Around Town

Watertown Restaurant Raising Funds to Give Meals to Local Families

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Donohue’s Bar & Grill has started a GoFundMe effort to raise money to pay for meals for local families struggling duding the COVID-19 shutdown. Dubbed the Donohue’s Cares Act, the effort will provide a meal for every $10 donated, and the restaurant is providing the first 500 meals. As of Saturday morning, more than $1,100 has been donated by 17 people. The goal is $10,000. Find out more and donated by clicking here.

Around Town

Library & Other Facilities Remain Closed, Town Awaits Gov.’s New Order; Schools Feeding Hundreds Each Day & More

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The historic facade of the Watertown Free Public Library. The Town’s facilities, including the Library, Town Hall and the Senior Center will remain closed through at least Monday, as Town official await word from Gov. Charlie Baker about the state’s reopening plan. More details about the four phased reopening plan, discussed this week by Baker, are expected to be released Monday, Town Manager Michael Driscoll said in his latest Town Manager’s Update. In the first phase, “limited industries” will be allowed to reopen. The second and third phases will let more and more industries resume operation, and the fourth phase will be after a vaccine or therapy for COVID-19 is developed and the “new normal” can begin.

Around Town

Watertown Parks Remain Closed, But Gradual Reopening Could Start Soon

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Watertown’s parks, like Filippello Park, are empty these days due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but they may slowly reopen in coming weeks. Recreation Department Director Peter Centola spends parts of his day driving around town asking people to leave Watertown’s parks, fields and playgrounds which are closed by COVID-19, but he may soon be welcoming visitors to the Town’s Recreation facilities. On Monday, May 18, Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to unveil his plans for reopening Massachusetts from its COVID-19 shutdown, and Centola said he hopes that will allow a partial reopening of Watertown’s parks and recreational facilities. Town officials have started looking at what could be possible, while still maintaining social distancing. “I don’t think could go from zero to 60,” Centola said.

Around Town

Watertown Reaches Two Milestones in COVID-19 Cases; Residents Urged to Remain Vigilant in Stopping the Virus’ Spread

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With the number of COVID-19 related deaths in Watertown went over 20 this week, and the number of cases surpassed the 300 mark, Town Council President Mark Sideris encouraged residents to remain vigilant in efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Town Manager Michael Driscoll gave the latest Coronavirus numbers for Watertown at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting: 331 confirmed cases, 148 have recovered, and the town has 22 COVID-19 related deaths. The numbers rose from 298 cases and 19 deaths as of May 7. Sideris said that the virus has already taken too high a toll in Town. “Our deepest sympathies go out to all people who have lost family members, never mind only in Watertown, but across the country and across the world,” Sideris said.

Around Town

Watertown Resident Co-Authors Book to Teach Children About COVID-19

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Watertown’s Diana Saville heard from many of her friends that they were struggling to explain the Coronavirus to their children, so she decided to help out by co-writing a children’s book on COVID-19. She teamed up with Srini Pillay, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, and illustrated and co-wrote King T and the Gamma Troupe: The Story of a Brave Bodyguard Who Vanquished the Viral Villain. Saville has a background in molecular biology, neuroscience, and scientific animation, but this is her first children’s book. “So many of our friends were having trouble explaining coronavirus to their kids in a way that is both honest and not-scary,” Saville said. “It’s a little rhyming adventure with a focus on how the body is built to fight off viruses and other invaders.”

Around Town

Follow the Travels of Watertown Police Dog, Kato

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Watertown Police dog Kato poses in one of the photos from the WPD’s Where is Kato Facbook posts. Kato, the Watertown Police Department’s K-9 has been busy in recent weeks, visiting places around town. The Watertown Police has posted a series of Where is Kato? posts on their Facebook account. Some locations will be recognizable, while others you may not know even exist in Watertown.

Around Town

This Week’s Hatch Happenings: Curtain Making, Case Binding and Q&A

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The staff at Hatch continues to provide opportunities to learn a new skill, despite the makerspace being closed due to the COVID-19 shutdown. This week, the classes include curtain making and book binding. See details in the announcements below:

Maker Questions with Liz & Yi Bin

Tuesday, May 12, 4-5pmJoin the Hatch Coordinator, Liz, and the Hatch Assistant, Yi Bin, to ask all your maker questions. They will field anything from fine art to finding tools. If they don’t know the answer, they know someone that does!

Around Town

A Self-Guided Stormwater Walk Designed by a River Conservation Group

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A self-guided tour of Watertown’s stormwater drainage system will show people how rain water gets from the streets to the Charles River. The walk features some of the stormwater devices you can see on the street that you would recognize, such as a catch basin, and some that are not as obvious, like a bioswale. There are also parts of the stormwater system where the water enters the river. The Watertown Department of Public Works collaborated with the Mystic River Watershed Association to create the tour, said Town Engineer Matthew Shuman. “Here’s some great activities we put together with the Mystic River Watershed Association for kids and adults to do to get some fresh air during these trying times … go for a stormwater walk,” Shuman said.