Around Town

Restaurant Closing After More Than 2 Decades Serving Italian Dishes in Watertown

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Porcini’s restaurant will close in mid-January after over 20 years serving diners in Watertown. The owners for the restaurant on School Street put up a “Closing Letter” on the restaurant’s website announcing the decision. They cited difficulties of doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons for the decision, in which they thanked their loyal customers and dedicated staff. The letter reads: “It saddens us to have to announce today that Porcini’s Italian Restaurant will be permanently closing our doors after 23 years of service on Saturday, January 14, 2023.” The past 3 years have been devastating to our business, as we have struggled through the results of the COVID pandemic.

Around Town

Watertown Community Conversations Hosting Facilitator Trainings

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Community Conversations:

Do you work together with others for the good of the Watertown community? Have you wondered how to bridge differences to keep good ideas flowing and dialogue going? 

Then this training is for you! Watertown Community Conversations (WCC), watertownconversations, a community leader working to increase understanding through the use of dialogue, will host its next Facilitator Training for Small Group Dialogue on January 27th (2 hours) and January 29th (day), 2023 here in Watertown. This training will prepare you to work with WCC as a volunteer, small group dialogue facilitator. You will learn the basic methods and skills needed to facilitate small group discussions in a variety of professional or volunteer settings.

Around Town

Watertown Rec Offers Pickleball, Community Sports & Games, Open Forum

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The Watertown Recreation Department sent out the following announcements:

Happy New Year:

Well wishes to you and your family for a prosperous, healthy, and happy 2023

Pickleball

Based on demand, the Recreation Department has added two more sessions of pickleball beginning Thursday, January 5 at the Hosmer School.  If interested, please registered today. Here are the details. Program:       

Adult Pickleball

Who:              

Adults 18+

When:

Thursday

January 5 to February 9

Time:            

Session I: 6:30 to 7:45

Session II: 7:45 to 9:00

Where:          

Hosmer School

Fee:               

$35.00        

Description: 

The adult pickleball program is designed to provide exercise and fun for participants 18 years and older. Players will have the chance to build agility and hand eye coordination while still getting a good workout. The program offers indoor court time to enjoy both leisurely and competitive play in a recreational setting.

Around Town

Overnight Winter Parking Ban Back into Effect in Watertown

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The City of Watertown made the following announcement:

Reminder, effective today, January 2, 2023 and continuing to April 1, 2023 the Winter Parking Ban is back in effect and strictly enforced. The regulation reads in part; “No vehicle may remain on any public way for more than one hour between the hours of 1AM and 6AM all days of the week.”

For residents who lack sufficient off-street parking, the City allows for temporary parking at any municipal parking lot and other locations noted:

– The police station at 552 Main Street (visitor’s parking lot only)

– Any public school parking lot- Victory Field parking lot- O’Connell Park, 341 Mt. Auburn Street (lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street only)

– Filippello Park parking area, 191 Grove Street (No parking in the spaces along the driveway)

– 101 Morse Street – 14 spaces at the rear of the parking lot (currently being constructed, available once completed)

Please remember that parking your vehicle upon any sidewalk is prohibited. Your cooperation in keeping the streets clear of overnight parking and your sidewalks clear of snow and ice will make for safer driving and walking conditions and at the same time, allow the opportunity for the Public Works Department to perform necessary street cleaning and maintenance. There are two municipal lots in Watertown Square:

– Behind CVS at 27 Main Street – Use metered spaces only

– Behind the Public Library – 123 Main Street

There is one municipal lot in Coolidge Square:

– Behind CVS at 655 Mt.

Around Town

Trash Collection: Christmas Trees, Extra Trash Bags & 2023 Schedule

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Watertown residents will be allowed to put out more trash bags than fit in their toters for one week only, and in January they can put out Christmas trees. The Department of Public Works sent out the following announcements, and also noted that trash and recycling collection will be delayed by a day the first week of January. Extra Trash

We understand that households often generate some extra trash during the holiday season. For this reason, we are allowing OVERFLOW trash bag pickup during the holiday week of Tuesday, January 3 through Saturday, January 7, 2023. Residents may put up to THREE extra bags of household trash out with their trash barrels for collection.