Around Town

LETTER: Lifelong Resident Concerned About Rapid Changes in Watertown

By |

I was born and raised in Watertown, as was my father and my grandparents before him. My grandfather was born on July 29th 1876, right where you can now catch the 57 bus. When my grandmother died in 1973 her obituary stated that she had 126 descendants, mostly born right here in Watertown. My grandfather and three of my uncles were Watertown Firefighters, and two were police. My father and three of his brothers were WWII veterans.

Around Town

A Variety of Volunteer Projects to Work on This May During Watertown Helps Out

By |

The following information came from the Watertown Community Foundation:

Would you like to give back to the community you love? The Watertown Community Foundation (WCF), along with local sponsors and dozens of neighbors, will be out in the community again during the Month of May 2024, volunteering to make Watertown a nicer place to live and work. 

If you would like to volunteer please take a peek at all of the opportunities available in the month of May. More volunteer opportunities are still to be added, so check back in from time to time. We’re looking forward to a fantastic community Month in Watertown! THURDAY, MAY 2

Senior Center: Garden Clean Up: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 4

Whitney Hill Clean Up: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Cannalonga Park Clean Up: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Watertown Cable Access Digital Archive Project: 12-3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

Perkins School for the Blind Concert/Music Program Support: 8:45-11:40 a.m.

Saltonstall Community Path Clean-Up: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Perkins School for the Blind Concert/Music Program Support: 5-9 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

Metrowest Collaborative Garden Clean-Up: 12-4 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

Brigham House Gardening: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Community Gardens Invasive Plant and/or Trash Removal: 1-3 p.m.

See the complete list of volunteer opportunities and sign up online here.

Around Town

Hear About Preserving a Historic Farmhouse at Historical Society Annual Meeting

By |

The following information was provided by the Historical Society of Watertown:

On Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. the Historical Society of Watertown will host a presentation about preserving a 300-year-old farmhouse. Prior to the presentation, the Historical Society will hold its annual meeting, including a vote on a proposed change to the group’s by-laws. The meeting and presentation will be held at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main Street, Watertown, in the Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room. A slide show called “A House Restored: The Tragedies and Triumphs of Saving a New England Colonial” will also include a talk on the historic preservation of a 300-year-old farmhouse on the South Shore by Lee McColgan. The Historical Society provided the following description of the presentation:

Old houses share their secrets only if they survive.

Entertainment

Save the Date for Watertown Porch Fest, Sunday is Last Day to Perform or Be a Host

By |

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Watertown’s First Porchfest is Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 12-5 PM! (The rain date is Sunday, May 19, 2024)

What is Porchfest? Porchfest is an afternoon of free music performed outside of people’s homes – on porches, patios, driveways, and lawns. What kind of groups can perform? Any and all are welcome!

Around Town

DPW Releases Results of Watertown’s Recycling Audit

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Department of Public Works:

The Watertown recycling audit has concluded after two weeks. Thank you to all who reached out with questions and engaged with this city program! Observation from the audit found that about 10 percent of each route contains recycling contamination. This means we still have work to do in the city to ensure that we are sending the correct materials to our Materials Recovery Facility, also known as a MRF. MRFs, like everything else, can only work efficiently with the materials that they are built to process.

Entertainment

Small Saves Has Some Complaints About the Ref in This Week’s Cartoon

By |

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.”

Around Town

Lowell School Hosting Microforest Community Info Party

By |

The following information was provided by Forests for Watertown:

This fall, everyone is invited to plant a Mini-Forest of baby trees in the Lowell Schoolyard using the “Miyawaki method.” Next spring, Community Garden plots will be built south of the forest. And we’ll plant a pollinator buffer to surround the forest. The Microforest Community Info Party will be on April 30, 6-8 p.m. at the Lowell School Cafeteria, 123 Lowell Ave., Watertown. Hear about the microforest project from Lowell Principal Stacy Phelan, City of Watertown Senior Environmental Planner Laurel Schwab, Trees for Watertown’s Libby Shaw, author Liza Ketchum, Judy Fallows / Marilyn Salvas from Watertown Community Gardens, and more.

Around Town

Beaverbook STEP Seeks Live-in Caregive – Live Rent Free in Watertown

By |

Beaverbrook STEP is seeking a live-in caregiver at their community living location in Watertown. See the information provided by Beaverbrook STEP below. We are looking for someone outgoing, caring, and friendly. A few of the tasks you would be responsible for include cleaning and cooking. It’s not all hard work, though, as we value a supportive and helpful community.