Around Town

MBTA Announces Service Plans for Friday’s Celtics Parade

By |

The following information was provided by MassDOT:

To accommodate parade attendees heading to the 2024 Boston Celtics Championship “Rolling Rally” victory parade, the MBTA will operate enhanced service on Friday, June 21, 2024. To accommodate higher-than-normal ridership, the MBTA will operate increased subway service and modified Commuter Rail schedules with additional train times before and after the parade. Riders are strongly encouraged to purchase roundtrip fares in advance. Due to expected crowds, additional MBTA staff, MBTA Transit Navigation Crew volunteers, Transit Ambassadors, Keolis personnel, and Transit Police will be deployed throughout the system to assist with safety, wayfinding, boarding, paying for fares, and schedule information. Riders can find more information on MBTA service, parking, paying fares, and more at mbta.com/Celtics. 

“Friday will be a busy but joyous day as we all celebrate the Boston Celtics’ 18th Championship victory.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Accepting Applications, Find Out How Apply

By |

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

Interested in applying for CPA funds? Your first step is to complete a Project Eligibility Form to determine if your project is eligible for CPA funding. Project Eligibility Forms are due July 29, 2024. 

Sign up for CPA Clinic Hours  Learn how to turn a good idea into a successful project. If you have a notion for a project on city-owned property, get connected to the right city departments for permission and support. Find answers to all your questions about the application process and forms. 

Schedule an appointment during CPA Clinic Hours, listed below, for a phone call or in-person meeting:

June 21, 2023: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

July 6, 2023: 10:30-12 p.m.

July 10, 2023: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Read the application instructions here. Contact Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov or visit watertown-ma.gov for more information.

Around Town

OP-ED: Reflections on the First Watertown Square Plan Hearing

By |

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 1: Thomas Jefferson: “That government is the strongest of which every man feels himself a part.”

At last Thursday night’s Joint Hearing of the City Council and the Planning Board, the purpose was to gather community information and evaluate the Watertown Square Area Plan. According to Watertown News: “A large group of people supported the plan…” and “A significant number of people spoke out against parts of the project.”

This description is both brief and accurate. Many Watertown residents went to the podium to announce their “strong support” for this plan and/or to support it with the caveat that they’d like even more density. One by one, community members, finding no reason to look deeper into this plan, went up to the podium and started their comments with a cookie-cutter like “I strongly support this plan” and “I don’t think it goes far enough.”

They’d be a bit more convincing if some residents who agreed with this position hadn’t chosen to hold up their middle fingers and hiss behind the backs of those people who had more substantive and nuanced questions to be answered. Every Watertown resident is entitled to be heard, without such disrespectful antics.

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Will be Open on Wednesday

By |

The Watertown Farmers Market will be open this Wednesday. The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

The Market is OPEN on June 19th! Thanks to our fans and all who came by to celebrate our Opening Day last week ~ we hit a record close to 1,000 people visiting the market! 

Just in time for summer’s official start, you can find lots of fun and flavorful fruits and veggies, fantastic baked goods, sustainable seafood and meat, and so much more at this week’s market! 

Please note that due to the high temperatures predicted, we will not have our weekly artisan or musician attending this week. 

Watertown Farmers’ MarketWednesdays 2:30 – 6:30 pm(6:00pm close in October)June 12 – October 23, 2024Rain or ShineSaltonstall ParkCorner of Main St. & Whites Ave. (next to City Hall, 149 Main Street)

Providing access to farm fresh and specialty foods, supporting local agriculture and businesses, addressing food insecurity, building community, and promoting healthy and sustainable living. See more details about this week’s market by clicking here.

Around Town

Wada Hoppah Raffling a Trip to the Celtics Parade by Boat from Watertown

By |

Drew Rollert looks back toward the tower at Perkins School for the Blind. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The group planning to start a water shuttle from Watertown to Boston will raffle off a trip for two down the Charles River to the Boston Celtics’ Championship Parade on Friday. Wada Hoppah posted the following message on it’s Instagram account. RAFFLE ALERT!! Water lovers!

Around Town

Watertown Restaurant Will Offer Seasonal Prix Fixe Menu Featuring Local Ingredients

By |

Bar ‘Cino has opened in Watertown Square. (Photo courtesy of Bar ‘Cino)

Bar ‘Cino in Watertown will be serving prix fixe menus featuring in-season produce from farms in New England. The restaurant in Watertown Square will serve a three course prix fixe menu for $36 a person Sunday t0 Wednesday from June 24 to Sept. 18, said Bryan Parkin, General Manager at Bar ‘Cino in Watertown. The menu will use fresh ingredients from local farms.

“As a company we have spend quite a bit of money with Farm Fresh Rhode Island as well as Verrill Farms in Concord to help local agriculture and support the farmers,” Parkin said.

Around Town

Places in Watertown to Stay Cool During the Heat Wave

By |

Children enjoy the new spray pad at Filippello Park in East Watertown. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The City of Watertown provided the following tips about how to keep cool in this week’s heat wave:

As the first heat wave of the season approaches, here are some places to help you stay cool through Sunday, 23, 2024:

The Filippello Park Spray Pad, located between Arlington and Grove Streets, is open daily from 9:15 a.m.-8:15 p.m. all summer. The Watertown Free Public Library, at 123 Main Street, is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m-5 p.m. The Library will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. The DCR Pool, located at 138 Pleasant Street, is scheduled to be open on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 11:15 a.m. – 6:45 p.m. It will be open daily through Sunday, August 18, 2024. See information about the pool.

Around Town

City of Watertown Closures for the Juneteenth Holiday

By |

The City of Watertown provided the following announcement:

City Hall, the Parker Annex, Department of Public Works Offices, the Senior Center and the Watertown Free Public Library are closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in observance of Junteenth. Please be aware that due to the Juneteeth holiday on Wednesday, trash and recycling pickup will be delayed one day after the holiday. The pickup schedule is Monday, June 17-Tuesday, June 18, 2024 and Thursday, June 20-Saturday, June 22, 2024. A holiday postpones pickup by one day.