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!

Major Residential and Commercial Project in Watertown Square Breaks Ground

O’Connor Group CEO Bill O’Connor, left, and Head of Acquisition John O’Connor welcomed attendees to the ground breaking ceremony for Elysian Watertown Square, a mixed use project. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The start of construction of a major new project on Main Street, Elysian Watertown Square, was celebrated by the developers and City officials at a ceremony held recently. On Nov. 19, O’Connor Group held a ribbon cutting on the property that will become a mixed-use building with 142 rental units, five owner-occupied townhouses, and retail space on land that stretches from Main Street to Pleasant Street. John O’Connor, Head of Acquisitions for O’Connor Group, said the new project will help make Watertown Square a more lively place.

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.

Historic Paintings Return to Watertown’s City Hall After Undergoing Restoration

The crew from Maquette Fine Arts Services raise the historic painting of Watertown looked in 1630 after it had been restored. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two historic paintings returned to the lobby of City Hall looking better than they have for generations after undergoing a makeover to remove dirt and grime as well as repairing damages. The paintings show how Watertown looked in 1630, when the Town was founded, and 1930, two years before Town Hall opened. After nearly two years away, the paintings were reinstalled on Nov. 13 after a thorough cleaning and restoration project spearheaded by the Historic Society of Watertown, and paid for with Community Preservation Act funds.

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.

UPDATE – Watertown Weather: Changing Conditions Heading into Thanksgiving

Here’s the updated daily weather forecast for Watertown, MA, from Tuesday November 26 toThursday, November 28 by Meteorologist Matthew Moll of New England Weather Consulting:

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Watertown: High of 53°F, periods of rain with southwest winds at 10-15 mph. Expect rainthroughout the day with heavier showers possible in the afternoon. Evening temperatures willdrop to around 36°F, so be prepared for wet and chilly conditions if you’re out in the evening. Alight jacket and rain gear will be necessary. Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Watertown: High of 49°F, partly sunny with winds from the northwest at 10-15 mph, gusting upto 25 mph.