See Artwork Around Watertown, Join a YardArt Guided Tour

The creativity of Watertown residents is on display this month during YardArt. A couple of guided tours are scheduled to visit some of the displays, or create your own using the list on the YardArt website. A walking tour on April 14 will be led by Public Arts & Culture Planner Liz Helfer, and on April 23, the Bike & Pedestrian Committee will lead a bicycling tour. Guided YardArt Watertown Walking tour: Friday, April 14, 2023, at 1pm

Meet in front of the Watertown City Hall at 149 Main Street with Public Arts & Culture Planner, Liz Helfer. Liz will take you on a tour of nearby YardArt locations and discuss upcoming public art in Watertown. The tour will take approximately one hour and start at 1pm.

Patrick’s PALS 3 on 3 Tourney Raising Funds for Research of an Inherited Cause of Autism

The Patricks PALS 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will take place at Bentley this year. The event raises money for research into Fragile X Syndrome. The Patrick’s PALS 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returns in for the 27th time, and it will have a new home at Bentley University. This year’s tournament will take place on June 3, 2023, at Bentley University’s Dana Physical Education Center. The event raises money for FRAXA Research Foundation, which does research into Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited cause of autism and intellectual disabilities that affects 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 8,000 girls worldwide, according to FRAXA.

Our History: New Nation Signs First Treaty in Watertown

In 2002, local artist Henry Zunino sculpted a magnificent terra-cotta bas-relief of the signing of the Treaty of Watertown and presented it to the Historical Society. A copy was also produced and presented to the Town Council. It now resides in the foyer of Town Hall. A Dedication Ceremony was held July 13, 2004 at in the Town Hall Foyer. (Courtesy of Joyce Kelly)

This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown.

Developers of Life Science Projects Make Case to Ease the Impact of Linkage Fees

Elkus Manfredi ArchitectsA view from Water Street of the life sciences building being built by Boston Development Group at 66 Galen St. Developers working on life science projects in Watertown say the proposed linkage fees, being considered by the City Council, could put the City at a disadvantage compared to communities not charging the fees, and it comes at a bad time. They propose some changes to how they pay the $11.12 per square foot, which has been earmarked to create affordable housing. At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 11, Councilors will discuss and are scheduled to vote on the linkage fee rules. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Watertown has already received approval from the State Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker to charge up to $18 in linkage fees.

Registration Open for Middlesex Sheriff’s Youth Public Safety Academy

Charlie BreitroseA cadet in the Middlesex Youth Public Safety Academy uses the fire hose as at Saltonstall Park. The following information was provided by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office:

Registration for the 2023 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian has announced. 

YPSA is an educational, low-cost summer camp option for Middlesex County families. The camp is open to children ages 8-12 and will be held at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy in Chelmsford.  

“Thanks to our highly dedicated staff and our incredible public safety partners, YPSA has become one of our most recognizable and powerful community-based programs,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “Throughout the course of the summer, cadets will learn valuable public safety lessons from the same corrections professionals, police officers and firefighters who protect our communities each day.  By participating in a variety of fun-filled activities, cadets also build critical teamwork skills that they can carry into their everyday lives.” 

YPSA is comprised of five, one-week camps. This year, the camp will kick-off during the week of July 10 through July 14, and will continue through the week of August 7 to August 11. 

Registration for each week is $100 per child and includes transportation to and from designated bus stops, daily breakfast and lunch, and graduation ceremony held each Friday. Participants are not required to reside in communities with a designated bus stop, but they will be picked up and dropped off at these locations. Cadets from Billerica and Chelmsford will be dropped off and picked up at the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Training Academy.

Watertown Preservation Awards Return, Nominees Wanted

The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

The Watertown Historical Commission is holding the 2023 Preservation Awards event for the first time in several years and is soliciting nominations from the public.  

Information and the application can be found here. Please drop off, mail or email completed nomination forms to: Watertown Historical Commission Office, Administration Building, 149 Main Street, Watertown, MA  02472 by Wednesday, April 12, 2023. If you have any questions, please call 617-972-6426 or email sjenness@watertown-ma.gov.

Save the date: Please join us on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 7:00 PM for the ceremony at the Carriage House at Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham. A reception to follow.