Government

City Manager: Next Watertown Square Meeting a Key One, Discusses How MBTA Communities Zoning Works

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The Watertown Square Area Plan meeting on April 4 will not be the last meeting in the process, City Manager George Proakis told the City Council Tuesday, but it will be an important point in the redesign of the intersection and the City’s effort to meet the MBTA Law requirements. Proakis also explained what the zoning changes would and would not do. The next meeting in the Watertown Square Area Plan process will be held at 66 Galen Street on Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. Proakis said this will be the sixth meeting held by the City in the process and it will be a key one. “This particular meeting is important for us. We will be presenting one idea for where to move forward on streetscape, one on where to move forward on zoning,” Proakis said.

Around Town

Award-Winning Documentary Screening to be Hosted by Pigsgusset Initiative

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The following announcement was provided by the Pigsgusset Initiative:

Community members are invited to attend the Watertown debut of Stonebreakers, an award winning documentary, that will be showing at the Watertown Free Public Library on April 11, 2024 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  

Stonebreakers chronicles the conflicts around monuments that arose in the United States during the George Floyd protests and the 2020 presidential election. As statues of Columbus, Confederates and Founding Fathers fall from their pedestals, the nation’s triumphalist myths are called into question. By exploring the shifting landscapes of American monumentality, the film interrogates the link between history and political action in a nation that must confront its past now more urgently than ever. 

Discussion will follow the film facilitated by Dr. Mishy Lesser, Watertown resident, co-founder of the Watertown-based Pigsgusset Initiative and Co-President and Learning Director for Upstander Project. The free showing of this film represents a collaboration between the Watertown Free Public Library and the Pigsgusset Initiative, a working group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment.  Light refreshments will be served. For further information contact: Jennifer Wolfrum at jenniferwolfrum13@gmail.com

Government

City Offices, DPW, Senior Center Closing Early on Good Friday

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The City of Watertown announced that some municipal facilities will close early on Good Friday. The City release said:

Please be aware that the Department of Public Works office is open at 7:00 AM and closes at noon, and City Hall and Senior Center are open at 8:30 AM and are closed at 1 PM, in observance of Good Friday on Friday, March 29, 2024.

Around Town

Novelist Celeste Ng discusses Writing & Democracy at Event Hosted by Watertown Library

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Author Celeste Ng spoke about her book, “Our Missing Hearts,” at the Watertown Free Public Library. The novel is the library’s 2024 selection for its One Book, One Watertown program. (Courtesy of the Watertown Library)

Bestselling author Celeste Ng, whose most recent novel explored dystopian fears increasingly echoed by real-life headlines, told library patrons in Watertown on March 21 that she holds hope for the future and a belief in the possibilities of art. Ng, who lives in Cambridge, came to Watertown Free Public Library to discuss her novel “Our Missing Hearts,” the library’s 2024 selection for its One Book, One Watertown program. Each year, the library suggests a book for city residents to read, and hosts programs to foster a community-wide discussion around the book’s themes.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Teams with Non-Profit to Revitalize the Willow Park Property

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The Watertown Housing Authority will team with Preservation of Affordable Housing to renovate the Willow Park property. (Courtesy of the WHA)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown. Housing Authority:

The Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) announced that it will be partnering with the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) to redevelop the Willow Park State Public Housing property located in East Watertown. The POAH team was selected earlier this month by the WHA’s Board of Commissioners and Selection Committee after reviewing the proposals. “I want to thank everyone on the pre-development team for their hard work.

Around Town

Charles River Chamber Seeks Environment Committee Members

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Charles River Chamber’s Environment Committee is looking to expand its membership in 2024. If you work for a chamber member business and are passionate about sustainably and helping businesses become greener, contact Chamber President Greg Reibman greibman@charlesriverchamber.com. This a forum to share ideas and best practices, not a place to promote your company’s specific products or services. The committee meets via Zoom in the third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m.

Around Town

Watertown Library Will Host Eclipse Viewing Party & Free “Space Week” Events

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The Watertown Library announced a series of events leading up to the April 8th solar eclipse. The following information was provided by the Library:

April 1–8 is Space Week at the Watertown Free Public Library! Are you ready for the solar eclipse? Yes or no, you are invited to discover fun and educational library events, for all ages, in the first week of April. After learning all about space, join WFPL staff as we safely watch the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th in Saltonstall Park! 

Need eclipse glasses?

Sports

Players & Buddies Wanted for Watertown Challenger Baseball

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The players and buddies in the Watertown Challenger Baseball program, which is for players with physical and mental challenges. (Photo courtesy of Watertown Challenger Baseball). The following announcement was provided by Watertown Challenger Baseball:

Registration is officially open for the 2024 Challenger baseball season. 

The first day will be Sunday April 28 10 a.m. at BB&N field (next to Filippello Park). 

Watertown Challenger Baseball program allows children with special needs to participate in little league baseball in a safe environment.  We are eagerly looking for players & “buddies” to help athletes.  

What is Challenger Baseball? The Challenger Baseball League is a program for developmentally and physically challenged youth (age 8-21), helping them to enjoy the full benefits of baseball in an athletic environment structured to their abilities.