Around Town

Boston Magazine Names Watertown One of the Best Places to Live

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The following announcement was provided by Boston magazine:

Watertown has been named a 2022 Top Place to Live in the upcoming issue of Boston magazine. Each year, Boston magazine’s Top Places to Live highlight the region’s most coveted communities, breaking down one of the nation’s most intricate real-estate markets into a comprehensive guide featured in the March issue. The magazine’s Top Places to Live is considered an authoritative source for what’s trending in the greater Boston real estate market. 

The most recent Top Places to Live names 18 communities as Top Places to Live – examining each based on current trends, values, tax rates, education systems and much more. This year, with feverish demand, rising prices and low inventory, the guide focuses on six key trends driving the market.  

Watertown was recognized as part of the retail development boom, as homeowners continue to seek a level of accessibility and urban appeal found in new developments similar to larger urban centers. The magazine cites Watertown for its close proximity to the city and mixed-used developments such as Arsenal Yards, noting the development, “boasts housing as well as brands including Shake Shack so you can grab a burger on the way home from work”. 

According to the magazine, the median single-family home price in Watertown is $785,000, with a residential property tax rate of $13.25. 

The March issue of Boston magazine, with the full Top Places to Live guide is available on March 1, 2022.

Around Town

Watertown-Based Group Advocates for Teaching Media Literacy to Children

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A Watertown-based non-profit group seeks to make sure that students learn about the messages they are getting from television, video games and social media, and how they impact their lives. Media Literacy Now was started by Erin McNeill who first became aware of the impact of media on children in 2011. “What really pushed me to do this was I could see what was happening to my own kids, and how much they were influenced by messages they were getting: mostly at that time from television, and then as time went on, video games and now it has gotten more extreme — wall-to-wall messages,” McNeill said. “The messages tell kids who they are and what they should be. They are powerful, parents are powerful too, but multi-million dollar corporations are influencing children.” McNeill knows about the media having worked in the industry, including covering policy and how it is made in the United States while working for Congressional Quarterly.

Around Town

Watertown Calls Snow Emergency, City Facilities Closed Friday

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown has announced a sow emergency for Friday, Feb. 25 with a storm expected to drop several inches of snow headed toward the area. Also, City Hall, Library and Senior Center will be closed on Friday due to the storm. The City sent out the following announcement:

The Superintendent of Public Works is declaring a Snow Emergency effective 1:00 AM, Friday, February 25, 2022. Watertown is expecting upwards of 8-inches of snow Friday.

Around Town

Watertown Business Coalition Celebrates New Chapter, Expanding Mission & Offering Membership

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Watertown Business Coalition co-founders Bob Airasian and Doug Orifice speak during the WBC’s Membership Kickoff Event at Not Your Average Joe’s. The Watertown Business Coalition kicked off a new phase of its young life last week during the membership kickoff event at Not Your Average Joe’s. More than 50 people attended the Feb. 17 event, including local business owners, elected officials, and representatives of community organizations. The volunteer-run organization started in late 2019 with a vision of connecting local businesses, but has branched out to advocating for businesses, hosting arts and culture events and fostering ties to the community, said WBC Co-Founder Doug Orifice.

Around Town

Watertown Community Foundation Offering Grants for Youth Sports Leagues

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Community Foundation:

Youth Sports League Grants will support team sports organizations that serve Watertown youth to help defray registration costs and increase participation. Examples of programs eligible for Youth Sports League Grants include:

Baseball/SoftballFootball/CheerleadingSoccerBasketballLacrosseHockey

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Youth Sports League Grant, organizations must be public entities, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, or an organization that is affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization. Organizations must:

Be based in Watertown and serve the town’s residents or, if based outside of Watertown, can document an existing partnership with an organization that directly serves Watertown residents ANDProvide a program or service to the community. Timeline:

February 14 : Call for Applications

March 4 : Applications due to WCF

March 11: Applicants Notified of Grant Decisions

December: Final Grantee Reports Due to WCF

Submission Instructions

Email or paper applications will not be accepted. Applications must be completed online at: https://forms.office.com/r/PfGniV36qRApplicants will receive an email confirmation after your proposal is received.

Around Town

See the History, and Possible Future of the Watertown Dam and the Charles River

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. The Charles River Watershed Association recently produced a history of the Charles River, including a look at the Watertown Dam, called A River Interrupted. The group is advocating for the removal of the dam near Watertown Square as a way to return the Charles to its natural state. One reason is to help migrating restore the numbers of migrating species in the river that struggle to get upstream due to the dam and other obstacles.

Around Town

See What’s Happening at the Senior Center the Week of Feb. 21

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The Watertown Senior Center decorated for Valentine’s Day. The following information was provided by the Watertown Senior Center:

Watertown Senior Center Programs for Week of February 21, 2022. Some programs are offered on Zoom and some are in-person at the Senior Center. Please call us at 617-972-6490 to pre-register for all in-person programs to reserve your spot. New participants are always welcome in every program.

Around Town

YardArt: Townwide Outdoor Art Exhibition Returns to Watertown

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City of WatertownYardArt is back in 2022. Watertown residents can display their art and get on the official map. Watertown residents can tap their creative side and beat the winter blues by participating in YardArt 2022. The second annual outdoor art exhibition begins Friday March 4 and runs through April 3. Entry is free, but participants must register to get onto the YardArt website and onto the official map, said Liz Helfer, the City’s Public Arts & Culture Planner.