Around Town

Palestinian Violinist Brings Traditional Music to Watertown

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The following announcement was provided by the concert organizers:

On Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., musicians from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and the U.S. will gather in Watertown to celebrate the beauty of Palestinian music. Proceeds will support Anera, a U.S.-based nonprofit with no political or religious affiliations. Anera provides humanitarian aid to families in Gaza. Palestinian violinist and composer Lina Malshy is serving as artistic director. “This concert is about shining the light of Palestine on all marginalized people,” Malshy shared.

Around Town

Historical Society of Watertown Gift Shop Open for Holiday Sale

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The Edmund Fowle House & Museum with our 2022 Yard Art exhibit on display. (Photo courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

The Historical Society of Watertown announced that its gift shop at the historic Edmund Fowle House will be open on Sunday for a holiday sale. See details below. The gift shop will be open Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00. The Historical Society has many wonderful books and other items related to Watertown history available for sale to the public.

Around Town

DCR Seeks Input on Plans to Improve Playground Along Charles River

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The DCR will host a meeting about plans to improve the Farren Playground and hard courts off Charles River Road, east of Watertown Square. See information below. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is holding a public meeting on the redesign of the Farren Playground and the adjacent hardcourts. The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public about the proposed improvements to the playground, entry area, and pathways around the playground to make them more maintainable and increase accessibility. DCR also seeks public input on improvements to the hardcourt area to include either renovating the four half-courts as they are, or renovating two, and adding fitness equipment to replace the other two.

Around Town

New Podcast, “Eye on Watertown,” Seeks to Create a Place for Informal Public Engagement

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Former Town Council President Clyde Younger has teamed up with residents Chris Chapron and Ann Healey to host a new podcast called “Eye On Watertown,” which is available on the Watertown Cable website. In the first episode, the Younger and Chapron interviewed Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti and David Hudon. Grandinetti hosts “Drawing with Fred” on Watertown Cable, and has written books about Popeye the Sailor and other subjects. Hudon illustrated Grandinetti’s books and created the logo for Eye on Watertown. An upcoming episode will feature City Council President Mark Sideris.

Around Town

Residential Snow Shoveling Requirement: City Focusing on Education, Not Fines, This Winter

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Snow season has arrived, and this winter Watertown residents will be required to shovel snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours after the end of the storm. In future years failing to do so could result in a warning and fine, but this year the City will focus on educating rather than ticketing. The City Council approved changes to the Watertown Snow Ordinance in January. City staff planned to use the remainder of the 2023-24 winter to educate residents about how the new residential snow shoveling rules work, but since then the area has not had a significant snowfall. With this in mind, in the winter of 2024-25 the City will once again focus on education, said Tyler Cote, Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist.