Around Town

Eversource Reliability Project Starting Construction in Watertown, Other Areas in May 2024

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Eversource provided the following announcement:

Start of Construction Expected in May 2024 in Waltham, Watertown, and Brighton

Starting soon, as early as the week of May 27, 2024, Eversource and its contractors will begin working in local streets in Waltham, Watertown, and the Allston/Brighton neighborhood of Boston to install a new transmission line by way of reconductoring. Reconductoring is minimally invasive, does not require full in-street excavation along the entire route and mainly happens at manhole locations. The entire project is expected to last roughly 24 months and people and businesses near manhole and piper repair locations can expect to see Eversource crews intermittently throughout the life of the project. To learn more about the project, call 1-833-836-0302 or email ProjectInfoMA@eversource.com. You can also sign up to receive routine email updates by visiting https://bit.ly/WW-B.

Around Town

Watertown VFW Post 1105 Celebrating 100th Anniversary

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The Burnham-Manning Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105 will Celebrate its Centennial Anniversary on May 24. The Post provided the following information. History of Burnham-Manning VFW Post 1105

The sign out of the former location of VFW Post 1105. The Watertown, Massachusetts faction of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Burnham-Manning Post No. 1105, was instituted on May 14, 1924.

Around Town

Nominations Wanted for the Watertown Youth Coalition’s Community Spirit Awards

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

Watertown Youth Coalition’s annual Community Spirit Awards is coming up! We will be hosting this year’s event at Filippello Park (191 Grove St., Watertown) on Wednesday June 5th, 6-7:30. We will be accepting nominations until Friday, May 24th. People can be nominated for having done any of the following:

* Served as a positive influence or mentor to a Watertown Youth Coalition member or to others in the community

* Had the courage to address challenging issues that affect youth and the community

* Has actively taken steps to improve the Watertown community (in big and small ways)

Complete a Nomination Here 

Reserve Your Spot Here 

We can’t wait to see you there!

Around Town

Patrick’s PALS Hosting 28th Annual Charity Event to Raise Awareness of Fragile X Syndrome

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The following information was provided by Patrick’s PALS:

On June 1, 2024 Watertown residents James and Pamela Vershbow will run their 28th Annual charity event. Named after their now 31-year old son, Patrick’s PALS 

3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (established, 1997) raises awareness of Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited form of autism and intellectual disabilities worldwide.  Patrick was diagnosed with Fragile X at 10 months of age, and has been learning to live and survive life with the disability ever since. Patrick currently attends BeaverbrookStep, an adult services program based in Watertown, during the day Monday through Friday, and lives at home with James, Pamela, his younger sister Abigail, three cats and one dog! 

ALL proceeds from this event go to FRAXA Research Foundation (established, 1994). Based in Newburyport, FRAXA’s sole goal is to find a cure; they are responsible for $35 million dollars in direct investment in Fragile X research. Patrick’s PALS is proud to have raised over $2 million in support of FRAXA’s efforts. Event DetailsDate: Saturday, June 1, 2024

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: The TRACK at New Balance, 91 Guest St., Boston (Brighton)

Activities Include:

Basketball Tournament … Witness 32 teams compete in a thrilling double-elimination format. Not playing? No worries, there’s plenty to enjoy!

Entertainment

Small Saves Takes on a Talented Youngster in This Week’s Cartoon

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James DeMarco grew up in Watertown and became a goaltender at age 5. It’s his life’s passion to stand between the pipes and keep the puck out of the net. Combining this with the love of cartooning Small Saves emerged in 1991 and took on a life of his own. “To play goal – then come home and draw Small Saves — is my ideal definition of a good day.”

Business

New Stores, Eateries at Arsenal Yards & Spring Events

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Courtesy of Arsenal YardsArsenal Yards has some new places to shop and eat, and more coming soon. The following announcement was provided by Arsenal Yards:

Arsenal Yards, located in the heart of Watertown’s East End, is bringing even more new offerings to the neighborhood. In addition to its already well-known businesses, Arsenal Yards will welcome a list of seven new retail, dining, and service offerings as well as dozens of outdoor events throughout the spring and summer months. 

Included in Arsenal Yard’s impressive lineup of new businesses: J.Crew Factory and Jersey Mikes which have recently opened. In addition, there is something for everyone in the lineup of coming soon destinations including restaurants Butterbird and Medium Rare, along with service-based locations Marvelous Cuts, Splash & Dash, and Squeeze Massage opening later this year. Arsenal Yards will also continue to bring the neighborhood community experiences with events and activations in the River Green and Bond Sq.

Government

City Seeks Residents to Serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City Manager George J. Proakis is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to Citymgr@watertown-ma.gov or City Manager’s Office, 149 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472. Information about the Zoning Board of Appeals

Vacancy/Term: One Full Member, Five Year Term. Description: Board of Appeals grants all special permits and variances needed for certain construction and development projects. Candidates should have knowledge of M.G.L. Chapter 40A, the Zoning Act, as well as architecture, engineering, landscape design, construction, planning, law, or related field.

Around Town

LETTER: Looking Back, Moving Forward in Watertown Square

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We often talk about “The Good Old Days” and the nostalgia of how things were better in the past. While Watertown’s past had great things, “The Good Old Days” had the same issues we face today. For instance, The Historical Society of Watertown has a fantastic resource: Watertown Newspaper Headlines from 1880-1941. Below is a sampling of 20 headlines along with the dates they appeared:

7/14/1880 “Galen St Dangerous for ladies after dark” 

11/8/1882  “What Watertown Needs Most – housing for rent” 

10/21/1892 George E. Priest said he had heard that the Newton & Waltham Street Railway desires to extend its Watertown-Waltham line to Mount Auburn

8/1/1893  “controversy between horse drawn vehicles and electric cars between Cambridge and Watertown” 

1/6/1893 “Plans for electric railway cars from Watertown to Newton up Galen Street” 

11/1/1901  “Cyclists warned not to ride between streetcar tracks, dangerous”

7/4/1902 “Horse and buggy accident between Mr. & Mrs. James Milmore and 2 men on horseback – Fred Rankins and Frank Haynes”

9/26/1902  “Another suggestion for improving the center (illustration and map of a proposed new Watertown Square)”

12/9/1904 “Save the trees”

3/17/1905 “Arsenal streetcar route extended to Scollay Square”

12/15/1905 “New Plans for Galen Street Bridge and Delta”

7/19/1907 “Watertown murder case: Charles Reed shot by Antonio Zeccolo”

7/30/1909 “10,000 riot at band concert near Watertown Square”

1/20/1911 “ Progress Being Made on High School Building (East Jr.)”

2/7/1924 “Common Street Widening meets great protest”

12/24/1933 “Town votes $135,000 for addition to High School, $35,000 for Main Library”

11/8/1934 “Subway tunnel proposed for Watertown Square (to relieve traffic!)” 

12/26/1935 “Arsenal Street most dangerous piece of road in town” 

9/4/1941 “ Watertown Starts to Abolish Worst Traffic Bottleneck (widening Watertown St. at Galen”

6/29/1945 “Mt.