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OP-ED: MBTA Law Part 4 – Possible Strategies for Watertown to Meet the Mandate

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Linda ScottThe Elan Union Market apartment building on Arsenal Street. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

These scenarios are meant to mitigate some of the stress put on Watertown by the MBTA Law. One or more of these added to some thoughtful re-zoning, for me, seems ideal. Please note that because of Watertown’s overall housing density and availability to transit, there are even more options than I’m listing. In fact, there are enough to account for the entire 1,701 units plus 200 housing units more!

Around Town

Community Foundations Awards $12,000 in Watertown Youth Sports Grants

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

For the third year, the Watertown Community Foundation has provided financial support to Watertown’s youth sports leagues so any child can play a league sport, regardless of ability to pay. With support from The Bilezikian Family Foundation, NESN, and Arsenal Yards, more leagues applied for and received funding to help more kids. This year’s awards total $12,000, a record for the program. Grantees include Watertown Youth Basketball, Watertown/Belmont Football and Cheerleading League, Watertown Youth Hockey, Watertown Youth Baseball and Softball, and The Challenger Division of Little League, a program for developmentally and physically challenged youth (age 8-21). WCF aims to serve Watertown youth from kindergarten through high school, their families, and the volunteer coaches who run the leagues.

Sports

Watertown Grad Named Rookie of the Year in Region by D3Hoops.com

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Hamilton College AthleticsWatertown grad and current Hamilton College player Taylor Lambo was named D3Hoops.com’s Region 1 Rookie of the Year. The following announcement came from Hamilton College Athletics:

Hamilton College women’s basketball forward Taylor Lambo ’26 (Watertown, Mass./Watertown HS) was selected the 2023 Rookie of the Year in Region 1 by D3hoops.com earlier this month when the NCAA Division III basketball website announced its all-region teams.

Lambo was also voted to the third team in the region. She is the only first-year athlete on the all region team in Region 1, which includes the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and the North Atlantic Conference. Lambo was named the NESCAC Rookie of the Year and made the all-conference second team in early March. She led the Continentals in scoring with 13.6 points per game and was second with 8.2 rebounds per game.

Around Town

Jobs: Watertown Housing Authority Hiring for Facilities Maintenance, Plumbing Positions

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The Watertown Housing Authority seeks to fill two maintenance job openings. See details below. MAINTENANCE POSITION – MAINTENANCE LABORER MECHANIC 1/ FACILITIES MAINTENANCE

Posted: MARCH 28, 2023

Description: THE WATERTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING A FULL TIME POSITION OF MAINTENANCE LABORER MECHANIC 1. THIS IS A HIGHLY SKILLED POSITION IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AND EXPERIENCE IN BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND IS SKILLED IN THE USE OF TOOLS AND OPERATION OF POWER EQUIPMENT USED BY BUILDING AND GROUNDS PERSONNEL. VARIED DUTIES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO RESTORATION OF VACANT UNITS, CLEANING, PAINTING, DOOR/LOCK REPAIR, ELECTRICAL, CARPENTRY, FLOORING REPLACEMENT, APPLIANCE MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPING, GROUNDS KEEPING, SNOW REMOVAL USING SHOVELS, SNOW BLOWERS AND PLOW-EQUIPPED TRUCKS.

Sports

Watertown Has Lucky 13 Athletes on Winter All-Star Teams & One Division MVP

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown senior hockey player Jack Dickie was named the Middlesex League Freedom MVP in 2023. Here he celebrates after he scored the game winner in the Round of 32 State Tourney game. The Watertown Public Schools announced the Watertown High School athletes that made the Middlesex All-Start teams. See the announcement below:

The Watertown Raiders capped off a strong 2022-2023 winter sports season with 13 athletes capturing Middlesex League All-Star honors. Fresh off a run to the Division 3 semifinals, three members of the boys hockey team were honored for their performances. Senior Jack Dickie was named Freedom Division MVP, while fellow seniors Aiden Campbell and Casey Williams picked up All-Star nods.

Entertainment

Sheepshearing Festival Tickets Available from Gore Place

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Gore PlaceThe 36th Sheepshearing Festival returns to at Gore Place on April 22. Gore Place announced that tickets are on sale now for he 36th annual Sheepshearing Festival, held on the grounds of the historic mansion. Gore Place provided the following information:

Join us on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rain or shine! Advance tickets are now available at the button below. Advance tickets are recommended but not required.

Around Town

OP-ED: The MBTA Communities Law Part 2 – What It Is, What It Isn’t

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mass.gov

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

What the MBTA Law (MGL 40A Section 3A of the Zoning Act) is:

A zoning plan to address building multifamily housing in areas where there is public transportation. What it is for Watertown:

A zoning plan for 1,701 housing units in the form of three family structures or more. These units must be non-exclusionary, meaning without any age restrictions, and suitable for families with children. Why 1,701? Because that’s about 10 percent of the housing we have right now.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA Communities & How it Could Impact Watertown

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 1

In January 2021, surrounded by some very happy building tradespeople, Charlie Baker signed the MBTA Communities Law into effect, and I missed it. Totally. Apparently, so did a whole lot of us! In August 2021, I was having lunch with a friend who lives in Boston. We were catching up.