Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Opening Soon, Will Follow Social Distancing Guidelines

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The Watertown Farmers Market will return on June 17, and be back every Wednesday. Due to COVID-19, visitors will notice some changes. The market will institute measures to allow for social distancing, and there will be a one-way flow for shoppers. The focus, at least at the beginning of the season, will be on the vendors. “While we have eliminated music, special events, and community groups for the time being, you can still expect to find locally grown and produced foods in our pleasurable, outdoor market space,” the announcement said.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Cancels Summer Programs

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The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts:

Dearest MCA Community,

We hope you and your families are safe and well. Our staff has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 updates from Governor Baker and the CDC, and the safety of our community has continued to be our utmost priority. After reviewing the most recent state plans for reopening, we have determined that it would be difficult to implement the early phases of distancing protocols for our Summer Youth Arts Education Programs as scheduled. To ensure the safety of our participants, families, teachers, and staff we have sadly made the decision to cancel all Summer Stages and Studios programming for 2020. Summer Stages and Studios is such an exciting highlight of our year, this was not an easy decision for us to make.

Around Town

Online Meeting to be Held on Cunniff School Construction

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The latest rendering of the new Cunniff Elementary School, with the solar array in the parking lot. Construction will soon begin at Cunniff Elementary School, and school officials will host a meeting to discuss the construction activities around the Westside school. Town Council President Mark Sideris said he had hoped to have the meeting in person, but could not do so due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting will be held on Zoom, and the public can participate by joining the meeting on Zoom or by phone. Also, they can tune in on Watertown Cable.

Around Town

See the Rules for Using Watertown’s Parks, Fields and Track After COVID-19 Reopening

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Watertown’s Casey Park on Watertown Street. Some of Watertown’s recreational facilities will open for public use Wednesday, June 3, as part of the State’s COVID-19 reopening plan. However, there will be some rules and restrictions. Some of the rules include mandatory wearing of face masks, keeping at least 6 feet part and the facilities are only open to Watertown residents. Failure to follow the rules may result in the closing of facilities to all users.

Schools

11 Watertown Students Graduating from Minuteman, Including Valedictorian

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Minuteman High School’s 121 member strong Class of 2020 includes nearly a dozen students from Watertown, one of whom is the class valedictorian. The vocational technical school will hold a drive-in graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5, at 2 p.m., at the school, 758 Marrett Road, Lexington. The ceremony will also be streamed live on YouTube. “While this is clearly an unusual way to hold a graduation, we hope that it will be a way for students and their families to share their excitement and create a happy memory of this milestone,” wrote Minuteman Superintendent-Director Edward Bouquillon. The graduates from Watertown are (with their program of study and future plans):

Emely AlmonteRouaa AlwazTJ DaleyFahad KhanAnthony LeoneElizabeth LinarteVasiliki MarandianosMichael McNamaraSabrina RaposoRenee ThompsonZachary Umbsen

Rouaa Alwaz (VALEDICTORIAN), BiotechnologyElizabeth Linarte, Biotechnology, University of Mass. Lowell – Pre-Dentistry Honors ProgramMichael McNamara, Carpentry Sabrina Raposo, Cosmetology, Entering the Workforce – CosmetologyVasiliki Marandianos, Culinary Arts / Baking, Entering the Workforce – Culinary ArtsRenee Thompson, Culinary Arts / BakingEmely Almonte, Early Education & CareAnthony Leone, Electrical WiringTimothy Daley, PlumbingFahad Khan, Programming & Web, Bunker Hill Community College – Software DevelopmentZachary Umbsen, Programming & Web

Visit the Minuteman High School Class of 2020 Instagram page to see more of the graduates.

Around Town

Library Curbside Pick Ups Continue, New Phone Number

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The Watertown Library provided the following announcement:

Beginning Monday, June 1 the new phone number to place curbside pick up orders at the Watertown Free Public Library is 857-203-8009. 

Placing Orders

Calls can be made Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A library employee will take orders for up to 5 items that are currently available in the library catalog. Anyone that does not have internet access may call for personal assistance with choosing materials. We are only accepting orders via phone at this time. Picking Up

Library materials are available for pickup on Mondays from 1-4, Wednesdays from 11-2 and Fridays from 9-12.

Courts

Recreation Department Releases Complete List of Closed Facilities

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The tot lot installed at the 552 Main Street Park. Some Watertown recreation department facilities, such as parks and fields, will reopen for passive use next week, but many other amenities will remain closed. In Phase 1 of Gov. Baker’s reopening plan, Watertown parks and playing fields will be reopening on June 3 only to Watertown residents, but no congregating, group activities or games will be allowed. Recreation Department Director Peter Centola said that the following Recreation Department amenities will remain closed and will be considered for reopening when the Commonwealth of Massachusetts enters Phase 2 of the Reopening Plan:

basketball courtstennis courtsdog parkspicnic tables and areas playgrounds/tot lotsmultipurpose courtsskateboard parkthe turf field at Victory Field

Around Town

Watertown Chiropractors: Have Dinner on Us!

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Doctors from the Specific Chiropractic Centers – Boston, from left, Rich Baez, Bill Trevens and Andrew Welsch. A Watertown chiropractic center decided to lend a hand and bring a little cheer into people’s lives during the struggles of the COVID-19 outbreak. The doctors at Specific Chiropractic Centers – Boston, located in Watertown Square, have been going around town to different restaurants and donating money so that people can get a free meal. One of the doctors, Rich Baez, said he and his partners, Bill Trevens and Andrew Welsch, felt it is  import to help people pull through the outbreak and shutdown together. 

“We’ve been trying to help our community out during this time,” Baez said. “We have been sponsoring local restaurants.