Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Teams with Non-Profit to Revitalize the Willow Park Property

By |

The Watertown Housing Authority will team with Preservation of Affordable Housing to renovate the Willow Park property. (Courtesy of the WHA)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown. Housing Authority:

The Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) announced that it will be partnering with the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) to redevelop the Willow Park State Public Housing property located in East Watertown. The POAH team was selected earlier this month by the WHA’s Board of Commissioners and Selection Committee after reviewing the proposals. “I want to thank everyone on the pre-development team for their hard work.

Around Town

Charles River Chamber Seeks Environment Committee Members

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Regional Chamber:

The Charles River Chamber’s Environment Committee is looking to expand its membership in 2024. If you work for a chamber member business and are passionate about sustainably and helping businesses become greener, contact Chamber President Greg Reibman greibman@charlesriverchamber.com. This a forum to share ideas and best practices, not a place to promote your company’s specific products or services. The committee meets via Zoom in the third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m.

Around Town

Watertown Library Will Host Eclipse Viewing Party & Free “Space Week” Events

By |

The Watertown Library announced a series of events leading up to the April 8th solar eclipse. The following information was provided by the Library:

April 1–8 is Space Week at the Watertown Free Public Library! Are you ready for the solar eclipse? Yes or no, you are invited to discover fun and educational library events, for all ages, in the first week of April. After learning all about space, join WFPL staff as we safely watch the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th in Saltonstall Park! 

Need eclipse glasses?

Sports

Players & Buddies Wanted for Watertown Challenger Baseball

By |

The players and buddies in the Watertown Challenger Baseball program, which is for players with physical and mental challenges. (Photo courtesy of Watertown Challenger Baseball). The following announcement was provided by Watertown Challenger Baseball:

Registration is officially open for the 2024 Challenger baseball season. 

The first day will be Sunday April 28 10 a.m. at BB&N field (next to Filippello Park). 

Watertown Challenger Baseball program allows children with special needs to participate in little league baseball in a safe environment.  We are eagerly looking for players & “buddies” to help athletes.  

What is Challenger Baseball? The Challenger Baseball League is a program for developmentally and physically challenged youth (age 8-21), helping them to enjoy the full benefits of baseball in an athletic environment structured to their abilities.

Around Town

Registration Open for Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

By |

Photo by Charlie BreitroseA cadet in the Middlesex Youth Public Safety Academy uses the fire hose as at Saltonstall Park. The following announcement was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian is pleased to announce registration for the 2024 Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) is now open. Now in its 24th year, YPSA is an educational and affordable summer program that is open to all children living in Middlesex County ages 8-12. Older children have the opportunity to become a Counselor-in-Training.  The program is comprised of five, one-week camps and is held at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford. Registration for each week is $100 per child and includes transportation to and from designated bus stops; daily breakfast and lunch; and a graduation ceremony held each Friday. 

“YPSA is a proud tradition here at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.

Around Town

OP-ED: Democracy Dismantled, One Poll and Survey at a Time

By |

A continuation of “When Bad Ideas Happen to Good Neighbors”

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

A news article just came out on March 17, 2024 in a real estate publication, Banker and Tradesman. Watertown is famous! Here’s why:

“In Watertown Square, consultants recommend zoning areas around the square for building heights ranging from three to five stories, with the tallest heights near the five corners intersection. The proposal could generate over 6,320 housing units at full buildout, compared with the 1,701 required by the state’s formula for Watertown.”

And here’s HAW’s official response in that article:

“You don’t hire those consultants if you just want to do paper compliance,” said Sam Ghilardi, a steering committee member of the Housing For All Watertown resident group that supports additional multifamily development. “We are thrilled with what has been proposed so far.”

Around Town

40th Annual Run of the Charles Coming in April, Register to Participate or Volunteer

By |

The Charles River Watershed Association announced that the Run of the Charles, Boston’s Premier Paddling Event, will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024. The CRWA provided the following information. Race Information

The Run of the Charles: Boston’s Premier Paddling Race is the biggest paddling race in New England, celebrating its 40th race anniversary and the Charles River Watershed Association’s 50+ years of improvements to the health, beauty and enjoyment of the Charles River and its tributaries. Over 500 paddlers throughout the U.S., ages 12 and up, compete in the 3-, 6-, 9-mile and 14-Mile Relay Race. Races start in Newton and Brighton and finish at DCR’s Artesani Park on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. The Finish Line Festival will offer a range of entertainment for spectators and participants of all ages, free of charge.

Schools

Familiar Face Returning to Watertown to Lead Effort to Create Universal PreK Program

By |

Theresa McGuinness has been appointed as Principal of Watertown’s Early Steps School. (Contributed Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Watertown Public Schools is pleased to announce that Dr. Theresa McGuinness will become the principal of the Early Steps School, starting this summer. Dr. McGuinness returns to the district as the City of Watertown and Watertown Public Schools open a free Pre-K program for 4-year-olds in the fall of 2024. Watertown will become one of the only municipalities in Massachusetts to offer no-cost Pre-K education when the program launches. “I’m very excited at this opportunity to return to WPS as Principal of Early Steps and to work closely with the fine educators and support staff there – particularly given the plan to provide free universal PreKindergarten beginning in the fall of 2024,” said Dr. McGuinness.