Entertainment

Town Council Approves Creation of Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee

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The Town Council approved the creation of the Public Arts and Culture Committee, which will make recommendations for public art similar to the mural painted at Uncommon Grounds, as well as cultural events. A Public Arts and Culture Committee will be appointed by the Town Council to make recommendations on public art and cultural programs in Watertown. The Town Council approved the committee’s creation on Tuesday night. It will have nine members and will make recommendations that must be approved by the Town Manager and Town Council. The Public Arts and Cultural Committee’s recommendations will fall into two areas, according to the Town Council’s resolution:

Art in Public Places: Permanent, semi-permanent, temporary, and ephemeral artworks and activations that create a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive, and connected public realm.

Development

Zoning for Central Business District Changed to Allow Labs, Light Industry in Historic Buildings

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The Town Council approved a change to Watertown’s Zoning Ordinance that would allow life science labs as well as light industrial uses in the downtown area near Watertown Square, but only in structures built 84 years ago or before. The amendment was proposed by Berkeley Investments, the new owners of the building now occupied by Sasaki at 64 Pleasant St., which plans to create life science lab space and preserve the historic mill building, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. The Zoning amendment changes allowable uses for structures built before the Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1937, and would allow light industry, non-nuisance manufacturing, laboratory/research, and renewable research. It only applies to the Central Business (CB) zone, which is around Watertown Square. The uses would be allowed by right in the qualifying buildings under 4,000 sq.

Around Town

Watertown Youth Hockey Wins Two Conference Championships

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The Watertown Youth Hockey Peewees won the Valley Hockey League Championship over the weekend. Watertown Youth Hockey won two championships over the weekend, and another team played in the final. The teams played in the Valley Hockey League championship games in the Peewee, Squirt and Mite divisions. The Watertown Peewees and the Watertown Squirts A teams both won the division and conference championships, while the Watertown Mite As lost in the final. The Squirts came back after being down 3-0 in the first period to defeat Concord-Carlisle 6-3 in the division championship game on Saturday.

COVID-19

Watertown School Budget Includes Additional Teachers, Funds to Deal with Impact of Pandemic & Diversity Issues

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The Watertown School Budget for the 2021-22 school year includes an additional fourth grade teacher, additional custodians for the new elementary schools and someone to help with the district’s technology. Superintendent Dede Galdston presented the $53.75 million Fiscal Year 2022 budget to the School Committee Monday night, and the Committee will make a vote on Thursday to approve the budget. It will then be presented to the Town Council later in April as part of the FY22 Town Budget. The budget includes 3.5 percent increase in funds from the town, or $1.81 million. To provide a level-service budget, the same level of services in FY22 as the prior year, will cost $53.53 million, Galdston said, leaving $216,157 in funds for additional positions or programs. Much of the increase will be used on salary increases, additional pay for teachers who moved up a step, and increases to deal with enrollment increases.

Around Town

Watertown COVID Cases Creep Up for Third Week, Nearly 40% of Residents Got First Vaccination Shot

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Watertown’s COVID-19 cases continued to increase for the third straight week. according to the Mass. Department of Public Health report, and nearly 1-in-5 Watertown residents have at least started the vaccination process. The Town had 93 cases over the previous 14 days, according to the state’s report from April 8, a dozen more than the previous week. The positive test rate also rose for the third straight week, from 1.48 percent on April 1 to 1.72 percent on April 8.

Arrests

Police Log: Driver Knocks Over Utility Pole, Man Found in Vacant Apartment

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

March 29, 1:19 p.m.: Police were called to the office building at 6 Galen because a woman was refusing to leave the front vestibule. Police spoke to the woman and found out that she had two active warrants for her arrest, both from Suffolk County. The 52-year-old Quincy man was arrested on the warrants. March 30, 11:15 p.m.: A vehicle struck a utility pole at the corner of Main and Myrtle streets and knocked the pole over.

Arsenal Yards

Roche Bros. Packs Many Offerings in a Smaller Grocery Space at Arsenal Yards

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Roche Bros. opened in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards on April 9. Watertown’s newest grocery option has opened at Arsenal Yards, and packs a wide variety of produce, prepared food and made-to-order items into a smaller space than a typical supermarket. Roche Bros. officially opened April 9, and features a deli, bakery, a cheese shop, butcher, floral section, cafe and more, said Arther Ackles, Vice President of Merchandising for Roche Bros.