Government

This Week: City Budget, Planning Board Discusses Main Street Project & Rodent Control

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

On Tuesday night, City Manager George Proakis will present the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to the City Council. The next night, the Planning Board will continue its discussion of the proposed six-story mixed-use project at 104-126 Main Street. The City Council will also consider a citizens petition to amend the Zoning Ordinance to create buffers between developments and residential areas. They will meet on Tuesday, May 9 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber City Hall and remote. See the agenda and how to participate here. The Planning Board will continue discussing the project at 104-126 Main St.

Around Town

Watertown Seeking New Library Director After Current One Announced Her Resignation

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City of WatertownCaitlin Browne announced she will be resigning as Watertown Library Director. After just over a year working as permanent Director of the Watertown Free Public Library, Caitlin Browne announced her resignation at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 2. Browne was appointed the new Library Director in April 2022, succeeding longtime director Leone Cole. Prior to that, she worked as assistant director at the Library for many years, and served as interim director after Cole retired. At the May 2 Trustees meeting, Browne publicly announced her resignation, which she had already sent to the board.

Police/Fire

Police Log: False Report Draws Large Police Response, Shoplifter Spits at Officer

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

April 25, 11:03 a.m.: An officer was flagged down and got a report of a man urinating outside their vehicle into the roadway on Main Street near Waverley Avenue. The car was seen heading toward Waltham. The officer headed in that direction and another person flagged him down to tell him about a vehicle stopped at the light near John Brewer’s who was slumped behind the wheel and appeared to be asleep. The officer went to that area and saw the man.

Around Town

Civil War Nurses of Mount Auburn Cemetery: Dorothea Lynde Dix

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Dorothea Lynde Dix

By Bill McEvoy

In honor of National Nurses Week, local historian Bill McEvoy has compiled histories of some of the Civil War nurses who are buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery. This is part one of seven. Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, 1802, in Hampton Maine. She died on July 17th, 1887, at the State Asylum in Trenton NJ. 

Dorothea had founded that asylum. In 1848 she opened the first state hospital for the mentally ill there.

Around Town

Citizen Petition Calling for Buffers Between Developments and Residential Zones Submitted to Council

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A photo of the petition sent to the City Council on April 27. Another citizens’ petition has been submitted to the City Council seeking to change zoning rules. This one seeks to reduce the impact of developments on abutting residential districts. The petition calls for “discretionary” transitions for new developments next to residential zones, which could include considerations for height, setbacks, and screening, among other things. It was signed by 439 people and submitted to the City Clerk on April 27.

Around Town

Gore Place Hosting Annual Heirloom Plant Sale on Mother’s Day Weekend

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Gore Place provided the following information:

Farmer Scott’s Heirloom Tomato Plant SaleFriday through Sunday, May 12-14

Come to Gore Place on Mother’s Day Weekend, and fill your garden with herbs and vegetable transplants, all locally grown on the Farm! Choose from many varieties of hard-to-find heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, as well as peppers, eggplants, and customer-favorite marigolds! PLEASE NOTE: Plants are available exclusively on-site this year. There will be no online sales or pre-ordering. See the plants available for 2023 by clicking here.