Police/Fire

Learn About Being a Watertown Police Officer at Information Session

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Find out what it is like to be a Watertown Police officer at an informal meeting hosted by Police Chief Justin Hanrahan. The Watertown Police will host an informal Q&A session for possible new officers. Hear from Chief Hanrahan, Capt. Dan Unsworth, and other members of the WPD. “If you are interested, come down to the PD and speak to our officers. Ask questions about the hiring process or anything else related to becoming a member of our police department.

Around Town

Recycle Electronics at Mount Auburn Cemetery Event

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Mount Auburn Cemetery will host an electronics recycling event on Saturday, Jan. 6. See the announcement below. SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, January 6, 10 am – 1 pm

Bring your old electronics over to Mount Auburn’s Preservation Services Building to recycle!  Enter at 24 Cottage St.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Running Women’s Self-Defense Course

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The Watertown Police Department is running a self-defense class for women in January on the Perkins School for the Blind. It is open to residents and Perkins employees. “Several spots still available! WPD is teaching a R.A.D. class. If you are interested and can commit to ALL four classes, then please contact Det.

Around Town

Hunger in Watertown: Task Force Tackles Social Needs, Tries to Fills Gaps Left by State, Local Programs

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Jan Singer, left, the former Executive Director of the Watertown Community Foundation, discussed how the Foundation responded to food insecurity during the Pandemic with journalists Maya Shwayder and Charlie Breitrose. (Photo by Dan Hogan / WCA-TV)

As the numbers of people facing a scarcity of food, worried about losing their home, or paying for utilities rose at the start of the Pandemic, a group of people in Watertown was gathered to bring together their knowledge of how to serve those in need. The task force continues to meet regularly, and tries to figure out ways to fill the gaps and patch the cracks in the local, state, and federal social services programs.

This story is the third in a series by Watertown News, in conjunction with Watertown Cable Access Television, called “Watertown’s Hidden Problem: Food Insecurity Among Us.” (See part one here). The Task Force

Jan Singer, who was executive director of the Watertown Community Foundation when COVID-19 hit, said the Community Resilience Task Force came about when the Foundation got a grant from the Massachusetts COVID-19 Relief Fund aimed at providing assistance in key areas such as housing, childcare, and food security. Singer and members of the Foundation board quickly realized that they needed to gather the experts to help them direct the funds where they were needed most.

Around Town

LETTER: Finding a Temporary, Permanent Home for Watertown Main Street Post Office Should be a Priority

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Greetings:

I extend Happy New Year wishes for good health, peace and prosperity for one and all. Almost ten years ago; 02/03/2014, to be exact; Charlie Breitrose launched Watertown News. Watertown’s: “independent, locally owned news website” became a reality. Thank you, Charlie, for your many years of unbiased news coverage and open venue for citizen thought provoking interactions. Congratulations – Happy Tenth Anniversary!!!

Schools

High School Demolition Going Slower Than Anticipated, Work Continues This Week

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The remaining part of the old Watertown High School Building. (Courtesy of Vertex)

The following information was provided by project management firm Vertex:

The Watertown High School project team continues to be hard at work progressing the demolition of the existing high school and installing new foundations in preparation for our first steel deliveries in January. 

As you can see from the picture above taken from across Common Street at the corner of Spring Street, there continues to be structure remaining at that corner. Between recent challenging weather conditions, and a decision to use more “handwork” for demolition of areas closest to the cemetery and the street, we are progressing a little slower than we had hoped.  With that said, we have agreed that the Contractor can continue with onsite demolition Saturday 12/30/23 within normal working hours allowed by the City, which is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 

There will not be any loading out of materials so the Community will still have the holiday reprieve from trucking. All normal trucking and construction activities will resume on Tuesday 1/2/24 at 7 a.m.

We appreciate your continued patience and support as we work together to bring the new Watertown High School to fruition.  There will be a lot of exciting updates to share with you in 2024!

Entertainment

Gore Place Hosting Virtual Visit with Edgar Allan Poe

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Literary historian Rob Velella will portray Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe rises for this special virtual event just in time for his birthday! The author was born in Boston in 1809, the same year that Christopher Gore was serving as governor of Massachusetts. Poe himself (portrayed by literary historian Rob Velella) returns from beyond the grave to read several of his works, both well-known and forgotten. Hear favorites such as “The Tell-Tale Heart” exclusively on this presentation!