Around Town

Watertown Church Hosting Leadership Summit

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Grace Chapel Watertown

Grace Chapel announced it will be hosting a two-day leadership summit in Watertown. See details in the announcement below:

The Global Leadership Summit is the largest leadership experience in the world partnering with business, local churches, ministries, and other organizations to help leaders grow and become catalysts for change. In this two-day conference you’ll hear leading experts from both the marketplace and ministry share their wisdom to fuel inspiration, recharge your vision, and trigger intentional action to never stop learning. It’s a terrific forum you and/or your team(s) to improve their leadership. For more info checkout www.GlobalLeadership.org/Summit. 

The GLS is perfect for both individuals and teams who want to grow their leadership skills. In 2024 over 300,000 people attended in over 110 countries. The GLS is run live from Willow Creek Church in Chicago, and streamed to thousands of host sites worldwide including Grace Chapel in both Watertown and Wilmington. Email cogswell.doug@gmail.com for further information, including complimentary tickets for church and/or NGO leaders. 

Conference Details:

Date: August 7 & 8Time: 9:30am – 5pm

Special discount pricing of $169 is available through the links belowNote that Grace Chapel’s discounts are applied at checkout, and only through the links below. We are livestreaming at two locations:

Grace Chapel Watertown – Sanctuary525 Main St, Watertown MARegister for Watertown Location

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Department Welcomes Newest Officer

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New Watertown Police Officer Francis Yannizzi is sworn in by City Clerk Noelle Gilligan. (Photo by WPD)

The Watertown Police Department welcomed its newest officer on July 11, 2025. See the announcement posted on the WPD social media below. The Watertown Police Department proudly swore in Officer Francis Yannizzi as the newest member of our team. Officer Yannizzi brings 13 years of law enforcement experience to Watertown, having previously served with the Massachusetts Port Authority Police Department.

Schools

Watertown Engineering Teacher Learning About STEM Careers in Construction Sector

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WHS engineering and robotics teacher Jason Welch

The following announcement was provided by Associated General Contractors of Mass.:

Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts (AGC MA) will present its fifth annual Building Advancement Externship (BAE) program from Monday, August 4 – Friday, August 8. The program exposes educators to a wide array of STEM-based careers in the construction sector and prompts greater awareness of professional work opportunities for young people. Jason Welch, engineering and robotics teacher at Watertown High School, is one of 15 educators to be selected for the program. “Participants in AGC MA’s annual Building Advancement Externship become well-informed and passionate advocates for the construction industry, eager and able to share its many diverse and fulfilling opportunities with students,” says John Ferrante, CEO at AGC MA. “The participation and enthusiasm of our membership has been essential to the program’s success, and reflects its value in developing and strengthening the regional construction workforce.”

Participants in the 2025 AGC MA Building Advancement Externship include:

* Andrew DeLuca, Greater Lawrence Tech

* Eric Furlong, Wahconah Regional High School

* Josh Greeley, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School

* Grace Haggstrom, Randolph High School

* Jacob Humiston, South Hadley High School

* Timothy Lavin, Charlestown High School

* Joseph Migliore, Greater Lowell Technical High School

* Maureen O’Donnell, Boston Community Leadership Academy

* Julie O’Leary, Framingham High School

* Keith Powers, Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical High School

* Tracey Schryba, Franklin County Technical School

* Mario Sousa, Salem High School

* Melissa St. Pierre, BMC Durfee High School

* Heather Toomey, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute

* Jason Welch, Watertown High School

The 2025 Building Externship is supported and presented by BOND, Colantonio Inc., Collier’s Engineering & Design, Columbia, Consigli Construction, Dimeo Construction Company, Erland Construction Inc., Fontaine Brothers, Inc., North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Turner Construction, and Walsh Brothers, with support from Building Mass Careers, Building Pathways, Center for Smart Building Technology at Roxbury Community College, Fitchburg State University, Franklin Cummings Technical College, Mass CEC, Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytech Institute of Technology, and YouthBuild Boston.

Around Town

City Calls for Art to Revitalize Coolidge Square During Mt. Auburn St. Construction

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A map of Coolidge Square showing possible installation locations. The City of Watertown today announced “Open for Business,” a new public art initiative inviting artists and artist teams to submit proposals for temporary outdoor art installations in Coolidge Square. This project aims to maintain the vibrancy of the neighborhood and support local businesses during the ongoing reconstruction of Mount Auburn Street. The extensive Mount Auburn Street reconstruction project, while essential for long-term revitalization, will undoubtedly cause temporary disruption to businesses in Coolidge Square. In response, the City of Watertown seeks to transform this period of change into an opportunity for community engagement and economic support through the power of public art.

Around Town

Group Seeking to Bring Food Co-op to Area Hosting Virtual Open House

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The Charles River Food Co-op will host an open house on Wednesday, July 23 at 8 p.m. The group has more than 950 members, and the remote open house is a chance to meet others interested in local, organic food. The Charles River Food Co-op sent out the following announcement:

Join us for our open house on Zoom to learn about our community-owned food co-op coming to Watertown, Waltham, and Newton!! What to expect:

Meet fellow community members passionate about local, organic food. Learn about our mission to bring affordable products and locally-sourced foods to our neighborhoods. Discover how our member-owned model puts community interests first.

Entertainment

Watertown Cultural Council Announces Results of 2024-2025 Grants Season

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Attendees at the Watertown Cultural Council Grantee Celebration. (Contributed Photo)

By Lawrence KessenichWatertown Cultural Council member

The Watertown Cultural Council (WCC) has completed its 2024-2025 grants season, awarding just under $35,000 in grants to a variety of individuals and organizations. The grants were funded by Massachusetts Cultural Council, and, for the first time, the Commonwealth’s funds were matched by funds from The City of Watertown, enabling the WCC to double its impact on Watertown’s cultural life. The WCC processed 66 grant applications, approving 33 of those grants. Here are some examples of projects that received funding from the WCC:

• Watertown ArtsMarket• Porchfest• Open Mic• Multiple events at the Watertown Library• Multiple events at Watertown public schools and one at the Perkins School• Senior Center musical presentations• Mossessian Center for the Arts course tuition assistance• Actor’s Shakespeare Project course tuition assistance• Watertown’s first dragon boat entered in the Dragon Boat Festival• Plaque to commemorate Watertown artist Arshile Gorky• Historical Society newsletter• River of Light workshops and performance

In May, the WCC held a reception for its grantees at Gore Place, where the recipients shared how they made use of the grant money provided.

Entertainment

Comedian Paula Poundstone Performing at Watertown’s Mosesian Center for the Arts

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts will be hosting renowned comedian Paula Poundstone in December. See more information from the MCA below. Iconic comedian Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, and is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me. She also voiced the character ‘Forgetter Paula’ in the feature films Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Paula has starred in several HBO specials, including Cats, Cops and Stuff, which nabbed a cable ACE award for Best Comedy Special.

Around Town

Sidewalk Excavation, Drainage Work Continues on Mt. Auburn St.

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During the week of July 21, sidewalk work will continue in East Watertown, and Drainage Work will take place in Coolidge Square. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown. Sidewalk Excavation Continues

Excavation of the westbound sidewalk on Mount Auburn Street between St. Mary Street and Prentiss Street will begin Monday, July 21, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn about travel and parking impacts below. Traffic and Sidewalk Impacts

The westbound sidewalk will be closed for excavation starting Monday, July 21, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. A bypass sidewalk on the westbound side will be opened up while this work is being completed.