Around Town

Watertown Consulting Firm Named Small Business Administration Microenterprise of the Year

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Sarah Scala’s consulting business was named the Small Business Administration’s Microenterprise of the Year. She lives in Watertown. The following announcement was provided by the Small Business Assocaition:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has named Sarah A. Scala of Watertown Consulting the 2023 Microenterprise Business of the Year for Massachusetts

Sarah Scala earned a reputation for being a results-driven leader, recognized for helping clients reach their highest potential – by increasing revenue, reducing turnover, increasing inclusion, elevating business profitability, and building competencies. “This is a SCORE Success Story all about helping an entrepreneur became a sustainable small business owner,” said District Director Robert Nelson. “From first helping Sarah obtain an EIN when first starting out — to supporting her relocation from New Hampshire to Cape Cod to Boston; SCORE provided her with specialized support every step of the way, helping her reach new heights.

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Local Daisy Troop Hosting School Supply Drive With Watertown Savings Bank

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Watertown Girl Scout Daisy Troop 77117, is hosting a School Supply Drive from April 17-27 to earn their Make the World a Better Place badge. 

The Troop, comprised of nine kindergarten girls across all three Watertown elementary schools, is are partnering with Watertown Savings Bank which will host the collection sites. All supplies will be donated to School on Wheels Massachusetts. See the list of items below. The mission of School on Wheels of Massachusetts is to support the academic, social and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness. The drop-off locations at the following Watertown Savings Bank locations:

Headquarters: 60 Main St.East Watertown: 10 Bigelow Ave.Nonantum: 175 Watertown St.Church Street: 45 Church St.Warrendale: 739 Main St. For more information contact Amy at amyjlboston@gmail.com

Items Needed (Most needed in bold)

CrayonsPens (blue or black)Sketch Pads and Colored MarkersFlexible Plastic RulersSingle-Subject Notebooks (wide ruled)New books for all grade levels (pre-k through grade 12).

Around Town

Third Annual Life Science Panel Hosted by Watertown Business Coalition

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The Watertown Business Coalition will host the third annual Life Science Panel on April 25 featuring representatives from four local life science companies. The first WBC life science event was held in April 2021 during the virtual days of the pandemic. Last year, the group held an in-person event at Hosmer Elementary School. This year’s event, “Biotech in Our Back Yard,” will be on Tuesday, April 25 at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. The event begins at 5:30, and the panel will run from 6:00-7:00, followed by networking and food provided by Branch Line. 

The moderator will be Merle Kummer, the founder of CoLab which partners life science companies in the City with Watertown High School students to coordinate class visits, field trips and internships.

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Watertown City Clerk Available to Perform Weddings

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The City of Watertown sent out the following information:

We are excited to announce that after a long hiatus, the City Clerk’s office will start performing wedding ceremonies again at City Hall beginning May 1, 2023! For couples seeking a short and simple wedding ceremony, the City Clerk’s office will offer the ability to be married by one of our on-staff Justices of the Peace here at City Hall. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 617-972-6486 or cityclerk@watertown-ma.gov to inquire.

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LETTER: Residents Ask Council to Increase Linkage Fee to $15/Sq. Ft.

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Note to reader: There has been a lot of talk recently in Watertown about the need for more affordable housing. One thing everyone in Watertown can do to help build more affordable housing is to attend the City Council Meeting on 4/11 at 7:00 PM and voice their support for proposed linkage fee ordinance that would raise money for affordable housing by applying a modest fee to new large non-residential developments in the city. While there is some debate about the exact fee amount (below is a copy of our letter to the City Council outlining the case for a $15/sqft fee), the most important issue to make sure the linkage fee is implemented as soon as possible, so we do not lose out on any more funds for affordable housing. 

Dear City Council President Sideris and City Councilors Gardner, Feltner, Piccirilli, Izzo, Airasian, Bays, Gannon, and Palomba:

We applaud the City Council’s efforts to promote affordable housing, first by establishing the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust and now by working with our state delegation to establish a linkage fee to directly fund affordable housing development. As the council considers enactment of the linkage fee, we urge the council to adopt a linkage fee of $15 per square foot, which our technical analysis below shows is in line with recent increases in residential construction costs not measured by the original Nexus study published last year. The Nexus study published last April recommended the council consider a linkage fee in the range of $9.44 to $11.12, which balances raising revenue for affordable housing while maintaining Watertown’s competitive position in the commercial (mainly focusing on life sciences) development space.

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LETTER: How Will Main St. Project Impact Post Office, The Square & Affordable Housing?

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An illustration of the project at 104-126 Main St. submitted to the City. Designed by Icon Architecture. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Well, next week is a big week for O’Connor Capital Partners and their project at 104-126 Main Street in Watertown Square. The Watertown Planning Board meeting is on Wednesday, April 12th at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber (second Floor) at City Hall (and remote), and it seems to me that it will sail right through the approval process.

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Kura Sushi Offers Anime Themed Prizes For Limited Time

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The following announcement was provided by Kura Sushi:

Kura Sushi USA, Inc., a leading technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept serving authentic Japanese cuisine through an engaging revolving sushi service model, is partnering for the second time with popular Japanese anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba for an all-new, limited-time Bikkura Pon collaboration! This collaboration will be available exclusively at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar U.S. restaurants from April 1 through May 31, or until supplies last. The new Demon Slayer x Kura Sushi Bikkura Pon prize collection includes three zipper accessories, four acrylic stand keychains and three can badges. Kira Sushi has a location at Arsenal Yards in Watertown. “After the excitement and success generated by our first Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba partnership last year, we knew guests would crave another Bikkura Pon prize collection that highlights the manga series’ characters in a new way,” said Sally Kurosaki, Promotions & Licensing Manager of Kura Sushi USA, Inc. “Kura is proud to align with popular Japanese culture tastemakers to create strategic brand partnerships that introduce our fresh, authentic sushi to new audiences, and surprise and delight our guests with consistently new, enticing Bikkura Pon prizes.”

The limited-time collectibles are dispensed from Kura Sushi USA’s proprietary Bikkura Pon Prize System, an integral part of the brand’s interactive and tech-driven dining experience.

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Mural Coming to Watertown Square Celebrates Artist’s Love, Vision for His New Hometown

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The mural, called “I See a Dream,” planned to be created on the wall outside CVS in Watertown Square by Amir Tabatabaei. A large wall in the center of Watertown will get a bright new look when a local artist creates a mural inspired by his experience moving to his new hometown. The project will be the first public art for its creator since he emigrated from Iran. Amir Tabatabaei will work on the mural that will go on the side of the CVS on Main Street in Watertown Square starting this spring. It will start where the gate opens onto Merchant’s Row, the alley off of Main Street, and unfolds along the wall.