Around Town

Watertown Rec’s Pequosette Summer Registration Opening Soon

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Courtesy of Watertown Recreaion

The following information was provided by the Watertown Recreation Department:

The Watertown Recreation Department is pleased to announce that registration for our 54th year of our Pequossette Summer Program will begin on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 p.m.

PEQUOSSETTE SUMMER PROGRAM

The Pequossette Summer Program to children who are entering grades 1-8 in September 2023. The program consists of eight individual weeks from June 26 through August 18, 2023, at the Cunniff School, 246 Warren Street in Watertown. The program will operate Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., except for Week 2 which will run Wednesday, July 5th through Friday, July 7th. We offer an early drop off from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and an extended day program from 2:30 pm to 5:30 p.m.

The Cunniff School, with two playground areas and an indoor gym, has allowed the Recreation Department the opportunity to offer a wide range of activities to entertain the children. Basketball, hockey, wiffleball, four square, and street hockey are just some of the sport activities offered for the children.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Employee Caught Stealing Merchandise, Multiple Catalytic Converter Thefts

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

None

Incidents

March 21, 10:49 a.m.: A laptop computer went missing from a home on Otis Street. The homeowner last used it a month prior, and is not certain what happened to it. However, they had had a painting company come in to do some work recently. The Apple laptop is valued at $3,000, and the resident is also concerned that financial and personal information was kept on the computer.

Government

Meetings This Week: Short Term Rentals & Local Preference for Affordable Housing

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Watertown City Hall

Two City Council Committee meetings will take place this week, the first will discuss the rules for short-term rentals, and whether to give preference to Watertown residents to get affordable housing units in town. Short-Term Rentals

On Monday, April 3, the Committee on Rules & Ordinances will continue to discuss creation of a short term rental ordinance. Currently, short-term rentals (such as Airbnb or VRBO) are not allowed in Watertown, but dozens are listed on the Airbnb site. The Council has held multiple meetings over the past few years about short-term rentals, and in June 2021 they recommended that the Planning Board support a set of rules for short-term rentals. City officials argue that having rules would ensure that the rentals would meet certain standards and fines could be assessed for violations.

Around Town

City Manager Discusses Comprehensive Plan, Resident Participation & the High School Project on Watertown Cable Show

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Inside Watertown hosts Bob Airasian, far left, and Charlie Breitrose were joined by City Manager George Proakis and Director of Community Development and Planning Steve Magoon. (Screenshot from Watertown Cable). Watertown City Manager George Proakis talked about the ongoing Comprehensive Plan update, how residents can get involved when projects go before the City, and what’s going on with the Watertown High School project in the latest episode of Watertown Cable’s Inside Watertown. Along with Proakis, co-hosts Charlie Breitrose and Bob Airasian were joined by Steve Magoon, Watertown’s Assistant City Manager and the Director of Community Development and Planning. The City recently held a public forum on the Comprehensive Plan, which is being updated for the first time since it was adopted in 2015.

Around Town

Free Curbside Compost Bins Available for Watertown Residents

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Watertown DPWCurbside composting toters, like the one on the left, will be part of the Watertown trash and recycling program starting in August. The Watertown Department of Public Works announced that the City received compost bins which can be used with Watertown’s free curbside compost program. The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

“1000 new FREE residential compost bins have been delivered, paid for by a grant from MassDEP! Enrollment in Watertown’s FREE curbside compost program is open for an April 2023 start. Sign up today and your new bin and liners will be delivered the first week of April. www.blackearthcompost.com/watertown,” the announcement reads.