Around Town

Hatch Makerspace Running Classes Online Using Zoom

By |

The Watertown Library’s Hatch Makerspace is currently closed, but the Hatch staff will host online classes to demonstrate a variety of skills. Here are some of the upcoming classes. Home DIY: Hanging Pictures *via Zoom*Wednesday, April 22, 2020

This week we’ll be hanging framed artwork. We’ll cover hardware, wiring, what to do on different types of walls, and tools of the trade. There’s no better time to redecorate (or finally hang those pictures)!

Coronavirus

Town Delays Due Date for Property Tax, Water Bills; Ages of Watertown COVID-19 Cases; Hosting Business Webinar

By |

Watertown residents will received a brief reprieve form paying their property taxes and water/sewer bills, and the Town Manager announced the breakdown of ages of the Town’s COVID-19 cases. Friday afternoon, Town Manger Michael Driscoll released his latest COVID-19 update, in which he announced the delaying of payment deadline for local bills. Property taxes will be due a month later, on June 1, 2020. This will be the due date even if the bill received indicates that the due date is May 1, 2020. The town will no charge late fees or interest on water and sewer bills that were marked due on March 10 or later.

Around Town

2 Firefighters Test Positive for COVID-19; 2 More Virus Related Deaths in Watertown

By |

Several Watertown Firefighters quarantined themselves after two members of the Fire Department tested positive for the Coronavirus. One of those who tested positive has already recovered, and the second is still recovering, said Watertown Fire Chief Bob Quinn. “When the first Firefighter tested positive we had to quarantine four other Firefighters for 14 days,” Quinn said. “None of them developed any symptoms and are all back to work. We had another firefighter test positive and had to send three others for testing due to the possible exposure, but luckily they all came back negative.” Where the firefighters became infected is not known, Quinn said, but it is possible it was while they were on duty.

Around Town

Information About Individual Stimulus Payments from the CARES Act

By |

Watertown residents may already have received an Economic Impact Payment from the Federal government in their bank accounts as part of the stimulus payments as part of the CARES Act. For others, a check will be coming in the mail. People who make less than $75,000 in gross income will receive the full $1,200, and anyone making under $99,000 will receive some payment. For details, and to check on your payment status, visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments

Also, Watertown Savings Bank has provided an information guide about the CARES Act individual payments, See it below:

Economic Impact Payment—What you need to know

The federal government recently passed the CARES Act to support millions of people during these unprecedented times caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). This sweeping legislation offers financial assistance directly to individuals and families.

Government

With State Funds Still Unknown, Town Council Delays Budget; Officials Expect Loss of Other Revenues

By |

Watertown’s Town Hall. In a normal year, Watertown officials would be starting the Town Budget process now, but after “all hell broke loose” with the Coronavirus, the Town Council voted to delay the process until they can get an idea of how much money will be coming from the state and other sources, such as local meals and hotel taxes. On March 10, when the Town Council last met, they voted to give Town officials two extra weeks to submit the budget, moving the date back to April 28. Town Council President Mark Sideris said the world changed quickly after that. “As soon as we made that vote, for lack of a better word, all hell broke loose,” Sideris said before asking the Town Council to further delay in the submission of the budget.

Around Town

UPDATED: Third Watertown COVID-19 Fatality Reported as Mass. Death Toll Jumps

By |

Two more Watertown residents have died from causes related to the Coronavirus since the Town’s first fatality was reported on Friday, April 10. On Tuesday, Massachusetts had its highest number of deaths in one day, 113. A 66-year-old man and a 94-year-old woman are the two most recent fatalities in Watertown, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced during Tuesday night’s Town Council Meeting. The Town updated the number of cases were on the Watertown Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. As of Tuesday, Watertown has 109 positive cases of the Coronavirus, and 34 people have recovered.

Schools

See How the School Committee Voted on Whether to Keep Spring Break

By |

Watertown students will continue with their online learning next week after the School Committee voted Monday night to skip April Vacation. The decision will mean students will continue their remote lessons with teachers for four days next week, April 21-24. They will be off Monday for Patriot’s Day. The decision does not add more days to the school year, and now the Watertown Public Schools will end on June 16, rather than June 22, according to Superintendent Dede Galdston. The idea of cancelling spring break did not come up until Gov. Charlie Baker declared all schools in the state closed through May 4 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Galdston told the School Committee.

Business

Town Survey Surveying Small Businesses About How COVID-19 Has Impacted Them

By |

The Town of Watertown has created a survey to hear from small businesses in town and how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The online survey asks more than two dozen questions, including when businesses seek to reopen, how the community can help them and how much revenue they have lost due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The survey was posted by Watertown Department of Community Development and Planning. The survey will be open for a couple of weeks. CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY