Government

Some City Departments Will be On the Move within City Hall or to Parker Annex

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Photo by City of WatertownThe City of Watertown will move multiple municipal departments to the Parker Annex Building on Watertown Street. City Hall has been the center of municipal government in Watertown for nearly a century, and it will continue to be filled with local government offices but some will be moving across the Charles River to the recently reacquired Parker Annex Building. Last week, City Manager George Proakis presented his plan to rearrange City departments. Parker Annex

The first department to move across the river is Public buildings, Proakis said, and within the next two months he hopes the Information Technology (IT) Department will join them. First IT will be in a temporary location on the second floor before moving to a permanent spot on the third floor.

Around Town

New Doughnut Shop Opens in Watertown, Grand Opening Party Planned

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Blackbird Doughnuts opened at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. (Photo from Blackbird Doughnuts)

Lovers of sweet treats have a new place to shop. Blackbird Doughnuts has opened in Arsenal Yards in Watertown. The artisanal doughnut store opened its newest store on Tuesday, and has plans for a grand opening party, according to social media. “Our Watertown store is finally here.

Government

City of Watertown’s Inauguration to be Held at Commander’s Mansion

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Watertown’s elected officials will take the oath of office during a ceremony to be held on Jan. 2, 2024 at the Commander’s Mansion. The newly elected (or re-elected) members of the City Council, School Committee, and Board of Library Trustees will be sworn in at the event that will take place at 7 p.m. at the historic mansion at 440 Talcott Ave. in Watertown (next to Arsenal on the Charles and Arsenal Park). The swearing in will include City Council President Mark Sideris; City Councilors At-Large Tony Palomba, Caroline Bays, John Gannon, and John Airaisan; District Councilors Nicole Gardner (District A), Lisa Feltner (B), Vincent Piccirilli (C), and Emily Izzo (D); School Committee members Kendra Foley, Lisa Capoccia, and Rachel Kay; and Library Trustees Teddy Kokoros, Maja Young, and Sarah Murphy-Holroyd.

Around Town

Watertown College Student Shares His Experience Dealing with a Rare, Painful Disease in New Book

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Shant Cimenian shared his story about dealing with an invisible disease in his soon to be published book. (Courtesy Photo)

Most days, Shant Cimenian’s life is a very typical one. The 21-year-old Watertown resident attends UMass Boston and is looking toward life after college. However, some days, without warning, he will be thrown into writhing agony due to a rare disease. Having an “invisible disease” can be a struggle, but Cimenian wants to share his story with others facing similar conditions to show them not alone.

Around Town

Watertown Seeking Plow Drivers for 2023-24 Snow Season

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by Charlie BreitroseSnow plow drivers are wanted by the Watertown Department of Public Works to help with snow and ice removal. Have a truck with a plow — the Watertown Department of Public Works wants you this winter. The DPW seeks people with their own vehicle equipped with a plow to help with snow and ice removal this winter. The range of pay is $140 an hour for a 4×4 truck with a 8-foot plow up to $310 an hour for a Plow Cat 980 loader with a 10-foot plow. See the details below:

Watertown Superintendent of Public Works Greg St.

Around Town

Redesigning Watertown Square: Areas with Potential, Spots for Housing & Changing Roadways

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Urban planner Jeff Speck shows one of the possible new configurations of Watertown Square. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

While much of the discussion during the final presentation of the design charrette focused on the redesign of the main intersection in Watertown Square, the design consultants also looked at areas such as what people want to see in their downtown, where housing could be created, what properties could be redeveloped, and other roadways in the area that could be reconfigured. The consultants remarked on the high levels of participation the Watertown Square project drew, compared to similar design efforts in other communities. Urban designer Jeff Speck said that per capita, Watertown had four times higher turnout than other projects he has worked on. Over the three days, 230 people signed in to participate in at least one of the work sessions where they could hear from designers and give input on a variety of subjects.

Around Town

Boston Bruins Players Visit Watertown to Buy Toys for Kids

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Members of the Boston Bruins used some of their time off the ice to visit Target in Watertown to purchase toys to donate to children. Left wing Jake DeBrusk, forward Charlie Coyle, and goalie Jeremy Swayman scoured the aisles looking for items for children in local hospitals, according to the report by WBZ Radio. The toys were purchased with donations from the Bruins players as well as the Boston Bruins Foundation. Frequent shoppers at Target may have run into DeBrusk before, who said that he has been at the Watertown location multiple times to buy toys for kids. See the full WBZ Radio report by clicking here.