiving 15 applications, the Preliminary Screening Committee selected five candidates to interview last month. That pool was then narrowed down to three finalists who were recommended to the Trustees.

Around Town

Semifinalists Interviewed by Library Director Search Committee

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Watertown Free Public LibraryThe Watertown Free Public Library. The semifinalists for the Watertown library director were interviewed last week and finalists will be chosen by the Preliminary Screening Committee. The job posting closed on March 18, and 15 people submitted applications, said Leanne Hammonds, chair of the Board of Library Trustees. “We reviewed the applications in an executive session and narrowed down to five candidates,” Hammonds said. “At this point in the process, the candidates are not public knowledge and our interviews this week will be in executive session.

Around Town

Hatch Maker Space: YardArt Extended, April Workshops

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The following information was provided by Hatch Makerspace:

Hatch Makerspace is located at 20 Summer Street in Watertown, MA. An extension of the Watertown Free Public Library, we are a free public workshop with space, equipment, and materials available for your use. YardArt

YardArt is a citywide exhibit of whimsy and ingenuity on our front yards, open to anyone living or working in Watertown. Follow the map on foot, bike or car to view the installations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1aAqn1TWJgVQqFAGvRdv4jx0aZwyoBUWS&ehbc=2E312F

Latecomer? No problem! There is still time to register to get a yard sign and appear on the YardArt 2022 map.