Government

New Water Rate Tiers Will Reduce Increases for Most Residents

By |

The bad news is that water and sewer rates will be rising for Watertown residents, the good news is that the rate hike will not be as big as it could have been due to a new rate system approved by the City Council Tuesday night. The new water and sewer rate structure has four tiers, instead of three used by the City in past years. The new system keeps most residents in the lowest tier, while creating a tier in between the second tier and the highest one. The new tiers moves the cost of the water and sewer enterprise funds from smaller consumers of water, about 75 percent of residents — to bigger users, including large businesses, which results in lower increases for most residents, said Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli said. “By creating a fourth tier we will be able to get about 70 percent of people to be in the low area, where their rates only going to go up 2.6 percent.

Around Town

Watertown Curbside Composting Program Starts Soon, See How to Participate

By |

Watertown DPWCurbside composting toters, like the one on the left, will be part of the Watertown trash and recycling program starting in August. Watertown residents will soon be able to compost their food waste with free curbside pickup. Registration is now open for those interested. The Department of Public Works has partnered with Black Earth, which will do weekly curbside pickup of organic waste, said City Recycling Coordinator Anya Pforzheimer. They collect organic waste put out on the curb in 13-gallon green bins.

Business

“Bar Rescue” Star’s Restaurant Hiring at Watertown Location

By |

Taffer’s Tavern is opening at Watertown’s Arsenal Yards in 2022. Bar Rescue’s Jon Taffer will be opening a restaurant in Watertown, and the restaurant is now hiring. Taffer’s Tavern aims to open in the fall of 2022, according to RestaurantNews.com. Taffer, the star of the Paramount Network show, stopped by the space in Arsenal Yards in May. The description on the Arsenal Yards website says: “Taffer’s is the quintessential pub, a place to meet old friends while making new ones.

Entertainment

Young Rockers Will Perform at Watertown Summer Concert

By |

This week’s Saltonstall Park Concert features musicians from the School of Rock in Watertown. The free concert takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Saltonstall Park, next to City Hall (149 Main St.) Attendees are encourages to bring their lawn chairs and blankets, a bite to eat and enjoy the show. The City of Watertown provided the following information about the School of Rock House Band:

School of Rock Watertown House Band features the most advanced students in an audition based program that works on more challenging repertoire across genres from rock & roll to Motown to pop music. House Band gigs professionally throughout the Boston area. The concert takes place right after the Watertown Farmers Market, which also takes place at Saltonstall Park from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Some vendors have prepared food.

Arrests

Police Log: Man Wields Knife at Co-Workers, 2 Scooters Stolen

By |

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

June 28, 9:05 a.m.: Police checked the property in the Watertown Square Plaza on Mt. Auburn St., where Dunkin’ Donuts is located, after the property owner said homeless people had been seen camping and loitering there. Officers spotted man in a back alley on the property. They discovered he had six warrants for his arrest out of Waltham District Court for trespassing.