Government

OP-ED: Proposed Noise Ordinance Effectively Bans Lawn Mowers, Leaf Blowers

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The Proposed Noise Ordinance Effectively Bans All Residential and Commercial Leaf Blowers/Lawn Mowers & Will Have Significant Other Negative Effects on Watertown Residents

On September 12, 2017 (yes 2017), the Town Council was asked to consider an issue brought up by the then Health Director regarding the Town’s noise ordinance. The reason? A resident, who lives next to the Commander’s mansion, claimed the landscaper who cuts the grass around the mansion was violating Watertown’s noise ordinance by cutting the grass too early in the morning. The Health Department disagreed. They reasoned that the noise ordinance, in its current form, exempts domestic lawnmowers and although the ordinance did not explicitly mention exempting commercial lawnmowers like the ones used outside the mansion, such a strict interpretation would likely place all commercial landscaping equipment in violation of the ordinance and result in a complete ban of such activity (whichclearly was not the intent of the ordinance).

Government

State Rep. Steve Owens Holding Virtual Office Hours

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State Rep. Steve Owens. The following announcement was provided by State Rep. Steve Owens:

State Representative Steve Owens will be hosting office hours this Saturday, March 20th at 2:00pm. This will be an informal meeting where constituents can share their concerns and discuss what is on their mind. The Representative will talk about what he has been working on and the issues he hopes will be getting attention this legislative session. 

The event will be held virtually through Zoom. To register, click the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAkc-6orjIpGdEwxy1MBxt0AlNftyJjZfgV

Entertainment

New Rep Theatre Putting on Video Production of One-Woman Play, “Unveiled”

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The following announcement was provided by New Rep Theatre:

New Repertory Theatre presents a professional recording of Unveiled, a provocative one-woman show written, preformed, and recorded by Rohina Malik, to be shared digitally with New Rep audiences for a limited time only. Previously produced in cooperation with the Greater Boston Stage Company in New Rep’s Blackbox Theater in 2018, this beloved and important production can be viewed from the comfort and safety of your home between April 2-18, 2021. Tickets for this digital production will be on sale in mid-March. More information about Unveiled can be foundat https://www.newrep.org/productions/unveiled-digital/. “We are so thrilled to bring back the critically acclaimed New Rep favorite, Unveiled in arevived digital platform,” shares New Rep’s Communications Director, Jaclyn Dentino.

Transportation

MBTA Holding Virtual Public Meetings on Changes to Purchase Fares

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An MBTA bus in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by the MBTA and MassDOT:

Three virtual public meetings are being held this month regarding the MBTA’s Fare Transformation program and upgrades to its sales network. In the future, riders will be able to purchase MBTA fares and passes online, via their smartphones, and with contactless credit/debit cards. Though customers will no longer be able to use cash to pay onboard vehicles once the new fare collection system is implemented by 2023, the MBTA is currently introducing more places to load cash onto CharlieCards than were previously available. Aimed at serving cash-dependent riders, this expansion will result in a larger, more robust, and more diverse sales network of retailers, in-station fare vending machines, and new streetscape fare vending machines at bus stops, Commuter Rail, Green Line, and Mattapan Line stations across the network.

Obituaries

OBIT: Samantha Lee Chase, 32, Grew Up in Watertown, Dog Lover

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Samantha Lee Chase

Samantha Lee Chase of Watertown, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2021 at the age of 32. Sam was the loving daughter of David A. Chase & Lisa L. (Yankowski) Chase of Watertown. Born in Cambridge, she grew up and was raised in Watertown. Samantha spent 12 years in the Watertown Public School system, graduating from Watertown High School on 2006. After high school she obtained her degreein massage therapy.

Around Town

Watertown Charter Review to be Discussed at Watertown Citizens Group Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

The Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment will hold its March Monthly Meeting on March 17 at 7:00 pm, online. The link is posted on our website:  http://watertowncitizens.org/

Our March Monthly Meeting will feature a presentation by Janis Hudson, a member of the Steering Committee of Watertown Forward and a discussion facilitated by Watertown Citizen member, Abby Yanow. The meeting will be begin at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 17. You are welcome to join us for a chat at 6:45 pm. Watertown Forward is a non-partisan civic action group whose mission is to educate, empower, and engage the Watertown community in Watertown’s Charter Review process.

Charity

Youth Sports League Grants Available to Make Sure All Watertown Children Can Play

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The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

With the announcement of The Watertown Community Foundation’s (WCF) Youth Sports League Grant Program, WCF aims to serve Watertown youth from pre-k through high school, their families, and the volunteer coaches who run the leagues. Many children cannot participate in organized sports due to the cost and many coaches assume the added burden of paying players’ fees themselves. The goal is to allow greater participation in team sports of all kinds for all youth regardless of their ability to pay. “WCF is committed to helping every Watertown child that is interested have the experience of playing a team sport” said WCF board member Bob Airasian, the driving force behind the program. “The Youth Sports League Grant Program will provide financial support to youth sports leagues to reduce costs as barriers to participation. We couldn’t have done this on our own and are incredibly thankful for the support from The Bilezikian Family Foundation and NESN.”

“Youth sports leagues teach children athletic and social skills, foster community among families, and attract and retain families in Watertown.

Around Town

LETTER: Barely Meeting the Minimum is Not Good Enough for Watertown Students

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The following letter was sent by a group of Watertown parents called WPS Parents for Moving School Forward:

While school districts across Massachusetts are presenting their communities with joyous plans to return elementary students to school full time by the state required date of April 5 or earlier, Watertown is setting itself up to again lag behind in providing students access to public school. Our community has been informed of a plan that would put elementary students in school for only half days starting April 5 until an eventual return to full time April 26. As this approach is contrary to the back to school full time by April 5 mandate that the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has recently announced, WPS is now in the process of asking DESE is this is allowable. As best as we can understand, WPS is arguing to DESE that if we do half days for most of April, but regular full days for the rest of the year after that, then over the full 10 weeks remaining we will end up with an average that meets the state minimum hourly per-day requirements and therefore should be permitted to delay full time return. Whether DESE allows this or not, it is a bad choice for the students of Watertown.