104 Main Street

LETTER: Time to Draw Line on Big Developments, Create a Historic District on Main Street

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Local Communities in Square Miles

Boston 89.63Newton 18.16Waltham 13.76Cambridge 7.1Belmont 4.7Watertown 4.12

Watertown. It’s small. It requires thought. In a small area like ours, every decision that’s made makes a profound difference. Many of us have raised concerns about losing the essence of our community, what made us unique and desirable … small but big; bustling and densely populated and diverse, but with a real home town, neighborly feel.

Around Town

Civil War Veteran Gets Long Awaited Headstone in Time for Memorial Day

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Bill McEvoyThe new grave marker for James Fleming, a Lt. Colonel who served in the Civil War. Local historian Bill McEvoy applied for the long delayed grave marker this year. When the veterans buried in Watertown were honored during Memorial Day week 2022, one of the graves at the Catholic Mount Auburn Cemetery had a gleaming white headstone, but the veteran buried there died more than 150 years ago. The grave belongs to James Fleming, who served in the Civil War and died in 1869. He has been buried in the cemetery, which sits at the end of Cottage Street in East Watertown, but it did not have a marker.

Affordable Housing

Council Seeks Payments from Developments to go to Affordable Housing

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Watertown officials will request special legislation to be approved that would allow the City to charge a fee to new commercial developments with the money going to a fund to create affordable housing. The City seeks what is known as a linkage fee, which is based on the impact of commercial development on the demand for affordable housing, acting Deputy City Manager Steve Magoon told the City Council on Tuesday. The special legislation will have to be approved by the State Legislature. “Non-residential projects are creating demand for affordable housing for people who work in Watertown,” Magoon said. “We have done a study to look at that impact and adjusted it by the nexus between that demand being created by projects and the cost that it represents to us as a municipality, and a fee that would be charged.”

Around Town

Farewell for Two Recreation Employees to be Held at City Hall

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The Watertown Recreation Department will say good bye to two employees who will be leaving the department. They will be honored at a celebration to be held on Friday, June 17 in City Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Recreation Director Peter Centola sent out the following announcement:

After close to 5 years as Recreation Supervisor, Jim Coutoumas will be moving on to greener pastures as Assistant Director of Recreation in Canton. We are grateful for Jim’s outstanding service to our department and our Watertown Community.

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Kicks Off Summer with Networking at Donohue’s

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The Watertown Business Coalition invites the local business community, non-profits, arts organizations and others to come together at the kick off to summer at Donohue’s Bar & Grill. The free event will be at Donohue’s back patio on Wednesday, June 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“We would be absolutely thrilled to see everyone! It will be cash bar with delicious Donohue’s appetizers. Please bring your co-workers, employees, significant others, friends, neighbors … let’s pack the house!” the WBC announcement said.