Charity

Watertown Eighth-Grader Met the Governor, Ran Kids Clothing Drive

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Eighth-grader Honor Petrie was chosen to represent all of Watertown Middle School in a statewide event – Project 351 – where she got to meet Gov. Charlie Baker. This spring, she organized a clothing drive at the school that collected dozens of bags of clothes to give to Cradles to Crayons, a children’s charity. 

Watertown News asked Petrie about her experiences as Watertown’s ambassador to Project 351 and her clothing drive. Q: How were you chosen to represent Watertown Middle School for Project 351, and why did you want to become an Ambassador? A: I hadn’t ever heard of Project 351 until I was called down to the office one day at school, and my principal (Mr. Carter) explained to me what Project 351 is, and why I was chosen to be Ambassador. I was really surprised and so excited.

Charity

Relay for Life Will Welcome Inspiration for a Hit Book and Movie

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Attendees of the Relay for Life in Watertown will hear from the family that inspired the bestselling book and hit movie “The Fault in Our Stars.” This year, the Relay for Life Watertown Newton Waltham will be held at Victory Field in Watertown on May 30 from 3 p.m. to 10 a.m. on June 1. During the event’s Luminaria Ceremony, which honors and remembers those lost to cancer, at approximately 9 p.m., guest speaker Lori Earl, the mother of a young cancer patient whose battle with the disease inspired the powerful 2014 romantic drama “The Fault in Our Stars,” will address the crowd and share her personal story, according to an announcement from the American Cancer Society. Sign up to participate in the Relay for Life or donate by clicking here.

Charity

Watertown Man Raising Money to Help People in His Village in Nepal

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A Watertown man is looking to his neighbors in his current hometown to help neighbors in the village where he grew up that suffered major damage in the earthquake that hit Nepal. 

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake has killed more than 7,000 people, injured 14,000 and left much of the Himalayan nation devastated. The United Nations estimates that 300,000 homes were destroyed in the quake. Watertown resident Samrat Sengupta has started a GoFundMe.com fundraiser to help his village, Setidovan, Shyangja – located about 140 miles outside of Kathmandu. “There has been no news coverage or any media presence in my village because it is remote and it is small,” Sengupta wrote on his page. “Due to the damages to the roads and landslides, my village has not had access to any medical or housing assistance.

Around Town

See How The Walk for Hunger Will Impact Watertown

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The annual Walk for Hunger will wind through the Boston area, including a section in Watertown on Sunday, May 3 – see how it will impact your day. Thousands of people will take part in the 47th annual Walk For Hunger. The 20-mile walk benefits Project Bread and raises awareness about the issue of hunger. The Project Bread website says: “The Walk brings together people from many different communities and cultures – and attracts parents, kids, students, and corporations. But everyone comes to offer hope to hungry people and to support Project Bread’s fresh approach to ending hunger: programs that help to provide sustainable access to healthy, nutritious food to those in need.

Business

Local Groups Can Apply for 3, $10,000 Grants from Belmont Savings

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The Belmont Savings Bank Foundation announced a $30,000 grant competition as part of its charitable giving initiative in Watertown. Local residents will nominate charities that will then be eligible for a donation based on voting. Through the initiative, the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation will invest $10,000 into three programs located in Watertown. Applications should include efforts for health, education, affordable housing or youth programs. The nomination deadline is May 20, 2015. Following May 20, all approved organizations will have a 20-day period to drive voting which will take place on the Foundation website.

Charity

Arsenal Arts Founder to be Celebrated at Fiesta for the Arts

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The Arsenal Center For The Arts will host its annual spring benefit on May 19, 2015 honoring Watertown arts activist and Arsenal Center founding member Roberta Miller with this year’s Charles Mosesian award for Support of the Arts. Fiesta for the Arts begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 and features Flamenco Dance Project with dancers Sabrina Aviles, Yosi Karahashi, and Ian Hoover, with Juanito Pascual on guitar and Tania Mesa on violin. An open-air reception begins the festivities with Spanish tapas. After the award ceremony and dance performance in the Mosesian Theater, scrumptious desserts donated by local bakeries will be served. Each year, the Arsenal Center honors an individual or organization that shares the late Charles Mosesian’s commitment to his community.

Around Town

Help Out on One Boston Day at Watertown’s Filippello Park

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Volunteers are sought to help clean up Filippello Park on One Boston Day. 

Classic Rock Radio Station, WZLX – 100.7, is recruiting its listeners to help clean up Filippello Park as a service to the town of Watertown on April 15, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon, in commemoration of One Boston Day, “a holiday aimed at honoring ‘the resiliency, generosity and strength of the city’ on the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings.”

All are welcome to participate. Various town departments will be assisting the WZLX team with this effort. Please use the 195 Grove Street entrance. WZLX contact: Chris Rucker, 617-746-1462

Watertown Health Department contact: Deborah Rosati, 617-972-6446

Boston Marathon Bombing

Dic Donohue Donates Blood in Watertown; Watertown Strong Race Coming Up

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Blood recipients @DicDonohue and @Heather_Abbott1 prepare to donate blood at #Watertown High School! #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/2R8KxbC3oB

— MA Red Cross Blood (@RedCrossBloodMA) April 11, 201

MBTA Police Officer Dic Donohue required dozens of blood products when he fought for his life after being shot during the Watertown Shootout with the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects, and Saturday he gave back. Donohue and Bombing survivor Heather Abbott came out for the second annual Red Cross Watertown Strong Blood Drive at Watertown High School on Saturday. This was the first time Donohue has donated blood since his injuries, according to Boston.com. Also on hand were Watertown Police Chief Edward Devaeau, Red Cross of Massachusetts CEO Jeff Meyer.