Around Town

Watertown Shuttle Adds Electric Vehicle, Runs Every Half Hour

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City of WatertownThe new electric van running on the Watertown Connector along Pleasant Street and to Harvard Square. A new electric van has been added to the Pleasant Street Shuttle in Watertown, and increases the frequency of the trips from the Westside to Harvard Square, via Watertown Square. The new vehicle debuted on Feb. 13, and runs on weekdays every half hour from the west end of Pleasant Street from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning, and from Harvard Square from 4:27 p.m. to 6:57 p.m. in the afternoon and evenings. The Watertown Connector Pleasant Street shuttle costs $1 for the public to ride each way, and is free to residents of Watertown Mews, Aver, and Watermills, and people working at Riverworks.

Around Town

Former Town Manager Michael Driscoll Remembered for His Love of His Family, and His Community

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Charlie BreitroseThe program from the Memorial Mass for former Town Manager Michael Driscoll. Make your way around Watertown and it will be difficult not to go past something that former Town Manager Michael Driscoll had a hand in building or creating. In his 29 years at the helm of the municipal government, he played a part in the construction of net zero schools, building police and fire stations, expanding the library, and creating new parks. Judging from the people who knew him best, however, the things that he treasured most were the friendships and relationships he built during that time. On Friday, family, friends, colleagues, and many Watertown residents gathered at St.

Around Town

City Wants Input on Draft Comprehensive, Open Space & Recreation Plans

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The draft of Watertown’s most important planning document has been released, and City officials want input from the public about what’s included in the plan that will help shape Watertown’s future for years. The Comprehensive Plan was first approved in 2015, and has led to much of the recent development around town. Over 75 percent of the goals of the first masterplan have been met, and the City Council asked for it toe be updated. Topics covered in the Comprehensive Plan update include land use; economic development; transportation, circulation, and parking; and open space and recreation. A particular focus will be Watertown Square, and other commercial districts in the City. People can view the draft of the Comprehensive Plan, as well as the draft of the Open Space and Recreation Plan online (see links below).

Around Town

Big Recycling Event: Styrofoam, Clothing, Mattresses, Dehumidifiers and More

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The City of Watertown will host a recycling event, along with paper shredding and a compost give away on March 25 in the parking lot of the Jewish Day School on Stanley Street. The Watertown Department of Public Works provided the following announcement:

Watertown Recycling Event

March 25th , 2023 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Event will be held at 57 Stanley St. in the parking lot of the Jewish Day School. Please bring a Watertown ID or proof of residency. Mattress Recycling

HandUp, a mattress recycler, will be offering a discount on mattress and box spring recycling.

Around Town

See How Presidents’ Day Will Impact Trash, Other City Services

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The Presidents’ Day holiday will impact the trash and recycling pickup this week, and multiple city facilities will be closed. Tracy and recycling service in Watertown will be delayed by a day this week. So, for instance, homes with a normal Monday collection will be on Tuesday this week. The City of Watertown announced that City Hall and the Senior Center will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 20, 2023. The Watertown Library also announced that it will be closed on Monday for the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Around Town

Our History: A Look Back at the Charles River Through the Years

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Chuck DickinsonThe Charles River in Watertown. This article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Paul Brennan, former President and former Vice President of the Historical Society. It was published in our October 1998 newsletter, “The Town Crier.” THE CHARLES RIVER, LONG AGO

The Native American name for the Charles River was Quineboquin.

Around Town

Comprehensive Plan Update Includes Focus on Improving Watertown Square

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Watertown Square

When Watertown Business Coalition Co-President Bob Airasian mentioned that a city square or town center usually being “a place where people like to go,” it was greeted with a chuckle by many at a gathering this week. “It shouldn’t be a place that you are trying to avoid,” Airasian continued, “and when you are running a business in a place like that, I’m not an economist but, that can’t be good for business.” City officials want to change that, and will soon kick off a process to plan for the future of the area, and the entire City. During the WBC’s coffee connect, Watertown Planner Larry Field talked about the updating of Watertown’s Comprehensive Plan. New City Manager George Proakis said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that he has made no secret that he wants to make adopting the new document a priority of his first few months on the job.