Government

New Director of Senior Center Has Lots of Experience Working with Seniors

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The new director of the Watertown Senior Center comes to town with plenty of experience working with seniors in communities around the Boston area. 

Tuesday night, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced the appointment of Anne-Marie Gagnon as the new Director of Senior Services. She comes to Watertown after working as the Director of Planning and Community Development for HESCO (Health & Social Services Consortium Inc.) the Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) and Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for 12 communities in south Norfolk County, Driscoll said. Gagnon’s responsibilities included support of AAA programs and services, oversight of sub-grantees that focused on transportation, legal services and evidence-based health programs. She also providing support for community outreach, volunteer recruitment, fund development, wrote grant proposals, maintained the HESCO website, did public relations and worked closely with community partners and the 12 Councils on Aging in the HESCO area, Driscoll said. Previously, she worked as Healthy Living Program Manager for BayPath Elder Services, where she educated Council on Aging directors in the MetroWest about evidence-based health promotion programs and helped them organize and publicize their programs for seniors. Gagnon earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a professional certificate in gerontology from Duquesne University and a master’s degree in social work with a community organization focus from the University of Pittsburgh.

Artemis Yoga

Watertown Yoga Studio Has a “Nift”-y Way of Thanking Loyal Customers

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Artemis Yoga is still relatively new in the Coolidge Square business area, celebrating six months in June, and when owner Liz Padula looked for ways to thank her loyal customers she ran across a product that is useful for her customers and helps other local business – Nift. A Nift, or a Neighborhood Gift, is like a gift card, and when someone receives one they register online and get some local choices of places to spend their Nift. The company is based in Cambridge. Padula said the concept makes sense for her. “I use it for a variety of reasons.

Police/Fire

Rally to Support Watertown Police Officers Planned This Week

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In the wake of the recent violence against police officers in the United States a group of residents is organizing a rally to show support for Watertown Police Officers. 

The event will be a non-political gathering for residents to show support for the Watertown Police, said one of the organizers, Marilyn Petitto Devaney, a former Town Councilor and current Governor’s Councilor. “There will be no political speeches – it will be a low key, non-political gathering of residents showing support for our Watertown Police,” Petitto Devaney said. “With the violence occurring across our country we need to thank our Watertown Police.” The rally will be held Thursday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m. next to Town Hall.

Development

Council Hashing Out Rules for Cutting Solo Driver Commuters

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The Town Council’s Transportation subcommittee would like to cut down the number of people driving alone to work as a way to reduce congestion on Watertown streets, but now they must figure out how to legislate that effort. The subcommittee met last week to discuss a town ordinance for Transportation Demand Management Programs.

Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon suggested a transportation demand management plan be required for any non-residential project 10,000 square feet or more, or a residential project of 10 units or more. Also, any project that generates more than 150 average daily trips (a car coming and going would be two trips), or more than 15 trips during peak hours. A Transportation Demand Management plan would need to include:

Goals and targets for trip reduction based on the new trips from a project
A comprehensive list of measures used to reduce the number of trips
A description of ways of monitoring how well the measures are controlling trip numbers
A schedule for monitoring and reporting on the TDM
Provide a list of corrective measures (including additional trip reduction efforts, incentives or penalties) if the goals are not met

Exceptions
Some uses will be exempted from having TDM plan, including land or structures for religious or non-profit educational purposes, for child care facilities and land owned or leased by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or its subdivisions. 

Councilor Aaron Dushku wanted to remove the non-profit educational exemption. “I want to make sure Harvard doesn’t come in and have it not apply to them,” Dushku said.

Dog Park

Council to Hear About Changes to Filippello Park, Including Dog Park

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Tuesday’s Town Council meeting will include a presentation about proposed improvements to the Grove Street entrance of Filippello Park, including the addition of a dog park. 

The project has been discussed for four years, and has gone through a number of iterations. The current proposal would cost nearly $1 million, including $325,000 for the dog park and $215,000 for repaving, according to a slideshow to be presented by architects from CDM Smith. The renovations would include:

27,000 square foot dog park
16,000 square feet of informal, passive open space
a basketball court
a futsal court
a picnic area with tables and benches
2 gazebos
four square, hopscotch and chess & checkers tables
handicap accessible parking in the existing parking area
potentially adding parallel parking on the access road

See the entire presentation by clicking here. The Town Council meeting will be begin at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in the Council Chambers in Town Hall, 149 Main St., Watertown. See the entire meeting agenda by clicking here.

Around Town

Find Out What Happened to the Trees on Arsenal Street

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One of the trees along Arsenal Street near the new apartment complex was ripped out of the ground recently when a tractor trailer struck it, and other trees in the area had to be trimmed to prevent further damage. Tree Warden Chris Hayward said the damage occurred in mid-June while Arsenal Street was being ripped up to remove old trolley tracks. “Because the center of the road was now closed, traffic had to be pushed to the outer edges of the roadway,” Hayward said. “Around 3 p.m. on Thursday June 16, a tractor trailer truck clipped a large leader that had not been pruned in advance of this new traffic pattern. That tree was literally ripped out of its planting location.”

Arrests

Police Log: Vandal Leaves Message on Confederate Flag, Shoplifters Foiled

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
June 30, 11:12 a.m.: A man was stopped after Marshalls security spotted him taking four sets of bedsheets and a shirt. Security watched the man closely because they recognized him from a couple past incidents where they suspect he took merchandise. On the 30th, the man removed security devices from the items and tried to leave without paying. The items were worth $399.