Around Town

West Nile Virus Risk Level Raised to High in Watertown and Surrounding Areas

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The Watertown Health Department sent out the following information:

We have been advised that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is raising the West Nile Virus Risk level for Watertown and surrounding communities to high. This means that the risk of contracting West Nile Virus is increased and persons over 50 and the immunocompromised are at greater risk for severe illness. They should take precautions and limit their activity outdoors during peak mosquito periods (dusk to dawn). Residents should also eliminate all standing water in their yards and remove any receptacles that can collect and hold water. Also apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors.

9/11

Watertown Remembers 9/11 at Ceremony, Reflects on the Events of 20 Years Ago

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Firefighters salute during the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at the Watertown Fire Station on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. Each year since the attacks on the World Trade Center took the lives of hundreds of firefighters, the Watertown Fire Department has honored the sacrifices made on Sept. 11, 2001. This year, which marked the 20th anniversary, the ceremony drew dozens of people, who lined the sidewalk in front of the Watertown Fire Headquarters on Main Street.

Around Town

Watertown Shuttle Starts Running from Pleasant Street to Harvard Square, Available to the Public

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Watertown TMAThe Watertown Connector started running the week of Labor Day. The shuttle goes down Pleasant Street to Watertown Square and then heads to Harvard Square. It is open to the general public. Watertown residents have a new public transportation option with the addition of the Watertown Connector, which runs along Pleasant Street and ultimately takes people to Harvard Square. For about a decade, the Town of Watertown and residents have been working to start a shuttle to the westside corridor that would serve not only businesses and apartment complexes that help fund it, but also the general public.

Around Town

Watertown Fire Department to Hold 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on 20th Anniversary

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The Watertown Fire Department will mark the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 on Saturday at the Main Fire Station. The Town of Watertown sent out the following information about the ceremony:

The Watertown Fire Department will be conducting a brief remembrance ceremony for the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 9:55 a.m. at Fire Station Headquarters, 99 Main St., Watertown, MA. Everyone is welcome to attend. Plan of Events

9:55 a.m. – Apparatus roll out of bays to appropriate location in front of station.

Arsenal Yards

Star of ‘Bar Rescue’ Opening Restaurant in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Taffer’s Tavern and Arsenal Yards:

Taffer’s Tavern, the innovative new full service tavern concept founded and developed by leading hospitality expert and star of Paramount Network’s Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer, announced today its first Boston area restaurant is headed to Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood located along the Charles River in Watertown, Massachusetts, just miles from the heart of Boston. The Arsenal Yards team selected Taffer’s Tavern to complement its curated dining experiences, boutique shops, entertainment offerings, 300 contemporary residences, state of the art life science space, 146-room hotel, and more. “We are very excited to welcome Taffer’s Tavern to our unique lineup of restaurant, retail and entertainment offerings here at Arsenal Yards,” said Gary Robinson, Vice President, Leasing at Wilder, developer of Arsenal Yards. “It is one of many new additions to the Arsenal Yards neighborhood, and we know our local community will love Jon Taffer’s vision for bringing a top quality experience to casual dining. This opening will help us further our goal of creating one-of-a-kind experiences for our residents, visitors and guests.”

This marks the first of several Taffer’s Tavern restaurants operated by experienced franchise operators and Boston area natives Marc Magerman and Peter Weber of 8G Hospitality Associates, LLC.

Around Town

See Gardens in Watertown That Support Bees & Other Pollinators During Tour on Sept. 12

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The Watertown Life-Friendly Garden Tour will take place on Sept. 12, 2021. Pictured is a bicolored striped sweat bee on aster. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Friends of the Bees:

You’ve probably heard the phrase “save the bees,” but the bees who need the most help may not be the bees you think of first. In addition to the fuzzy bumblebees we know and love, and the honeybees that give us honey there are many types of native bees you may not have noticed.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown Teachers Union Responds to Calls for Vaccination

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To the Members of the Watertown School Community,

School Committee Candidate Rachel Kay’s recent letter to the Watertown MA News regarding a requirement for Watertown teachers to be vaccinated was not surprising given the level of political discourse that has recently besieged our country. In the letter, Ms. Kay is dismayed that there is not a vaccine mandate in place for teachers in the Watertown Public Schools. Her letter implies that the Watertown Educators Association and Watertown Public School District are opposed to a vaccine mandate. Ms.Kay appears to be uninformed regarding this matter. Had she inquired about a vaccine mandate by asking WEA leaders, School Committee members, or Superintendent Galdston, she would have learned that this matter is currently in negotiations.

Around Town

Watertown Man Tests Positive for West Nile Virus, See Tips for Avoiding Mosquitos

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Health Department:

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today a human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in Watertown. The case is a 79 year old male. The West Nile Virus risk level to in Watertown remains at moderate. This means that residents need to take appropriate precautions outlined below. Although serious illness caused by WNV is uncommon, there have been 216 cases of WNV in Massachusetts between 2001 and 2020.