Around Town

New Parking Meters in Town Lots Will Take Credit Cards

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New parking meters, like this one, will be installed in Watertown’s Municipal Parking Lots. They will accept credit cards as well as coins. The Town of Watertown provided the following announcement:

During the week of January 19-22, installation of new parking meters will begin, replacing all of the existing meters, both on-street and in municipal parking lots—the Watertown Square Municipal Lot and the Wells Avenue Lot in Coolidge Square. Credit cards can now be used to pay for parking. In the near future, mobile payment by cell phone will also be accepted.

Around Town

Additional Free COVID Testing Times for Watertown Residents

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The following announcement was provided by the Town of Watertown:

The Town of Watertown is offering, by appointment only, one – free COVID-19 Test for Watertown residents. Testing is free, does not require a medical referral and you do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to get tested. Pre-registration is required to receive a test (preregistration details below) and we ask that you only sign up for one test to allow other residents access to testing. Testing will be held inside the Commander’s Mansion 440 Talcott Avenue on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 19, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 20, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, January 26, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, January 27, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 2, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 3, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PMTuesday, February 9, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PMWednesday, February 10, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

In order to obtain an appointment a Watertown resident must pre-register by clicking on the following link: https://proemscovidtesting.as.me/watertown

This is not a drive up test. Watertown residents who have an appointment will enter into the Commander’s Mansion and with the assistance of Pro Ambulance employees will conduct a selfadministering nasal swab (PCR test).

Around Town

Watertown Musician Uses Pandemic to Record First Solo Album

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Watertown’s Daniel Radin recorded his debut solo album, “Good Things” in his home basement. He used the name Lake Saint Daniel for his latest project. Watertown’s Daniel Radin usually spends a lot of time on the road touring with his rock band, but his performance schedule was cut short by the Pandemic. He made the most of his time at home by recording his first solo album. Recently, Radin received a grant from Passim’s Iguana Music Awards to help pay to put out his new album, Good Things, which he put out under the name used for his most recent project — Lake Saint Daniel.

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Watertown Citizens Meeting Focuses on What Biden Will Mean for Peace Movement

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The following information was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

Please join us for the January Monthly Meeting of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment as we explore the issue of peace and what we can expect from the new Biden Administration. What campaign promises will be easy to fulfill and which ones will not be?  What are the changes of reducing military spending and increasing funds for education, healthcare and the environment? Will the longest war in U.S. history end? Will troops in Iraq, Somalia, and Yeman come home? How will the Palestinians fare under a Biden administration?

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Solar Powered Info Kiosks Coming to Watertown

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The electronic information kiosk, made by Soofa Sign, was recently installed near Town Hall. New digital signs have started popping up on the streets of Watertown that will provide emergency messages, bus schedules, information about local government and more. The information kiosks are called Soofa Signs and are the creation of a startup run by MIT grads. They are solar powered and use e-ink. One has been put up near Town Hall/Saltonstall Park.

Around Town

Pair of Large Red Foxes Spotted by Watertown Resident

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A large red fox was seen walking on Jensen Road on the Westside of Watertown over the weekend. Large foxes have been seen wandering the streets of West Watertown. Watertown News reader Tracy Scott took photos of a pair of red foxes as they walked though the backyard of her Jensen Road home, and on the streets near the park behind the Watertown Police Station (the old Browne School Playground). “We have been living here for 4 years, we have never seen a fox here,” Scott said. “Both these foxes were large.

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Unity Breakfast Speaker Known for Environmental, Social Justice Work

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Rev. Mariama White-Hammond will be the keynote speaker at the 2021 Unity Breakfast. The following announcement was provided by the Unity Breakfast Planning Committee:

The Unity Breakfast proudly welcomes Rev. Mariama White-Hammond as its keynote speaker for this year’s event. Rev. Mariama is a noted leader working locally and nationally for environmental and social justice. In addition to her work as the founding pastor of New Roots AME Church in Dorchester, Rev. Mariama is a fellow with the Green Justice Coalition, a group of 8 social and environmental justice organizations from across the state. In 2017, Rev. Mariama was the MC for both the Boston Women’s March and Boston People’s Climate Mobilization.

Around Town

UPDATE: Dozens of Pairs of Shoes Donated by Watertown Native, Rec. Dept. Will Distribute

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Watertown native Robert Marra with Peter Centola, who was Marra’s fold coach at WHS and is now Director of Watertown’s Recreation Department. Marra donated 60 pairs of shoes to the Town, which will give them away to residents. (Updated Jan. 13, 2021 at 8:45 a.m.)

Watertown residents can get a free pair of shoes thanks to a Watertown native who wanted to help his hometown. Robert Marra works and lives in Ashland now, but he grew up in Town.