Elections

LETTER: Watertown GOP Candidates Get Endorsement from State Group

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The Massachusetts Republican Assembly (MARA) and Sharron Angle, former candidate for United States Senate and President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) proudly endorse Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward for Republican State Committee woman and man respectively in the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex Massachusetts State Senate District (include Watertown, Belmont, Back Bay, and Brighton). Both MARA and the NFRA are dedicated to reforming the Republican Party and giving the grassroots a greater voice in the policy and direction of the Republican Party. Deborah Dugan and Steve Aylward are dedicated to this same mission. In that spirit they have both signed “The Real Republican Reform Pledge.” (See below). We Confident that as your State Committee representatives Deborah and Steve will represent the interest of the Republicans in of the District.

Around Town

CBS Seeks to Shoot Marathon Bombing Film at Scene of Watertown Shootout

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A film production company wants to come to Watertown to recreate the Watertown Shootout when police encountered the Boston Marathon Bombers at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street. 

In early, February, CBS Films contacted some residents in the area of the Watertown Shootout to discuss the production of the film, named “Patriots Day.” The movie will star Boston-native Mark Wahlberg and will be directed by Peter Berg, who also directed “Lone Survivor.” According to the flyer sent to residents on Laurel Street, the movie “tells the story of the days following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and the extraordinary men and women involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice.” On Feb. 12, representatives from CBS met with immediate neighbors to the area of the shootout, and the area where they seek to film.

Environment

LETTER: Stormwater Committee Member Urges Council to Adopt New Ordinance

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To the Editor,

On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, during its regularly scheduled meeting, the Town Council will hold a Public Hearing and Vote on a proposed Stormwater Management and Erosion Control Ordinance. As a member of the Watertown Stormwater Advisory Committee (SAC) that originally proposed this Ordinance, I submit that the adoption of this Ordinance is the right move for Watertown at this time for two reasons. First of all, the Town of Watertown, in accordance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for discharging stormwater into the Charles River from its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), is required to have ordinances governing (1) erosion control during construction projects, (2) post-construction management of stormwater on newly developed and redeveloped sites, and (3) illicit discharges to the storm drainage system. The Town enacted an ordinance prohibiting illicit discharges to the storm drainage system in 2011. The proposed Ordinance will address the first two.

Government

Colm Toibin Coming to Special Event Hosted by New Rep Theatre

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New Repertory Theatre will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special event featuring Irish author Colm Toibin, author of “Brooklyn” and other works. The event will be held on Thursday, March 17 from 7-9 p.m. at the Commander’s Mansion, Arsenal on the Charles, 441 Talcott Ave., Watertown. This special Spotlight Symposium event will begin with a private reception with Colm Toibin, author of The Testament of Mary, featuring a variety of appetizers, a complimentary spirits tasting with Boston Harbor Distillery, and desert provided by Terry O’Reilly’s Irish Pub. We’ll continue the evening with a reading from New Rep’s critically acclaimed production of The Testament of Mary, featuring Paula Langton, and an interview conducted by WGBH’s arts reporter, Jared Bowen.

Government

Sheriff Koutoujian Will Speak about the Opioid Crisis at Watertown Dem Event

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Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will be speaking to the Watertown Democratic Town Committee at their monthly meeting, Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers of the Watertown Town Hall. The Sheriff will be talking about his work addressing the state’s opioid crisis. Sheriff Koutoujian has served in that position since he was appointed by then Governor Deval Patrick in 2011. Before that, he represented the 10th Middlesex District in the legislature, which included part of Watertown.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Will Meet With Residents Twice in March

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Watertown residents will have two opportunities to meet with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht in March. Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours on Thursday, March 3 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on the third floor hallway of Watertown Town Hall and on Tuesday, March 15 in study room #1 in the Watertown Public Library from 5-6 p.m.

Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht to discuss pending legislation or any other issue of concern to them. Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Government

New Transportation Committee Looking at Improving Bus Service in Town

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Ways to improve MBTA service in Watertown was one of the top issued discussed during the inaugural meeting of the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation last week. 

The Council has been focused on the issue for the past few years, and it became such a thorn for regular users that a citizen group – the Watertown Public Transit Task Force – formed to advocate for improvements. Some headway was made in 2014 when MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott came to visit town to see the problems facing Watertown’s T users. A change in governors and a historically bad winter that gridlocked the MBTA meant that Scott was out and Watertown lost its connections in the state’s transportation agency. “She’s gone. A lot of people have changed.

Government

LETTER: Steve Owens Receives Endorsement for Democratic State Committee

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I am happy to endorse Steve Owens as committeeman for the Democratic State Committee. Steve and his family have put down strong roots in Watertown and they have been deeply involved in our community; they have been homeowners in Watertown since 2003 and have two young sons attending the Hosmer School. Steve has done a fine job serving as chairman of the Wartertown Democratic Committee since 2008. He is a professional transportation consultant and serves on Watertown’s Public Transit Task Force. We are fortunate to have the benefit of his expertise with all the new development Watertown faces.