Around Town

LETTER: Walker Pond is an Opportunity to Embrace Nature

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Photo by Leo MartinWalker’s Pond, on the Westside of Watertown. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Thoughts on Walker Pond

“So ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack in everythingThat’s how the light gets in.”

— Leonard Cohen

I was reminded of this Leonard Cohen song while watching the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) meeting on January 18th. One of the projects being discussed was Walker Pond, a property that Watertown purchased for over $11 million as a sort of “Jewel in the Crown” for Watertown, a rare place where families could sit, experience nature, picnic, fly kites, play informal soccer games, and get to know more about each other and the nature that surrounds them. Lots of my life experiences came to mind…

“Look, Linda, a rabbit. It must have escaped from the Nature Lodge,” said a little girl while we, me a camp counselor and she a child from a very rich NYC family, stood on the porch of our cottage on a dewey early morning at a camp in Connecticut.

Around Town

Small Saves Meets the New Goalie in Town in This Week’s Comic

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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

Library Chooses Best Selling Author’s Title for One Book, One Watertown

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Library:

This year, the Watertown Free Public Library’s One Book, One Watertown selection invites us to consider what happens when we reject hostility and dread to embrace compassion and curiosity. Our Missing Hearts by bestselling author Celeste Ng is a poignant tale of family survival, and a powerful refusal to abandon hope. All community members are invited to check out the book from the Library, and join in themed programs during the month of March. This year’s community read will culminate in “An Evening with Celeste Ng” on Thursday, March 21 at the Watertown Free Public Library, free to all. Registration begins on March 1st. Our Missing Hearts can be reserved in the Library catalog at watertownlib.org.

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Watertown Yoga Studio Offering Free Classes at Open House

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Artemis Yoga in East Watertown will host free classes on Jan. 27, 2024. (Courtesy of Artemis Yoga)

The following announcement was provided by Artemis Yoga:

Artemis Yoga is inviting the local community to an Open House on Saturday afternoon, January 27th from 1 to 3:15 p.m. at their east end location in Watertown. With an afternoon of FREE classes, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover Artemis Yoga, a local independent yoga center that just celebrated its 8-year anniversary, having opened its doors at 639 Mt. Auburn St.

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Unity Breakfast Honors Refugee Support Group, Local Activists During 2024 MLK Day Event

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A group that provides support to refugees, a resident who created a group for LGBTQ+ people, and longtime social activists were honored during the 2024 Watertown Unity Breakfast. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Watertown held the annual celebration of the civil rights leader’s work for the 24th time. It is organized by the World in Watertown. As with the past three years, the 2024 version was held virtually with a broadcast on Jan. 15.

Around Town

Group Seeks Rowers to Enter Boat from Watertown in Boston Dragon Boat Festival

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Rowers in Boston’s Dragon Boat Festival. (Courtesy of Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival)

Watertown seeks people interesting in rowing in the Boston’s Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to late May or June in the Gregorian calendar. The Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will take place on June 9, 2024, and includes Dragon boat races, performances and family events. The race begins at the John W. Weeks Foot Bridge near Harvard, and there will likely be three practices before the race, according to Watertown team organizer Xin Peng.

Around Town

Share Your Opinions on Health & Human Services in Watertown at Forum

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is hosting a Community Forum on Health & Human Services at the Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main St.) at 6 p.m. on January 29, 2024, and we encourage all residents to join! Please attend and share your opinions about the City of Watertown’s health and human service needs and strengths in this facilitated discussion to help Watertown become a healthier community for all! You can also participate on Zoom or watch the event broadcasted live! Please find those links and more information about the event here: Health & Human Services Study Webpage.