Around Town

OP-ED: The Watertown Square Area Zoning Proposal is Out — What’s Next?

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A diagram of the proposed by-right housing zoning in Watertown Square to meet the MBTA Communities Law requirement. The by-right areas are outlined in a dark dashed line. (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

I’m filling out my “Very important Paper.” This is what I’m Considering. [EDITOR’s NOTE: The plans and ideas for Watertown Square presented at the April 6 meeting and discussed in this piece are conceptual, have not yet been approved, and if they are do not necessarily mean that they will become a reality]. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

First, I’d like to thank City Manager George Proakis and his team for all of their efforts for the April 4th meeting.

Around Town

Watertown Boys & Girls Club Announces 2024 Youth of the Year Winner

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The Watertown Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year for 2024, Yazmin Ramirez Arias. (Courtesy Photo)

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Boys & Girls Club:

The Watertown Boys & Girls Club held their Annual “Rising Stars” Youth of the Year Awards Celebration on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in the Club’s gymnasium. Three highly qualified Club Member were nominated as a result of their service at the Club and further in the community. Yazmin Ramirez Arias was named the Watertown Boys & Girls Club “Youth of the Year.”

In this Leadership Development Program, Club Members nominated by Club Staff are prompted to write a “Club Experience” Essay that shares their achievements and why they personally believe they should be named “Youth of the Year.” They present this essay to local judges who collectively decide the top candidate. The top chosen candidate and Official “Youth of the Year” will represent The Watertown Boys & Girls Club and qualify for the next step to compete at the State Event for the title of Massachusetts Youth of the Year on May 7, 2024 at Gillette Stadium.

Around Town

Volunteers Wanted to Help With 40th Annual Run of the Charles Race

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The following information was provided by the Run of the Charles:

Nearly 150 volunteers are needed to help set up the race, check in paddlers, direct boat traffic through portages, check boat numbers, post results and take care of all the other details that make the Run of the Charles such a success each year! We are most in need of volunteers for:

Moody Street Dam, Waltham (Approx. 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM) check-in for Relay leg 2 and portage 1

Bleachery Dam, Waltham (Approx. 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM) portage 2

Watertown Dam, Watertown (Approx. 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM) portage 3, check-in for Relay leg 3

Watertown Bridge, Watertown (Approx.

Around Town

City Seeks Input on Watertown’s New 311 Service Center

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The following information came from the City of Watertown:

The launch of the 311 Service Center is approaching. Your assistance is invaluable in gathering feedback on our non-emergency report system and understanding where you’re accessing this system. We invite you to participate in the City of Watertown 311 Focus Group and contribute to this initiative. Focus groups will be on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Watertown Savings Bank Room in the Watertown Free Public Library at 123 Main Street in Watertown. Throughout these sessions, we’ll make use of both the mobile app and web app editions of SeeClickFix.

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Watertown Square Housing & Intersections Proposals Revealed

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A large crowd listened to the presentation at the Watertown Square Area Plan Meeting on April 4 at 66 Galen St. (Photo by Rachel Kay)

The proposed design of Watertown Square will look similar to the current intersection, with one leg removed and larger open space. Designers also revealed a new plan to meet the MBTA Communities Law on Thursday, showing a plan with areas for by-right housing around Watertown Square, and south of the Charles River. The design team and City officials have gathered input from the public at previous meetings, City Manager George Proakis said, and there were strong agreement on some areas, such as that the Watertown Square intersection needed improvement and the downtown area has some nice historic architecture, but much of the area lacks character and is not friendly to shoppers and pedestrians. Other matters were more mixed.

Around Town

Free T-Shirt Days at the Watertown Library

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The Watertown Library will be giving away T-shirts in April. (Courtesy of the Watertown Library)

The Watertown Free Public Library will be giving away T-shirts. Find out more information in the announcement provided by the Library, below. On April 12 and April 13, 2024, the first 100 children and first 100 teens & adults to stop by our table in front of the Library will receive a free T-shirt. Come and meet Library Director Kim Hewitt, pick up a free button, sticker, or T-shirt (while supplies last) and learn about everything your library has to offer.