Around Town

Watertown’s Winter Parking Ban Lifted Early

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The winter parking ban in Watertown has been lifted a few weeks early, due to the mild weather. At Tuesday’s Town Council Meeting, Town Council President Mark Sideris requested that Town officials consider lifting the on-street parking ban due to run through the end of March because of the warm weather, which was forecast to continue. On Friday, Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn announced the suspension of enforcement of the parking ban. He released the following statement:

Police Chief Michael Lawn would like to inform you that Watertown will lift enforcement of the all night parking ban effective Saturday, March 14, 2020. The Department of Public Works, Police Department and Fire Department would like to remind motorists that keeping the streets clear allows for road repairs, street cleaning and easy access for public safety vehicles.

Around Town

Presumptive Case of Coronavirus in Watertown, Schools Shutting for 2 Weeks

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The Watertown Health Department is investigating a case of Coronavirus in Watertown, and the Watertown Public Schools will be closed temporarily beginning Friday. ​The update on the Town of Watertown website reads:

We have been advised that there is a presumptive positive case of COVID-19 in Watertown. The case is not associated with the schools and has no children in the school system. The Health Department case investigation is ongoing and we will provide additional information tomorrow. Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston confirmed that the Watertown Public Schools will be closed for two weeks beginning Friday.

Around Town

Watertown Events Being Cancelled, Postponed Due to Coronavirus

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Several local events have been cancelled as a precaution due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Coronavirus. The Majestic 7, Watertown’s new movie theaters, announced that it has postponed its grand opening festivities planned for March 14-15. Dates for the rescheduled event have not been announced. The theaters remain open for regular business. Revels singing group announced that the Spring Sing in Watertown on March 21 has been cancelled.

Around Town

OP-ED: Cancel It if You Can – Taking Responsibility for Controlling the Pandemic

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

Will Brownsberger is the State Senator for Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston:

The pandemic will eventually touch many of us. What matters most is the speed of the pandemic. If the virus spreads too fast and too many of us are sick at the same time, we will overwhelm the health care system. People may not be able to get the care they need – for the virus or for any other health problem.  That’s what is starting to happen now in Italy. Doctors are discussing how to make brutal triage decisions effectively condemning weaker patients to die. We need to slow the virus down and since none of us are immune and there is no vaccine yet, we have only one way to protect our community:  To reduce unnecessary contact.

Around Town

CANCELLED: Celebrate Spring with Watertown Families Together Kids’ Event

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UPDATE: The Watertown Mall announced that the Spring into Spring event has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus outbreak. The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Mall:

The Watertown Mall, located at 550 Arsenal St., together with Watertown Families Together invite you to come on March 19, 2020 from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. for “Spring into Spring”, an event to celebrate Spring & Easter. There will be Spring time songs, stories and crafts as well as making your own basket, bunny or chick. This is a free event & all ages are welcome, although the stories and songs are catered to younger children. This will take place in the back hallway of the mall, across from Carter’s.

Around Town

Library Postpones One Book, One Watertown Events

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Free Public Library announced the remaining events related to One Book, One Watertown planned in March have been postponed. This year’s book is Lara Prescott’s The Secrets We Kept, and the activities kicked off last week, and several more were planned. The library sent out the following statement:

Due the unavailability of multiple presenters, the Watertown Free Public Library has made the decision to postpone all remaining One Book, One Watertown programming, which was scheduled to take place throughout the month of March. Rather than present programs piecemeal, the Library aims to present all of the programs as a group at another time. Please watch our website (www.watertownlib.org) and newsletter for updates as soon as we have them.

Around Town

Watertown Officials Start Preparing to Respond to Coronavirus

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A hand sanitizer dispenser has been placed outside the Town Council Chamber as one of the responses to the Coronavirus in Massachusetts. While there are no cases of the Coronavirus in Watertown, the Town’s Emergency Team met Tuesday to discuss ways to respond to the Coronavirus in Watertown. The town has already begun posting information about ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) in town buildings, and a liquid hand sanitizer dispenser and a sign saying “Keep Calm and Wash Your Hands” were placed outside the Town Council Chamber before Tuesday’s meeting. At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Town Manager Michael Driscoll read statements from Director of Public Health Larry Ramdin and Fire Chief Bob Quinn. Ramdin stressed there are no cases of COVID-19 in Watertown, but added that on Tuesday, Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the Coronavirus.

Around Town

Local Cable Station Collecting Food for the Watertown Food Pantry

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This year WCA-TV announced it is putting on a food drive for the Watertown Food Pantry. The collection runs from March 16 to April 6, and will be ending in time for Passover and Easter. Drop off locations will be at the Watertown Cable studio, in the basement of Watertown High School, at the high school (50 Columbia St.), or at the Watertown Police Station (552 Main St.). The Watertown Pantry needs include: coffee, cold cereal, baked beans, canned vegetables, canned fruit, boxed oatmeal, tomato sauce and dried pasta and rice. Please do not donate opened or expired food.