Holiday Mixer & Toy Drive to be Hosted by Rotary Club & Watertown Business Coalition

The Rotary Club of Watertown and the Watertown Business Coalition invite the community to join them for the third annual Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive on Dec. 2. See more details below. The Watertown Business Coalition, the Rotary Club of Watertown, and the Mosesian Center for the Arts are teaming up for the 3rd Annual Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive. The event will be on Monday, December 2nd from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St, Watertown.

Hear About a Local Activist & Photographer and Watertown News’ Editor on the Little Local Conversations Podcast

Archy LaSalle

Matt Hanna, the voice behind “Little Local Conversations” podcast, spoke with Archy LaSalle, who has many roles, including in the arts and as an activist. Also, hear Hanna’s conversation with Watertown News Editor Charlie Breitrose. In “Little Local Conversations,” discover the people, places, stories, and ideas of Watertown. Hanna has conversations with various businesses owners, community leaders, creatives, and other interesting folks in Watertown to learn about what they do and get to know a bit about the people behind the work. 

Achy LaSalle

Meet Archy LaSalle! He’s the Vice Chair of the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee, a passionate activist, and working photographer.

Arsenal Yards Welcomes the Holiday Season with Festive Events for the Whole Family

Arsenal Yards has a lineup of events for the Holidays. (Courtesy of Arsenal Yards)

There will be a variety of holiday events at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards, starting on Black Friday. See more information in the announcement from Arsenal Yards. Arsenal Yards is spreading holiday cheer this season with a series of joyful events designed to bring the community together in celebration. From Black Friday festivities and gift drive to magical character meet-and-greets, and a Hanukkah celebration to light up the season, there’s something for everyone at Arsenal Yards this holiday season.

Public Invited to First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the Armenian Cultural & Educational Center

The Armenian Cultural and Education Center will have a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the center located at 47 Nichols Ave., in Watertown. See the announcement below. Get in the Holiday Spirit and join us at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) for the First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 6, starting 5 p.m.

This event is FREE and open to the public! The program includes music, hot cocoa & cookies, and a visit from Santa. Bring your loved ones and enjoy the holiday spirit with the community!

LETTER: Giving Thanks to Watertown Forest Makers

Volunteers watch Russ Cohen give a tree-planting demonstration. Photo by Anita Meiklejohn. by Anita Roy Dobbs and Libby ShawForests for Watertown, Trees for Watertown

On a warm, sunny Saturday at the end of October, over 200 Watertown community members came together to plant Watertown’s first Miyawaki Forest at the JR Lowell Elementary School near the corner of Orchard and George Streets. Volunteers aged 3 to 93 planted nearly 750 trees and shrubs of some 50 native species in just five hours. The result of this remarkable community effort is a new kind of urban green space.

Thanksgiving Week Travel Advisory from MassDOT

The following announcement was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is encouraging members of the public to plan ahead for travel during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday week, use available technology tools and resources to make informed decisions and plan ahead. During this holiday season, individuals should be aware there may be a higher number of travelers on Commonwealth roadways and on public transportation. 

“With the Thanksgiving holiday (this) week, MassDOT is forecasting increased traffic volumes throughout the week with the heaviest outbound traffic expected in the afternoons of Monday through Wednesday.” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We also expect returning volumes to be heavier on Sunday, December 1.  We encourage travelers to make their trips outside of peak hours and drive safely.” 

The Highway Division is taking several steps to ensure safe and efficient travel on state-owned roadways. There will be no scheduled construction work on major arterial roadways outside of established work zones, starting at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 26, through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2.  

In addition, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane located on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will extend its afternoon hours by opening from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, and from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27. The HOV lane will be closed on Thursday, November 28, and on Friday, November 29.  Also, due to increased travel in and out of Logan Airport, the Sumner Tunnel swing lane will not be deployed on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29. 

Heavier traffic than usual is expected on Monday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 26, with additional delays likely during midday hours on Wednesday, November 27, Thanksgiving Day, November 28, and throughout the weekend following Thanksgiving.

STILL TIME TO RSVP – Families Invited to Free Breakfast with Santa at Brigham House

Brigham House announced it will be hosting Free Breakfast with Santa. See details below. You are invited to the Free Breakfast with Santa event at Brigham House in Watertown, MA on December 8th from 10-11:30 a.m. Take photos with Santa! If you have children in your life that you would like to bring to this event please RSVP as soon as possible and we will add you to our guest list. The deadline to register is Nov.

OBIT: Rev. Michael Clark, 76, Former Pastor of United Methodist Church in Watertown

Rev. Michael Clark

Rev. Mike Clark was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1948, to Paul C. Clark and Kathryn E. Clark. He graduated from Albright College in 1970 with a B.A. and from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1975 with an M.Div. Ordained in 1975, he spent the first 24 years of his ministry working in church-related social justice assignments, including the United Church Board for World Ministries, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the Riverside Church Disarmament Program (while William Sloane Coffin was serving as Senior Pastor, and Witness for Peace in Nicaragua). He also worked as a community organizer in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In 1999 he began working in United Methodist settings in New England, first as an intentional interim and later as pastor.