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New Policy for Lights at City Fields and Courts Approved by City Council

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A new policy was approved for lights at Watertown’s Recreation facilities, including Saltonstall Park, home to the Papas Elite Summer Basketball League. (Photo by Natalie Nigito Photography)

A new policy for controlling lights at Recreation Department-run fields and courts was approved by the City Council on Aug. 12, despite some confusion coming out of the Committee meeting on the issue. The purpose of the policy, said Councilor Tony Palmoba (chair of the Committee on Parks and Recreation) is to have effective lighting while balancing community needs, public access and energy conservation. Generally, lights will turn on at fields and courts at sunset and turn off at designated closing times.

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WCA-TV’s PSA Day is coming up on September 19!

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable Access TV:

Watertown non-profits and organizations are welcome to sign up between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to film a PSA at WCA-TV’s Studio. All you need to bring is your script and smile! WCA-TV will edit the PSA for you. The PSAs created will then be broadcasted on WCA-TV’s Public Channels, as well as uploaded to our site. You will also receive a copy of the PSA.

Around Town

OP-ED: Watertown Group Remembers Hiroshima Bombing, Supports Campaign to Prevent Nuclear War

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Candle boats in the Charles at Watertown Square. The following piece was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace Justice & the Environment:

In 1912 Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City, gave 3,000 cherry trees to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the growing friendship between the United States and Japan. Thirty-three years later, on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and the second on Nagasaki three days later. Over 100,000 people’s lives were ended instantly and by the end of that year, over 210,000 people were dead. Countless others were maimed or suffered long-term effects of radiation. In what he called his “anti-poem,” Original Child Bomb, Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton described the events leading up to August 6 in a stark, bureaucratic style.

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City Offering Yard Waste Drop-Off as Trash Strike Continues

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A Watertown trash bin. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City of Watertown’s emergency drop-off site for trash and recycling will also now accept yard waste. The trash strike that started July 1 continues, and the City has set up a drop-off site at the former Sterritt Lumber site, 148 Waltham St., for residents to use. The temporary facility is open Monday-Friday, from 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. for Watertown residents. The City’s Trash Strike updates said: “Please limit your drop-off to 3 bags of household trash, the equivalent amount of recycling that would fit in your bins, and a maximum of three bags of yard waste.

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City Seeks Applicants to Serve on New Memorialization Committee

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The City seeks residents to serve on the Memorialization Committee, a new board that will create a process for naming public places such as parks, streets, squares, and municipal buildings, and making recommendations to the Council about how “Watertown honors its people and stories.” See the announcement from the City of Watertown below. Are you interested in Watertown’s rich history? Would you like to play a role in how our public places are named and remembered? The City of Watertown and City Manager George J. Proakis are seeking Watertown residents to serve on the newly formed Memorialization Committee.

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Point32Health Finance Team Supports Operation American Soldier

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Employees at Point32Heath packed care packages for American servicemen and -women, which will be delivered by Operation American Soldier. (Photo from Point32Health)

The following announcement was provided by Point32Health:

The Point32Health finance team turned a summer BBQ into something unforgettable. More than 150 colleagues in the finance organization came together for food and camaraderie and to make a meaningful impact in support of Operation American Soldier. Point32Health employees assembling the care packages. (Photo from Point32Health)

Together, the team assembled and donated 115 backpacks filled with snacks, toiletries, and handwritten notes of appreciation.

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Mount Auburn Cemetery to Mark 80th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing with Evening of Reflection and Art

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The following announcement was provided by the Mount Auburn Cemetery:

On Friday, August 15, Mount Auburn Cemetery will host Branches of Hope: Reflecting on the Past, Healing for the Future, a reflective, cross-cultural evening marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and the end of World War II. Through art, remembrance, and quiet contemplation, the event invites the public to reflect on the costs of conflict and the enduring human pursuit of peace. The program will include a keynote by Cannon Hersey, filmmaker and cultural organizer, and grandson of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Hersey, whose landmark 1946 book Hiroshima brought the voices of atomic bomb survivors to a global audience. Hersey is also currently producing a feature film inspired by his grandfather’s work, titled What Divides Us, set to begin production in 2025. “Eighty years after my grandfather, John Hersey, gave voice to the survivors of Hiroshima, their stories still feel deeply urgent,” said Cannon Hersey.

Around Town

Sidewalk Work Continues Along Mt. Auburn St. During Week of Aug. 11

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Over the week of Aug. 11 to 15, 2025, the Mt. Auburn Street Project includes sidewalk excavation, as well as drainage installation in the Eastside of town. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Sidewalk Excavation Continues

Excavation of the westbound sidewalk on Mount Auburn Street between Belmont Street and Keenan Street will continue Monday, August 11, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Learn about travel and parking impacts below.