Food

Kendall Square Chef Plans to Open New Restaurant in Watertown

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Another fine-dining spot may be heading to Watertown with chef behind Salts in Kendall Square planning to open a new restaurant in town. 

Chef Gabriel Bremer ran Salts in Cambridge until it closed prematurely after a pipe burst and destroyed the interior. The new establishment will be called La Bodega by Salts, according to an article in Boston Magazine. The restaurant will draw inspiration from the homeland of Bremer’s wife Analia Verolo, who grew up in Uruguay. It will have a focus on wine and wine culture, but also will be a place to grab a cup of coffee, Bremer told Boston Magazine. The location of the restaurant has not been announced, but Bremer said he is close to securing a location in town.

athenahealth

Athenahealth, Town Applying to State for $25 Million in Improvements

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The Town of Watertown is teaming with athenahealth to try to take advantage of a state program that would send tax dollars back to town to improve parks, roadways and other resources in town. 

The work would be done in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The town and athenahealth have taken the first steps toward applying for $25 million from the I-Cubed program (The Executive Office of Finance and Administration’s Infrastructure Investment Incentive Program). The money comes from the new payroll taxes that would be generated by athenahealth’s expansion of its campus located in the Arsenal on the Charles complex, said Michael Crowley, athenahealth’s vice president for Real Estate and Facilities at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. “It will provide funds that will transform areas of Watertown in ways that really improve the quality of life for those who work here everyday and for those who live here,” Crowley said. The funds must be spent on areas adjacent to the campus, and a number of projects have been proposed, including adding traffic signals, creating cycling paths and improving the path along the Charles River.

Around Town

Town Manager Releases Statement on Filming at Scene of Watertown Shootout

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Town Manager Michael Driscoll reacted to the proposal to shoot a film in Watertown recreating the events of the Boston Marathon Bombings, including at the site of the Watertown Shootout. Representatives from CBS Films met with residents of Laurel Street on Feb. 12, and shared the proposed schedule. The filming included night action where the sounds of gunshots would be used to recreate the firefight between Watertown Police and the Tsarnaev brothers. Word that the dramatic events would be replayed in the same area where they occurred was met with an outpouring of emotional responses from Watertown residents, a majority of whom opposed the idea.

Elections

LETTER: Resident, Teacher Supports David Kazis for Democratic State Committee

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I am happy and proud to support David Kazis for Democratic State Committee Man on Tuesday, March 1 during the Presidential Primary. He is young, energetic, and ready to serve. I have known David for many years now and watched his commitment to our community and his involvement in political affairs across the state. His experience with City Year and Americorps where he assisted victims from hurricanes Katrina and Rita is inspirational. As a teacher, I know firsthand the importance of putting our children first and I am certain that David will play a big role in helping Watertown and moving the Democratic agenda forward to ensure that the Party is listening and attracting new voters to get involved in the political process.

Elections

LETTER: Town Councilor Backs Steve Owens for State Committeeman

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To the editor:

I am very pleased to endorse Steve Owens for State Committee in the March 1 Democratic Party Primary election. For the past 8 years, Steve has ably served as Chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee and has greatly increased both the number of activities and citizen participation. Steve is the candidate for State Committee that has a proven track record of organizational leadership, supporting candidates, and engaging the voters. As chair of a Town Committee, Steve ran successful Election Day operations with over a hundred volunteers in Watertown. We need Steve on the State Committee because he has the experience to spread those lessons across Massachusetts.

Around Town

Job, Self-Advocate Training for Disabled Coming Up in Watertown

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Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong and Beaverbrook STEP will host a basic self advocacy training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Beaverbrook sent out the following information:

We are self-advocates in Massachusetts working together to empower ourselves through education so we can make choices to improve and enrich our lives. “Nothing About Us Without Us.” Basic Self Advocacy training, Awareness and Action: Educating Persons with Disabilities to Starting and Maintaining a Self-Advocacy Group, Self-Advocacy Leadership Training (MDDC), Recognize, Report and respond to Abuse (with BPI), Legislative Advocacy. Explore, Prepare, Act Basic skills to get a job. The next meeting is at the BBS Main Office, 85 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472, on March 17, 6-8 p.m.

Any question please send Keith Miller in email at keith.mass.metro@gmail.com

Thank you so much and hope to see you there!!!!

Around Town

Emotional Responses to News of Filming at Site of Watertown Shootout

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News that Watertown that film producers want to shoot a re-enactment of the Watertown Shootout on the same streets where it happened, complete with late night simulated gunshots, was met with an outpouring of emotions from town residents – mostly negative but some strongly backing it. This month, CBS Films has been meeting with residents of Laurel Street about the filming of “Patriots Day,” a film starring Mark Wahlberg which would recreate the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, including the shootout with the bombers in Watertown. The schedule calls for closing off Laurel Street for a few days, including three nights when the filming would include re-enactments complete with gunfire as late as midnight. Watertown residents reacted on the Watertown News Facebook page, and on the comment section of Monday’s story. Many reactions on Facebook were negative, such as, “Who wants to relive this.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown GOP Candidates Get Endorsement from State Group

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The Massachusetts Republican Assembly (MARA) and Sharron Angle, former candidate for United States Senate and President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) proudly endorse Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward for Republican State Committee woman and man respectively in the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Massachusetts State Senate District (include Watertown, Belmont, Back Bay, and Brighton). Both MARA and the NFRA are dedicated to reforming the Republican Party and giving the grassroots a greater voice in the policy and direction of the Republican Party. Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward are dedicated to this same mission. In that spirit they have both signed “The Real Republican Reform Pledge.” (See below). We Confident that as your State Committee representatives Deborah and Steve will represent the interest of the Republicans in of the District.