Around Town

Christmas Trees Can be Dropped Off at Recycling Center

By |

The City of Watertown sent out the following announcement:

Curbside collection will continue through Monday, January 22, 2024 but may be delayed due to weather conditions. We ask anyone who can drop off their tree, to do so. 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) is now offering Christmas tree drop off at the DPW during the month of January. There is a coned off area to the left of the DPW parking lot, as you drive in. Please remove all lights and decorations. Do NOT bag your tree. 

Drop off is always available at the Recycle Center, located at 76 Stanley Ave, as well. 

Entertainment

Closing Reception for Watertown’s Edible Plants Project, Opening Soon at New Location

By |

Edible Plants, Watertown’ a long-term interdisciplinary project that promotes awareness of our local environment through visual art and writing, will have a closing reception on Jan. 13, and will open at a new location on Jan. 26. The Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee provided the following information:

Edible Plants Closing Reception at TILL Wave Gallery

Saturday, January 13, 2-4 PM

TILL Wave Gallery264 Arlington Street, Watertown, MA 02472

Join us for the closing reception of Edible Plants at the TILL Wave Gallery before the show moves to the Mosesian Center for the Arts. Enjoy readings by Jordan Escobar, Patrick Fairbairn, and Ruth Henry with music by Justin Ouellette.

Around Town

Local Builder Helps Historical Society Repair One of Watertown’s Oldest Houses

By |

Photo by Charlie BreitroseThe Edmund Fowle House during a Treaty Day celebration. Submitted by Joyce Kelly & Marilynne Roach, Historical Society of Watertown

In November 2022 Patrick Mulroy, builder, remodeler, historic preservationist, and owner of ReModern Builders, contacted the Historical Society. Recently moved to Church Street in Watertown and wishing to become personally and professionally involved in the community, he offered us a donation of skilled labor from his carpenters. We met with Patrick at the Edmund Fowle House where we showed him a few projects that needed to be done but were on hold for lack of funds. He told us he was “excited to be able to not only donate to the upkeep of a historic resource, but participate in it as well.” (The Fowle House is on the National Register of Historic Places.) 

Patrick decided to take on the project of the side porch entrance door.

Around Town

KinderCare Opens New Learning Center in Watertown

By |

Inside a classroom at the KinderCare Learning Center at Arsenal Yards. (Courtesy of KinderCare)

The following announcement was provided by the KinderCare:

KinderCare Learning Centers is excited to announce the opening of a new child care center in Watertown. Arsenal Yards KinderCare is located at 501 Arsenal Street. The center will be led by Suzyann Miller, an educator with more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education. “I believe in empowering and being mindful in all situations, and I’m excited to be the new director for Arsenal Yard KinderCare,” said Miller.

Government

Sen. Brownsberger Seeks Input Through Online Gun Survey

By |

Wikimedia Commons / ChensiyuanMassachusetts State House. With the Massachusetts State Senate State to soon be taking up legislation on guns and firearms, Sen. Will Brownsberger seeks input via an online survey. Sen. Brownsberger sent out the following announcement:

Please take a few minutes to complete my survey on guns. The survey asks 26 true-false questions about feelings, opinions, and factual understandings on guns, gun violence, and gun laws. The survey is anonymous. We will be debating gun legislation in the senate sometime soon and I will also be inviting you to an open dialog about gun policy within the next week or two.  This survey will help define context for that dialog.  Your survey participation is important to me whether or not you plan to participate in that dialog.

Government

Watertown Community Preservation Program’s Current Projects, Reviewing Applications

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Community Preservation Committee:

The Community Preservation Program is approaching its fifth year of operation. Since the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) adopted the Community Preservation Act Five-year Plan 2021-2025, the CPC has conducted two complete funding rounds. This year, the CPC celebrated the completion of the program’s first two projects. Irving Park got revamped using $372,606 in outdoor recreation funds and the Edmund Fowle House saw its deteriorated wooden gutters replaced using $47,177 in historic preservation funds. While Irving Park is city-owned, the Fowle House Museum, listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, and built in 1772, is owned and operated by the Historical Society of Watertown.

Around Town

World in Watertown Remembers Board Member Susan Klaw

By |

Susan Klaw

By Chuck Dickinson

Former and current members of the World in Watertown Board of Directors were deeply saddened by the passing of their friend and colleague, Susan Klaw. Susan died peacefully at home at age 74 from ALS on December 23, 2023. There will be a memorial service on January 13th at 3 p.m. at the First Parish of Watertown Unitarian Universalist, 35 Church Street, Watertown. Susan was an active and engaged force with World in Watertown, and served on the Board of Directors for many years. She was always an active participant in meetings and many of World in Watertown events and programs (e.g., Unity Breakfast). She provided special leadership for World in Watertown’s sponsorship (with Friends of Project Literacy) of a naturalization ceremony and voter registration, a life-changing event for 200 immigrants from 50 different countries. She also played a key role in the transition of Board leadership from the “old guard” who had founded WiW to a new generation of community leaders in Watertown.

Around Town

LETTER: Thoughts on the Residential Snow Ordinance from a Former Councilor

By |

Greetings Councilors:

Many of you already know my thoughts on the proposed 2024 Residential Snow and Ice Removal Ordinance. In 2012, I voted a well thought out and vetted: “No.” I listened to the residents and the many scenarios of circumstances that were brought before the Committees. One of my comments was as follows:

“… something we need to work on as a community, but mandating it, I don’t think is appropriate …”