Around Town

Watertown Family’s Struggle to Afford to Stay in Town Spotlighted by Globe

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A screenshot of the Boston Globe website. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team has turned its focus on the affordability of housing in the Boston area, and this Sunday the paper focused on a family from Watertown. The Charles River Regional Chamber summarized the piece well:

“If you haven’t read it yet, make some time to read the Globe Spotlight Team’s profile about an East Watertown’s family’s struggles to stay in their home over four generations and what it says about how housing has become out of reach for so many working class families.” Read the Boston Globe story by clicking here.

Around Town

Outdoor Rink Opening Celebrates Hockey & Pays Tribute to Fallen Marine

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Young hockey players from Watertown participate in a clinic run by the Boston Bruins Foundation following the dedication of the outdoor rink at PFC Richard Moxley Field. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Part hockey clinic, part history lesson, part Boston Bruins tribute, and part airshow — last week’s opening celebration for the outdoor rink at PFC Richard Moxley Playground was a community celebration. Residents young and not so young crowded around Watertown’s newest recreational facility, the multi-sport rink, basketball, and tennis/pickle ball court at Moxley Field. One of the big draws for the Oct. 25 event was the Boston Bruins Foundation, as well as a Watertown hockey legend.

Government

Main Street Residential & Retail Project Approved by Zoning Board

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The project planned for 104 Main St. was approve by the Zoning Board of Appeals. This is a view from Main Street. (Courtesy of O’Connor Capital Partners)

Developers of the project at 104 Main St. knocked a story off the project and widened the public walkway from Main Street to Pleasant Street, and received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Police/Fire

Pair Who Robbed Watertown 7-Eleven Arrested and Arraigned

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Watertown Police announced Thursday that they identified and charged a man and a woman as suspects in the robbery of the 7-Eleven in East Watertown. Theresa Brown out of Somerville and David Walker out of Boston were arrested Wednesday night tonight in Somerville without incident and charged with armed robbery, according to Watertown Police. They were arraigned Thursday morning at Waltham District Court on a charged of armed robbery with a mask. The robbery took place on Oct. 16 at 3:15 a.m. when two suspects threatened a store employee saying they had firearms. They stole merchandise and money from the store, the Watertown Police announcement said.

Government

Residents to Get a Tax Break, ARPA Proposals to be Heard, Complaints Aired About Roads

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

Watertown homeowners should see a reduction in their property tax bills in the next Fiscal Year, City Manager George Proakis shared with the City Council Tuesday night. The Council also heard about the dates when they will hear the proposed uses of the City’s ARPA funds, and complaints about a pair of road projects. Property Taxes

The Fiscal Year 2024 tax rates will be presented by the Town Assessor on Nov. 14, but Proakis provided a preview on a key highlight of the presentation at the Oct. 24 City Council meeting: a reduction of about 10 percent for the average Watertown residential property tax payer.

Around Town

Mosesian Center for Arts Seeks to Fill Void Left by New Rep’s Closing

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. (Courtesy Photo)

For nearly two decades, the Mosesian Center for the Arts and the New Repertory Theatre went together hand in hand, but that relationship comes to an end this year after New Rep’s announcement that it will be closing. Since the Mosesian Center opened its doors in 2005 — known then as the Arsenal Center for the Arts — New Rep has been the primary user of the stages at the arts facility located in the Arsenal on the Charles. “They were the resident theater company . They have been since the Arts Center opened in September 2005 — an 18-year history,” said Mosesian Arts’ Executive Director Darren Farrington.