Around Town

Lecture at Library About Middle East Conflict’s Impact on Assyrians, Armenians

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The Assyrian American Association of Massachusetts will host a lecture about the conflict in the Middle East with Boston College professor Peter Krause at the Watertown Free Public Library. 

The AAAM sent out the following information:

Conflict and Instability in the Middle East: The impact on ethnic and religious minorities

WHERE: Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St., Watertown

WHEN: Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m.

WHAT: The Middle East is torn by numerous civil wars, regional power shifts, demographic shifts within and across international borders. Is there an end in sight for these conflicts? What impact do they have on minority groups in the region, including Assyrians and Armenians? If and when the violence subsides, what is the future for ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East? This talk will begin to provide answers by combining a look back at relevant history, a rigorous assessment of the present, and some cautious predictions of the future.

Entertainment

Watertown Author to Read from Her Book Based on Her Family’s Experience as Refugees

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Award-winning local author Kathleen Spivack, who lives in Watertown, will read from her debut novel Unspeakable Things, which uses magical realism to tell the stories of refugees fleeing the Holocaust and relocating in New York City. Spivack has had many books of poetry and has published short stories, but her first novel was published in 2016. She spoke with Watertown News about her book and said that it is based on her family’s experience as refugees moving to America (read more here). The book is now available in paperback. The reading will take place 0n Sunday, March 18, 2018 – 3:00 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room at Watertown Free Public Library.

Entertainment

Celebration of Crafts, Culture and Food of Uzbekistan Coming to the Watertown Library

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(The following event was snowed out on March 13 and has been rescheduled)

A celebration of the crafts, food, music and dance of Uzbekistan will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library to mark the Uzbek national holiday of Navruz or New Day. 

The free event is being organized by Zilola Ashurova, who is originally from Uzbekistan and wanted to introduce the people of the Boston area to the Uzbek culture. The event, which will be held Friday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Watertown Library, 123 Main St., Watertown. During the event there will be an exhibition of handmade embroidery and a workshops on needle-work. There will also be Uzbek music and dance and attendees can sample Uzbek food. There will also be travel videos showing highlights of Uzbekistan.

Around Town

Watertown Free Public Library Will Be Recognized for Improving Accessibility

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The Watertown Free Public Library is being recognized for improving access for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community, library officials announced. The library will be presented with an Outstanding Organization of the Year Award during the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Constituents’ Day at the State House on March 8, 2018. The award was announced on February 15 by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH). The library was nominated for advancements towards becoming accessible for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. In particular, the library has worked to improve access through installing a looping system in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room, which allows people with t-coil hearing aids to have a better auditory experience during public events like lectures, concerts, movies, and presentations.

Entertainment

One Book One Watertown Events: Meet the Author, Food Tasting, Concert & More

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Each year, the Watertown Free Public Library chooses a book, encourages everyone in the community to read it along with us, and hosts a variety of programs related to the book, its setting, and its themes. This community reading program is known as One Book, One Watertown. 

The Watertown Free Public Library put out the following annoucement:

This year, Refuge by Dina Nayeri is our One Book, One Watertown selection for 2018. Refuge charts the deeply moving lifetime relationship between a father and a daughter, seen through the prism of global immigration. We have chosen Refuge in this time of uncertainty for immigrants in our country and around the world. The staff of the WFPL invites you to join us in celebrating the refugee (and broader immigrant) experience—the bravery and perseverance needed to overcome the obstacles of language, culture, and bureaucracy, while striving to find a feeling of belonging and home. This year, we’re also including a “read-along” title for younger readers and English language learners: It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas.

Around Town

One Book, One Watertown Title for 2018 is ‘Refuge’ by Dina Nayeri

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For the 10th year in a row, the Watertown Free Public Library has selected a book for the entire community to read and discuss during the “One Book, One Watertown” celebration. The 2018 selection is the novel Refuge by Dina Nayeri. The Watertown Free Public Library sent out the following announcement:

This year, for the first time, the library is recommending a “read-along” title for younger readers and English language learners: It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas. According to librarian Pauli Stern, the WFPL chose Refuge “because of the insight it provides into the bravery and perseverance needed to overcome the obstacles of language, culture, and bureaucracy, while striving to find a feeling of belonging and home.”

Author Dina Nayeri, who lives in London, will visit Watertown on Thursday, March 1. Nayeri will speak at the WFPL at 7:00 p.m., following a 6:00 p.m. tasting of Persian food from Roksana’s Restaurant.

Around Town

Catch the Latest Episodes of Inside Watertown Featuring Local Organizations

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Hear from the coordinator of the Hatch Makerspace and learn about what the Watertown Library has to offer for businesses on the latest episode of Inside Watertown. The Watertown Cable show highlights what local organizations, non-profits and town departments are doing, and is hosted by Chamber of Commerce Community Liaison Paul Airasian and Watertown News Editor Charlie Breitrose

The guests for Episode 4 were Brita Zitin, the Watertown Library’s Digital Services Librarian, who talked about all the online resources available for businesses, business people, those looking to change careers and more. We also spoke with Liz Helfer, the coordinator of the Hatch Makerspace where people can learn skills and be creative. Hatch has a variety of machines to use such as sewing machines, 3-D printers and vinyl cutters. Episode 3 features Watertown Veterans Services Officer Mark Comeiro and Bree Harvey from the Mount Auburn Cemetery.

Around Town

See What’s Going on at the Watertown Library in December

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The Watertown Free Public Library has a variety of events going on this month, from author talks to a craft fair to computer classes. The following was sent out by the Watertown Library:

Democracy Talks: The Future of Voting Rights, 2018 & Beyond
Thursday 12/7 | 7 p.m.
Watertown Savings Bank Room
At this sixth event in our ongoing Democracy Talks series, Professor Rachael Cobb will provide an historical overview of voting rights and update us on what’s at stake in 2018. Save the event on Facebook! Monsterland: Ronny Le Blanc Author Talk
Wednesday 12/13 | 7 p.m.
Lucia Mastrangelo Room
Join author and researcher Ronny Le Blanc as he discusses his new book, Monsterland: Encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot, and Orange Orbs, exploring the history of Bigfoot and UFOs in Massachusetts, especially in and around Leominster State Forest. Save the event on Facebook!