Around Town

Marshall Fund Home Looking for Grant Applications

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The Marshall Home Fund (MHF) is soliciting program grant proposals for the year 2015-2016. Since its inception in 2005, MHF has awarded over $300,000 to both public and private non-profit agencies serving older people in Watertown. Collectively, these grants have significantly increased the recipients’ program capabilities. Once again, MHF is looking forward to helping local agencies advance their goals in the coming year. Grant applications should address health, housing, transportation, and other quality of life issues for seniors in Watertown.

Business

Watertown Real Estate Agent Has New Home

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Chris Raveis, managing partner of William Raveis Massachusetts, is thrilled to announce the addition of Bob Airasian as Broker. In his new role, Mr. Airasian will be responsible for providing outstanding customer service and helping to further build William Raveis’ presence in Watertown and the surrounding communities. Airasian comes to William Raveis with deep industry knowledge, having been a lifelong Watertown resident and a seasoned agent in the area for the past eight years. “On behalf of the entire William Raveis family, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Bob as he joins our William Raveis’ Newton Centre office,” said Raveis. “Bob and our company share many of the same values, including a focus on customer satisfaction.

Government

Watertown Lifting Parking Ban Wednesday Evening

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The Watertown Department of Public Works announced the lifting of the emergency parking ban put in place for the Blizzard of 2015. The following announcement was sent out at 5:45 p.m.:
The Town of Watertown’s temporary parking ban will be lifted effective 6 P.M. January 28, 2015. The Department of Public Works thanks everyone for their cooperation during this snow emergency and requests that residents continue to park off street when possible to allow the crews to continue the cleanup process. Please continue to keep fire hydrants and catch basins clear in your area.

Development

Town’s Design Guidelines and Standards Revealed by Consultant

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A draft of the set of requirements that guide and limit developers who build new projects in Watertown was revealed by the urban design consultants hired by the town. Last week, David Gamble of Gamble Associates discussed the proposed design guidelines and design standards that will shape how development will be done in Watertown in the future. They were presented at the third public workshop held in the past four months held during the making of the guidelines and standards. The Town Council voted to hire the consultant to address what they and many residents believed had become out of control development in Watertown. The changes were broken into nine categories: public realm interface, building massing, facade treatment, parking & access, building height, material selection, sustainable design, building setbacks and signage.

Schools

Watertown Spelling Bee Humming Along After 5 Years

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Watertown Middle School was buzzing with activity of the fifth annual Watertown Education Foundation Youth Spelling Bee on Sunday. Unlike many spelling bees, the Watertown event is a team event, with three students combining to spell the words. Students in grades 1-5 could participate, and the second- through fifth-graders competed to be top spellers. While having fun and testing student’s spelling abilities, the event also raises money for the Watertown Education Foundation. It started five years ago, largely due to the efforts of WEF President Amy Donohue.

Around Town

Watertown Community Gardens Meeting Coming Up

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Find out about the Watertown Community Gardens at the group’s annual meeting this week. Guest Speaker Juliet Stone will be discussing urban and classroom gardening, along with public green space development during the WCG  annual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 29 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library (in the Watertown Savings Bank room). Stone is a former Watertown resident who has helped transform and renovate community and schoolyard gardens throughout the Boston area. Watertown Community Gardens will also be voting on new board officers for the upcoming year, along with giving updates on the Summer Youth Crew program and the Live Well Watertown project.

Weather

Blizzard of 2015: Travel Ban Ending, Parking Bans Continues

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The biggest storm of the winter is bearing down on Watertown, with heavy snow and blizzard conditions expected to start Monday night. Keep up with the latest news, cancellations and updates on Watertown News. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for phone numbers that may be useful in the storm)

6:49 p.m.: The parking ban will continue, announced Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee. He expects it to last until 5 p.m. Wednesday so snow can be removed from the streets to allow for parking. His crews have been working for about 36 hours straight, and Mee thanked the public for observing the travel and parking bans.

Around Town

Watertown Snow Photos from the Blizzard of 2015

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The Blizzard of 2015 has hit Watertown, leaving a thick coat of fluffy white snow on everything. Share your photos with Watertown News! You can email them to watertownmanews@gmail.com, or on Facebook or Twitter – @WatertownMANews. Fayette Street covered with snow, courtesy of Stacia Russell. The clean up begins.