Entertainment

‘Patriots Day’ to Film in Watertown, Studio Donating to Town to Hire a Cop

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The film about the Boston Marathon Bombings, and the events that followed in Watertown, will film a portion of the film at the old Police Station and a donation from the filmmakers will allow the town to hire an additional police officer. 

Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll revealed the news during his presentation of the Fiscal 2017 budget to the Town Council, Tuesday night. “The submitted Fiscal Year 2017 budget includes funding of one additional police officer above Fiscal Year 2016 level as a result of CBS Films providing $60,000 to the Town, primarily related to the filming of scenes of the ‘Patriots Day’ movie at the former Police Station,” Driscoll said. The police officer will bring the total uniformed officers in town up to 67, Driscoll said, including 49 patrol officers. The department also has nine dispatchers, four civilian employees and crossing guards at spots around town. In future years, the additional officer town officials will have to find room in the town’s operating budget to pay for the officer added through CBS Films’ donation, Driscoll said.

DPW

Town Hosting Event to Recycle Styrofoam, Tires and Shred Paper

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The Watertown Department of Public Works will hold a recycling event and paper shredding in May. The event will be on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Watertown Recycle Center on 76 Stanley Ave., Watertown, (off of Waltham Street). The event features:

Paper Shredding

Styrofoam collection

Tires – NO RIMS

This event is open to Watertown residents.

Government

Council Subcommittee Searches for Ways to Cut Down on Use of Cars

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A Town Council subcommittee searched for ways to cut down on the use of vehicles in Watertown, particularly driver only trips, to reduce the traffic in Watertown as town grows. For future development projects, and some recent ones, the town will require a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan, but councilors on the Transportation Committee struggled with ways to encourage businesses and large residential complexes to reduce their use of vehicles at their meeting last Tuesday. A TDM can have many features, including having an on-site manager to oversee the program, discounted transit passes, car and van pools, guaranteed rides home for those using transit or carpools, flexible work hours and contributions to a shuttle bus. The TDM numbers are based on the traffic studies done by developers before the project is approved. Director of Community Development and Planning Steve Magoon said the traffic created by a project rarely exceeds the numbers in the study.

Government

Seniors Can Sign Up for their MBTA CharlieCards in Watertown

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger is sponsoring a Senior CharlieCard Day on Wednesday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Watertown Senior Center, 31 Marshall Street, Watertown, the senator’s office announced. Seniors age 65 or older can save a trip to the MBTA offices in Downtown Boston and apply for a Senior CharlieCard at the Senior Center on this one day. Staff from the office of Sen. Will Brownsberger will be on hand to take a photo and process applications which will be provided. Seniors will need to bring a valid, state-issued photo ID that includes date of birth. No advance sign-up is needed.

Government

Hear About Progress on the T’s Green Line at Meeting This Week

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MBTA Officials will present an update on Green Line service on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 in Brighton. State Sen. Will Brownsberger will host the meeting, which runs from 6-8 p.m. at the Brighton Elks Lodge, 326 Washington St., Brighton. MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola will present an update on Green Line service and the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Also attending the meeting will be William McClellan, Assistant General Manager, Rail Operations; Trish Foley, Legislative Liaison, MBTA; Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Brighton); Rep. Michael Moran (D-Brighton); and Boston City Councilor Mark Ciommo (District 9).

Government

Watertown Board of Health OKs Keeping of Chickens and Bees With a Permit

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The Watertown Board of Health voted unanimously to approve a regulation creating Hen and Honey Bee permits Wednesday, as well as updating the regulation governing the keeping of animals. Boston, and Somerville have passed similar regulations for hens and honeybees and Cambridge is currently looking into it, town consultant Donna Moultrup said. The permit, which must be renewed annually, is designed to promote sustainability and local food production, a draft of the regulation read. Though residents can apply for the permits immediately, they won’t go into effect until May 1. The Board of Health spent the past 2 years consulting with experts, as well as the Watertown Bee Committee as they developed the regulations, Board Chairman John H. Straus said.

Development

Concerned Citizens Assoc. Hosting Forum on Watertown Property Rights

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The Concerned Watertown Citizens Association will be hosting its Third Open Forum Meeting at 7 p.m., on May 12 at the Library, announced President John Labadini. The group sent out the following information:

Please-Spread the word and help educate your fellow citizens on what’s being proposed in their town. watertownpropertyrights.org/upcoming-events We will be reviewing and discussing the following facts:

1. The Town is considering implementing “Residential Guidelines” that could become “Mandates” (ie. new ordinances) as well as extending the Demolition Delay Ordinance from 12 to 24 months.

Government

See the Trees Available From the Town to Plant in Front of Your Home

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Watertown Tree Warden Chris Hayward released the list of tree species available for residents for the Spring of 2016. There are 17 trees available, and the come in small (15-25 feet tall), medium (25-40 feet) and large (40-90 feet) sizes. See the list here. Hayward sent out the following information:

If you would like a tree to be planted, please email your top three choices to the Tree Warden at chayward@watertown-ma.gov. He will come out to your site to see if there is a suitable planting location and let you know whether a tree can or cannot be planted. Keep in mind, if you are interested, that trees can also be planted on private property within 20-feet of the public right of way.