Around Town

Watertown Receives Grant to Evaluate ADA Accessibility

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Watertown City Hall

The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown is pleased to announce it has been awarded the Massachusetts Office on Disability’s (MOD) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self Evaluation and Transition Planning grant! A recipient of the MOD’s planning grant award, Watertown will utilize the funds to conduct an evaluation of all City programs, services, and buildings, and their accessibility and compliance with ADA standards. As Watertown works to improve its access across all of its services, this grant funds the support to appropriately identify the barriers that might be impacting equal access to our City. Once the self-evaluation is completed, the City will develop a Transition Plan which will consist of all the barriers to equal access that were identified in the self-evaluation, along with a timeline for and plan for removing them. This is a significant step in making Watertown accessible to all, and Watertown’s ADA Coordinator Patrick George speak to what this means for Watertown and our residents: “The City is grateful to receive this grant.

Around Town

City Releases Final Version of Health and Human Services Report

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The City of Watertown provided the following announcement. The City of Watertown is excited to announce the release of the Health and Human Services Assessment Final Report! You can read the report today, which includes an analysis of the existing health and human services available in Watertown, an identification of gaps between needs and services, a series of recommendations made by the experts at Health Management Associates to the City of Watertown, and much more! You’re also encouraged to stay up to date at the City of Watertown’s website for the next steps of this report in the coming weeks and months!

Around Town

2025 Watertown Trash and Recycling Calendar Released

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The City of Watertown sent out the 2025 Trash and Recycling Calendar. See details in the announcement below, and a preview above. Please watch your mailbox for the 2025 Trash and Recycling Calendar. In addition to the calendar showing which days your trash, recycling and yard waste will be picked up, there is also useful information about composting, how to dispose of mattresses, furniture, clothing and TVs, the hours and location of the Recycle Center and what you can bring there, and a guide to what materials are and are not recyclable. You can also see the calendar on the Trash and Recycling page, where you can also download it if you can’t find the copy that you received in the mail.

Entertainment

Artist Selected to Create Mural Celebrating Artist Arshile Gorky

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“100 Years of Arshile Gorky” digital mural rendering by Brandon Gaia Marshall, 2024. Part of the selected mural proposal that will wrap both sides of the Grove Street underpass on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway in Spring-Summer 2025. The artist who will create a mural celebrating Watertown artists Arshile Gorky has been selected by the Watertown Arts and Culture Committee. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. After a public meeting on November 18th, the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee (PACC) is excited to announce that artist Brandon Marshall will paint his mural design at the Grove Street underpass on the Watertown-Cambridge Greenway.

Business

Charles River Chamber Hosting 1st Annual Watertown Night at Olespana

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The following announcement was provided by the Charles River Chamber:

The Charles River Regional Chamber invites the community to the first annual Watertown Night, a special evening bringing together business owners, professionals, civic leaders, and community members. The event will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Olespana Whiskey and Tapas Bar on Mt. Auburn Street. Highlights include networking opportunities, a sampling of Olespana’s signature Spanish inspired cuisine, and the celebration of the Watertown Business Awards honorees, recognized for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Entertainment

Mosesian Center for the Arts Receives Emergency Grant from Watertown Community Foundation

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The Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown. (Courtesy Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the Mosesian Center for the Arts Board:

The Mosesian Center for the Arts (MCA) received an off-cycle, emergency stabilization grant from the Watertown Community Foundation to offset the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Arts non-profits were hit hard during the pandemic. In an effort to build back after months of being shuttered, pandemic relief funds were used to create additional programming which also came with additional staffing. With the sudden and noticeable loss of the New Repertory Theatre, revenue did not keep up with the expanded programming,” explained MCA Board Chair, Shaunna Harrington.

Around Town

Watch the Chamber’s Forum on the Impact Housing Cost; the State’s Competitiveness

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On Wednesday, the Charles River Chamber hosted an event focused on economic development in the region, and heard from the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation, as well as hosting two panels: one of young professionals and another with the planning directors from the Chamber’s four communities — including Watertown’s Steve Magoon. The Chamber provided the following information:

Earlier this week we hosted a program on the UMass Amherst Mount Ida campus exploring our region’s top economic challenges, including housing and workforce, as well as Massachusetts’ competitive strengths and weaknesses. Here’s the event recording, and here’s direct links to the event’s three segments:

– Mass Taxpayers Foundation presentation by Doug Howgate. – Planning directors discussing housing, commercial and economic development

– Young professionals share their housing challenges.