Government

Snow Impact: Tuesday Closings, Parking Ban & Trash Update

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The latest, ongoing snow storm looks to be a biggie, and will impact Watertown residents this week. 

The National Weather Service forecasts 8-16 inches of snow overnight and during the day Monday. The Watertown Public Schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Town Hall, the Watertown Free Public Library and the Watertown Senior Center will be closed Monday. The School Committee meeting has been rescheduled to Feb. 23, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald.

Government

Sen. Brownsberger Seeking Summer State House Interns

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger announced this week that up to four part-time unpaid internships in his State House office will be available to students from his district for the summer of 2015. Legislative internships offer students a wide variety of experiences including issue research, constituent service, legislative work and budget tracking. Daily seminars on different aspects of state government are scheduled by the Senate. Internships are open to undergraduate college students and to high school students who will have completed their sophomore year. All applicants must have a permanent residence in the senator’s district which includes Watertown.

Development

Meeting Planned to Discuss Renovating Verizon Building in the East End

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Boylston Properties will discuss plans to renovate and expand the Verizon building in East Watertown at a public meeting. 

The building at 480 Arsenal St., which backs up to Nichols Avenue, will be turned from a warehouse to offices. It will have a total of 185,000 square feet of office space “by carving out and adding to the existing building footprint, and inserting a floor within the existing structure,” according to the announcement sent out by Boylston Properties. Additional improvements included in the project are “connections to the Watertown Greenway, large amenity and open spaces, and a reconstructed parking field with upgraded stormwater management and infiltration systems.” The main access to the building will continue to be at the signalized intersection at Arsenal Street, according to the announcement, with a secondary access and improvements along Nichols Avenue. At the meeting on Wednesday, Feb.

Government

Recreation Department Seeks Ideas for Improving Facilities, Programs

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Recreation Director Peter Centola and his staff have begun putting together requests for next year’s budget and the capital budget and they seek ideas for ways to improve parks and programs.

Centola put out a request for input and ideas from residents this week. “Please feel free to send the department thoughts and recommendations for improvements in our recreational facilities or our programming,” Centola wrote. Messages may be sent directly to Peter Centola at pcentola@watertown-ma.gov, or call the Recreation Department at 617-972-6494.

Government

See an Update on the Snow Emergency, Trash Collection

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The snow emergency will continue, the Department of Public Works announced Tuesday, and the trash collection schedule will be altered. Due to the record snow fall from last week’s blizzard and Monday’s heavy snow, on-street parking will continue to be prohibited. Trash and recycling collection this week will be pushed back one day, so Tuesday pick up will be Wednesday, Wednesday will be Thursday, etc. The normal trash/recycling schedule will resume on Monday, Feb. 9.

Government

Snow Causes Watertown Parking Ban, Closing of Schools

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The storm which could drop 8-16 inches of snow on Watertown heading has prompted a parking ban in Watertown and closing of the public schools. 

The snow emergency parking ban begins at midnight on Monday and lasts until further notice. Cars may be parked at the Watertown Police Station, in the public school parking lots and at municipal lots. The Watertown Public Schools will be closed Monday, according to the closing announcements on WCVB’s website. Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day, so Monday pickups will happen Tuesday, Tuesday pickup will be Wednesday, etc.

Development

ZBA Approves East Watertown CVS Despite Pleas of Neighbors

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Residents of Coolidge Square left Wednesday’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting upset and disappointed after the project they had fought so long against – the CVS – gained unanimous approval from the board. The 13,300-square-foot pharmacy will go at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets and replace the gas station at the corner, an office building and the former Elks Club. Residents made their case that the store would adversely impact their neighborhood and homes. They came out and spoke for hours at the December ZBA meeting, held meetings, went door-to-door and stood on the street rallying support against the development.

Government

Watertown Councilor Questions Lt. Gov. About Boston Olympics

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When Watertown Town Councilor Cecilia Lenk had an opportunity to ask new Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito a questions, she asked what many have been wondering – how will Boston and the state be prepared for the Olympics? Lenk asked the question at the WEMO (Women Elected Municipal Official) luncheon at last week’s Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting. The councilor said that the communities surrounding Boston have felt left out of the dialogue about the bid to get the 2024 Summer Olympics. Lenk said she worries about the transportation infrastructure, which is already overburdened in Watertown, despite the booming development – and that is without a major sporting event. Her question got a response, and not just from the Lt. Governor.