Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/guest-writer/page/12/)
The old Watertown High School building. (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)
ANNOUNCEMENT to ALL former WHS classmates of 1964:
The 60th Reunion is progressing nicely and if anyone has not already communicated with the Reunion team, please send an email to whs1964reunion@yahoo.com to obtain information for the Reunion. The Reunion is scheduled on September 28, 2024. Thank you, Sonny!
The following information is provided by Armadi Tsayn:
Armadi Tsayn, a contemporary folk ensemble focusing on the sounds of Western Armenia and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) music will be performing in Watertown with Oud Master John Berberian. On Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Armadi Tsayn, which means “Sounds/Voice of the Roots,” will appear at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The Oud is a descendant of the guitar and is commonly used throughout cultures in the Caucasus and Middle East. Berberian, who is a virtuoso player of this instrument, was born in the United States to Armenian immigrant parents and recorded for a variety of labels including MGM, RCA, Roulette, Verve and Mainstream Records during the 1960s-70s.
“At a time where the preservation of Armenian culture is more important than ever, the program would be a celebration of Armenian music from Western Armenia and the diaspora featuring original pieces by John, our group, and other Armenian composers. Additionally, it would serve as a ‘passing of the torch’ from the old generation of musicians to the new generation pushing this music forward from our ancestral lands,” said Alek Surenian, co-founder of Armadi Tsayn.
Clipartpanda.com
Four Watertown students graduated from Dickinson, Roger Williams, and Tufts in the spring of 2024, and seven local students earned honors at Fairfield, Hartford, and Tufts. The following information was provided by the colleges:
Graduates
Dickinson College
Dickinson College has announced the following students graduated during the Commencement ceremony held on May 19.
Kristen Mary Beach, daughter of Christopher and Rosemary Beach of Watertown, Mass., BS, environmental science, magna cum laude, dean’s list, Watertown High School
Maia Vachon, daughter of Marc and Amy Vachon of Watertown, Mass., BS, data analytics, magna cum laude, dean’s list, Watertown High School
Dickinson College, located in historic Carlisle, Pa., was chartered in 1783. The private, liberal-arts college is nationally recognized for its cross-disciplinary, active approach to learning, international education, civic engagement and its commitment to teaching its students about sustainability across the curriculum, the community and the globe. www.dickinson.edu. Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University is proud to announce that Tom Walsh, of Watertown, MA, (02472) graduated with a M.A. in Special Education in May as part of the Class of 2024. At Roger Williams University, students are prepared to be thinkers and doers ready to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions.
The following information was provided by Vertex, the project management firm for the Watertown High School project:
Starting the week of August 5th, you can expect to see the mobilization of geothermal well drilling rigs at the new Watertown High School Building Project. This is an exciting milestone for the project, as the before mentioned geothermal wells will aid in the project’s goal of being a net-zero energy building. The geothermal wells, once installed, will provide heating and cooling to spaces in the new high school including the gymnasium, the auditorium, and other community spaces throughout the school. The project expects these drilling rigs to be on site for approximately 4-5 months to complete 14 wells to approximately 900 feet deep. What to expect in the coming months, starting the week of August 5th:
– Geothermal Well Drilling Rigs on site from 7AM-5PM
– Equipment will be located on the corner of Columbia and Common Streets within the construction fence.
James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”
The Watertown Boys and Girls Club is expanding, building a New Foundation
The Board of Directors, Executive Director Gary Beatty and staff of the Watertown Boys and Club are delighted to announce an expansion of the space we use in our building and our programming for the children and families of Watertown.
We are building a new foundation for the growth of our Club in Watertown. New Foundations — the project name — is our more than $1.6 M project to completely renovate the ground floor of the building. The result will be a beautiful space that will house a brand new licensed childcare program — the first of its kind at the WBGC and the only one in Watertown–to provide licensed after-school childcare for up to 85 children. This will enable us to help meet the growing need for quality after-school care for children in K-3 in Watertown. I am writing to share an update on our project. In the past year we hired an architect, Bloom Architects, agreed on a design, developed drawings and bid documents, bid the job out and awarded the bid. We have signed a contract with Groom Construction. Groom was the low bidder (by over $100K) and have been very responsive and easy to work with. We are excited to be working with them. Construction is due to start in August and is expected to finish around the end of the year. We are ready to move ahead, but we can’t. The barrier is First Path Daycare.
The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:
The City of Watertown is partnering with Mass Save on their Main Streets Program, a small business energy efficiency initiative. Through Main Streets, Mass Save connects small business owners with approved contractors who offer no-cost energy assessments to discuss upgrades that will lower energy use and reduce costs. Starting July 29, 2024 energy experts will be in the community meeting with businesses, non-profits, and houses of worship, scheduling no-cost energy assessments and answering questions about energy-efficient equipment upgrades and other improvements. Many of the upgrades qualify for Mass Save incentives and interest-free financing to offset the cost of the improvements. Stay tuned for a formal press release with more information and contacts.
Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co.Mighty Squirrel Brewing will be serving its creations at the biergarten at Arsenal Yards. The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:
Arsenal Yards is thrilled to announce the return of the Mighty Squirrel pop-up biergarten on the River Green! Join us for an unforgettable series of bi-weekly events featuring live music from talented local performers. Mark your calendars for these special dates: July 25th, August 8th, August 22nd, September 5th, and September 19th, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The biergarten operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to secure your spot.