Arbor Day

Watertown Celebrated Arbor Day with Special Activities & Tree Care at Arsenal Park

By |

A member of a tree crew trims dead and damaged limbs from trees at Arsenal Park as part of the Town’s Arbor Day Celebration. Trees around Arsenal Park got a trimming, and visitors learned about trees, storm water and the environment on Thursday at Watertown’s celebration of Arbor Day. Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward organized the celebration with the help of the Massachusetts Arborists Association and some local organizations. Crews from the Department of Public Works, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Joe Butler & Sons, and Tree Tech (on behalf of Eversource) removed dead or damaged limbs from the trees around the parking area at Arsenal Park. “This is a week’s worth of work taking place in one day,” Hayward said.

Around Town

Friends Remember Richard Marcus, a Passionate Leader of Local Progressives

By |

Richard Marcus, a leader of the local Progressive political group, passed away at the age of 71. Friends and supporters of the progressive political movement in Watertown are mourning the loss of one of its most active and powerful voices. This week, Richard Marcus passed away at the age of 71. He supporting Democratic and Progressive candidates and issues in town, in Massachusetts and nationally. He also started the Progressive Watertown Group.

Real Estate

Huge Number of Open Houses Around Watertown

By |

Check out this week’s Watertown Open Houses. $799,000 – 29 Charles St. Unit 29, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 11:30-1

$749,000 – 27 Charles St. Unit 27, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 11:30-1

$849,000 – 13 Derby Road, 2 unit, 12 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 1-3

$799,000 – 44-46 Cottage St., 2 unit, 13 total room, 3 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Side by Side multi-family home, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30

$599,000 – 9 Hersom St. Unit 1, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom townhouse.

Business

Watertown Woman’s Late Niece Inspires her Dog Cookies Business

By |

Watertown resident Susan Haggerty is debuting her dog biscuits on an online business called Brookie’s Cookies. For several years, Susan Haggerty has made her own dog biscuits and she began selling them at the Waltham Farmers Market. Now she is ready to make it a business and it will honor her late niece. Haggerty, who lives in Watertown with her husband, created her recipe for the dog treats. “I have a yellow lab, Brady, and I started making them for him,” Haggerty said.

Obituaries

OBIT: Frank Cousineau, 90, Former Teacher, WHS Star Athlete

By |

Francis U. “Frank” Cousineau of Watertown, died on April 18, 2019 at the age of 90. Retired Watertown teacher and coach. U.S. Army Veteran, Korea. He graduated from WHS in 1947 and was an outstanding athlete. His senior year, Frank was named to the All-Suburban Team and was also a first team All-Scholastic on multiple All-Star squads.

Business

More Layoffs at Watertown-based Athenahealth

By |

One of the largest employers in Watertown has announced another round of layoffs. Tuesday’s layoffs impacted “less than 4 percent” of the company’s workforce, according to a story on ModernHealthCare.com. Company officials did not release details about which offices the jobs would impact. The company had another round of layoffs in October 2017. At the time, about the company had about 2,300 employees at its headquarters in Watertown’s Arsenal on the Charles.

Government

Increases for Police, Fire, Schools Library & DPW Included in Watertown’s FY2020 Budget

By |

Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll revealed the Fiscal Year 2020 budget on Tuesday. Next year’s Watertown Budget includes money for an additional police office, a new leadership role in the Fire Department, and at the Library. Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the Fiscal Year 2020 budget to the Town Council. The total operating budget is $147.76 million, which is an increase of 3.89 percent or $5.53 million. When Driscoll presented the budget projection in October, there was a shortfall of about $800,000, but Tuesday he said the Town’s revenues came in close to $1.5 million above the projections.

Government

See Why the DPW is Drilling Borings on Streets Around Town

By |

A series of borings are being drilled around Watertown on behalf of the Department of Public Works to test areas where water main replacements could take place. An announcement about the borings came out Friday, and DPW Superintendent Gerry Mee said it has caught the interest of residents. While drilling of borings happens frequently in town, typically they are done for private construction projects. Because the borings are being done for a town project, Mee said, the DPW put out an announcement. “They are being done in areas of potential future water projects,” Mee said.