Business

Gov. Baker Approves Phase 2 of Reopening Which Includes Restaurants, Retail & Childcare

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Gov. Charlie Baker, with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Beginning Monday, June 8, Massachusetts restaurants can begin to offer outdoor dining and retail store will be able to open for shoppers. They are part of Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 re-opening plan, along with childcare, and additional recreation facilities and medical services. Gov. Charlie Baker made the announcement of the beginning of Phase 2 on Saturday afternoon. There will be two steps of Phase 2, with the first one including outdoor dining at restaurants, retailers stores opening, childcare, day camps, lodging and youth sports.

Around Town

See What was in the Gift Bags Given to Watertown High School Seniors

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The gift bags put together by the PTSO for the Watertown High School seniors. The Watertown High School Class of 2020’s big celebrations have been muted by the COVID-19 outbreak, but the PTSO tried to lift their spirits by giving each senior a bag full of gifts. The grads received the gift bags this week when they picked up their caps and gowns. Graduation was originally scheduled for Friday, June 5, but the pandemic prevented that from taking place. Instead, the school will hold a drive-up graduation ceremony on June 20.

Schools

Architects Show Design Ideas for New Watertown High School

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A rendering of what a new high school could look like if it’s built on the current site and the Phillips School site. In this option, a bridge would link the buildings on the third floor. The current site, on the right, would be the location of the auditorium, gym, school administrative offices and Senior Center. The School Building Committee saw what a new Watertown High School could look like, including 3-D renderings of buildings that could be built on the two proposed locations for the school. On Wednesday night, Scott Dunlap from Ai3 Architects presented the latest renderings for the high school project during an online meeting.

Real Estate

Several Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

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A variety of types of properties are having open houses in town this week. $750,000 – 10 Wheeler Lane, Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,934 Living Area Sq. Ft., 8 Room, 4 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open House: Saturday 12-1

$630,000 – 5 Circuit Lane Unit 5-F, Condo – Townhouse, 1,680 Living Area Sq. Ft. 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open House: Saturday, 12-2:30

$430,000 – 229 Coolidge Ave.

School Budget

School Officials Cut Back Budget Request, But Maintain Staff

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With the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the economy, Watertown School officials reduced their request to the Town for Fiscal Year 2021 by more than $1 million. In March, when administrators of Watertown Public Schools first proposed a budget they built it on receiving a 5 percent increase, as was planned by the Town Manager in the fall. The Town budget is uncertain after the pandemic hit, but it is expected to be negatively impacted by both lower state aid and local option taxes on restaurants and hotels. On Monday, Superintendent Dede Galdston presented the School Committee some reductions from the $52.96 million budget presented in March — a 5 percent increase. The new proposed budget is $51.93 million, up 2.9 percent from the last budget.

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Opening Soon, Will Follow Social Distancing Guidelines

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The Watertown Farmers Market will return on June 17, and be back every Wednesday. Due to COVID-19, visitors will notice some changes. The market will institute measures to allow for social distancing, and there will be a one-way flow for shoppers. The focus, at least at the beginning of the season, will be on the vendors. “While we have eliminated music, special events, and community groups for the time being, you can still expect to find locally grown and produced foods in our pleasurable, outdoor market space,” the announcement said.

Around Town

Vigil for Black Lives Draws Hundreds to Watertown Square

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Some of the hundreds of people who participated in the Vigil for Black Lives in Watertown on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of people lined streets of Watertown Square Tuesday evening for a vigil for George Floyd and other African-Americans killed by police around the nation. The event was one of many public gatherings across the nation held after Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25. The local effort was organized by Watertown Citizens for Black Lives, which is part of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment. Watertown Citizens has held vigils in the past, including for Black Lives, but none drew crowds as large as Tuesday’s event.

Arsenal Park

Meetings Wednesday on High School Project, Renovation of Arsenal Park

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An illustration presented in February of how Watertown High School could be built on both sides of Common Street. Two meetings will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, June 3. The Watertown School Building Committee (starting at 6 p.m) will hear a presentation about the latest design possibilities for the new Watertown High School, while the Conservation Commission (beginning at 7 p.m.) will hear about the second phase of the Arsenal Park renovation. High School Meeting

The School Building Committee will hear from architects from Ai3 about the progress of designs for the project, which could either go on the current site or on part of the Victory Field complex. They will also discuss upcoming forums about the project.