Around Town

See When Watertown’s Tree Lighting Ceremony Will Take Place

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The Watertown Tree Lighting Ceremony returns to Watertown Square in December. The Rotary Club of Watertown are pleased to announce that the ninth annual Tree Lighting event will be held on Friday, Dec. 6 in Watertown Square. A reception will follow at the Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) main office in Watertown Square. Santa Claus will arrive to the Square by fire truck at 5:15 p.m.; the tree lights come on at 5:30 p.m.; and the reception to follow immediately after at WSB, where attendees will enjoy refreshments, holiday music, and visit with Santa Claus.

Around Town

Giving Tree Full of Children’s Gift Wishes Up at the Watertown Mall

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The Watertown mall Giving Tree is up and filled with wishes from children who are members at the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. Brighten the holidays for these children by taking an ornament from the tree and purchasing their wish. The Watertown Mall’s giving tree is adorned with ornaments for this Holiday season and will benefit the Watertown Boys & Girls Club. The Giving Tree is located in the common area of the mall, near Miss Maria’s School of Dance. All are invited to simply take an ornament off the tree, buy the gift listed on the tag, and return it to mall staff unwrapped (Management Team, Maintenance Staff, Security Officers).

Around Town

See What is Opened and Closed on Christmas Day, Including Stores, Restaurants

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Most government offices, retail stores and restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day. A few will remain open, at least part of the day. Government

State and Federal offices: Closed

Town Hall: Closed

Library: Closed

Senior Center: Closed

Post Office: Closed

Mass. RMV: Closed

Retailers

Most will be closed, but can be open at owner’s discretion. Liquor Stores: Closed

CVS will be open on Christmas: Watertown Square location will be open 24 hours, the Watertown Street and Mt.

Charity

Watertown Police, Firefighters Come Together to Distribute Toys to Families in Need

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A table full of toys at the Watertown Police Station, just a fraction of the gifts that were distributed by Watertown Police officers and Firefighters to families in need in town on Thursday. The toy drive was organized by the Sonny Whooley Foundation. Thursday morning, the Community Room at the Watertown Police Station turned into Santa’s Workshop, with toys for children of all ages piled up around the room. These gifts were delivered to families around Watertown, and beyond, who otherwise may not have a very Merry Christmas. All morning, Watertown Police officers, Watertown Firefighters, and others filled large plastic bags with gifts, and delivered them to more than 90 families around town.

Around Town

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services In and Around Watertown

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Churches in Watertown and beyond will hold services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Christ. See the times below. Armenian Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Ave., Watertown: 4th Advent and Christmas Service, Dec. 23, 10:30 a.m., Christmas Eve Service, Dec. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Belmont-Watertown United Methodist Church, 421 Common St., Belmont: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, Dec.

Transportation

MassDOT’s Holiday Travel Tips, MBTA Schedules & More

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The following piece was provided by MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising the public to plan ahead for travel during the upcoming holiday season from Dec. 20, 2018 through Jan. 2, 2019, to drive sober and to take note of holiday schedules for the MBTA, use of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy, and for visiting Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) customer service center locations. AAA is forecasting a record-breaking holiday travel season this year, with 2.45 million Massachusetts residents expected to be on the move. In a public statement, AAA said 2.1 million of these travelers are expected to travel by motor vehicle. The highest volume of traffic in the Boston area, according to AAA, is expected to be Wednesday, Dec.

Around Town

CatholicTV to Show Christmas Masses from Around the U.S.

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Watertown-based CatholicTV Network provided the following information:

On Monday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 25, the CatholicTV Network will broadcast Christmas Masses from around the United States and the Vatican. Christmas Masses will air beginning on Monday, Dec. 24 with Mass from the Vatican presided over by Pope Francis at 8 p.m. The Mass with Pope Francis will rebroadcast on Christmas Day at 7 a.m. Pope Francis’ annual Christmas message, “Urbi et Orbi,” will air on Christmas Day at 6 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.

Christmas Mass coverage continues at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve with Mass from the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Md.

Christmas

Watertown Mall Hosting Winter Wonderland Event

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Mall:

The Watertown Mall, located at 550 Arsenal Street, Watertown, with Watertown Families Together will be hosting a “Winter Wonderland” event on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

Usher in the new season with the Watertown Mall! Children and their parents/caregivers are invited to join us for a fun wintery morning by attending our “Winter Wonderland” event on Dec. 20. Sponsored by Watertown Families Together and led by Arlene Smith, this event consists of crafting projects, singing songs, reading and listing to stories, and will be featuring an appearance by Santa himself.