Development

Residents Chime in on Development in Watertown’s Residential Neighborhoods

By |

Town officials have asked for the opinions of residents for some design guidelines that would apply to single- and two-family projects in Watertown’s residential neighborhoods, and they got a variety of opinions on Tuesday night. 

The Community Listening Session at Town Hall was the second of three, with the third one taking place Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Police Station from 6:30-8 p.m.

The session was led by David Gamble, a design consultant hired by the town to work on creating Residential Design Guidelines. He previously helped create Design Guidelines for bigger commercial and residential projects in Watertown’s business districts and main arteries. This process will be more difficult, he said. “I, like many of you, believe your home is like your castle,” Gamble said.

Elections

Find Out About the Candidates for Town Council President

By |

Two candidates seek to become Watertown’s Town Council President – a position which heads the Town Council, and also sits on the School Committee. Current Town Council President Mark Sideris seeks his fourth term, and he is challenged by former Town Council President Clyde Younger. The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Watertown News asked both candidates a set of questions.

Election 2015

Town Council President Candidate Q&A: Clyde Younger

By |

Clyde Younger is running for Town Council President in the Nov. 3 election. Watertown News sent the Council President a set of questions about the upcoming election. 1) As Town Council President, how will you balance the needs and wants of the Town Administration with those of Watertown residents? The imbalance in the city centers on the centralization of power in one person’s hand.

Elections

Town Council President Candidate Q&A: Mark Sideris

By |

Town Council President Mark Sideris is running for re-election in the Nov. 3 Election. Watertown News sent the candidates a set of questions to those running for Council President:

1) As Town Council President, how will you balance the needs and wants of the Town Administration with those of Watertown residents? The needs in wants of the residents is always first and foremost in my mind. Those tax dollars are providing the services we provide.

Elections

LETTER: Candidate for Library Trustee Asks for Your Vote

By |

Editor,

I am Penny (Penelope) Peoples: Watertown resident, book lover, and would-be library trustee. Since moving to Watertown in 2001, I have been a constant user and admirer of the Watertown Free Public Library (WFPL), often thinking that it is like the beating heart of our community. It fosters such important values as lifelong learning, creativity, imagination, community building and participation, inclusivity and diversity — to name but a few. Grateful as I am to all those past and present who have created and maintained this model of library excellence, I am eager for a chance to myself contribute to our community in the arena for which I am best suited, namely as one of the six trustees who develop policy for the WFPL and oversee its leadership. Joining with trustee colleagues, library administration and staff, I want to assure that the library maintains its current excellence in a host of areas and improves its operations and programming to meet evolving challenges.

Around Town

Water Main Break Shuts Down Part of Greenough Boulevard

By |

A water main break flooded part of Greenough Boulevard Tuesday morning, forcing it to be closed. 

The section of the road between North Beacon and Arsenal streets was closed this morning due to the break. The area has been plagued with similar problems over the past few years. The Watertown Department of Public Works has crews working on fixing the pipes.

Around Town

MasterChef Junior Looking for Young Cooks in the Boston Area

By |

Attention kid chefs, Fox will be holding a casting call in Boston for MasterChef Junior. The show features young chefs competing in cooking competitions, which are judged by, among others, Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey. MasterChef Junior stars and season 4 premiers on Nov. 6 on Fox. The Boston casting call is for season 5 of MasterChef Junior.

Elections

Town Council President Candidates Speak at Candidate Forum

By |

Watertown’s current Town Council President and immediate-past Council President shared their views on communications, providing services and preserving the character of Watertown during the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on Sunday. Mark Sideris has been Council president for the past six years, and succeeded Clyde Younger, who is running this year. This issue of communications with residents and others has been a frequent topic of discussion at candidate forums.

Sideris said right now the town relies heavily on the Town of Watertown website, but he wants that to change. “I would like try communicating on social media and other areas so we will be more engaged with the public,” Sideris said. “There are difficulties in doing that with the Open Meetings law, but I am working on that.”