Police/Fire

Blaze at Oakley Country Club Extinguished by Firefighters from Watertown and Belmont

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Firefighters from Watertown and Belmont put out a fire at Oakley Country Club on Friday morning. (Courtesy of Watertown Fire Department)

Watertown and Belmont Firefighters doused a fire at the Oakley Country Club which could have been worse if the building did not have fire sprinklers. Just after 5 a.m. on Friday, the Watertown Fire Department was alerted of activation of the smoke detectors and sprinklers at Oakley, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson. Because of the location of the country club on Belmont Street a fire engine from Belmont was dispatched, Nicholson said, and the crew found heavy smoke inside the building. Deputy Fire Chief Arthur Geswell ordered a “Working Fire,” and fire companies found the fire was contained to one room, Nicholson said.

Business

One Restaurant Reopening, Another Shutting Its Doors

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A Watertown eatery has reopened after months of repairs, while another nearby restaurant run by Watertown residents will be closing. Armenian Restaurant Reopening After Van Struck It

Jana Grill in Watertown has reopened after repairing damage to the restaurant at 2 Watertown St. after a vehicle struck the building in July. The Armenian restaurant announced it has reopened on Dec. 2 on social media.

Around Town

Residential Snow Shoveling Requirement: City Focusing on Education, Not Fines, This Winter

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Snow season has arrived, and this winter Watertown residents will be required to shovel snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes within 24 hours after the end of the storm. In future years failing to do so could result in a warning and fine, but this year the City will focus on educating rather than ticketing. The City Council approved changes to the Watertown Snow Ordinance in January. City staff planned to use the remainder of the 2023-24 winter to educate residents about how the new residential snow shoveling rules work, but since then the area has not had a significant snowfall. With this in mind, in the winter of 2024-25 the City will once again focus on education, said Tyler Cote, Watertown’s Community Engagement Specialist.

Government

Two Years Worth of Road Construction Coming in 2025, Ratings of City’s Roads Have Dropped

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The City plans to do two years worth of road reconstruction work in the 2025 construction season, and nearly 30,000 feet of utilities line will be replaced around town. The City Council approved the 2025 Local Road Construction Program on Nov. 26, which includes five streets funded in Fiscal Year 2025, and five roads approved but not constructed in FY24. The Department of Public Works selects the roads to be reconstructed based on multiple factors, including the condition of the pavement, and utilities that have been replaced by the City or utilities, City Engineer Tyler Glode told the City Council’s Committee on Public Works. Based on these factors, the DPW chose to reconstruct Poplar Street, Partridge Street, Pequosette Street, north and south Irving Park and Royal Street, and Green Street during the 2025 construction season, from April to November.

Around Town

Giving Tuesday: See Some Local Organizations You Can Support

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Watertown has many worthy organizations to support on Giving Tuesday, whether it is supporting children, the arts, troops overseas, history, and more. Watertown Community Foundation

Giving Tuesday is almost here! How will you give for the greatest impact? Your support of the Watertown Community Foundation can been a force for positive change in people’s lives in Watertown. Your donations have helped:

Feed people

House people

Support and educate kids

Invest in the arts and protect the environment

Build community by bringing people together

You can see your impact here.

Police/Fire

Watertown Firefighters, Others Honored for Life Saving Actions; Promoted Firefighters Sworn In

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Family, friends and fellow firefighters attended the Watertown Fire Department’s Swearing-in and Award Ceremony at the Commander’s Mansion. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The Watertown Fire Department honored the bravery and life saving actions of several firefighters, police officers, and dispatchers during a ceremony at the Commander’s Mansion on Nov. 25. Also during the event, the Fire Department swore in three recently promoted firefighters and four firefighters who had been appointed to the WFD. Service Awards

Car Strikes Building, Causing a Gas Leak

(Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

On Sept.