Government

UPDATED: High School Club Dives into Political Issues, Running Forum on ESL and Immigration

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{Please note, the date of the Forum on Language Learning and Immigration has been changed to March 28 due to snow on the 21st}

A group of students interested in politics and issues facing Watertown and the country has formed the Youth Political Action Committee or YPAC. Along with trying to get Watertown High School students more aware of politics, the group has taken on issues and next week will host a forum on one of them. On Monday, March 28 YPAC will help run the Forum on Language Learning and Immigration at the Watertown High School Lecture Hall from 7-9 p.m.

YPAC started last spring when one of the founders, junior Isaac Gibbons, was looking at a recent election. “It was after the 2012 elections. I was looking hard at the abysmal young voter turn out and it concerned me,” Gibbons said.

Government

Nominations Wanted for Watertown Historical Preservation Awards

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The Watertown Historical Commission seeks nominations for its annual Community Preservation Awards. 

The 2016 Watertown Historical Commission’s Preservation Awards Night will be held on Thursday, May 19 at the Commander’s Mansion on Talcott Avenue, starting at 7 p.m.

The Historical Commission invites you both to attend the event as well as to nominate a project which you feel fits the criteria of the appropriate listed awards. Here are the award categories:

The Richard E. Mastrangelo Award – given to any individual elected or employed by the Town of Watertown who has actively been a champion in supporting the preservation of a Historical Resource

The Citizenship Award – given to any individual who has taken a leadership role in the effort to educate the community-at-large about historical preservation issues or concerns. The Community Spirit Award –  given to any individual who has taken a leadership role in the advancement of appreciation for Watertown’ unique cultural make up. The Service to Youth Award – given to any individual, group or project directed at the children of Watertown which fosters the study of subjects of local historical interest or encourages the participation of children in subjects of historical preservation. The Architectural Preservation Award – given to any individual, group or project associated with the betterment of any building within Watertown that exhibits the use of architectural restoration standards or methods.

Government

Residents Invited to Give Opinion on Latest Plans for Renovation of Filippello Park

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The Recreation Department will host a meeting to discuss the renovation of Filippello Park this week. Recreation officials sent out the following information:

The Filippello Renovation Community Meeting Date will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2016 in the Richard E. Mastrangelo Council Chamber (in Town Hall) at 7 p.m.

This will be the second Community Meeting to discuss ideas relative to the renovation of the Grove Street entrance at Filippello Park. In addition to reviewing and discussing both tentative draft renderings, other ideas are welcome. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Contact the Recreation Office at 617-972-6494 or recreation@watertown-ma.gov for any additional
Victory Field
The Recreation Department also announced that the Victory Turf Complex will be open this week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. this week, weather permitting.

Government

Town Council Decides How to Fill Vacancy on Library Board of Trustees

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One of the Library Trustees announced she will step down from the board, and the Town Council had its choice of ways to fill the vacancy. Tuesday night, Town Council President Mark Sideris said the Council could call a special election to fill the seat, left open when Gracemarie LeBlanc resigned. They could also allow the other Trustees to work with Sideris to appoint a new member. Sideris recommended that the town not call a special election to fill just one spot on the Library Trustees. Instead, the Trustees would put out a call for applicants to fill the spot.

Government

Warm Weather Brings Early End to Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban

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Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn announced a suspension of the overnight parking ban in Watertown on Wednesday. 

With unseasonable warm weather and no snow in the long term forecast, Town Council President asked Lawn and Department of Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee to end the parking ban early, Sideris said Tuesday night. The end of the ban is effective on Wednesday night, but the Police Department asked residents to continue to park off the street to allow emergency vehicles to pass more easily.

Government

Senior Center Bids Farewell to Director After Nearly 3 Decades

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Caryl Fox treated Friday, March 6 as just another day at work, but it was her last as director of the Watertown Senior Center and her friends would not let it go without a small celebration. 

About 20 seniors who had been involved at the Senior Center and worked with Fox were joined by former Watertown Town Councilor and Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney. She brought with her a proclamation from the Governor’s Council declaring March 6, 2016 as Caryl Fox Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Fox refused any interview, saying, “I just do my work.” She thanked those who had turned out to wish her a happy retirement. “Thank you for the proclamation,” Fox said.

Arsenal Street Corridor

State Study Finds Buses Overcrowded, Traffic Slow on Arsenal Street

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The buses that serve Arsenal Street are overloaded at peak times, and are delayed by traffic gridlock in Watertown Square and going over the bridge into Brighton. 

These are a couple of the findings of a study of Arsenal Street currently being done by the Massachusetts Department of Transit (MassDOT) in an effort to improve the corridor that will add many more jobs, housing units and retail stores in the next several years. The area is served by the MBTA’s 70 and 70A buses. MassDOT officials recently came to Watertown to present their preliminary findings (see the presentation here). The Arsenal Street Corridor is served by the 70 and 70A buses and includes 5,710 residents, 2,740 households and includes 6,630 jobs, according to the study. The study looked at commuting patterns, and found:

Watertown residents commute to: Boston (27%) Watertown (18%) Cambridge (11%) Waltham (6%) Newton (5%)
Those working on the Arsenal Street Corridor come from: Watertown (17%) Boston (16%) Waltham (8%) Newton (4%) Cambridge (4%)

Buses
In prior public meetings about the area, many have complained about crowded buses and transit running behind schedule.

Government

State Legislators Get and Inside Look at Perkins School for the Blind

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State representatives and senators from around Massachusetts got a closeup look at what goes on at Perkins School for the Blind this week on Legislator’s Day. 

The Watertown-based school and Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) invited elected officials with students who attend the school to visit campus on Tuesday. Among those who attended were Watertown’s state representatives – John Lawn and Jonathan Hecht – as well as Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. They got to meet students and visit classrooms to see what Perkins students are learning. Perkins School for the Blind does not just teach students the academic subjects, Power said, they also teach students how to live independently after they leave Perkins. “Every class session includes social skills, self-determination and assisted technology,” Power said.